St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-16

Outfit was at the foot OF Third street corner Of
Jackson, where scores Of Indians could al
ways be found lying around on summer
evenings, shooting rats with their bows aud
arrows by twilight Tom Reeds grocery
store was always resort for Jackson, Jim
Thompson and hunters, trappers and from
tiersmen who congregated there at night,
sitting on boxes, barrels, etc, telling yarns
of hunting, trapping, fighting Indians and
bairbreadth escapes, by the light Of a tallow
dip.On one occasion one of them purchased a
violin and among other tunes played Home,
Sweet Home" and it brought tears to the
eyes ofthese rough buckskin-shirted pioneers
Of those early days. The same scene was
enacted and witnessed with like results be-
fore more refined but not more apprecia-
tive audience, on later occasion, at the
Academy Of Music in Philadelphia, when
Adelina Patti, at her benefit,
sang ''Home, Sweet Home" for
the audience between the acts, in
response TO an enthusiastic encore; the con-
trast between frontier life and civilization, or
rather refined society, was great, very great,
but the effect was the same.
FIRST BIG FIRE IN ST. PAUL.
The first big fire in St. Paul was Daniels
hotel, in 1851, at the upper levee; the build
ing had just been finished and furnished but
not occupied, and It burned like a finder box.
and there was no fire apparatus excepting
some ladders and buckets, and Stees saws his
shoulder was very sore from carrying the
former, until big Tom Knox stopped a farm
er's team and impressed it by turning the
horses around and loading up the ladders.
He SAYS the Rev. Z. d. Neil's fine broadcloth
suit was no drawback to his duty as a citizen
at fire, for he worked like Trojan, carry
ing out the furniture. Tom Knox, Bart
Presley and Wash Stees were three of the
muscular fire laddies of those days. About
this time, with Ike Markley and others, young
Stees made a pre-emption claim on the bluff,
on the west side of the river opposite the
Presbyterian church. They together put up
a log shanty, proyisioned it, and hired man
to hold possession, although the treaty had
not yet been ratified. Such a claim would
now be worth Sl50,OO0
The high steps running from the lower
levee to the top Of the bluff, was always a re-
sort for the young men of the village on
Sunday afternoons, and on one occasion a
party had assembled there, when a Winnie
bago Indian came along and by his accoutra-
ments, etc, he was recognized as a courier
to the Indian village opposite. Ned West, a
dssipated young fellow from New York, aud
''half shot" stopped the Indian and accosted
him, but the latter took no notice OF him and
seemed anxious to pass by, but Ned stood
in his way and continued to
jabber Daeotah TO him. The Winnebago
would not answer but passed him, when
Ned gave the Chippewa war whoop, and the
former flew down the stairs like a deer aud
outupon the ice, when he stopped and ex-
amined the printing Of his rifle, while the
boys on the steps began TO look for shelter.
Seeing bis gun all right he started on the
run as before, and in two minutes the west
ern shores resounded with war whoops and
yells from Little Crows band. who had heard
Ned's war whoop and thought some OF their
friends in danger 1t caused some merri-
ment, but it was dangerous joke. Jimmy
Peck, paper hanger from New York came
here 10 make his fortune, but he was in adj
vance of the times. If people had roof
over their heads they were satisfied and de-
sired no such luxury as paper on their walls.
Jimmy was unfortunate, but could work at
nothing else. He was homesick, but had no
money to get away, so in his distress he con-
fided his troubles to Charlie Stees, who Dor
ro1ced loaf of homemade bread, some
cheese and cold meat from Mrs. w. NJ.
Stees--unbeknown TO her-a canoe from an
Indian in like manner, aud Jimmy was sent
floating down the river homeward bound,
late at night, on his way rejoicing. He was
a good fellow, only ahead of the times
INDIANS AND THE BEGGAR DANCE.
Little Crows band frequently came to
town and INDUCED in various dances in
front Of the Trading posts where they bar
tered skins, furs and pelts and traded gener-
ally, and on such occasions the traders in
variably made them presents of calico, to-
bacco, &c. Twice year they came to these
posts on begging expedition and danced
the Beggar Dance, which was very amusing
to witness; they were in a nearly nude con-
dition, with their bodies daubed with blue
earth, indicating their poyerty-paint cost
ing money-and they presented hideous
appearance. They formed in a circle and
danced in front of a store until something
was given them, and some portly Indians
looked very comical as they jumped up and
down, their fat sides shaking like so many
porpoises. Twas amusing to witness the
struggle between modesty and curl
osity, as eyinced by the ladies
of st. Paul, Of those days, who were
eager to see the spectacle, and yet did not
wish to be recognized, SO they peeped from
behind window curtains, TO the amusement
of the. male portion of the community.
The squaws are not allowed 20 Join in
these dances, though they have dances of
their own, one of which is the virgin dance.
where none but virgins are allowed 10 parti-
cipate, and should buck detect a fallen sis
ter in the charmed circle, he seizes her by
the hair and drags her out, proclaiming her
disgrace, etc.
INDIAN FORMER MODE OF FISHING IL WEST
ST. PAUL.
Capt. Stees speaks Of enjoying New Years
day with Little Crows band fishing in the
ice in one of the sloughs where West st.
Paul now stands. The Indian mode of fish
ng in winter is to cut three holes in the ice
two feet square, at an equal distance from
the shores. This is repeated several times
about every 100 yards, and at each of these
holes is placed squaw with hickory switch
with three hooks attached at the end She
kneels down at the hole and throws her
blanket over her head and the hole so as to
exclude the light and she can then see plainly
into the water After the squaws have taken
their positions at the holes, say thirty or
forty, the entire band go down the banks a
quarter of mile below the first set OF holes,
and come on to the fee, each provided with a
heavy club similar to a street payer, and
pound on the ice while moving toward the
holes, at the same time they dance, sing and
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