Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-22
"REMINISCENCES OF CHICAGO.
Told by . Lady Who Came to the Place
Fifty Years Ago.

Told by . Lady who Came to the Place
Fifty Years Ago.
ssMy father took claim on the North
Side near the river and not far from Mr.
Clybeurns's," said Mrs. Mary Ann Draper
Here we lived for quito long time.
have gone through many dangers and
hardships on the North Side in early days.
The Indians were numerous. and were
always coming and going. Sometimes
they were friendly and sometimes they
were not Ny father always had his gun
and sword by the bed at night and dog
in the house. Often he would not remove
his clothing. The Indians would come up
and go around the house, land now and
then strike their tonahawks into the log.
and CRY: Chan in chan muck
good white man.' I don't see why they
didn't kill US. They did kill one man and
woman just before they treated They
hung the man up in the woods and threw
the woman in the lake.
II think there were only thirteen dwell
ing houses, all told, when came to Chi
cago. My father helped to build the ia.
nous Green Tree Tavern These houses
could not all be seen at one view. Ths
grass was south, and all the North Side
nearly was covered with very heavy
woods. Wild rice grew in the river, and
beautiful white and yellow pond lilies were
to be seen along the shores. l had sew
eral adventures and some narrow escapes.
"But l want to tell you how, 1 some.
times believe, saved Chicago from q
massacre. This adventure | call my
bridge disaster was about Is years
old then, and we lived On the North Side,
near the junction of the north and south
branches of the river. Mother wanted me
to go to market. So took the basket on
my arm and started for the only bakery
then in Chicago which was on the West
Side, and also for the only meat market
in town, which was on the South Side,
where Mr. Ciybourne had his shop. Near
the two rivers was pole bridge which
had to cross. went over all right and
secured my bread and meat. but on my
return | found the bridge blockaded with
Indian ponies, and l should say there were
about 1000 savages in that vicinity. The
ponies were stationed on the bridge in
such manner that it was supposed no
one could get through. But passed over
with my basket by going along on the
ends of the poles outside Of a rough rail
ing At the farther end stood big In
dian with long knife in his hand.
SHE'D around him, too. and had gotten
fairly over only when the bridge broke
down and tumbled poles and ponies pell
nell together in the river. 4 thousand
war whoops seemed to rend the air, and
the big Indian whooped the loudest of all.
and, lifting his great knife, started
after me.
Rum I should think 1 did 1 ran
through house near by quicker than |
can tell it, and the Indian after me. |
lodged into thicket of wild apple trees,
and got into the woods and made my es-
cape But did not feel safe until my
long hair was shorn off and my disguise SO
complete that the Indians would not recog-
nize me. This racket called out the gar
rison at the fort. The drums beat,
and even my brother ran around, crying
out: The wars commenced. the wars
commenced, get your guns ready quick.
Alexander Robinson, the chief Of the tribe,
used to tell me that the Indians thought
had bewitched the bridge and brought
on the calamity, and therefore tried to
kill me. Later in the day. however, they
changed their minds end said | was a
fairy sent By the Great Spirit to punish
them because they would not treat with
the white men. The treaty was agreed
upon that very afternoon, and peace, in
stead of a massacre, prevailed. Thus.
expect helped to save Chicago. Chi
cago Herald.