The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-21
"REMINISCENCES or CHICAGO.


sGt1 by n Lazy VINO tam" 10 tue h'''
tifty Years Ago.
MY father took claim on the North
Side near the river and not far from Mr.
Clybourne's. said Mrs Mary Ann Draper
Here we lived for quite a 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 My 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 tho house, and now ana
then strike their tomahawbA into the logs
and cry Chan in chan muck a-mu-no
good white man | don't see why they
didn't kill us They did kill one man aud
woman just before they treated They
hung the man up in the woods and threw
the woman in the lake
Il think there were only thirteen dwell
ing houses. all told when came to Chi.
cago Ny father helped to build the IA.
nous Green Tree Tavern. These houses
could not all be seen at one view The
grass was south. and all the North Side
nearly was covered with very heavy
woods Wild rice grew in the river, and
beautiful white snd yellow pond lilies were
to be seen along the shores | had sew
eral adventures and some narrow escapes
But | want TO tell you how, ! some
times believe. ! saved Chicago from a
massacre This adventure ! call nay
bridge disaster | was about l3 years
old then, and We lived on the North Side,
near the junction of the north Hud south
branches Of the river Mother wanted me
to 20 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 tor tho only meat market
in town which was ou the south Side.
where Mr. Clybournc had bis shop Near
the two rivers was O pole bridge which
had to cross ! went over all right and
secured my bread and meat bat on my
return found the bridge blockadcd with
Indian ponies and ! should say there were
about 1900 sayages IN that vicinity The
ponies were stationed on the bridge in
such manner that it was supposed no
ono could get through But passed over
with my basket Dy going along ON the
mg 40 the farther end stood a big 10
dian with long knife ia his hand !
SHE'D around him. too. and had gotten
fairly over only whom the bridge broke
down and tumbled poles aud ponies pei.
nell together in the river \ thousand
war wao0ps seemed go rcud the air. and
the big Indian wh0opcd the loudc~t ot all
and lifting MS great knife, started
after me
Run should think | did / mu
through q house near bv quicker chan |
can tell &c. and the indian after mc. !
lodged into d tAickct of wild apple trees,
and got into the woods and made my IS
cape But did not Tee. safe until my
long hair was shon of aud my disguise so
complete that he Indians would nOtrpcog
uize me This racket called 0ut tio g9r
rson at the font The drums beat
and even nay brother ran around crying
ont The wars commenced. The war;
commenced get your guns ready quick.
Alexander Robinson. the chief of thc tribe,
used 10 tell me that the Indians thought
had bewitchel the bridge and brought
ou the calamity. and therefore tried 90
XIII me Later IL the day however. they
changed their minds and said ! was
fairy sent by the Great Spirit to- punish
them because they would not treat. with
the white men Tie treaty was agreed
upon that very afternoon and peace IN
stead Of a massacre. prevailed Thus, /
expect helped TO save Chicago. Chi
caro Herald