Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-08-16
THE HISTORIC RESORT.
A Muscatsne Editors Enrapture with
Black Hawks watch Tower.

Black Hawks watch Tower.
Among those who came to Rock ISL
and with the Presbyterian excursion from
Muscatine Tuesday was the editor of the
Ne'cs- Tribune Of that city. He devotes
nearly three columns of his paper to an
account of the trip and in particular to
Black Hawks watch tower and the jour
ney thereto over the Rock Island s. Milan
road and says:
The summit is reached, we ride along
the plateau to where spacious open plat
receives us, we alight and stand on Black
Hawks tower. The open grounds con-
shutting this famous eminence. have a
nice, well. kept sward. and in the centre
stands refreshment house comfortably
verandahed. We pass around this bulk
ing in the hurry to enjoy the view, and
come out upon noble terrace command
ing one OF the most enchanting prospects
10 DO seen In the west. As we stand, we
have our backs turned TO Rock Island and
the valley we have journeyed through
aud we are looking east. with expanded
views stretching to the north and south.
Here we get our first sight of Rock river,
whose silvery stream is traced from far
north To where 1t flows at the foot of our
promontory and disappears around the
blum somewhere. to enter the valley we
have just traversed. The bluff on which
we stand must belong of right to the Mis-
sissippi river. marking the boundary of
its valley. and on making its way through
this bluif Rock river is intruding on the
bottom lands Of the Father of Waters.
But on this essterly side of the bluff, the
little river has valley all its own, and
which in beauty and range will compare
with any views commanded by its great
rival IL is magnificent landscape.
stretching for miles across its width and
miles upon miles in its length. Truly
this spot was a tower" irdeedl On this
commanding height Black Hawk sta
toned his sentries; here he assembled his
| chiefs and held his councils. Not many
rods away were laid to their last rest the
remains of his father, the proud chief
whom be succeeded. After the lisass
trous battle of Bad Axe. Wis. in Aug
ust, 1882. he asked OF the pale faces one
favor and only one-that the graves OF
his ancestors and his tribe be spared from
Dissertation.
While the excursionists are gazing up.
on the glorious panorama before them
and musing upon the "reminiscences of
the spot. talented party of musicians
are seated on the adjacent veranda and
delighting all with exquisite airs. exquis-
itely played on piano. violin. guitar, mans
dolin and silver bells. We learn that
music of some kind is constantly provid-
ed for visitors to the tower.
On the outskirts of the city we pass the
stately residence of Col. Bailey Daven-
port. embracing a handsome park. and
soon after we are speeding along in the
valley of Rock river. our railway very
narrow one, as it has TO be, for the track
runs through front yards and back gar,
dens, flower bed tempting one To reach
out for nOsegay, alternating with q cab
bage tract, and now a cornfield or potato
patch invaded-no soil to waste here, for
this ia the richest land in the west; but TO
the north, fIOm an eighth to half mile
on our left, we see the line of a gently
sloping bluff which runs continuously
parallel With our track, until we turn to
ascend it; and there are beautiful homes
scattered along those hillsides. and we
learn that the highway at the foot of the
bluff. OF which we catch occasional
giimpses. leads to the Rock Island GENE.
tary some two miles from the city.
But here in the midst of these rose
bushes and potatoes hills. our cars are
running over historic ground. Here, no
longer ago than 1882 stood the renowned
village of the Sac Indians. numbering
over 10000 inhabitants, while extending
at right angles from Rock Island to Mo-
line was the Fox village of over 5000
population, both tribes, at the date above
mentioned. under the powerful chief;ain-
ship OF Black Hawk. Every road we
pass over Is consecrated ground. 1t was
from this lovely valley, its river and con-
tinuous waters teeming with fish. the
surrounding country Astounding in game,
the soil yielding abundant maize. aud
where uncultivated flowery mead, that
these brave sons and daughters of the
forest, with their children and household
goods, took up their forced and sad de-
parture for their exile beyond the great
river in Iowa.
The horses have been unhitched from
our cars, the train is Joined, a dummy
engine attached, and we begin the ascent
vi the bluff. You thought you had to go
10 Denver OF TO Pennsylvania to enjoy
the sensation of being hauled up a
mountain side on a train of cars didn't
your This liant exsctiy "a mountain aide
but as you go up the steep slope aud
wind among and around the forest trees.
and the vistas in the valley grow more
and more extended, there is very little of
the mountain ascent that you miss.