Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-11
HE COULD NOT SLEEP.
Strange Presentiment of Trapper in the
Northwest.

| NOrInWeSts
For few years after the great massacr
of 1862 the tapping grounds along tn
western plains of Minnesota and the east
ern edge of Dakota were unoccupied b
either race Warlike expeditions Of bot
whites and reds passed and repassed, bu
no one troubled the furred animals, and il
consequence their numbers increased amaz
ingly. When the writer Joined the it'll
band of venturesome trappers, who wer
beginning to encroach upon the debatabl
ground, the multitude OF furred animal
which swarmed everywhere along tn,
shores of sloughs lakes and streams, was
constant source fsurprise; and the tempt
alton to venture further and still further
into the wilderness, where the prov of the
trapper's boat had never parted the wilC
rice or the rushes of the sloughs, was very
great. AS consequence, while the fate
of some was never known, others who re-
| turned in safety had adventures to relate
ranging all the way from laughable comedy
| to deepest tragedy.
| When the writer first went out in search
of trapping ground, in 1864, he travelled
with an elder brother intent upon the
same mission, and as all she country north
| west OF Spirit lake, Iowa, was regarded as
unsafe, and as small war parties of Sioux
| raided the frontier occasionally for some
years afterward, a sharp lookout was kept
continually, and every precaution taken to
prevent surprise. As did many others, we
made summer trip to examine the differ
ent localities and select suitable trapping
ground, in order that valuable time might
not be wasted in such search when the
fur was prime"
1t was lovely evening, still and fair /;
and as the harvest moon slowly climbed
the eastern sky the blankets were spread
upon the grass few rods distant from the
wagon, while the horses, picketed near by,
cropped the rich grass of the prairie, and
all nature seemed breathed upon by the
spirit of love and peace.
Here, however, was a new sensation a
something so entirely different from any,
thing ever before experienced that ] was
simply dazed and rising to my feet l
walked around the fire, glanced at the
ponies peacefully gathering the green herb
age and giving no indication of approach
ing danger, and finally, while still uneasy
and utterly perplexed, lay down by my
brothers side to sleep. Sleep was impos-
slble. Rest | could not and the thought
of possible danger from wandering Sioux
began to haunt me, although moments
reflection upon the fact that we had inst
returned untroubled from an expedition to
ground much nearer the Indian country,
and far more exposed than the shore of
the peaceful little lake on which we were
now camped. seemed to render the sugges-
ton an absurd one. Yet, still the posi-
bility troubled me, and / reflected that
while in accordance with my invariable
custom when in the wilderness, my own
gun and ammunition were under the edge
of my blanket, my brothers weapon lay in
the wagon, while he himself believed in
possible Sioux only when he saw them
| Ashamed to confess the growing appre-
hension which now fairly tortured me and
forced me to address him, l shook him by
| the shoulder and asked him, "Where is
your gun, Ike"
"In the wagon" he sleepily answered.
"Why don't you put it under your bed
and keep it dry? You'll want to shoot a
duck or goose in the morning, and your
gun won't go because the cap is wet with
dew. Go and get it and keepit with you"
''Let the gun alone" he rejoined Grossly
"Look here, Isaac" persisted, '.if you
don't get your gun will
"What's the matter with you ?" he an,
swered, raising himself up on one elbow
and staring into my face. "If you must
have the gun here before you are satisfied
l suppose l can get it," he continued, ris
ing up and getting the gun, which he
placed under the edge of the blanket and
again lay down to sleep.
| Again | tried to compose myself to rest
and still | found sleep impossible, while
the feeling of dread of impending and
nameless evil lessened not at all and agair
l rose and scattered the brands of our de
caying campfire, and tramped into the
blackness of darkness the last spark O
light.
Once more l retired to my bed, anc
soon the strange sensation lessened anC
passed gradually away, and was followed
by the peaceful sleep enjoyed by the lover
of the open air; and the morning dawnec
swaetly upon the silent prairie Aftel
breakfast my brother departed for Man
kato, and / wandered over the GROUND
making the necessary signs; and camping
alone on the river next night, walked
down to the settlements the day following
wondering continually what could have
caused the strange uneasiness, the like O
which had never before land has never
since) agitated me.
Reaching the house of friend, the frs
news | heard was the tale of blood Just re
ceived from the settlements on Elm Greek
(of which Fish Lake is the source) of the
depredations Of a war party of Sioux il
search of scalps and horses, and which, or
the very night of my troubled slumber OF
the shore of the lonely lake, had passed
us by, and appeared next morning at ths
Elm Creek settlement, where man anC
boy were murdered and several horses
taken, which were never recovered.
My brother, returning from Mankato
told me that he had gone only about &
mile after leaving me, when he came into
trail in the heavy dew, which came
from the direction of the north shore o
the lake upon which we had been en-
camped; and as it went in his direction
he followed it for some miles before reach
ing the Mankato road, where he turned
off more to the northward, and not unit
he had followed it for quite distance die
he find out what made it. Growing
thirsty, he stopped at small lake TO get ;
drink, when he noticed that one of thu
party in front of him had at this poin
turned off on the same errand, and in the
soft ground of the lake shore the small
moccasin track was plainly seen, as wa
also the print Of his hands and knees il
the ground where he had kneeled tt
drink.
Whether or no the stamping out of tht
last embers of our campfire secured th'
slumberers of the lonely camp from tn,
gaze of murderous eyes, know not. Ont
thing | know, that the sensation Of tina
night, if ever again repeated, will not b'
suffered to pass unheeded.-Forest ant
Stream.
WE are often deceived in the age of PEG