St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-26

dued state. Maj. Bracket, a deputy
marshal who went there to investigate
matters and to make arrests, if neces-
sary, has returned to St. Paul. He did
not make any arrests, and says that the
Indians are now peaceful and the tax
ing OF fish from the lake by the Balti-
more company, the Hudson Bay COM
pany and others is going on.
Maj. Bracket went to Rat Portage
about two weeks ago, and from there
went over to Garden Island ON cutter
that is used on the American portion of
the lake. He found number of both
American and Canadian Indians on the
island and On the government reSerya-
ton. They were anxious for con-
ference. One was arranged for and
held, in which Maj. Bracket spoke
through an interpreter. There were
about fifty i'll the delegation of Indians
at the conference, among them being
Falmouth, chief of the Leech Lake
tribe; Bah-W ah-Sung, the father-in-law
of Falmouth and chief of Canadian
tribe, and Mesha-Key-Binai chief of
the Red Lake tribe of American In
dians. Mai. Bracket objected to the
Canadian Indians participating in the
conference, but they were allowed TO
remain at the request of Flat
mouth, who said that they were
of the tribe of his father-in-laW
The Indians stated that the lake would
soon be robbed of fish at the rate they
were being caught, and that the Baiti-
more company had no right to go on
their reservation to take their fish and
deprive them of their subsistence. Flat
mouth said he reported to the Indian
agent that they had objected to the de-
Al of Ec1 ~ bn 1ol for
time. He said the agent had told them
that they could break up the camps, and
they had done so with the assistance of
his father-in-law'S tribe of Canadian In
dams. Maj. Bracket told them that.
as far as the Canadian Indians are con-
cerned, it was no concern of theirs, and
that they must not Interfere with mat
tiers within the United States territory.
He stated to the American tribes that
there is all abundance of fish, and that
there would be enough left for them: that
they must not Interfere with the Balti-
more company, as it seemed to have
rights given it to fish there.
The above is the substance OF the
talk. Maj. Brackett left with the
understanding that no further interior
ence would be made at present. He
was. told by residents OF Rat Portage
that no confidence can be placed IL
Falmouth. and he Is considered bad
Indian. 1t was learned from another
source last evening that the Indians are
not satisfied with the conference with
Mai Bracket. A telegram was sent to
Indian Agent r. P. Shuler. at White
Earth, stating that the Indians had re-
fused to talk to Maj. Bracket and ask
ing him to go to Garden Island. Capt.
Shuler will 60 there at once and make
a fnll investigation Of the matter. Maj.
Bracket, in speaking of this trip. said:
Lake of the Woods is beautiful
sheet of water-some 125 miles long by
so miles wide. 1t is said to be dotted
with over 5000 islands. The water is
deep and contains immense quantities
of fish, among which are white fish,
bass and sturgeon; the latter will weigh
so to 100 pounds.
FRAT Portage is city of about 5000
inhabitants, situated at the foot of the
lake-160 miles from Winnipeg. There
are about 1000 people camped on the
islands, near Rat Portage. They
went there from all partsOf the
country, but principally from Mont
real aud Winnipeg. Rat Portage is
There are three fine hotels there. The
Lay SOhlPou iioO q Aoi oO oIO1O
in the town and does an immense bust
ness. Garden island is siXty-fve miles
from Rat Portage and twenty-seyen
miles from the mouth of Rainy river.
There is large part of Lake of the
Woods within the lines of the United
States. The line runs between
Garden island and the west
shore of the lake. The island is
near the Indian reservation, which eX
tends to the Canadian line. The United
States juts out from the forty-ninth
parallel to what is known as the north
west angle. and drops back to that
parallel of latitude"
Maj Bracket also said that the report
as to timber treSpaSsing along the
Rainy river region IS much exagger-
ated.
Col Edwards, collector of customs at
ST. Paul, is now in that region making
tour of the ports, with view of inves-
tigating the reports that systematic
smuggling is going OH along the border.
He visited Rat Portage, and went along
Rainy river by boat. He will go to old
Fort Francis ana Garden Island before
returning. I.