The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-10

IN THE WILDERNESS.
HOW A MAN RETIRED FROM THE
WORLD AND BECAME A CHIEF.


An Educated White Marries an Indian
Princess-Their Children Become Intel
Iieent Citizens of a Prosperous Village
on the Mississippi.
MANY people, especially Englishmen,
Imagine that the raison d'etre of all our
western towns is entirely our incessant
pursuit of the almighty dollar. ''They all
begin with few shanties and drinking
saloon" said an uncomplimentary trans
atlantic friend the other day, and it must
he admitted that many of them have no
better origin, and perhaps the exceptions
only go to prove the rule But there are
two towns on the bluffs of the Mississippi
that deserve to have their romantic and
unmercenary source chronicled.
Many years ago-before our civil war-a
couple of adventurous Englishmen, with
an American friend, decided to spend sew
eral winter months in the lands of the far
north in pursuit of the game of those lati-
tudes. Their plan was to join the Red
river traders on their annual expedition in
search of furs and skins, and to stay with
them until they worked themselves south
ward again.
The trip promised any amount of novel
ty and unlimited sport, and after fully
providing themselves with all easily trans
ported necessaries they arrived at the place
of rendezvous in Minnesota-which was
then in its primeval wildness-just too
late.
The traders had for some reason left
week earlier than usual, and it was quite
hopeless to try and follow them without a
large escort. Greatly disappointed, they
fingered in the vicinity without forming
any satisfactory plans to compensate them
for their lost opportunity, and finally their
desultory wanderings brought them TO the
banks of the Mississippi.
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.
Every one who has travelled up the beau
tiful clear stream which is SO distinctly
different from its turbid and muddy condi-
ton after its union with the mighty tide of
the Missouri will remember the romantic
and beautiful spot where the river en-
1arges itself and forms the exquisite little
sheet of water known as Lake Pepin, which
is surrounded by the overhanging bluffs Of
Minnesota on the one side (Which from
their heights stretch away into illimitable
distances of rolling prairie land) and the
dense forest of Wisconsin on the other,
both coasts being then in all the savagery
of their original state and peopled only by
the dusky aborigines.
At the end of the lake under high cliff
On the Minnesota side the river resumes its
narrow boundaries, and here the friends
fell in with tribe of Indians and made a
strange acquaintance. Their interpreter
told them that several years before a white
man had taken up his residence with them,
adapted himself to their manners and Gus
toms, and had finally married the eldest
daughter of their chief, and was then liv-
ing in a somewhat isolated state a little
apart from their village.
Our travellers naturally felt a good deal
of curiosity concerning the man of their
own race who had thus voluntarily re-
nounced civilization, and who was, as they
gathered from the talk of the Indians, of
different fiber than the rougher sort of
frontier men. They therefore lost no time
in making his acquaintance, and found
the recluse to be a man of culture and
breeding, who for some reason had become
sick of the world and had betaken himself
to the wilds, leading a not unhappy life
with his Indian princess" and her chill
dren.
A VILLAGE BY THE RIVER.
AlJHbuSn lllS Is u JLllO 1dIIdbINC, anu
the name of the white chief is of histor-
ical value, inasmuch as he gave it to his
settlement, which is now flourishing
town on the site of the Indian encamp-
ment, we do not feel quite at liberty to give
it, knowing how many inaccuracies may
occur in twice told tales But our in
formant, who was one of the party of three,
told US all this and much more. They
vooaiva1 NV hi, with ha oct
hospitality, and spent many weeks hunt
ing with snowshoes over the broad prairie
and leading comfortable lives in the warm
skin wigwams, which the pure, dry cold of
those ATTITUDES, intense although it was,
never penetrated. 1t was an experience TO
remain ever green and fresh among their
happiest memories.
The years rolled on and our great civil
war absorbed all the thoughts and energies
of daring spirits. The Englishmen had
long since passed out of the ken of our
young American, who served with ability
and distinction throughout the long wears
of conflict. Never, however, did he forget
the picturesque region on the banks of the
great river, or the ever to be remembered
experience in the encampment of the In
dians, and after peace had been declared,
and he was once more his own master, he
felt drawn by an irresistible attraction back
TO the scene of his old adventures.
Here naturally he found many changes;
the dusky little children of his hospitable
entertainer had become fine young men,
who had had all the best advantages of the
Canadian colleges. The wigwam had be-
came a comfortable and ample house, the
princess" an easy going and well dressed
matron, and the encampment a town.
Further down the river, however, the will
derness was unbroken, and there General
- purchased an extensive tract of bluff
land and prairie land and founded the
pretty village which overhangs Lake
Pepin and has been christened by the old
French name of Fronrenac.
Under the wise and loving policy Of
Bishop Whipple the Indians and the
whites are treading together the paths Of
civilization, and doubtless there will be
many in the days to come who, like the
Roanokes of Virginia, viii be proud to
trace back their lineage to the original
lords of the soil.-New York Tribune.
A Safe Offer.
Enterprising Boy (who reads the paper)-