Evening journal., 1891-12-29
DRIVING TOTE TEAM.

my uncle, with whom | lived when
was a boy had a large family Of his own
He was one Of the first settlers in western
Wisconsin, and, besides carrying on a
large farm on the banks OF one OF the prin-
cip1 numbering streams, he took a large
logging crew into the woods every winter.
The logging camp was sixty miles up
the river, and al the supplies for the men
and the teams were hauled from home.
The team which did this hauling-the
"tote team as it was called-made one
trip each week from the time the men
went into the woods in the fall until they
came out in the spring
The winter / was fourteen, my cousin
Ted fifteen and his brother George thir.
teen men were very scarce, and, although
we were rather young for such work, my
uncle thought it safe to allow two Of us 10
take charge Of the tote team.
was always one Of the two who went
with the team, and Ted and George took
turn about one going with me every
other trip, while the other stayed at home
70 do the chores.
We were tough, hardy boys, well used TO
handling horses, and, although "totingt
was anything but play. we enjoyed It
greatly. We thought It made men Of us
70 do mems work
We had a great deal Of sport, but some
Of the incidents Of these toting trips were
far from funny
At one place the road ran through a
large swamp or cranberry marsh, upon
the edge Of which along the banks Of
small river band Of Winnebago Indians
44asat al 80
game abounded, including the fur bearing
animals which the Indians trapped The
site afforded them besides good opportnni.
ties TO swap with the numerous tote
teams which travelled the road.
We sometimes bartered with the Indians
such articles as flour, sugar, coffee, bacon
and tobacco for buekskin moccasins and
ak helves. Nearly all the men at the log.
ging camps wore moccasins and Of course
there was need Of many ax helves.
Many Of these Indians were industrious
and could make the best OF ak helves.
They were sharp traders too: but some Of
them had the reputation Of stealing every
thing they could get their hands on. We
were always careful to treat them well.
and gave them full value for all that we
traded for.
There We're so many Of these Whine
hagos-or "Bagosn as we called them
scattered about that region that the whites
were slow 90 DO anything that was likely
TO provoke their in will.
We always arranged the front end OF oui
sleigh before we reached the Indians camp
so that we could trade with them as ex
peditously as possible. We would give
them quart cup full OF coffee for good
ak helye, and twice as much for pair OF
moccasins. Of sugar we gave them twice
the amount we did Of coffee, and OF 1oui
five times.
One time when we reached nv uncle's
lumber camp we found our load short a
ham or two, or several pieces of bacon, the
loss OF which we could account for only on
the superstition that the Bagos had stolen
the meat while crowding around the sleigh
70 do their trading
My uncle scolded us a little for allowing
the Indians 70 steal things fright from un.
der our noses as he put it. We made up
our minds TO keep sharp lookout when.
ever we stopped at the camp again.
On our next trip the jingle Of bur sleigh.
bells brought the whole camp out to the
road, and when we stopped the Indians all
crowded around as usual.
II was asharp, cold morning, and all had
their long blankets wrapped closely about
them.
Ted and ! We're soon busy dealing out
"tohac," "coppeen and "soogn TO this one
and that one, when Ted noticed a sudden
opening and closing Of the blanket Of a tall
young Indian who stood leaning I'M
against the back Of the sleigh.
Keeping his eye on the fellow he soon
saw MN move away from the sleigh, turn
his back to us and walk slowly toward the
camp.
Ted scrambled quickly 70 the rear Of the
load, and found that one of the largest
hams, worth two dollars or three dollars.
was missing.
Here, You thieving rascalw he shouted
At the retreating Indian, "bring that ham
back here, and be quick about it.a
The young Bago simply quickeDed his |
pace without turning around or seeming
70 notice Ted's shouts. was desperately
afraid o. getting into trouble with 50 many
Of these strapping red men, but Ted was
not
In fact never knew that boy to meet
anything IN the shape Of man or beast that
he was afraid or He was large and very
strong for his age, and almost as dark
skinned as an Indian.
Before l knew what he was about Ted
sprang 70 the ground and chased the Bapo
as fast as he could run. The young Indian
ran toward his wigwam, which stood. with
the rest Of the village, about 200 yards back
from the Boad. But Ted overlook him in
little more than half the distance.
When the Indian saw that his pursuer
was about TO spring upon him. he turned
around and faced Ted.
The Indian had great advantage in size
and strength, but he was heavily handi.
capped for a struggle by the necessity ~
keeping his blanket folded tightly about
him in order to conceal the stolen hmm
This kept both Of his hands occupied- and
all be could do in defense was TO kick ONT
vigorously with his moccasined feet
lie proved no mean antagonist as il was.
Tor he was quick as a flash, and his legs
were long and sturdy.
expected to see the other Bagos run To
The support OF their comrade, but tbev
seemed 70 think the young brave would
nave little trouble in handling the uhfte
boy, and laughed heartily as Be wheeled
nrst one way, then another, keepinQ his
pursuer at distance by his furious kicks.
Ted lodged his heels, and watching for
an opening suddenly leaped straight at
the rascal and caught him by the throat
with both hands.
Quick as thought the Indian let 90 Of
bhe olankefi ham and all, and seized Ted
around the body. He had chung to the
nam little too long, however, for Ted had
secured hold which even the Indians su-
perlor strength could not shake of.
Ted knew that he would be no mach for
60 N.NN