River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-06-18
IN THE WILDERNESS.
How a White Man Retired from the W orl,
Oh Civilization.

OA CIVILIZATION.
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 a few shanties and a
drinking saloon" said an uncompli-
mentary transatlantic friend the other
day, and 1t must be admitted that many
of them have no better origin, and per-
haps the exceptions only go to prove
the rule; but there are two towns on
the bluffs OF the Mississippi that de-
serve to have their romantic and I'M
mercenary source chronicled. Many
years ago-before our civil war-a
couple of adventurous Englishmen, with
an American friend, decided to spend
several winter months in the lands of
the far north in pursuit of the game
of those ATTITUDES. Their plan was to
join the Red River traders on their an
nual expedition in search of furs and
skins, and to stay with them until they
worked themselves southwark again.
The trip promised any amount of nov
city and unlimited sport, and after fully
providing themselves with all easily
transported pecessaries 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 a 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 salts
factory plans to compensate them for
their lost opportunity, and finally their
desultory wanderings brought them to
the banks of the Mississippi. Every
one who has travelled up the beautiful
clear stream which is so distinctly diff
ferent from its turbid and muddy con-
dition after its union with the mighty
tide of the Missouri will remember the
romantic and beautiful spot where the
river enlarges itself and forms the ex-
quisite 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 dusty aborigines. At the end of
the lake under high cliff on the Min
nesota side, the river resumes its mar
row boundaries and here the friends
fell in with tribe of Indians and made
strange acquaintance. Their inter
prefer told them that several years be-
fore white mar had taken up mis- resi-
dence with them, adapted himself to
their manners and customs, and had
finally married the eldest daughter of
their chief, and was then living in
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 volun-
tarily renowned 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 ac-
quaintance, 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 children.
Although this is true narrative, and the
name of the white chief is of histor-
ical value, inasmuch as he gave it to his
settlement, which is now a 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
informant, who was one of the party of
three, told US all this and much more.
They were received by him with the
greatest hospitality and spent many
happy week in hunting 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 II 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 English
men had long since passed out of the
ken of our young American, who served
with ability and distinction throughout
the long years of conflict. Never, how
ever, did he forget the picturesque re-
gion on the banks of the great river, or
the ever-to- aforementioned experience
in the encampment of the Indians, 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 adv&n-
tages of the Canadian colleges. The
wigwam had become a comfortable and
ample house, the princess" an easy
going and well-dressed matron, and the
encampment town. Further down
the river however, the wilderness was
unbrolxen. and there General - pur
chased 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 Frontenac. Under the
wise and loving policy of Bishop Whip
pie the Indians and the whites are tread
ing together the paths of civilization,
and doubtless there will be many in the
days to come, who like the Roanoles
of Virginia, will be proud to trace back
their lineage to the original lords of the