The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-07-23


force from firing through the door. 1t
was terrible thought that such an act
meant the massacre of the whole settle
ment While under the influence OF the
aforesaid fire-water they would leap high
and emit blood-curdling yells, and it was
joyful sight and relief to the few IN
habitants when one pleasant morn their
bark canoes were seen gliding northerly
over the calm surface of the lake. When
asked their tribe would point to their
brooches Some with one, others with
two or three large silver crescent shaped
ones, and many wore half dozen pairs
| of earrings piled one over another.
| Among them were Ottawas, Chippewas,
| Pottewattemies and Sioux, or, as they
| pronounced it, Sahoo-accompanled with
| the cultural sound, that only an Indian
| or one living among them can Initiate.
| But to return. Later floor was laid IN
| the cabin of rough boards thrown over
board in a storm washed ashore, dragged
out full of sand and water. A large
square was left for 1replace-large logs
piled that side of the cabin, behind which
water was poured as protection from lire,
each one after an ablutiOn adding do
nation. A fire of smaller wood built
against these, the smoke left to find it's
way out through an opening in the roof.
and show what it could accomplish in
beautiful wreaths, watery eyes, sweet
tempers, ct cetera. An improvised table,
dry goods box, and chests, trunks,
boxes and even short cuts of logs were
brought under contribution for seats
| Later still broad chimney was built Of
home made lath plastered with clay that
would crack off here and there while dry
| ing. and the exposed lathe would fire up
at the least provocation, thus keeping the
| inmates in constant fear of being burned
out The prairie fires were grand sight
| in their case distance lending enchant-
ment At midnight the alarm would be
sounded. The fire is coming, the fire is
coming, and all men, women and children
would hasten out, III many cases spread
wet blankets on their stack, and then
came hand to hand fight with the de-
vouring element. Dry leaves on the trees
| would ignite from the fire beneath, awful
| ly grand to behold and fearfully SO when
| too near for safety. The settlers learned
| to start fire around their dwellings and
| garnered crops in calm. and when
burned far enough to shield them would
| beat it out with boards. Another way
was to plough safety strip around them.
A large, coarse resinOus flower grew
abundantly on the prairies, and from the
broken stalk would exude large drop Of
gum, snow white when dry. All re-
quired to supply ones self with pure,
| free chewing gum was to call at Natures
laboratory After the fire the ground
would crackle under the feet like
| thin glass The late n. r. Allen, then
young man, saw fire as evening was
sat ont to "a
stacks near the head Of Pike Creek and
found them burning Thrust pole into
one and when Withdrawn was covered
thick with gum and looked like colored
glass He brought some in and distrib
uted it among the children. About this
time sad accident occurred, the drown
ing of Hiram T0wslee, promising
young son Of Walter Towslee. In the
long winter evenings, when there were
less books and papers than now, when
difficult to send letters, answers to which
came at long intervals, then it was they
felt the need of society. Postage on let
ters was twenty-five cents, and when
| sheet of fo0lscap written full came it
was well worth it and was greedily read
| and re-read When there was to be an
evening out the oX-sled would be drawn
| before the door, the family seated on the
| bottom nearly buried in straw and blan
kets; then Dime and Dobbins would take
| them short ride, as neighbOrs lived on
ly half mile to mile apart. Would
talk over the situation present and pros
pective and eat hickory nuts Some
times the hostess gave a more elaborate
entertainment by adding pop corn and
pumpkin pie Or did a couple wish to
ride more styEshly by daylight or on eX
ira occasions, the jumper was brought
out Made from two saplings, each an
swering for thill and runner, fastened
together by crosspieces and boards nailed
to them. No seat,-an upright board
against two stakes for back rest Blan-
kets and straw for cushions-blanket
spread over and there was stylish con-
veyance AS warm hearts beat under
meath as though smothered in the cost
| Hest robes.
The low praires were generally covered
with ice in winter and Jerry must be a
brisk traveller to cross the ice in advance
of the jumper There was no attempt at
rivalry and they felt free as the eagle that
spread his broad wings above them. The
Fourth of July, 1888. was celebrated here.
the principal attraction being the grand
entry of twentyeour young ladies from
btle SUIEOuuOllIS I'D WI ny lNCu-
| ty-four yOleS of oxen, that being the
number of states at that time, A flock
of timid graceful deer was beautiful
sight, from ten to fifteen often seen to-
gether The hoohng and screeching Of
owls, the combined bark and howl of
prairie wolves made the night hileous
but after bounty Of two dollars per
| head was offered for wolves scalps, they
rapidly disappeared. Surrounding adj
verse circumstances did not dishearten the
people, for as time passed the constant in
t1ux Of settlers who were to become reli
able citizens gave added moral tone and
strength to the community After ma
terial needs We're partially applied came
the felt need of the Sabbath and its SER
vices to which they had been accus-
| toned, and meetings and Sunday schools
were appointed at private houses and
gladly welcomed and day school opened
by Elder Lothrop at his residence. It is
not the object of this paper to repeat
aught that is written up in the history Of
] KenOsha consequently naught remains