The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-25
DRIVING TOTE TEAM.

Wisconsin, and, besides carrying on a
large farm on the banks of one of the prin-
cipal numbering streams, he took large
logging crew into the woods every winter.
The logging camp was sixty miles up
the river, and all 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 mon
went into the woods in the fall until they
came out in the spring.
The winter I 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 20
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
to do the chores.
We were tough, hardy boys, well used to
handling horses, and, although "toting"
was anything but play, we enjoyed iJ
greatly. We thought it made men of US
to do mems work.
We had great deal of sport, but some
of the incidents of these toting trips were
far from funny.
At one place the road ran through
large swamp or cranberry marsh, upon
the edge of which along the banks of
small river band of Winnebago Indians
encamped every winter. In this place
game abounded including the fur bearing
animals which the Indians trapped. The
site afforded them besides good opportuni-
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 buckskin moccasins and
ak helves. Nearly all the men at the log
ging camps wore moccasins and of course
there was need of many AK 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 were so many of these Winnie
bagos-or "Bagos" as we called them
scattered about that region that the whites
were slow to do anything that was likely
to provoke their i'll will.
We always arranged the front end of our
sleigh before we reached the Indians camp
so that we could trade with them as ex-
peditiOusly as possible. We would give
them a quart cup full of coffee for a good
ak helve, and twice as much for a pair Of
moccasins. OF sugar we gave them twice
the amount we did of coffee, and of flour
five times.
One time when we reached my uncle's
lumber camp we found our load short
ham or two, or several pieces of bacon, the
loss of which we could account for only on
the supposition that the Bagos had stolen
the meat while crowding around the sleigh
to do their trading.
My uncle scolded us little for allowing
the Indians to steal things fright from I'M
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 our sleigh
bells brought the whole camp out to the
road. and when we stopped the Indians all
crowded around as usual.
1t was sharp, cold morning, and all had
their long blankets wrapped closely about
them.
Ted and l were soon busy dealing ont
'tobac," ''coppee" and "soog" to this one
and that one, when Ted noticed a sudden
opening and closing of the blanket of tall
young Indian who stood leaning up
against the back of the sleigh.
Keeping his eye on the fellow he soon
saw him move away from the sleigh, turn
his back to us and walk slowly toward the
camp.
Ted scrambled quickly to the rear of the
load, and found that one of the largest
hams, worth two dollars or three dollars,
was missing
Here, you thieving rascalr' he shouted
at the retreating Indian, bring that ham
back here, and be quick about it,"
The young Bago simply quickened his
pace without turning around or seeming
TO notice Ted's shouts. | was desperately
afraid of getting into trouble with 50 many
OF these straPpiag red men, but Ted was
not.
Ia fact ! never knew that boy TO meet
anything in the shape Of man or beast that
he was afraid Of 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 TO the ground and chased the Bago
as fast as he coald run. The young Iudian
ran toward his wigwam, which stood. with
the rest Of the village, about 200 yards back
from the road. But Ted overlook him in
little more than half the distance
When the Indian saw that his pursuer
was about 10 spring upon him, he turned
around and faced Ted.
The Indian had great advantage in size
and strength, but ne was heavily haudi-
capped for a struggle by the necessity Of
keeping his blanket folded tightly about
him in order TO conceal the stolen ham.
This kept both OF his hands occupied, and
all he could do in defense was 10 kick out
vigorously with his lnoccasined feet.
lie proved no mean antagonist as IL was.
for he WAS quick as = flash, and his legs
were long and sturdy.
! expected 10 see the other Bagos run 10
the support of their comrade. but they
seemed 10 think the young brave would
have little trouble in handling The white
boy, and laughed heartily as he wheeled
first one way, then another. keeping his
pursuer At a distance by his furious kicks.
Ted lodged MS heels. and watching for
an opening suddenly leapei straight at
the rascal and caught him BY the throat
with both hands
Quick rs thought the Indian lef g ot
the blanket ham aud AL, and seized Ted
around the body. he had chung u the