The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-10-29

XT - ted TO Une Dedu-
-1iful lakes and rivers of what has since
been well named the Park Region of
Hfirnesota. Tall, raw-boned, sinewy
and capable of enduringas much priva-
-45ou as any Indian, he hunted and
trapped wherever he found game and
fur most abundant, in defiance of the
SaVages who claimed that country for
&lleir own.
Years later, when settlers had driven
@way the Indians, as well as most of
Che game. Old Thad, too much in love
with the locality to follow the Indians
and the game, built a snug cabin upon
Che edge of wide stretch of timber
and meadow land where a deep, clear
stream emptied into lake of consider
able size, and settled down to adapt
himself TO the new order of things.
He could never make up his mind to
Become a farmer, but spent his time in
bunting and trapping as he had always
.cSOne- q good neighbor he was. When
ever ne returned from a successful
AUNT, a saddle of venison or bear meat
vas pretty sure to find its way to our
tsonse on the banks of the lake, in re-
&arn for the hams and bacon which my
father sometimes sent him.
My father was no hunter, but when
q became old enough to handle a rifle,
Eae often allowed me TO accompany Old
sChad on his expeditions. l went al
most wild with joy whenever l was
granted holiday of this sort Old
Thad was jolly companion, and one
of the best story tellers that / ever
KNEW
We had no end of sport, and met with
many exciting adventures both on land
and water; but my greatest delight
was to sit 10y our camp fire at night
and listen to the old man as he re.
Scounted his early adventures among
sshe TIs5ians.
His tales of hand to hand encounters,
eJf cunning strategy, of hairbreath
snscapess all told in manner that con
pinced me Of their truthfulness would
all Iarge volume if duly reported.
Coming down the Otter Tail late one
MuGnnD day after a successful deer
BuDf. we landed to portage or carry
szSuT cau1Oe and its heavy load down past
,GGne of the numerous rapids for which
that river is noted. At the foot of the
rapids we embarked once more to pad
die down to good camping place {
short distance below.
'-How'd you like to shoot them rapids
with u load of furs and traps aboard?'
asked my companion, as we took VI
4Onr paddles.
Il sl,ould want to say good-by to my
Friends before tried it," replied.
81 wouldn't care to try it again my
self, but ] did it once" said Thad. 81
Was a grounding case, though, tel
YOU, for just had to do it or lose my
scalp But made the biggest haul o
fur that night down in these wood
that ever made in my life. Tell yol
all about it when we get into camp"
lyon see," he began when we sa
down 10 a supper of fried venison
hArdtach and coffee, with our feet Il
the fire, while the bark canoe, turned
upon ifs side, protected our backs from
che sharp west wind; you see I'd beel
'Grappin' all the fan up above here, ant
,cafehed the prettiest lot of fur you eve
set eyes on All this country belonge,
71otise Mandan Sioux then. 1t was jus
,Eboszt rs much as a mans life wa
worth to let them Indians catch him il
these parts.
- Eadn't seen the first red durinI
all the time that I'd been trapping
that fall, and made up my mind tina
they'd all gone further west tor thei
regular fall buffalo hunt. So l wa
padding along as careless as you pleas
late .ssle evening, about a mile abov
Glie rapids, whore that big creek put
an from the east.
~yell, ] tuck good look up tn
zreell as always did up every strear
ughen padding in hostile country, an
NEha1 DID / see conc polking round
Iea11 mtt 1he noses of pair of bi
4zan0eS
81 know'd too well what was in 'eu
1nD6 didn't stop to get good look a
eEse crc1. ;, bnt just dug my paddle int
che wafer an tried to get past th
zanrth of that creek and out of sight.
~ hcerd the I"dians give a yell Jus
as ! JRepI past rae mouth. The neN
1seeol d, crack went couple OF rifles
HE ssallstg came eross lots ,hroug