Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-20
BLACK HAWK.
Interesting Historical Sketch of
the Great Chief.
WHERE HIS LIFE WAS SPENT

His Stamping Ground Made Famous, and
Which is Familiar to Us All Today
Points of Interest Which Pertain to Us
"A CreditabIe Contribution TO Maea-
zine Literature.
the November number OF the New
England Magazine will contain au excel
lently and carefully written contribution
by Irving Berdine Richman, of Musca-'
tine, entitled The Home of Black
Hawk" The article is Astounding in
facts of peculiar local interest. being also
handsomely illustrated, the familiar fes-
lures OF Black Hawk. and of Keokuk. and
Col George Davenport. Antoine Le-
Claire and views Of Vandruff's Island,
Black Hawk Tower. Rock river Rock Isl.
and arsenal and Fort Armstrong, etc, APP.
pearing.
The article begins with this historical
reference:
The western boundary of the state of
Illinois IS formed by the Mississippi
river. The course of this river past. and
for many miles above. the city of Rock
Island is southwest. just below the CITY
Rock river enters the Mississippi. The
course of Rock river is also southwest.
but at such an angle as to bring it into
conjunction with the larger stream
at the point named. In the
Mississippi. three AMI one half miles
northeast from the mouth of Rock river
is the island of Rock Island-the present
site of the extensive United States gov
eminent works known as the r OK Island
arsenal. On the north bank of Rock
river. a mile east from its mouth, was To-
Gated for many years (perhaps hundred)
preceding its destruction in 1881 by the
Illinois militia. the large Indian town of
Ssukenuk. The date of the founding of
his town IS undetermined. Black Hawk,
the Sank chief. in his sutobiogra ply.
puts it as far back as 1871.
Others put it as late as 17S3--the sp-
proximste date OF the abandonment bv
the Sauks of their village on the Wiscon-
sin river, which Augustin Griguon found
deserted in 1895 but which Jonsthan
Carver, the English traveller, had found
inhabited in 1866.
The founders OF the town-the Sank
Indisns-werc an Algonquin tribe, in
habitants originally, along with other
tribes, of the region about Montreal. Cam
ada; extremely wsrlike in disposition and
possessing t. history Astounding in Incl
dents both romantic and terrible.
The writer then reviews the Indian his
tory up to that time and bringing it
down 10 the days of Black Hawk He
describes the bold promontorg known as
Black Hawk Tower. the present delights
full resort which has been so much inn
proved the present season. He traces
the history of the Black Hawk war of
1882, which gave the great chief his fame,
and in the same connection the scenes of
his life and struggles hereabouts. Fort
Armstrong. Vandruff s Island. ss well as
the Tower. The writer says:
On June Both, formal engagement
was entered into. between Black Hawk
and General Gaines and Governor Rey-
noids. that the Sank and Fox nations
should at all times thereafter reside and
hunt on the west side of the Mississippi
river, and not return to the east side
without the express con ent Of the presi-
dent of the United States or of the gov
ornOr OF Illinois This engagement Black
Hawk failed to Keep. Just what actuated
him most in breaking it is perhaps not
clear, but among the motives at work
stand out prominently TN unccnouerable
love for the place of his birth and a de-
sire there to spend the declining years of
his life. Viewed from his standpoint the
Rock river country had never rightfully
passed from the control of the Sauks; it
was the scene of the chief events in tbe
life OF that nation since their
expulsion fro N Wisconsin; nature. NOR
over, had made it very beautiful.