The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-06-24
CORRESPONDENCE.
Our Minnesota Letter.

H.
ground for week of camp life.
variety is the spice Of life
That gives 1t all its flavor"
This park is about six miles down the
Mississippi River from st. Paul and two
or three miles down further is St. PauPs
Park. This has been used by the Meth
odists for their camp meetings ever since
1868. Some years as many as 2S,OOO peo-
pie are here at some time during the
meetings, There are, / should think,
some 40 cottages and larger houses on
the grounds, besides the tabernacle,
chapel and restaurant.
It was originally an oak forest here
but as the trees die they are replaced by
elm, cottonwood, etc., so there is now
some variety in the shade trees, many of
which are very beautiful. Seats are
scattered around through the woods for.
the accommodation of the campers. My
first night in camp was made interesting
by n serenade of frogs, crickets, and per-
haps katy-dids.
The pavilion contains some 200 long
seats, so that big crowd can be accom-
modated. George Huff, the superintend,
dent of the grounds, is Methodist and
a Prohibit:onist. He is so well pleased
with his work here that he says he
would not exchange places with the
mayor of Minneapolis. There is an ar
tesian we'll 400 feet deep and windmill
with a tank near the top to force the
water around where it is wanted. There
is a hotel on the grounds, which presents
a fair exterior, but have not been in
side yet. The proprietor told me his
terms were 25 cents meal.
Camp meeting is appointed to begin
three weeks from to-day and to continue
two and half weeks.
The park is on the left bank of the
Mississippi River and just outside to the
east. two railroads, the Milwaukee and
st. Paul, and the Burlington and North
ern run side by side.
There are 10000 shingles to be laid on
the pavilion, chapel, restaurant, etc.,
and have hand in that job. This &C
counts for my being so early on the
grounds. saw one steamer pass up
the river yesterday. 1t is an exceeding
ly pleasant place and many people spend
the best part of the summer here.
Just opposite my window, as l write,
is a rock scarcely more than an ordinary
load for span of horses. 1t is over
Swallowed by medium sized tree and
only few rods from the cottage built
for Sam Jones, when he and his collab-
orer. Sam Small, were here in 1886.
That rock small as it is, has clustering
around it much of ancient tradition and
romance. The superintendent told me
of several efforts by curiosity hunters
to steal it, once the effort was made to
blast it into fragments to be sold to the
curiors and another time it was in danger
of being captured by passing steamer
which was rounding up to the shore pre-
paratery to swinging it up fol transpor-
tation. But all these efforts were frus-
trated and it is now, / should think,
several hundred yards from the river
and in the possession of the park associ-
alton. Now, if they don't let somebody
take it to Chicago next year, l suppose
we may consider it to be securely set
tied as a permanent item of interest in
the park.
will quote some memories from a
little pamphlet by Mrs. II. A. Hobart
1.-THE name, Red Rock is translation
of the compound Dakotah word eyOh
(rock), sha,U (red) and is the name given
to this locality from time immemorial.
''The summer home of Little Crows
band of Dakotahs or Sioux was at Ka-
posia on the the west side of the river
and two miles above here. The low
limestone banks here formed conven-
lent landing place for the bands as they
were moving from their summer homes
to their winter hunting grounds which
extended along the Mississippi and st.
Croix rivers. The Indebtedness of the
northern boundary line was one cause of
many bloody encounters between the
Sioux and Chippewas."
The sight of this red granite boulder
caused much wonder among the Indians.
Was it made there or was it transported
from its original bed? AS no answer
could be obtained to their queryings,
the rock became to them "1dnkon'' OF
mystery and hence an object of worship
for centuries past. This worship con-
sisted of smearing the rock with red
paint and in offerings Of sugar, tobacco,
skins, ducks, pipes, fish or anything else
of value to ''The Spirit" of the rock, the
object of which was to secure success in
their wars and hunting expeditions.
The earliest mission of the Metho-
dist church among the Sioux was al
Kamposia in 1897, by Rev. Alfred Brun.
son, superintendent, David King, mis-.
sionary and John Holton, farmer.
Two years later Little Crow began tc
impose upon them by charging ~ cents
a spear for hay and preportionally large
prices for wood, SO they crossed the
river and moved down two miles to Rec
Rock, that being the translation of the
Indian name. Another cause of dis
turbance and discord among the Indians
was the whiskey they obtained from
''Pig's eye" that being the pioneer
name Of st. Paul, given, it is said il
honor of the personal appearance of 9
one-eyed saloon keeper Of the place
Soon after the removal Of the mission tC
Red Rock, dry-goods store and schoo
were started and the place babe fair t.
rival pigs Eye"
In 1913 the mission was abandoned blu
part Of the settlers remained and thu
next year, the first Methodist class wa
organized and has continued to tn,
present time. In 1868 ten acres of thu
ground was donated for Methods
camp ground and the first camp meet
ing was held the next year. The parl
property now comprises over 90 acres.
The Indians seem to continue thei
ceiling of reverence for the mystery anC
spirit Of Red Rock for they max
'easional pilgrimage to the locality
contributions Of tobacco, etc.