The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1892-01-29

From The Indian Reservation
The following letter from Mrs. DR.. Gee.
W. Horton Fitch, of Keshena, Wis. was
received last week by her father, Mayor
G. FL. Richman, and we are permitted to
present it to our readers:
UNITED YATES INDIAN SERVICE,
Keshena, Wis, Jan. II, 1892.
The holiday season is over and again
every one is settled with a good start for
the new year. Among this people the
holiday season is one long looked for. but
not devoid oftimes of serious accidents.
AS e general thing the Indians here are
peaceabie, and it is rare any alteration
occurs between them. When difficulties
do arise here, it is from the effects Of dis
sipation. The department regulations re-
garding the sale of whisky are very rigid.
person is allowed to offer for sale
liquor of any kind to the Indians. 1t is
done, how ever, every day, but it seems i'm
possible to punish the guilty parties. All
persons are forbidden to bring whisky on
the reservation under a heavy penalty.
There are three tribes of Indians under
the jurisdiction of this agency, namely
Oneidas, S~tockbridges and MeDomonees.
The Oneida settlement is near Green Bay,
forty miles from here, and consists of
nearly 3ne Thousand Indians. OF the
~Stockbridge tribe there are about four
hundred, ard their settlement is six miles
from Keshena. but on the reservation
proper. The Menomonees number over a
thousand and are scattered over the reser-
walton, which is twenty-four miles in
length by eighteen miles wide. Kesbena
is the agency headquarters. A physician
is furnished this tribe only.
Christmas day the Stockbridges had
made extensive preparations for a dinner,
or feast as they term it. They all assem-
bled at the Mission church, where the fes
Invites were TO be held. Mr.. Hong, a
young Presbyterian clergyman, is stationed
there. During the week ne conducts the
school, consisting Of twenty-five pupils,
and on Sundays has charge of The ser
vices. Doctor aud | were invited 10 par
ticipate with the Stockbridge Indians in
their celebration, but the day being so I'M
pleasant We did not venture out. How
glad | was, when | heard of the row they
had, We did not go. Several of the In
dams had brought whisky with them,
which began the trouble. Mr.. Houg en-
deavored to take it away from them when
a general fight ensued and he was badly
bitten by two of the intoxicated Indians.
The next day the matter was reported to
the authorities. Soon the United States
Marshal from Milwaukee made his appear
ance and took seven of the belligerent In
disns, who are low awaiting their trial.
Some of the officials think that this trouble
W ill result in the breaking up of a number
of beer and whisky dens.
Two days after the riot at ~Stockbridge a
Menomonee met with quite a severe acct
dapt u1u Lotto in tho cranJpn ard ~.
| turning home with his team Was thrown
from the wagon and sustained a fracture
| of the skull. 1t is supposed he being in
toxicated his horses took fright and ran
away, resulting as above stated. Doctor
was sent for post haste. Arriving at the
injured mans home and examining his
| wounds lie tound it necessary TO trepLine.
A button of bone was removed and pressure
on the brain relieved. So far he is
doing nicely and is a winning can
didate for recovery. Last week a drunk
| en- fight between two men resulted in both
being bitten, one more than the other. His
hand where the bite WAS received swelled
greatly and not until gangrene set in did
he apply for surgical treatment. One fin
| ger was amputated in hopes of saving the
hand. Another holiday fight resulted in
l. of the participants sustaining a double
| dislocation of the jaw. He was brought
to the hospital. Doctor was called and
| hurried down to find the cause of SO much
| excitement. The patient was promptly
| relieved and departed a wiser and more
| sober Indian. Mrs. Charles, our laundress,
gave me for my X-mas present three pretty
baskets, that were made by her mother
who is nearly one-hundred years old. L
is an interesting sight to see this Ole
squaw cutting and trimming wood for hel
baskets. They are colored nicely, and fol
this purpose they use certain barks, but
some use Diamond dye. Mother Clarisss
and Sister Mckelia in charge of the Memo
monee hospital here, presented ms Christ
mas morning with a large fancy marble
cake. Ii vas indeed huge aud our pleas
ure and surprise was in proportion. New
Years night the keshena brass ban(
Qndians) surprised US by giving us a ser
anade. The next morning two of the mem
bers a~poligized for the effort and said the.
had been so busy it was impossible to as
semble the band members to practice
Taking into consideration the part o. tn
country and the band material, we though
an apology unnecessary. Last Tuesday
we took a forty-fiye mile sleigh ride
although the mercury was down to ~
below zero, we did not get cold
Friday the thermometer at the agenc.
office registered 80 below zero. G.. A. X
Post is a very important organization wit
| the Menomonee Indians. The Post number
thirty. Recently they had their annna
inspection, and | understand their shown
and percentage was fiattering. Most ever
member of the G.. \. r. receives a pension
| Some receive as much $50 each month
while others draw only 81 and S.. Fo
the past two weeks the sleigbing has bee
splendid; with the addition of a brillian
full moon, our rides at nights have bee
the most delightful | ever enjoyed. TIL
grip has not reached us yet, am sorry
learn of SO much sickness at home.
County Board of Agriculture.
The annual meeting of the Salem Go
Board of Agriculture was held 10 Meal
/ listarrs Hall Woodstnwn IN "Wednesday