Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-06-15
THE CHICAGO OF 1926
A VILLAGE WHICH PRESENTED NO
"THRllLlNG PROSPECTS"

FlNilllN1 fhOSHEC
The Country Thcrcabout offered Few Fca-
lures, and There Vas Nothing Worthy
of Eulogy--A Report Tint Failed Com
plctely a Prophecy.
The Chicago of nearly 75 years ago
did not present an inviting appearance.
The party of Heating and Lang left
Fort Wayne in May to discover the
source Of the St Peters river Tho up
proach to Chicago is thus described i'll
the account published in 1925:
ave We're near the southern extremity
of the lake. Tho view toward the north
was boundless, the eye meeting nothing
but the vast eNpanse Of water which
spread like sea, its surface at that
time as calm and unruflcd as though it
We're sheet Of ice.
"Our path led us over tic sccno of the
bloody massacre which occurred in 1912,
when the garrison of Chicago was de-
stroyed by the Pottawatom;es. No traces
are now to be seen of the massacre.
'On the afternoon of June we reach
born is on the south bank near the
mouth of the Chicago river. The post at
Chicago was abandoned few months
after the party visited it. Its establish
ment had been found necessary to intimi-
date the powerful tribes of Indians
which still inhabit this part of the coun-
try.
"We We're much disappointed ut the
appearance of Chicago and its vicinity.
We found in it nothing to justify tho
great eulogium lavishcd upon it by Mr..
Schoolcraft, a late traveller.
1.-The best comment upon his dcscrip-
tion of the climate and the soil is the
fact that, with the most active vigilance
on the part of the officers it was impos-
sible for the garrison, consisting of 10
to 90 men, to subsist Oh the grain raised
in the country.
"The appearance Of the country near
Chicago offers but few features. There
is too much uniformity in the scenery.
The extensive water prospect is waste
uncheckered by islands and unenlivencd
by spreading canvas
1.-THE village presents no thrilling
prospects, as Notwithstanding it's antiq-
uity it consists of but few huts, inhab-
tied by q miserable race of men, scarcely
equal to the Indians, from whom they
are descended Their log or bark houses
are low, filthy and disgusting, display
ing not the least trace of comfort.
Chicago is perhaps one of the oldest
settlements in the Indian country. Its
name, derived from the Pottawatomie
language, signifies either skunk or
wild onion Mention is made Of the
place as having been visited in 1871 by
Perot, who found 'Chicgou' to be the
residence Of powerful chief of the
Miamis.
LAS place Of business it offers no
induccment to the settler, for the whole
annual amount of trade on the lake did
not exceed the cargoes of five schooners,
even when the garrison received its sup
plies from Macl1inaw.
1t is not impossible that at some dis
tant day, when the banks of the Illinois
shall have been covered with o dense
population and when the low prairies
which extend between that river and
Fort Wayne shall havo acquired a popu-
lation proportionate to the produce which
they can yield, Chicago may become one
of the points i'll direct communication
between the northern lakes and the Mis-
sissippi
1.-THE Indians were chiefly Pottawato-
mics, but intermixed with Ottowas and
Chippewas. Among many charges
against these Indians there is none moro
horrible than the charge of cannibalism.
This has been denied, but it has been
acknowledged by the Indians themselves,
and it has been uniformly admitted
by the Interpreters and traders who have
long resided with them.
at is common superstition with
them that he that tastes of the body of
Il brave man acquires part of his valor,
and if he can eat of his heart, which by
them is considered as the seat of all
courage, the share of bravery which ar
rives from it is still greater.
Captain Wells is still mentioned as
the bravest white man with whom they
ever met. He had almost become one Of
their number and had united himself to
descendant of Little Turtle.
"At the commencement of hostilities
between the British and Americans he
sided with his own countrymen, while
the Indians of this vicinity all passed
into the British service. Wells was
killed After the action his body was
divided, and his heart was shared, as be-
ing the most certain spell for courage,
and part of it was sent to the various
tribes in alliance with the Pottawato-
mics, while they themselves feasted up
OH the rest. Chicago Times Herald.
| A Diary.
First Dav-On the hjph seas. stormy