The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-14
From the Chicago Chronlcle.

SUPERIOR, Wis, Feb. 11-Chippe-
wa Indian Joe Ski, chief of Chippe-
wa band and veteran of the late war
between the states. has passed into
the happy hunting ground" He died
suddenly Tuesday, Feb. l, in his lonely
cabin on the south shore of Lake Su-
perior, attended only by his daughter,
who walked ten miles through the
woods to make arrangements for his
burial. At the time of his death Joe
Ski was about sixty years of age. He
had lived in the rudely constructed
cabin by the big water" alone for
many years, until year ago, when
his daughter, Mrs. Louis Chappelle.
buried her husband and went to live
with her father. Years ago Joe was
one of the best known characters at
the head of the lake. but when he
adopted a life of seclusion out in the
woods, deriving an existence from the
waters of the great unsalted" he was
soon forgotten by old acquaintance,
many of whom believed him dead.
There are probably thousands of peo-
pie in the country who will be inter
ested In the announcement of Joe Skis
death. They will recall to their minds
the valiant dusky private who fought
fearlessly for the cause Of the South
in its desperate struggle against the
Union. Joe Skis name has found a
secluded corner in the history of the
Civil war. He has been spoken of by
war historians as an example of "a
rebel for master, not for cause"
1t has been said that "Ojibway joe"
as he was called during the war kill
ed off more Northern men than any
other soldier in the Southern army He
fought against the Union for three
years without the slightest idea Of
and is said to have killed 113 Union
soldiers while in the sharpshooting
service, the record having been kept
by means of scratches made with
knife on the stock OF his gun Joe be-
came a soldier in the Southern army
through the instrumentality of no less
parsonage than the distinguished
John c. Breckenridge, of Kentucky.
Goes Down to Dixie.
When the war broke out Joe Ski was
young buck, about twenty-five wears
of age, belonging to a little band of
Chippewas engaged in the fishing and
trapping business, with Headquarters
at Superior. John c. Breckenridge was
the owner of considerable land situat-
ed in and about the town site and Joe
Ski was employed by him to clear y
portion of this land of trees. stumps
and underbrush. Ski did his work
we'll and when Mr.. Breckenridge came
to Superior some months later with
party of spectators he was so i'm
pressed with the general conduct and
appearance of the young Indian that
a deal was entered into whereby young
Joe became the body servant of the
distinguished man and they journeyed
together back to Kentucky.
He remained in the service Of Mr..
Breckinridge but three weeks, having
fallen cut with his employer over some
trivial matter. He Immediately enter
ed the employ Of another Kentucky
man in the capacity of hostler In the
fall of 1861, when both sides were pre-
pairing for the campaign in Kentucky,
Joe Skis employer enlisted as a priv
ate in the Southern army and the In
dian promptly followed his example.
Ojibway Joe marched in the ranks Of
Gen. Buckner, displaying his knowI-
edge of Indian warfare whenever an
opportunity was afforded but the
white mans style of fighting was too
slow for his savage nature.
The rigid discipline of army life and
the companionship of the white SOLD
fers with whom he was unable to con-
verse, became monotOnous to Joe ard
he decided to leave the ranks and 90
on the war path for himself. He left
the camp one night and did not re-
turn. That was the last the Southern
army ever saw Of Ojibway Joe. but
they heard from him quite frequently
until the war was over. He had de.
serted the ranks, but not the cause.
Joe Joined q small band Of guerrilIas-
one of the marauding bands of irregu-
lars that terrorized Kentucky citizens
at that time. He fought with this band
until it was reduced by the bullets Of
Unionists from 100 to seventeen men.
Shoots His Captain.
Then he Joined a band Of irregular sharp-
shooters anA for few months drifted about
from place to place, sklrmishing occasionally
with Union guerilas and living off the fat of
the land. One day Joe had a quarrel with the
captain of this band over a matter of disci-
pine. The captain ordered him shot and ar
rangements were being made for this little
entertainment. including the digging of
grave into which he was to fall. when tbe
Indian suddenly carried out a little programme
OF his own which spoiled all the plans Of the
captain. While the men were gathered at their
mess Ojibway Joe Knocked his guard sansoIess
with one blow, grabbed a gun. shot the can
tam and one or two 9th rs a was eff tn -Cugh
the woods like deer before the guerillas had
fairly recovered from their surprise.
He was next heard of on the Warpath as
captain, or chief as he called himself of the
Indian guerilas. This band has been briefly
referred to by war historians as 'the band
OF Ojibway Joe" and it is remembered by
kentuckians as one of the most dangerous
fighting organizations that existed during the