Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-12-28

JOAQUIN MILLER
Journal ard the San Francisco Exam
liner. Miller is a delightful lecturer. He
attempts no studied discussions or di-
dactic t"eatiSes on letters, but talks in
charming way of trees and birds and
flowers, occasionally resorting to has
beloved Sierras, which he has made
famous and they him.
MiiIers Rugged Personality.
His mission lies not in the profound
things which he says, but in the rugged
personality of the bearded poet and his
gentle responsiveness in directing men
back into healthy ways of life A
quaint humor characterizes his speech
Thus speaking of his aged mother, Who
is still living, he said:
She looks pretty near as old as I am,
and perhaps she is
He gave as his sermon the following
lines written by him at the grave OF
Burns while abroad on his lioniZing
tour While mere youth, nearly thirty
yeas ago:
In men whom men condemn as i'll
find so much of goodness stiIl
In men whom men pronounce divine
| find so much of sin and blot
/ hesitate to draw the line
Where God has not"
The past week has been one of con-
siderable interest to local Badger his
torians. At the annual meeting of the
State Historical society, held in the
capitol, sketches of forty-six pioneers
of prominence who had died during the
year were presented to be recorded
among the Wisconsin historical collec-
tions. A new interest has been aWak-
ened in early Wisconsin history. and
the revelations made from early mis-
sion records. traders and trappers' an
nails and other unexpected sources open
a great field for romance and research.
The cid settlers who died during the
year 1898 can in one sense scarcely be
called pioneers of Wisconsin, consider
ing the length OF time the state has
been occupied by white men.
Subject for Contemplation.
That a Frenchman should only
twelve years after the landing at Plynl-
outh Rock push his way through the
trackless wildernesses along the great
lakes to the site of the present city of
Green Bay furnishes an interesting
subject for contemplation. This young
man was native of Normandy, named
Jean Nicollet. He was the first white
man. so far as known. who ever set
foot upon the soil of the territory aft
erWards known in our political history
as the TERRITORY Northwest of the
Ohio river The story of his wander
ings and discoveries is one of the most
roma1tlc in history, yet. strange to say,
little had been published of his adVen-
lures and explorations until recent
years. To encourage a further study
in the history and traditions of the
early French occupation of Wisconsin,
the State Historical society, at its last
meeting. voted to hold an autumnai
convention next year in some histori-
cal city of the state other than Mad-
son. The selection will undoubtedly fall
on Green Bay.
A bit of history interesting to Wis
consin people was revealed by Joaquin
Miller, the singer of the Serras on his
visit here last week But few people of
the state, perhaps, were aware that
the city of Juneau in Alaska was
named after Joe Juneau. grandson of
Solomon Juneau, the founder of Mil
waukee. Juneau may be said to have
been one Of the first discoveries of the
gold fields towards which such a great
hegira has set in the past two years.
Was Poor Trader,
Miller tells Of the discovery in a vivid
manner. Juneau was poor trader
and adventurer in the Alaskan city
which bears his name. One day an
Indian squaw appeared before him with
a number of large gold nuggets in her
possession. He questioned her as to
the finding of the precious specimens
and she informed him that she could
direct him to a place up the river
where there were plenty more to be had
He accompanied her. and on arriving
at a bend in the stream where the
freshet had washed away portion of |
the earth he saw a spectacle thai |
caused him to sit down and weep for |
joy and surprise. All about the little |
space before him were scattered gilt |
tering nuggets and auriferous dust He |
gathered up what he could convenient |
ly Jtain, and. keeping the secret TO
himself heG away to pleasant Paris,
where he led a pleasant life for a num-
Der of years always intending to re-
turn to the Ice fields Cor more of the
precious stuff When he did !inally
return he found the gold all gone from
the river bed, and today he is g disap-
pointed old man and picturesque
character in Juneau.
In connection with this discussion
of Wisconsin history it is interesting
to note that the old commissary
building at Portage of historic
Fort Winnebago has just been torn
down. The statement was published
that this removti destroyed the last
of the old fort bu 'dings, but this is not
correct The old indian agency build
ing still stands AMI is used by f, S.
Baker as 4 farm residence and the orig
inal doctcrs quarters still stand and is
still occupied by w. II. Gray as resi-
dence.
Used as a Barn
The west W ng Of the hospital is used
as a barn at the fort farm and the
south half Of the commissary building
still remains on the original spot it oc-
cupied when Fort Winnebago was
fort The home of C. L. Dering on
Cook street in Portage is one Of the
original tort buildings and August
Pfuehler uses another of the original
as granary on his farm near
|
ngs may also still remain. One of the
most valued acquisitions of the WILSON,
sin historical collections the past year
was history Of Fort Winnebago by
Andrew Jackson Turner, the Portage
The history is interesting
n throwing light on many soldiers who
served at the fort in the Black Hawk !
war and later became famous in the
Mexican or civil wars or in civic fields.
In touching on these individually. Mr..
Turner begins with Count Agostin
4araszthy, The distinguished Hungar-
an political refugee. who had con-
ract with the government for supply
ng fuel TO the garrison. His headquar-
ers were in the marsh a few miles
1orth of the fort on one of the so-calied
Islands" Haraszthy was one Of the
most romantic adventures that ever
lgured in Wisconsin history.
Sketch of the Fugitive.
In foot note In MIR. Turner's history,
Reuben G. Thwaites, secretary of the