The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-11-29
Saved by a Feather
BY John II. WhitsOn.
MONG those who lost their lives in

A MONG those who lost their lives in
~ the great blizzard which swept
with such un1Nampled SuGdenness and
severity over the northwest II winters
ago. was "Old" Proteau, who was found
frozen to death near Fort Bennett.
Proteau-whose given name, think,
was jeans said to have been the first
white resident of Dakota He was 80
years of age, and had lived with the
Indians since childhood.
As a trapper and hunter he was well
known all along the Missouri slope.
He acted as scout and interpreter to
Gems. Custer, Harvey, Sibley and Sully.
and bore some 20 arrow points in his
body as evidence of his bravery.
He was buried by the people of his
adopted tribe with all the honors due
a chief.
Many of the early settlers of the
northwest owe their lives to Proteau's
kindness. These releases and rescues
have given rise to a number of stories.
among which the following stands pre-
eminent as narration of romantic ad-
venture and juvenile heroism:
Long before the awful massacre near
tba E9sabnd and while the Black Hills
wsre VET almost IAN undiscovered coun-
try" government steamer was sent
from Yanktun up the Missouri river on
an exploring and scientific expedition.
The second in command of this ex-
uedition wa, Lieut.. Frank Chadwick.
| of Naullton.
Tie was occompanffd hy his nephew.
Elmer Chadwick, n boy Of II, who had
pIea9rd 50 hard 10 he allowed To go
that his parents had at asst yieM.G
reluctant consent.
Tho rrlfon> a1sro tho Missouri were
then -upaosed to be d peace with the
wh:.es. and no outbreak was appre-
heutpd.
\ few days after their departure. how.
ever the Sioux began 10 show signs Of
restl,s.ness. and cary che morning
shower of bullets and arrows from the
river banks battered around and
against the sides Of the steamer.
40 one was iniure|. and Il steamer
continued SgrlreIy ra lis way.
The commander believed the attack
to nave ntlu M % PARTY OF Young
bucks" with an i'catag fer war
rfors' p,umes. and perhaps anxious to
distinguish themselves i'm the eyes OF
lie oirIs of the tribe by dtyulay Of
sca,ps.
An THROUGH the day they followed
tha steamer FIRING a shot now and
then. and occasionally coming into view
Nothing was seen of them the next
morning. and il was thought they had
given up the pursuit.
About noon a halt was made to col
lect fuel for the furnaces.
The river hanks at thfs noin+ were
scanned and rocky and well covered
with = scruhhv Growth Of timber
Tieu+ Chadvicl, was not lone in dis
coverfno some interesting Mortified re-
mains along tbe ffnty slopes. and SET
ont on a short tour of inspection. ac-
commanded nv his vouno nenbew
Viewed with orr fuller knowledoe
his action seems reckless and foo
hardy
Rrt we must ramambar tbo+ Il was
tba onirior If ali on tho boot tbot fine
Indians had ,ono since abordoned their
nursui+ and that therefore M dan
aar was IN he annrabepdad Not sion
of an enemy had been seen since early
tba nravious eveninu and the steamer
had in the interval troversed many
miles
Tbo na+r;foo+io,s ,rero rsro7I, forrd
:. ~, ~ .,,,,'rl ..tl,sl, III
s0l -.
80
~ IG',u WV,
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