Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-11
When the Indian Reigned.
BY S. w. McMASTER.

Following is n sketch of some of
South American Indians read re-
Gently before the history class of the
high school by =. W. McMaster:
The Sacs and Foxes who once oc-
cupied land in our neighborhood be-
tween here and. Rock river were
nearly related to the Pottawottomis.
a powerful tribe who resided near
Green Bay. They belonged to the
Great Algonquin tribe. who roamed
about the Great Lakes and in Cana
da, and were divided into many diff
ferent tribes-the Chippewas. Kick
apoos and many others.
The Winnebagoes. who at one time
were found along, the Wisconsin
river. frequently made raids in this
section. and were despised and hated
by our Indians. If YOU called one
of them Winnebago. he would say.
me no Winnebago; me Saukee."
In 1916 two keel boats on their way
from st. Louis to the fort at Prairie
Du CHEN with supplies were attack
ed by the Winnebagoes at CamPbelrs
island on the rapids just above here,
and many of our men were killed.
The boats after a severe battle were
compelled to return to st. Louis.
On one of these boats was n col
ored man called Commodore Perry.
He stood on the side of the boat
welding n heavy club, and when
ever Mr.. Indian would reach up from
his canoe. and grasp the boat he
would hit him n crack on his hands
with his club, telling him to- keep off
the white mans boat. The old com
modore worked for me many years
about my house and store. The
Winnebagoes were an off-shOot of
the Dakotas or Sioux. a powerful
tribe who roamed over Iowa and Da-
kOta.
The Iroquois or Six Nations of New
York were found along the Mohawk
river and around the many lakes in
the interior of that state. They were
the most powerful and aggressive
tribe of any i'm the United States.
When the Dutch had possession of
New York they furnished the Iro-
quois with fire arms and they started
out west to get all the furs they
could find.
They came into our state and COM
ing down the Illinois river attacked
the Illini tribe, finally forcing them
to make their last stand at Starved
Rock, high. prominent rocky point
on the Illinois river.
In 1912 Tecumseh, n noted chief
belonging to the Algonquin tribe,
sent out emissaries to the different
tribes all over the United States,
urging them To unite and drive the
whites from the country. He sue
ceeded in gathering a large force at
Tippecanoe. Our people under the
command of Gen. Harrison defeated
them.
The semi-civilized Indian nations
were found in eastern Georgia and
Florida. They were the Creeks,
Chickasaws and kindred tribes. They
cultivated farms. raising rice and
corn. Florida for many years be-
llonged TO Spain. During these years
many slaves had escaped from Geor-
pia and other states and found re-
fuge with these Indians. This had
been going on for nearly two hun
dred years, and negroes had inter
married with Indians. War was
made on the Indians to compel them
to give up these slaves TO the
Georgians. Many bloody battles
were fought. and millions of money
spent by the United tates. These
Indians with their negro relatives
were ordered to move back to Indian
Territory. They were put on trans
port vessels under command of Gen.
Gaines. The Georgians followed
them to New Orleans. but Gen.
Gaines evaded them and took them
to their destination back TO Indian
Territory.