Arizona republican., 1902-08-10
TESTING A GUN
How the Indians Proved the Efficacy
 of Pale Faces Thunder Stick

'I will tell you the story O; how the Superior, as it was told in my presence by old Chief Muskwa (Bear> one night years ago in a tepee near Grand Port age. on the north shore,' said an old timer.
 We were out on an exploring trip when we ran across Muskwa's band. Among the Indians was a big half breed called Joe Piskwe. lie was q native born grafter and when he found that he could not beg, borrow or steal cur tobacco and whislley he proceeded to bargain for q little. We were all tenderfeet and had the usual curiosity of this species of human beings as to the legends and doings of the Indians, so we arranged with Big Joe to have q seance that night in Muskwa's wig Wam.
 The scene was really impressive and not untinged with romance. On one side Of the fire sat the aged chief on q pile of bear skins and blankets. Around him were seated the sub-chiefs and warriors, and facing him the young men and boys of the tribe. The squaws. girls and dogs rustled for themselves outside the tepee, they net
 
 structed in the traditions Of the tribe. Piskwe acted as interpreter and the seance lasted until the early dawn. z The old chief himself, over 100 years of age, began to speak In short, slow sentences: Many years ago. he said when my grandfather was q young brave, the Blackrobes came to visit the ChippeWas of the big lake. With them were many voyageurs and they had guns and much tackle to take fish. The Blackrcbes would not allow q gun to be taken from it's case, telling us that their mission was peace, not war. We were curious about the guns, but We held our tongues. Some of the voyag g. CUTS could speak our tongue and they told US of the great trading post far beyond the rapids at the end Cf the great sea water (probably Mackinac island. where the Indians could buy guns. cloth, beads and ether wonder full things. ii they had fUrs Of the mink, beaver and other animals found in great plenty. After some days the Blackrobes left us and went off down the lake.
 It was the end of the summer. A great council was called near this spot and long consultations were held, and u NSS ItlaIiE utclieu to send two great canoes to visit the trading post described by the white men. All that winter the Chippewas hunted and trapped for fur as they never had be- fore, and in the spring great packs of belts lay in the head chiefs wigwan. Two great war canoes were built by the squaws and a band of picked men was sent away to find the traders.
 My grandfa ther wac great hunt CT and he went along with heavy packs of beaver skins that he had got during the winter. Late in the fall the canoes returned and they brought with them many wonderful things from the trad CTS, but only- one gun. No more could be obtained, and only about twenty charges of powder and bali couII be bought. To procure this gun beaver skins had to be piled up alongside of it on n'Ie side until the pile Was C1 equal height with the muzzIe cf .he gun when rested with it's butt enl on the floor. and mink, fister, martcn and other skins had to be similarly piled upon the other side. My grandfather had enough pcitry to do this, and h. it was who cbtai,led the much coveted gun.
 '.The Indians then held . gre1- dance and feast, and the proud ow.lel Of the gun demonstrated how il was loaded and fired off As the powder flashed amid the smoke and ro2r of th' discharge, the Indians fell on thei faces trembling with fear, but, seeing that no harm followed the alarn1in: explosion, they were clamorous for { further demonstration as to the use O the piece for destroying their relentles: foes, the Sioux.
 The gun was loaded this time witt 9 bullet and then target was sough for
 Away near the shore of the lak sat an old squaw upon a rock. Sin was so old that she had no relations O friends left. She was nearly blind, ant