The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-22

Old Lake Superior Squaw Was the
Victim of Fire Arms.
From the Duluth Herald.


Il will tell you the story of how the
first shotgun was brought to Lake Su-
perior, 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" says an old
timer.
I'VE were out on an exploring trip
when we ran across Muskwas band.
Among the Indians was a big half
breed called Joe Piskwee. He was
native born CRATER and when he found
that he could not beg, borrow or steal
our tobacco and whisky, he proceeded
to bargain for little. We were all
tenderfeet and had the usual curiosity
of this species of human beings as to
the legends and doing of the Indians.
so we arranged with Big Joe to have
a seance that night in Muskwa's wig
wan.
THE scene was really impressive
and not untinged with romance. On
one side of the fire sat the aged chief
on 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 not
being considered worthy of being in
Piskwee acted as interpreter and the
seance lasted until the early dawn.
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 a
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
lie ba urIr
gun to be taken from it's case, telling
US that their mission was peace. not
war. We were curious about the guns,
but held our tongues. Some of the
voyaEeurs could speak our tongue and
they told us of the great trading post
far beyond the rapids at the end OF
the great sea water (probably Macki-
nae Island), where the Indians could
buy guns. cloth, beads and other won
derful things, if they had furs of the
mink, beaver and other animals found
In great plenty. After some days the
Blackrobes left u.s. and went off down
the lake.
1T was the end OF the summer. A
great council was called near this spot
and long consultations were held and
1t was finally decided to send two great
canoes to visit the trading post de-
scribeG by the white men. All that
liC AHtpBGNdS nunlGu EnU
trapped for fur as they never had be-
fore and in the spring great packs OF
pelts lay in the head chiefs wigwam.
Two great war canoes were built by
the squaws and band of picked men
was sent away to find the traders.
My grandfather was a great hun
ter 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
traders. but only one gun. No more
could be obtained. and only about
twenty charges of powder and ball
could be bought. To procure this, gun
beaver skins had to be piled up along
side OF Ii one one side until the pile
was of equal hight with the muzzle OF
the gun when rested with it's butt end
on the floor, and mink, fisher marten
and other skins had to be similarly
piled upon the other side. My grand.
father had enough peltry to do this
and he 1t was who obtained the much.
coveted gun.
The Indians then held a grea
dance and feast, and the proud owner
| of the gun demonstrated how Ii wa,
loaded and fired off. AS the powde
! flashed amid the smoke and roar of tn,
| discharge, the Indians fell on thei
races trembling with fear. but, seem,
that no harm followed the ALARMING
explosion, they were clamorous for {
| further demonstration as to the use o.
the piece for destroying their RELENTLESS,
foes, the Sioux
The gun was loaded this time with
bullet and then a target was sough,
for.
Away near the shore OF the lake
nj
was SO old that she had no relations
or friends left. She was nearly blind
and had lost all her teeth, and durine
the coming winter she must have been
LETT upon the trail to die So II was
decided by the chiefs that the gun
should be tried upon her Silently INV
grandfather crept up behind the old
woman and, when about twelve PAGES
ne hired the charge into her back. She
Tell of the rock, kicked once or twice
ana then lay dead. Thus were the
people shown the power of the bost-
ingnagen, or thunder stick of the white
men and greatly did they marvel and
fear it,
During the relation of the story OF
the butchery Of the old squaw not a
sign of disapproval was visible upon
the stolid faces of old Muskwa's abo-
riginal hearers. The old chief himself
seemed rather to enjoy the recital, as
he was silent for few moments. dis
playing his toothless gums in a ghast-
ly grin. Big Joe was visibly delighted
with the story and evidently enjoyed
the distinction of being the one to con-
vey the tale OF the heartless deed to
the white visitors. Piskwe himself
was afterwards killed by a white man
named Jim Ruttle, after a desperate
hight on Mayhew's dock, at Grand Ma
rails. Ruttle stood his trial for nur-
der before Judge Storms, in this coun-
ty. and was sent to Saltwater, but was
subsequently, pardoned. He also is
now dead.
When Muskwa had finished his tale
ne remarked that he was weary and.
rolling over on his blanket dropped
into slumber. The seance then closed
and whites and Indians filed out of the
tepee. 1t was weird experience and
one not easily to be described"