Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-08-14
OLD CROW WING DAYS.
HOLE-IN- THE-DAY AND THE
OLD AGENCY.

OLD AGENCY.
Pillager Post: People in Pillager
and vicinity have heard, but briefly,
of Holeinthe-Day, the war chief of
the Chippewa Indians, and of the
abiding place of himself and his bands
of Indians at what is now termed the
"old Agency and "old Crow Wing''
and the majority of the people now
living hereabouts have but faint
conception of the conditions existing
in this REGION in the long ago. A
visit this week from Rev. Charles
I. Wright, Espicopal Indian mission
airy at Leech Lake, son and successor
to the late lamented Head Chief White
Cloud who was immediate successor to
the famous war chief, Hole in the
Day, and trip with him to the scenes
of his childhood has Enclosed what
has heretofore been sealed book.
Mr.. Wright arrived in the village
on the Monday afternoon train from
the east to pay Us long promised
visit, and as above stated visit the
place where she was once boy and
which ne has not seen since the merry
month of June, 1868 thiry-fve years
ago, when he was but lad of fifteen
summers, and departed with his
parents in company with a greater
portion of the Chippewa bands for
their new unknown homes on the
White Earht reservation.
A drive for the old haunts was
planned for Tuesday, when a party of
six set out for days enjoyment and
historical research. Shorty after start
ing out, Mr.. Wright recognized and
pointed out portions of the govern
ment road over which he had travelled
away from his early abode.
Inquiring the way to the last earth
ly home of Mr.. Wright's illustrious
predecessor, the party proceeded
northeast, a distance perhaps mile,
when Mr.. Wright recognized the
little lake known as Hole-in- the Day
Lake, just to the east of which are
excavations and earth foudation
walls which mark the site of the large
house where Hole-in- the Day with
his eight wives dwelt in regal splen-
dor in the days gone by. he was
very wealthy in those days and kept
fine horses and carriages, and was
justly regarded as a great man-the
wisest Of record in the history of the
Chippewas. But certain ones of the
Leech band was jealous of him and
about thirtyfye years ago shot and
killed him at the Gull River ford.
His remains now rest at the old
Agency. One of his wives, a white
woman, and their three children, q
son and two daughters, are still ilv-
ing, in st. Paul.
The next drive was to the old
Agency, mile and half below
Sylvan, on the bank of the Grow
Wing. A luxuriant growth of corn
now marks the spot. but the location
of the old government building was
recognized, and after a picnic dinner
had been dispatched, they were point
ed out by Mr.. Wright, who explained
the modus operandi of the old-time
Indian agency and told of the time
when all this country north of the
Crow Wing river wac their reserva-
ton, where they had to contend with
the bloodthirsty Sioux, and, led
strenuous, but happy life. He gave
it as his opinion that the Chippewas
were very unwise in bartering away
this good territory. It certainly was
an ideal place for the pursuits of
Indian life.
A drive to the confluence Of the
Crow Wing and Mississippi rivers
was made, under the guidance of
Miss Jennie Anderson, and the party
passed over the rivers to the site of
the old Crow Wing in a huge
bateau. kindly loaned by the
owner, Peter stauh, who has lately
chosen this beautiful spot for his
home. He warned the party Of the
danger Of the ride over the rapids
at the mouth of the river, which he
described in language which, though
forbidden, was very impressive, and
suggestive of previous experience.
The passage was made quite success
fully. however, with the assistance
of two very courteous knights of the
corked shoe who were overseeing the
outgoing drive at the conflux.
Here, just across the Mississipni
was the old town outside the reser-
walton where. in the good old DAYS
dwelt many of the wealthy old men
of the state whose start in life was
obtained at this advantageous CON-
mercial post. Here furs and other
articles of trade possessed by the