Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-08-16
1T is A CENTENNIAL EVENT
GGGESTIOk FOR A BIG CELEBRA-
TI0N ON BATTLE ISLAND.
To Commemorate the Hundreth Anniver-
Sary Of Explorer Pixies Eneamp-
ment ON that Historic Spot

EDITOR CENSOR. lt is too wet to
hold the annual gathering at Battle Is
land, and that highly moral assemblage
viii probably not come off this year,
but | am reminded that September 9th
and 10th, next are the centennial days
when the noted explorer and soldier.
Lieut. Aebulon II. Pike, eneamped with
his arty on that island Father Mar
Quette IN 1913 discovered the Mississippi
river at the month of the Wisconsin,
and two hundred years later the Hon.
John Lawler Of Prairie du Chen, de-
hvered an Oration on the spot where the
jealous Jesuit first saw the waters of the
great river Ii would be certainly the
proper thing to do to meet at the Island
on September 9th and 10th and TO com
melnorate the landing there Il century
before Of the great explorer who by
October 8 year later. had led ais band To
tue head waters OF the Mississippi, ard
thence across the great American desert
to the summit of the Rocky mountain
peak which bears his name
y
Atbin Iowa. now stands. the Sioux chief
LIa Fenille THE Leaf or Wabasha, was
located with his band The country
west of the river and that so far souUn
was Sioux territory. TO the Vernon
county resident Lieut. Pixies visit 10
Battle Island is Of more than ordinary
Importance Mr. Tenney. who hAs
studded local history carefully in the
Il
me that 1t is the first recorded account
be can find Of any encaTnpment upon
Vernon county soil give from Lieut
Pixies diary his accouut of his voyage
past what Is now the Vernon county
border
1906. September 8. Embarked early
dined at Cape Garlic or at Garlic river,
after which we come on to an island on
the east side abodt five miles below
the river Upper Iowa, aud encamped
Rsined before aunsst Distance IS
miles Cape Garlic is opposite Ferry
vile, aud has been known as Capoli for
perhaps two hundred years. The yoya-
ger found q wild garlic or onion there
which they ete with their fish and meat
Rev James Fro thingham, the poet of
LansinQ. who wrote the beautiful poem
Wild Jim, has II begin
Thy wooded slopes, 0 Cauon.
The stranger may pass needless BY
Pixies narrative continues: 'Septe,'
Der l0-Rsin stlll aoHtinnin., we re.
mained at our camp Having shot at
some pigeons ths report was heard at
the Sioux lodges, che same to whom ]
spoke on the 9Th at the Prairie fdu
CHEM, when La Fenilie sent down six
of his young men to inform me that he
had waited Ghree days with meat, etc,
but that last night they had begun to
| drink, and that on the next day he would
receive us with his people sober, re.
turned him for answer that the season
was advanced time was passing on and
| il the rain ceased ! must go on. We
embarked about one O'Clock. Frazer
returning informed me that the chief
acquiesced in my reasons for pressing
| forward, bus that he had prepared a pipe
| by way Of letter 10 present 2 t. show
TO all the Sioux above. with a message
to inform them that I was chief of
their new fathers, and that he wished
me TO he treated with friendship and re-
speet On our arrival opposite the
| lod. e. the luen We're paraded on the
bank with their guns in their hands
They saluted us with ball with what
might be termed three rounds; which
returned with three rounds from each
| boat with my blunderbusses This
| salute, although nothing 10 soldiers ac-
customed 20 fire, would not be SO agree
| able to many people, rs the Indians had
| all been drinking, and as some OF them
aven tried their dexterity, 10 see how
near the boat they could strike They
may, indeed be said to have struck on
every side Of rs was met oa the bank
| by the chief and invited To his lodge Ar
soon as my guards were formed and
sentinels posted, I accompanied him.
Some OF my men who were going up
with me I caused TO leave their arms be.
| hind az q mark Of confidence At the
chiefs lodge ! fonnd clean mat and
pillow for me 10 sit on and the before
mentioned pipe on pair Of small
crutches before me. After smoking, the
chief and mad conversation, after
wards went To a dance, the performance
Of which was attended with many cnri-
ous lnanoeuyres They were all dreased
in the gayest manner. This was their
dance 81 religion 81 / understood. After
this | returned to my boat, sent for the
chief, and presented him with two
carrots Of tobacco, four knives hal, q
pound Of vermiliion, and one qua:l Of
salt We embarked about half past
three o'clock came three miles and en-
camped on the wegt eide During our
stay at the Indian CAM there were sold
iers appointed to keep the crowd from
my b0ate. who executed their duty with
vigilance and rigor.
Sept i'll q lbarked at o'clock. al
though raining Stopped for breakfast
and made iire came on until near six
@ clock and encamped on the west side
supposed 10 have come sixteen miles this
day tEneHmped near Brownsville, Min
uesota The river has never been clear
Of islands since ! left Prairie du Chien.
= absolutely believe IL 20 two miles wide
here mills on both siaes
sept. f2- Emba kei at 10 o'clock,
10 saed Racine river Root river. also Il
prairie called La Crosse from game Of
hall played frequently On it by the Sioux
Iudians. This prairie is very handsome.
10 has Il email square hill similar to
some mentioned by Carver. II is bound
ed in the rear by hills similar 70 those Of
the Prairie in Chen
Now what DO the people say 30 com
memoratirg THE historic even within
she confines Of Ju, county and ALA
uakee county, Iowa We could meet
IT. the Island, Saturday and Sunday,
September 9th nd 10th. have historic
address or two Ia the pavilion, have
dancing there Friday and Saturday
nighta aud on Sunday 90 over to New
Albin a. pike did. an2 have the address
es given there, and have pereonated
Leaf the one-eyed cbtef. and Pike
with his blufderbusses and presents of