Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-01-11

IL. X Becker, in Four Track News.)
The commonwealth of Illinois, admit
ted in 1918, presents remarkable rec
ord for growth. enterprise and achieve
ment. in almost every portion of its
varied surface. For instance; the
smiling farms and laughing harvests
today in the Rock River valley do not
bark back to the troubles and hard
ships of the early settlers.
The hum of industry now has the
joyful note of prosperity instead of
the apprehensive and uncertain tone of
the pioneer who cultivated the land
along the river. but believed the prai-
ries were suited only for grazing.
Today the ancient meadows are COW
cred with serried ranks of maize float
ing its pennons to every breeze in to-
ken of its unrivaled importance.
The tedious modes of transportation
have given place to rapid transit, by
railroads that far surpass the rivers of
the region as avenues of commerce
and highways of travel.
For 20 years the settlers of the Rock
river country were menaced and haras-
sed by marauders of the Fox and Sac
tribes, whose chief. Black Hawk, had
all the rapacious characteristics of his
namesake.
violated Treaties.
After repeated violations of the
treaties of 1904 and 1915, neither of
which the old chief signed, he affixed
his mark, with great effusiveness. to
the treaty of 1876, which confirmed the
others. reaffirmed perpetual peace be-
tween these tribes and the United
States and-went forth TO violate, as
before.
Any peace would have been intoler-
able which excluded Black Hawk from
the hunting grounds where he had been
supreme for 60 years or that denied
him the observance of mystic rites at
the graves of his dead.
Homesick in the new country beyond
the Mississippi he brooded over his
wrongs and came TO the conclusion
that land is inherent and cannot be
sold; hence all treaties are unjust and
untenable Then rose before him the
same vision that had haunted other
chieftains, from King Philip 10 Pom
tiac. the determination of the whites;
anu IL iui gu hihis oo ~ AoN
defeat and destruction,
Give willing Ear.
The young braves, longing for the
storied warpath and eager to dlstln-
guish themselves, listened to the spe-
cious eloquence of their venerable
chief and followed him in every preda-
tory raid across the Mississippi for
corn" always listening intently for
the possible war whoop which would
open up the real warpath to their sight.
In the spring of 1882 Black Hawk
and his warriors. the flower of the two
tribes. set out with women and child
rem for final expedition to the below
ed valley: hoping to enthuse the Pot
and the Winnebagos to join
them in their efforts to regain their
lost Inheritance.
The settlers were swept from the
valley by an army which seemed to
them countless as leaves of the forest; |
an army which burned their cabins and |
destroyed their fields and threatened |
their lives.
Gov. Reynolds called. for volunteers |
to aid in putting down the Indians. and |
a goodiy number responded They !,
were mustered in at Richland, April
81. 1882 Among the volunteers was |
Abraham Lincoln. who. by reason of !
his stature was chosen captain of a
company in the 4th Illinois regiment.
Many Privntiens.
The little army of 1000 including
lwo battalsons of cavalry regulars. be-
gan its march after Black Hawk. The
pathway lay through country with
put roads or bridges. and the supplies
we're three bitter days behind.
Ten days brought the troops to the
mouth of Rock River. where the voiun.