Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-04-24

NeiQhbOr to the writer's early nome
an wisconsin lived an aged pioneer,
aamed Silas Bean. He had engaged
a the fur trade in his younger days.
and had roamed all over the Northwest
syflderness when the State was a part
81 the Territory Of Michigan, and when
There were no white inhabitants other
ehan wandering trappers and the trad
ers and attaches Of the stations or
Green Bay and Prairie du Chen.
He often visited our house, and was
induced on many occasions to relate
ais early adventures. The following
narrative illustrates his energy, hardi-
hood and quick grasp Of expedients:
One summer, as he was resting In
Mjeness about the post at Green Bay,
some Winnebago Indians came from
the region Of the -Four Lakes" Among
these was an old chief, a friend OF
Beans, who brought him information
Ehat a band of SankIes had quarreled
with their head chief, drawn off from
the main tribe the fall before, and gone
I'D the Wisconsin River, in their ca
hoes, to found a lew village somewhere
ON its upper waters. The Sankies had
not returned nor been heard from since,
and the Winnebagoes believed they
must have many peltries IN their lodges
now.
The young trader determined to take
advantage Of it at once, and, packing
his two ponies with Indian goods" set
out the next day upon lone quest for
the new village of the Sankies. After
q slow and toilsome march through
nearly a hundred miles Of trackless
woods and swamp, he reached the Wis
eonsin River, at point where 1t was
reasonably certain the Sankie village
must have been located above. Certain
because the lower reaches of the stream
&ere frequented by Indians and trap
pers annually coming In for supplies
at the post.
1t was now the middle Of August,
and the real difficulties and dangers Of
his search lay before him. He must be
Eure not to pass the village, which
might be situated In some obscure open
Ing in the timber on either side Of the
river. At that season Of the year the
stream was at its lowest, and there
we're frequent shadows where 1t could
Be forded Back and forth the adven-
turer wandered, slowly advancing,
searching the woods, the prairie clear
tngs Of the valley and the bluffs and
ravines for numerous intervening
creeks, for signs of Indian habitation.
Sometimes he advanced, as he judged
four or five miles day, sometimes not
more than two miles. Swamps, tan
gled underground, acres Of fallen pines,
Ampeded his progress, and rendered his
search uncertain. Day after day pass
I'd, September came and went, and the
chill nights Of October came on, still
there was no sign of the SankieS. 1t
was the 18th Of October before he fin
ally came upon the Sankie town. hid
den among the pine woods upon the up
per reaches Of the river.
The Indians, sixty or seventy lodges.
received him In friendly fashion. But
he met with severe disappointment.
There were no furs of any account
among them. Traders from a post at
Lake Superior had somehow got wind
Of the new village, and an agent had
been to see them In June, carrying off
all their peltries in exchange for am
munitlon, tobacco and the usual trim
kets Nothing daunted, though, Silas
concluded to stay among them until an
other harvest could be collected. Among
the pack of his heavily laden ponies
ne had brought powder, lead and traps
In a few days he had several parties
81 Indian hunters and trappers out in
different directions, after the skins Of
martens, mlnks and offers. The Indi-
ans were very successful, and by mid
winter had collected nearly two hun
dred mink and marten and a few otter
pelts- Silas turned over his stock of
HIndlan goods" IN exchange for the
furs and then prepared to return to
Green Bay. His ponies were of no ac-
count for this journey, as at that sea
BON these animals could only gain n
meager subsistence by browsing upon
the bark Of willows and small shrubs,
10 he traded the two ponies to the In
dams for six large dogs which had
been trained In a Menominee camp to
work In harness.
The snow had come Oh deep. Silas,
with the help Of squaw seamstress,
made himself suit from his bearskins
It was fashioned much like the Eskimo
garment Of sealskin, with fur outside
and hood covering for the head. Then
ne packed hls peltries in two bundles,