Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-07-10
Il nOLf--IN--T nf--DAY
Some Stories Of Indian
Chief Famous In This
Region

The White Earth Tomahawk has an
interesting interview with Chief
Mesha- ke- geshig, of the White Earth
reservation, who was a friend and
companion OF the celebrated Hole-in-
the Day, an Indian chief well known
to the old settlers of the county, whose
memory is commemorated in the
name of the bluff northeast Of Little
Falls, where his remains were buried
for several years.
In the celebrated war and head chief
of the Chippewas, the late H0le-in-
the. Day, chief Masha- ke- -geshig found
his ideal warrior and he invariably
recounts the deeds of prowess of the
former in the days when it was the
height of young braves ambition to
get the scalp of an enemy.
One of Mesh ke- geshig's most inter-
esting experiences is when he ac-
companied the Hole in -the-D Day war
party and killed eleven Sioux which
consisted of the whole Of one war
party that came to old Crow Wing,
where Hole in the Day was then living
and tried to kill him.
S' Mesha- ke-g -geshig says that Robt.
Z oil UC114hS, AO" NAOONAS '" GSo AOO1A
ing for COW he had lost and was
accompanied bya2Bing-un, a we'll
known Indian who also lived at Grow
Wing and who has been dead for many
years, when they saw the Sioux war
party dressing the animal Mr.. Far
banks had lost. But the latter and his
companion were not seen OF the Sioux,
and they returned to the village and
- hn
happened to be there from Gull
Lake, Of the presence of the war
party. Hole.in the-Day was i'm
mediately notified and he gathered a
dozen warriors from Gull Lake, and
started in pursuit OF the Sioux party
in birch bark canoes whom he heard
had passed Fort Ripley, seven miles
from Crow Wing, the evening before
on its way home.
The Chippewas Travelled all after
noon in their canoes and arrived at
Belle Prairie in the evening where
they heard the Sioux had passed IL the
forenoon. The former continued their
journey all night and they arrived at
what is now Rices Station early the
next morning. There one Of the party
was directed to get out Of his canoe
and look for the Sioux trail on the old
stage road. When he went up the hill
and looked toward the old Rice house,
which was also stage station, he saw
a number Of guns resting against the
house which We're easily distinguish
able on account Of the gllstenlng
caused by the reflection OF the rising
sun against them. The Chippewa
immediately lodged back under cover
and reported to his companions what
he had seen.
The Chipppewas then cautiously
padded down river and rested at a
safe place. They again embarked in
their canoes and when they arrived at
Sauk Rapids Mesha-ke geshig, who is
related to the Sweet family now OF
| this reservation, got out Of his. canoe
and started to Mr. Sweets house. He
got within sight Of it when saw an
Indian coming out of the door OF the
house Fortunately for the Hole-ln-
the Day party the Sioux did not see
Nesha ke-geshlg. The latter ran
through the brush and Joined his party
and they hurriedly padded up the
Mississippi river crossed over and
got out on the west shore. They ran
through the woods down the river to
St. Cloud, and after notifying John
Tanner, mixed blood Chippewa, who
was living at St. Cloud, that they
would conceal themselves near the
river bank within few feet Of the
ferry boat landing, asked him to cross
the river in the ferry boat and &C
after the Sioux. Mr. Tanner showed
some reluctance about going over the
river and tried to induce Philip
Beaupre to do so but the latter
refused.
| Tanner finally went over, but the
Sioux, who had. in the meantime
come to the landing on the east side
and camped there, said they did not
want to cross to the west side that
day.
During the night that followed the
Chippewas heard the Sioux preparing
| to cross the river. They heard the
latter embark in boats they had stoler
and they could be seen plainly floating
down the river. The Chippewas, who
were on foot, could not keep up to tht
|Sioux, but the latter got out of the
boats only a short distance below st.
Cloud and although the Chippewas
could hear them walking on the grave
on the shore of the river they did moi
dare attack them in the dark.
The Chippewas followed the Siouz
at what was considered a reasonable
distance, and little after day light
struck their trail in the road COINS
toward Main Prairie. The Sioux haG
just reached the open prairie when tn.
Chippewas got sight of them. Tn.
latter immediately left all their cloth
ing concealed in hazelnut grove
They then on run made a complet.
circuit of Main Prairie and arrived
on the opposite side long before thu
Sioux party did. The Chippewas then
placed themselves in good, concealed
positions on each side of the s.wago1
:: road and waited for the arrival Of tn
enemy that were within mile dis
tant coming directly down the road.
When the Sioux arrived about twt
hundred yards from the place wher.
: the Chippewas were concealed they al
} sat down and smoked thier pipes. Thi
(proved to be their farewell smoke o,
| earth.