The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-07-29

the truth and had been imposed up
on.
"He does not know that / have
refused to sell my lands and still re-
fuse said old Menodninee and when
he knows the truth he will leave me
to my own He would not force me
from my home, and graves OF my
tribe and my children who have gone
to the Great Spirit, nor allow you to
tell me that your braves will take me.
tied like a dog, if he knew the truth.
| have not sold my lands. | will not
sell them. l have not signed any trea-
ty and will not sign any.
Nevertheless, old Memominee and
MS tribe were forcibly removed
Squads of soldiers rounded up all the
families, their homes were torn down
and destroyed, and, on the morning
OF September 4, 1888 orders were
given TO move and the mournful
party started on their western march.
They were accompanied by Father
Petit. French priest who had been
their missionary FOR several years,
and had conducted services in a log
chapel erected by Rev Theodore
Baden, the first catholic priest or
dained in the United States. Nearly
all OF the tribe had accepted Chris
tianity and where communicates and
on the morning OF the departure
Father Petit celebrated mass and the
Indians joined in singing the hymn
commencing: 20, Blessed Virgin, we
place our confidence in Thee" Father
Petit has left us a description OF TIE
:rene and says it was heartrending.
bus over Our dying mission we pay
ed for the success OF those they
would establish in the new hurting
ground
"Menominee was religious man
and had always taught his classmen
to a,. id the use OF Intoxicating liq-
uors m TO cheat or lie Jf steal. but
l.. ,iv> N peace with al 'n4n. partic-
t..--H ~;th the WHITES.
rhe eviction was -onple.e. and il
was official. The chiefs were origin
aHy treated as pris1ae,,. BIZ. al
Father Petit's reques; they. were al
! lowed to take their place. with the
rest OF the tribe 1t was mournfu'
procession. First went the flag oi
the United States, borne by dra-
goon, then the baggage in wagons
then a vehicle for the chiefs after
which followed the main body OF the
tribe, men, women and children
mounted cn horses, marching in file
! indian fashion, while on the flank.
were Dragons and volunteers urg-
ing on the weary and unwilling, otter
with most violent words and ges-
tures. The sick were in wagons un-
der an awning of canvas, which
5-wever, far from protecting then
from the sitting heat and dust, only
deprived them of air, and many died
Six miles from Danville, lll., ther,
was halt for two days. when w,
quilted the spot," Father Petit wrot,
I'VE Lett six graves under the shadow
of the cross" The suffering that fel
% the lot OF these poor Indians or
this horrible journey cannot be ade
quately described, but may be judget
fn-m the fact that their number;
were reduced by $50 before the,
reached their new reservation on tn,
Osgae river. Father Petit saw then
safely established and then startet
on his return trip. AT St. Louis h
succumbed 'ro malarial fever and tn
nervous strain of the ordeal and died
His remains were removed to Notr
Dame. Ind, where they lie in tn,
cemetery attached ITO the university
The Illinois legislature at its re
cent session appropriated $1,000 t.
pay the expense of an investigation
and report as to the practicability o
acquiring Starved Rock at Ottawa
III. as a state reservation and park