Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-08-16

ing over the children and hummin!
over the old, old hymns of her slav,
days to them.
The Musquakees, a tribe of the
Sac and Fox Indians, about three
| hundred in number, having theil
abiding place on a reservation south
west of Tama, on the Iowa river
regularly visited Toledo, where they
were paid their annuity by the gov.
ernment agent, Major Free. Always
the merchants of the town gave
them credit for goods which were
invariably paid for when they re-
ceiyed their money from the gov
ernment, once a month. Mr.. w. F.
Johnston, one of the leading mer-
chants, told me that he had never
lost anything by the Indians except
in one instance. The red men were
honest. 1t was an interesting sight
to witness the invasion of the town
by these people. They Invariably
rode in on their ponies, the sQuaws
carrying their papooses in baskets
strapped to their backs, droll sight
to one who had never before wit
ness ed it. Their entry into the city
was signalized by the barking of
dogs. Every dog in the town would
set up howl upon their approach
and Immediately disappear, seeking
shelter under the house or anywhere
else to get out of sight of the dread
ed enemy. And we'll they might, for
they very we'll knew that they were
in constant danger. There was
neither safety nor peace for them so
long as an Indian was lurking in the
vicinity. The dog feared the Indian
as much as he would fear a noun
tain lion, for he knew the Musqua-
kee loved him, alas, mot wisely but
too we'll" AS the time would ap-
proach for the great annual dog
feast of the tribe which was a great
occasion, for Lo, the reign of terror
for the canine with the yellow hide
began, and it continued while the
feast lasted, rendering life utterly
miserable for the yellow hided vic
tim of those perverted paiates.
One day l witnessed the writings
of terror displayed by one of those
yellow CANNES, who was a captive in
the tolls of full grown Indian.
The dignified native had made the
capture somewhere in the outskirts
of the town and was making his way
with bis nsize to the place OF rem
devious. With short rope tied
around the dogs neck he was lead
ing, or rather dragging the unwill-
ing victim along with an admirable
abandon and utter disregard of
what people might say or think. To
be sure he bravely maintained an
outward calm, which he may or may
not have felt. He never once looked
either to the right or left or behind
him, while the wretcbed candidate
for the soup kettle hung back, as
well he might, and at every other
step or so gave out bloodcurd-
ling, yep, yep" which ought TO
have touched the on-lookers heart
and moved it with pity. But evil
IDENTIFY it did not; the poor captive
had no friends among the pale faces.
What yellow dog ever had? He was
led away to the torture and the
slaughter in the way that many OF
his forefathers had gone before him.
There was quite large backyard
and garden connected with the par
sonage, in which there were several
full grown apple trees. 1t made a
nice playground for the children,
who enjoyed it fully. One afternoon
while working with my hoe in the
garden, l was startled by the rattle
of a rattlesnake under one OF the
trees near where our younger chill
dren Schuyler and Harry were play
ing with neighbor's little .oy. OF
CONTINUED on page 3D.