The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-01
InIS35 Ithaca Preacher Visited
CantOnment LeavenWorth.
Preached Three Times and Re-
marks of Order Kept.
SEES INDIAN DEAL
Deceased Tribesmen in Collins
Were Hung ON Scaffolds.
Meet Sac and Fox Indians North
of Present Fort.

Leavenworth, Kan, JAN In the
spring of 1885 an exploring party under
the direction Of the American Board Of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
and headed by Rev. Samuel Parker,
A. M. of Ithaca, n. Y, arrived at
Cantonment Leavenworth, as this from
tier post was called. The expedition
was enroute TO the region beyond the
Rocky mountains for the purpose Of
st,,dvinp the condition of the remote
indian tribes. and their disposition IN
regard to teachers of Christianity
If was on Saturday, May 9. that the
party arrived at Fort LeaVenWof u! n.
1.-THE way writes Rev. Parker, IS
through a fertile section of country;
mart Of the distance is an open pra1rie'
other narts are handsomely wooded.
and all well adapted to cultivation.
The party came to Fort LeavenWorth
from Libert.F. Mo-. and crossed Wn WIZ II, Is
now Platte county, then part OF the
Platte Purchase
While at the post Rev. Parker made
his headquarters at the nome OF lieu
tenant Stein. whose family he charac-
terized as IAN agreeable, religious o1e.
IT preached three times on the Sab
bath" he writes in his journal, and
most of the people of the garrison as
sembled and gave good attention Inere
is a very considerable number or pro-
fpSS0TS
ton but they have no chaplain 70
teach and lead them in their devotion
Colonel Dodge and some of the other
officers appear disposed to maintain
good order and I should think they e@-
ert a Statutory influence.
Change in rs Years.
In regard to the appearance Of the
post three quarters OF a century ago.
Rev Parker writes: 1.-THE buildings
Of the post are situated within an en-
closure around large. beautiful
square which is covered with grass and
adorned with shade trees. The whole
is on an elevation of a few hundred
feet. and has an interesting prospect or
the majestic river flowing on silently
below The fertile country around pre-
sents wide and fine prospect ana
when settled by an industrious popula-
ton will equal the most favored parts
of the earth
On May Is the party began their
overland journey to Council Bluffs,
CROSSING what is now Platte and Bu-
chanan counties. Missouri. but what
vas then the Indians country. Several
miles above here they encountered Sac
and Fox and Iowa Indians and Mr.
Parker wrote: 1.-THE sensations excited
by the circumstances of our situation
were peculiar, and such as had not
felt before; in a wilderness. inhabited
by unseen savages and wild beasts,
engaged in setting our tent. preparing
supper, with only a rev articles OF IuT-
nltllre the ground for our chairs, table
and bed etc. etc.
Buried on scanoIds.
On the 18th they rode on to the
Blacksnake Hills. the scene of Joseph
Roubideaux's trading post, now the site
of st. Joseph. of which Mr.. Parker
gives an interesting account in his jour
nal. In Buchanan county. opposite At
Gibson, he found the Indians disposing
of their dead on scaffolds. These scat
folds were about eight feet high and
upon them the dead We're placed in
rudeIy constructed coffins overspread
with skins. There are old settlers liv-
ing today who recall these curious
places OF sepulchre along the Missouri
river The late James Palmer of Ia
TAM once told the writer that he had
seen these burial scaffolds when he first
came to this section, and that they
were common along the river bluffs be-
tween Leavenworth and Atchison on
the Missouri side. There were several
of them along the bluffs west of Fort
I.eavenWorth and bordering Salt Greek