The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-08-06

Probably there Is no spot in the
state OF Minnesota so prolific Of In
dian lore and legends han which is
known as Big Pine lake, which is To-
Gated about four miles from the town
| Of Perham, about seventy miles from
the city of Fargo and which has be-
come n Of the ~favorite recreation
places for the people Of this city.
There isn't a foot of the lake front
that hasn't In the years gone by seen
its Indian warfare and every once in
awhile an Indian weapon of some kind
is picked up, or the bones of a long
since dead Indian found.
II was here that the great battle be-
tween the Sioux and the Chippewas
which began at Battle lake. ended and
shortly .thatu an old Chippewa chief
made, his last stand and here it was
where his warriors fell Ike blades Of
grass before the scythe.
He Saved His Squaws.
There must have been a great deal
Of gailantry in the old time Indian
chief, for it is related that on Dun
cans point, which is now known as
Grand View Heights, the old chief
seeing that defeat was inevitable made
himself a raft and on this with his
sqnaWs managed to get across the
lake to a place that to this day Is
known as Squaw point. There are all
kinds Of stories told of this particular
lake and il one desired to play the
s~pirttualistic game he could easily con-
Jure one Of these old warriors and do
some talking from the other land"
Many Of those who have taken up
their residence on the reservation at
White Earth are descendants Of those
who fought in that far away battle.
Found Six Skeletons.
Only last spring M. w. Ware had
some men grading the lawn in front
Of his cottage at the Big Pine, and
while he was present they unearthed
the skeletons OF six full grown people,
who in life were undoubtedly Indians.
Mr.. Ware formerly resided in Fargo,
but is now located on the shores Of the
lake. These bodies were turned over
TO the commissioners of Ottertail
county, in conformity with the laws of
the state OF Minnesota which does not
permit desecrating the graves of the
Indians even for historical purposes.
1t is believed that these remains were
those of Indians who had fought in
that famous battle when the old Chip
pewa chief vas defeated.
Graves on ,Squaw Point.
over on SQuaW point WHICH is JUST
q mile Gro the lake from the cot
tages are two or three graves Of In
dian children, Here also was buried
the body of the old chief who had par
ticipated in the battle, but his skeleton
has been removed to White Earth and
laid to rest besides those of his tribe,
But for some reason the graves OF the
children have been permitted to re-
NAMED undisturbed. Once a year ac-
cordipg to those who lived down on the
Big Pine a band of Indians come from
White Earth and with their old time
ceremonies proceed to leave a bowl OF
soup on each grave as well as a IL
cent piece of tobacco. After remaining
for a short time they take their de
parture.
Once a veal in the late fall a band OF
Indians come to the lake M go to g
point as far away from the cottages
and hotel as they can and here they
fish and smoke their catches in the ole
primitive way. They pay but little at.
tention to those about them, and nc
one molests them. They are quiet an6
urassunning and do not appear to take
any interest in what the white people
OF the neighborheed are doing.
The Skeletons Again.
1t is stated by Mrs. George Kepler
who used to have the hotel at the lake
and who is remarkably well posted IL
Indian lore in that section, that wher
the six skeletons were unearthed a
the Ware cottage excavations they
were wrapped in cedar bark, and tina,
this was we'll preserved, and that ever
the leather thongs with which the bark
had been tied about the bodies short.