The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-12
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsl<IN, Director.
Washington, -. G.
\ GLIMPSE OF A CENTURY AGE


Washington. D. c., April "a vivid
n reminder of the time when an unex-
tplored wilderness lay west of the Mis-
sissippi, when government engineers
on duty out there dined on buffalo
steaks and occasionally had to fight
Indians, was brought to light in the
war department the other day.
Mr. De Grange, who has charge of
the library in the office of the. chief
of engineers, was doing a little spring
house cleaning when he came upon an
old faded diary. An examination
showed that it was the journal of one
Joseph Nicolas NicoIlet, a distinguish
ed French astronomer and explorer
who was employed for several years
by the United States engineer corps
almost a century ago. And this vol
ume contained not only an interesting
account of the Frenchmans adven-
lures in the wflds of the middle west
but also a beautiful collection OF
pressed wild flowers in such perfect
condition that they were transferred
to the Smithsonian Institution for
cataloging and exhibition.
NJ. Nicol1et, who was born at Cluses
in Savoy in 1886, shares with the
noted NJ. Pond, the distinction of DIS
covering the famous comet of 1871.
Because of unfortunate sPecdnsiaauonss
he had to leave France in 1880 and
Il came to the United States. The
American government gave the noted
astronomer assistance in making geo
gra phical and geological explorations
of the territory beyond the Mississippi
river and he was connected with the
engineer corps until 1S43.
1t was while making these surveys
that NJ NicolIet made the botanical
collection as well as compiling data
and. maps on the subject of explora-
lions, which have proved of exceeding
lily great value to this country and have
been published in French as well as
English The originals of these works
and the maps which he so carefully
coIored at the time of the surveys are
in the possession Of the engineer corps
at this time, but Mr.. De Grange says
they expect to turn these valuable
records over to the librarian of con-
gress for careful rebinding and cata-
Logging in the collection of the Con-
gressional library.
Among these records is the French
mans personal diary. made while at
Fort Clark, Mo. Like the more seri-
Gus matter, Monsieurs personal
thoughts are recorded in the yellowed
pages of a tall, old-fAshioned ledger
in fine, precise handwriting. There
are many statements of conditions in
these crude times to make the present
day reader smile and some which
make him wonder. A faded clipping
of 1.-THE Patriot" newspaper of the
period, dated November &c, 1886, that
is enclosed in the diary, states regard
ing the presidential election of that
Iyear:
Slow Election Returns.
''Three weeks have elapsed since the
election, but we have received few Of
fetal returns-those from Missouri
and Illinois. We are indebted to the
Missouri Republican for these. They
show. Harrison, 149. Van Buren,, 446.
In RTaf1
in the election of one township. Van
Buren, had a majority of 60 votes.'
In Monsters diary. called MY Fort
Clark Journal, dated 1870, and
carefully protected by~a hand-sewn
cover of elkskin, under March 9Th, is
noted, Hail, gentle Spring, L greet
thee with feelings of most heartfelt
delight. Grosventre has arrived from
Rec Camp and says strange Indians
are encamped at Turtle Mountain
Under date of March 14th-''The
Indians killed one of my dogs-re-
taliated by killing two in his place
sweet revenge"
| Wednesday-''Th express from st.
Louis for Eft. Union remains here as
yet, having no person to send with it.
that We are not able to even haul
wood. My hunters arrived with the
meat of four bulls"
Sunday. May 26.-'Sent up to Gros-
ventres to collect some news. Had
1 duck for dinner, the first this year
The men at the Fort made a record
yesterday by killing 900 rats. They
did not finish till nearly dawn.
February 3, 1883. - KILLED one
wolf last night-storny weather-Ma-
jor killed two antelopes today but
Mitchell, who went hunting with him,
arrived home with only the meat of
one poor crow. The Rees run band
of Buffalo of at least 1000 and killed
a great number"
Sun6ay, February 2S.-'Today was
a holiday and we celebrated with a
fine, big dinner, prepared by old
Charboneau. We had roast beef,
, boiled tongue, broiled pheasants,
bread, tobacco, coffee and grog."
! From these excerpts it may be seen
. that M. Nfcollet's diary, at least, is
distinctly free from weighty and sci
entific matter, but it is certainly in
tepesting reading as it holds up the
looking glass to our Middle West of
that period.
A further view of that time,> es-
pecially on the H. c. of L. in the
} early forties, just prior to the gold
rush across the plains, is given on the
last few pages of the diary when some
are set down.
Fur Was Cheap.
! In one instance, Monsieur bought
from Frederick, another Indian, five
woik skins for s25o and three fox for
s1.75. In return he sold beads
(s1oo). bacon (s125). buttons
Isl .00), grog and tobacco (s1.00).
Another most noteworthy transac-
ton took place when he purchased
eight wolf skins. five red fox skins,
and two gray fox from Baptiste, a
third Indian trapper, for the modest
! sum of $s.25. Baptiste: in turn bought
one-half Irvine ball for so cents, one
blue wool robe for $1.o0. two pounds
of sugar for $500, IL pounds of flour
: for $3.50, one pound of coffee for
: $500 and one pound of tobacco for
s1.00.
1t is quite evident that the above
were considered exceedingly weighty
! transactions and were recorded in all