Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-14
A Glimpse of a Century Age
By Frederic j. HaSkin
Y Y
T ASHINGTON, D. c., April "a
vivid reminder of the time when an


Mississippi, 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 little spring house cleaning when
he came upon old and faded diary. An
examination showed that it was the journal
of one Joseph Nicolas Nicollet, a dis
nguished French astronomer and explorer,
who was employed for several years by the
United States engineer corps almost a century
ago. And this volume contained not only an
interesting account of the Frenchman's ad
ventures in the wilds of the middle west, but
also a beautiful collection of pressed wild
| flowers in such perfect condition that they
were transferred to the Smithsonian insttu-
ton for cataloging and exhibition.
| M. Nicollet who was born at Cluses in
Savoy in 1885, shares with the noted NJ
Pond the distinction of discovering the IA
nous comet of 1921. Because of unfortu-
nate speculations he had to leave France in
1880 and came to the United States. The
American government gave the noted
astronomer assistance in making geographic
cal and geological explorations of the ter
ritory beyond the Mississippi river and he
was connected with the engineer corps until
1S43.
1t was while making these surveys that M.
Nicollet made the botanical collection as we'll
as compiling data and maps on the subject
of explorations, which have proved of ex
ceedingly great value to this country and
have been published in French as well as Eng
1ish. The originals of these works and the
maps which he so carefully colored 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 congress for careful reminding and
catalOging in the collection of the, congress
sional library.
Among these records is the Frenchman's
personal diary, made while at Fort Clark
Mo. Like the more serious matter, Mon
sieurs personal thoughts are recorded IN the
yellowed pages of 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. faded clip
ping of "The Patriot a newspaper of the
period, dated November 26, 1896, that Is en-
closed in the diary, states regarding the pres1-
Dental election of that year:
Slow Election Returns
Three weeks have elapsed since the cleo
ton but we have received few official returns
those from Missouri and Illinois. We are
indebted to the missouri Republican" for
these. They show, Harrison 149, Van Buren,,
446. In Madison we learned verbally that in
the election of one township, Van Buren, had
a majority Of 60 votes''
In Monsieur's diary, called "My Fort Clark
Journal" dated 1880, and carefully pro-
tected by hand-selvn cover of elkskin, under
March 6, is noted, Hail. gentle spring, 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 14--"The Indians
killed one of my dogs-retaliated by killing
two in his place-sWeet revenge
Wednesday-"The express from st. Louis
for Fort Union remains here as yet, having no
IN send with it There is cold north
west wind SO that we are not able to even
haul wood. My hunters arrived with the meat
of four bulls
Sunday, May 26-"Sent up to Grosventres
to collect some news. Had ducks for Dime,
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 8, 1838-"Killed one wolf last
night-stormy weather-Major killed two
antelopes today, but Mitchell, who went hunt
ing 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"
Sunday the 23rd-"Today was a holiday
and we celebrated with fine, big dinner, pre-
pared by old Charboneau. We had roast beef,
boiled tongue, broiled pheasants, bread, to-
bacco, coffee and grog."
From these excerpts it may be seen that
M. Nicollet's diary, at least is distinctly free
from weighty and scientific matter, but II is
~
the looking glass to our middle west OF that
period.
A further view of that time, especially 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 accounts of trades with the Indians are
set down.
Fur Was Cheap.
In one instance, Monsieur bought from
Frederick another Indian, five wolf skins
for $3.50 and three fox for SITS. In return
he osld beans G.00), bacon ($125), but
tons (S1.OO), grog and tobacco ($1.OO).
Another most noteworthy transaction took
place when he purchased eight wolf SKINS
five red fox skins and two grey fox from
Baptiste a third Indian trapper, for the
modest sum of $8.25. Baptiste, in turn,
bought one-half Irvine ball for SO cents, one
blue wool robe for $1.00, two pounds of sug-
ar for So, twelve pounds of flour for So
one pound Of coffee for $1.00 and one pound
of tobacco for $1.00.
1t is quite evident that the above were
considered exceedingly weighty transactions
and were recorded in all due seriousness and
it is equally evident that Monsieur N1collet
not only had sense of humor, but was also
a good salesman and a man of great d1plo-
matte resources, for he tells of settling many
disputes between natives of hostile tribes,
and seems to have enjoyed his trading, bo-
tanical, geographical and geological eXplora-
!ion work and astronomical research equally
we'll although it is his work along the last
named line which made his reputation. This
gallant Frenchman died in 1S43, Just follow
ing the last notes given in his Fort Clark
Journal"
OUIPS AND QUIDDlTIES.
A oil dr ma W entered