The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-12-23
MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS
GUARD OF TREASURE
FRENCH TRADER SUNK LARGE
CHEST OF GOLD PIECES IN
FATHER OF WATERS"
GREAT FORTUNE ASTOR'S LOSS
Money, Kept in Trust for Rich East
erners, Thrown Away to Spite In
vaders Pearl Fishers Hope to
Raise Long Hidden Riches.

vaders. Pearl Fishers Hope to
Raise Long Hidden Riches.
All summer long pearl fishers have
guided their picturesque barges up
and down the Mississippi. While these
fishermen Systematically and regularly
bring In their loads of clam shells,
scan each one hurriedly for hidden
pearls and drive. the closest kind of a
bargain with the button makers on
the Iowa side there is, under it all,
the hope in the heart OF each that he
may be the one to raise from the bed
of the Father Of Waters the long-hid-
den treasure-the golden hoard of
Michael Brisbois, writes a Prairie-du
Chen letter to the Milwaukee Jour
nal
Living long. quiet days in an old
stone homestead overlooking the river
j. a girl who has spent her entire life
watching these willy fishermen and al
50 hoping that some day one of them
may bring to light the sunken treas
IRE of her ancestor.
The first white man to intrude upon
the hunting grounds of the Indians OF
what is now Wisconsin were the early
Jesuits. who were on missions OF peace
and friendship and gained nothing for
themselves Close on their heels fol-
lowed the French traders or voyag
eurs, as they were called. who were
most truly pioneers, for they opened
the path for civilization
Rulers both of old and new France
sent expeditions down into the new
country to establish trading posts.
These settlements were made along
the waterways.
Many times the voyageurs arrived
at the posts in advance of the Indians,
who gathered the precious furs from
villages far inland The days spent in
these outlying posts were enlivened
by companionship with the Indians,
with the result that many of the
French Canadians married Indian wo
men.
John Jacob Astor.
Gradually the English pressed their
way into the country rich with furs
and began encroaching upon the trade
of the French When John Jacob As
tor made his first visit to Wisconsin
he found. between the bluffs and the
river bank at the point where Prairie
du Chen now stands, some 400 of
these French Canadians, Indians and
half-breeds who spoke French with
some Indian dialect
Astor. with the indomitable spirit
which won him his great success, cas-
lily persuaded the smartest traders
among the French Canadians to enter
his employ. Using the same tactics in
organizing his business he soon had
the country covered with network
OF Indian runners bent on making his
venture a success.
One OF the earliest to be employed
by Aston was Michael Brisbois who
had taken UP land which extended
from the river back across the slough
and up over the bluffs. Soon after
Brisbois entered the employ of Aston
he and his wife, who was The daughter
of Gauiter de Verville and relative
by marriage of President Monroe, Sc
1ected the site for their home. AS was
the custom in that day they built on
the river bank with only the high
way between the house and the Mis-
sissippi.
Alter tHt tSldDuSuhlClll VI lily
American Fur Trade Company in 1899
the fur trade grew by leaps and
bounds. Brsbois' familiarity with the
ways of the country caused the bust
ness of the Prairie du Chen post to
increase to such an extent that it soon
became the headquarters OF Indian
and army transactions and the center
OF distribution of supplies for the
whole valley north of St. Louis. About
this time the enemies Of the trading
posts in the northwest territory called
the Indians together on Drummings
Island, in Lake Huron, and, with
lengthy speeches and generous gifts,
persuaded various tribes to war upon
the settlements.
Treasure Store in River.
Rumors of threatened attacks came
drifting into the Prairie du Chen
post. Keel boats from St. Louis had
Just arrived at the docks laden with
tobacco, coffee, calico and many hun
dreds of dollars of French and Span
is coins, to be in readiness to pay for