The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-08-11

be gone before they should grow intoxicated
had made at the period to which
ferring, much progress in the language in
which Wawatam addressed me, to be able to
hold an ordinary conversation in the language in
it; but the Indian manner Of speech is so ex-
travagantly fgurative that it is only for very
perfect master to follow and comprehend it en-
trely. Had been further advanced in this re-
spect, l think | should have gathered so much
information from this my friendly MONITOR as
would have put me into possession OF the de-
signs of the enemy, and enabled me to save
others as well myself; as it was ii unfortu
nately happened that l turned a deaf ear to
everything, leaving Wawatam and his wife, after
long and patient, but Intellectual efforts, to
depart alone, with detected countenance, and
not before they had each let fall some tears.
I'm the course of the day, I observed
that the Indians came in great numbers into
the fort, purchasing tomahawks (small axes of
pound weight). and frequently desiring to
see silver arm-bands, and other valuable orna-
ments of which 1 had large quantity for sale.
These ornaments, however, they In no instance
purchased; but, after turning them over, left
them saying that they would call again the next
day. Their motive, 1t afterwards appeared,
was other than the very artful one OF dis
covering by requesting to see them, the par
ticuar places of their deposit. so that they might
lay their hands them in the moment of pill
lage, with the greater certainty and dispatch.
"At night I turned in my mind the visits
of Wawatam; but, though they were calculated
to excite uneasiness, nothing induced me to be-
lieve that serious mischief was at hand.
THE next day, being the fourth Of June, was
the kings birthday. The morning sultry.
A Chippewa came to tell me that his nation
was going to play at baggatiway, with the Sacs,
another Indian nation. for a high wager. He
invited me to witness the sport, adding that the
commandant to be there, and would be on
the side of the Chippewas. In consequence of
this information, went to the commandant and
expostuated with him little, representing that
the Indians might possibly have some sinister
end in view: but the commandant only smiled
at my suspicious.
1.-THE game of baggatiway which the Indians
played upon that memorable occasion is the most
exciting sport in which the red man could en-
gage 1t was played with bat and ball. The
bat socalled, was about four feet in length and
an inch in diameter. 1t was made of the tough
est material that could be found. At one end
it was curved and terminated in a sort of rack
ct or perhaps more properly ring, in which
network of cord loosely woven. The play
ers were not allowed to touch the ball with the
hand, but caught 1t in this network at the end
of the bat At either end of the ground tall
post was planted. These posts marked the sta
ton of the rival parties, and were sometimes
mile apart. The object Of each party was to
defend its own post and carry the ball to
that of the adversary.
"At the beginning Of the game the main body
of the players assembled halfway between the
two posts Every eye sparkles and every cheek
is already aglow with excitement. The ball is
tossed high into the air. and general struggle
ensues to secure it as it descends. He who sue
ceeds starts for the goal of the adversary hold
ing II high above his head. The opposite party,
with merry yels, swift to pursue His course
is intercepted and rather than see the ball taken
from him. he throws it, as the boy throws the
stone from the sling, as far toward the goal of
the adversary as he can. An adversary In the
game catches it, and sends it whizzing back
in the opposite direction. Hither and thither it
goes: now far to the right. now as far to the
left: now near to the one, now as near to the
other goal; the whole band crowding continual
" after it in the widest confusion, until finally,
some agile figure, more fleet of foot than the
others succeeds in bearing it to the goal of the
opposite party.
an the heat Of the contest, when all are
running at their greatest speed, If one stumbles
and falls fifty or a hundred, who are in close
pursuit and unable to stop, pile over him, FORM
ing a mound of human bodies, and frequently
PLAYERS are so bruised as to be unable to pro-
coed in the game.
This game with it's attendant noise and vio-
lence was well calculated to divert the attention
of officers and men and thus permit the Indians
to take possession of the fort. To make their
success more certain, they prevailed upon as
many as they could to come out of the rort
while at the same time their squaws, wrapped
In blankets beneath which they had concealed
murderous weapons, were placed inside the en-
closure The plot was so ingeniously laid that
no one suspected danger. The discipline of the
garrison was relaxed and the soldiers permit
ted to stroll about and view the sport without
weapons of defense. And even when the ball,
as If by chance. was lifted high in the air,
to descend inside the pickets, and was followed