Year: 1863

Among the many hardy Frenchmen in the EN-
ploy Of the old Northwest Fur Company" wa:
one FrancOise Germaine, voyageur, who had e.
tablished nOtoriety for courage and physicA
strength, and lie many others OF his class, hs
was sometimes vain of his extraordinary powers
aad fond of exhibiting them TO his associates
He would load bis brawny shoulders with pack:
which his comrades could scarcely lift from the
ground, and without evincing the smallest degree
of fatigue, would march with them, day after
day, through the wilderness, often leaving hi:
I lightly loaded companions far in the rear. Il
was no uncommon thing for Francoise TO lingei
in the camp an hour or two after his comrades
had started, take the trail they were following,
and after a few hours pass them quietly; and al
ter travelling till the middle OF the afternoon, stop
al some convenient spot for camping. Tie uSu-
I ally selected some water course which he judged
his friends would reach about nightiall, and strik-
ing camp, would surprise them with a well pre-
pared supper OF vensOn, or other game which
he had prepared against their arrival


On certain occasion, when ascending the
Dos des Sioux River, alone, in his canoe. he
was attacked by a large party of Sioux Indians,
who were sinking his canoe by perforating It's
bottom with their rifles, and making a desperate
fight of it, succeeded in making him prisoner.
/
reached them, and before putting him 10 torture,
they determined TO test his powers. According
ly they took him 10 the edge OF the cliff some
two hundred feet high, beneath which ran the
river and after preparing q rope of bark, aud
fastening one end to a large stone at the base Of
the cliff, they directed him to raise it where they
were collected in group to witness the fest
Germaine, whose judgment and self reliance
never for a moment deserted him, readily con
sented to humOr the Indians, but declared that
the thing was impossible with so short a rope.
The Indians, who had brought the free end Of
it to the top of the bank, insisted that it was oil
sufficient, besides being strong enough TO raise
a weight twice that of the stone. Still Germane
persisted in declaring that the rope was not long
enough by many feet, and refused TO CRAFTY them
unless the demand was complied with and the
rope heightened to suit him. Seeirg that unless
they INDUCED his caprice, they would be depriv-
ed OF that portion of their anticipated sport the
Indians yielded, and collecting more bark, added
the requisite number OF feet to the rope All
being now right, the Frenchman was ordered to
lift the stone. But FrancOse deliberately pro-
ceeded to knot the end lassO-wse, and gathered
il in a oOil the END or the elm, aiJer nrst
clearing the ground OF brush and broken limbs,
which might interfere with its free run. The
stone which was OF several hundred weight, was
a heavy lift, even for Germaine, and he exerted
all OF his powers to start it from its bed. But
when once started, the labor OF raising it was
comparatively lighter. After he had drawn il
few feet, he was ordered to lower it again,
when four of the most stalwart warriors tried
their united strength upon it, but they could not
bulge it an inch Again Germaine was ordered
to hoist it to the bank With the outlay of all
his muscular force he Obeyed, and as it moved
slowly along the face OF the Cliff the Indians ia
their excitement, gathered in knots upon the
very verge, and locking downward watched its
ascent. Hand over hand the Frenchman toiled
at the task, but his keen grey eyes taking in all
about him. He had raised the huge weight one
third of the distance, when the stone, catching
against the juttng ledge of the superintendent
shae, defed all his herculean strength to raise
it higher. As he struggled to overcome this re-
sistance, the Indians gathered closer and closer
upon the verge of the cliff, and watched the ei-
feet Of the effort Of the prisoner At this mo-
ment, stopping the rope partially over the top
OF stunted cedar bush, and holding the strain
upon his left hand, he reached forward, and
gathered up the coilei portion in his right, he
gave it one wide swing over his head, which
opened its broad running moose, and with its
skillful cast let it drop over the largest knot of
excited Indians, as they were looking below.
The fatal circle, true to the design of the brave
Frsncoise, encompassed no less a number than
ak of his enemies, and letting go his hold, the
rock with a noise like thunder rushed headOng
iato the abyss, dragging, with lightning speed,
the six bowling Indians after it. SO sudien and
awful was this frightful announcement, that the
surviving Indians, some thirty in number, were
for many minutes horror struck and regardless
Of all else about them. During the excitement
and confusion, the voyageur seeing the way
clear, made good his escape, flying with the
speed of a wild deer. The swiftest runners
we're sent in pursuit, but they soon gave up the
chase as useless, and the fortunate Franchise
returned in safety to his comrades at Lake Trav-
ers.


The spot where this incident occurred is well
known to the hunters and Indians of the region,
and sill retains the name of " FRANCHISE Cliff.
Upon the smooth surface of the limestone near
the waters edge, the Sioux have cOmmemO-
rated the event by rude carvings, representing
six warriers in the act of tumbling headlong
from the edge of the preeipice to the river be-
low.