93 o^e Hermit . . OF . . MINNEHAHA FALLS Class Vs'j7 Book lAaA- ^ ^ SOUVENIR ^ .^ LIFE AND DEEDS OF . WILLIAM HERRICK, ..HERMIT OF - MINNEHAHA FALLS v^ v^ v^ A TALE OF THE WILD WEST IN EARLY DAYS A TRUE STORY Sj§ S^ v^ Edited by SAMUEL A. HATCH THE. LIbRAHY OF CONOKESS, Two Copies Rocalved JUL 2 1903 \ CoHyiignt hntiy CjIaSS C<^ XXc No. COPY B .1 COPYRIGHT, 1903 BY SAMUEL ATHERTOS HATCH WILLIAM HERRICK. The Herniil of Miniu-haha Falls. WHY I BECAME A HER.M1T T am often asked why I became a licrmit. I liave never answered this before for reasons best known to myself. But fecHng- tliat I owe some- thing to the reading pnbHc I will try to answer that question truthfully. In the first place I suppose that the love of sol- itude, the desire for one's own company is in- herent in some men's systems, just as the desire for company is inherent in others. I always loved solitude. I loved the forest with its lonely grand- eur, I loved the great prairie with its solemn still- ness. But this was not my only reason for shun- ning human society. There was in my case what there has been in many like cases — a woman. Two words, yet how much they mean. Later in mv storv I shall give you a small account of my marriage and its bitter results. It is enough for me to say that the woman I married ruined my life and sent me to wander on the face of the earth. Graduall}' I drew away from my fellow men until during the ])ast twenty years of my life I have lived nearly a])art from them. Still I cannot hut lielieve that there are many g-ood women but as for me I want none of them. I have no trouble to unload upon any one else, let them keep their troubles away from me. I have lived with Nature and she has dealt kindly with me after her fashion, but even she cannot remove me from all touch of human kind. Thus in my old age I must go to some retreat for old soldiers and there end my days. Two men have kindly aided me in placing this true story of my life before the pul)lic and have given me the money to go to the Milwaukee Soldiers' Home. These two men, C. C. Patten and S. A. Hatch are to liave full charge of the book which shall recount the life and deeds of W'm. Herrick. Hermit of Minnehaha Falls. So sitting here in my little vine covered shack, in the hearing of the laughing waters of ^lin- nehaha I look l)ack over my life and n'coimt for your benefit the stirring scenes through which I passed. CHAPTER I. MY BOYHOOD I was born in the city of New York, March 22, 1848. My parents were poor but honest and related to men who afterward became renowned. Thus I can honestly sa\- that I am a nephew of Dr. Livingstone, the g-reat African explorer. Another relation with the same name now has a ereat cattle ranch in western Nebraska. Mv father was step brother to Isaac Singer of sew- ing" machine fame. So much for my relations. At the age of six I came to Watoma. Wiscon- sin, with my parents. Here m}' father died when 1 was but seven years old, leaving my mother with the care of two bo}s, the oldest ten years of age. One vear later my mother married a widower with three girls. (Jur family now consisted of seven persons in all, and tlnnking they cotdd do [letter for their family farther west my mother 3 The Hermit and step father moved to ^Minnesota in the spring of 1857. We settled on a claim on Greenwood prairie, Wabasha county, and well do I remember the dug-out home and general surroundings. Our daily fare was not calculated to give us indiges- tion. It consisted principally of potatoes, a slice of bread twice a week, no tea, coffee, or milk, but plenty of good spring water. Meat and but- ter were rarities and not to be thought of. During the second year of Minnesota life my step father bought a small herd of cattle, mak- ing me herd boy, without a mount. Being bare- foot and having a herd ground that comprised any amount of raw prairie land, my feet became very sore looking after my unruly charges. So I conceived the idea of using a pet steer for a mount and after a few lessons he took the matter very philosophically. But T was doomed to a sudden downfall. The riding wore out my pants and my mother setting out to mend ihcm after I had gone to bed dis- covered sticking lo the legs a thick coating of hair. The consequence wa- that 1 received first a vig- orous questioning and then a terrible whipping 4 OF Minnehaha. fnun ni\- ^tep father. As this was not the first heating- I had received from him for trivial of- fences, for whenever I was at hand he used to take exercise on me two and three times a day, and seeing we could never hope to agree, I v.'as always looking- for some chance to get away from home. Many a time I was sent supperless to bed and so while he grew richer I grew poor- er both in body and spirit. THE OLD ROUND TOWER AT FORT SNELLING. Built in 1820. Was the point of land allack by the Indians in their warfare against the soldiers sta- tioned there. The piece of wall to the right shows a part of the old wall that entirely surrounded the whole foi't. Another ran from the left side of the tower, thus completely shutting in the point of land between the juncture of the Minnesota and Missis- sippi rivers. It was in these walls that many Indians were hung, among them being the terrible Chief Medicine Bottle who had taken the scalps of 37 white men. CIIAPTKR IT. OFF TO WAR. lUii my turn was to come at last. The Civil War was on and I asked the privileg'e of enlist- inj:;-. lie not consenting", I threatened to rtin away and go south to Johnnie Reh. As he was a rank Abolitionist this had the effect of bringing him to terms, though I could see that it cut him deep. So I left home feeling as free as the eagle that soars aloft and marched away with the boys in blue. I never saw my step father again. He died before I returned and I verilv l)elieve in do- ing so he saved me the crime of murder. At first I tried to enlist in a Minnesota regi- ment but was rejected because they said. "I was too small to stop a bullet." Nothing daunted I went to Wisconsin, where after several trials I succeeded in joining Co. H. 48th Rgiment, Wis- consin Infantry. On my seventeenth birthday we took the cars for St. Louis. From there the regimen.t went into Kansas and was l)roken up and scattered The Shetland pony track hjcated in the Park just above the Falls, has been the means of affording more pleasure to children than any other amusement in the Xortlnvest. The ponies arc pure Shetland, the stock having been brought from the Shetland Isles in 1891 bj' ^Ir. Hartzell, the proprietor. The herd, has been largely increased since by breeding. They range in height from thirty-four to forly-four incites and are strong and gentle so that children and adults can either ride or drive them. The Hermit over the southern part of the state. H Co. was stationed near the Bhie Cut coimtry where the famous Younger and J'lnies hrothers hehl forth. On our march to our camping grounds we were put on short rations, one hardtack a day for two weeks. Added to this I had the nusfortune to have my allowance stolen and my hmikey, a quarter blood negro, shared his hardtack with me for the entire two weeks. Let me say here that that negro was father, brother and friend to me, boy that I was. He shielded me from the cold night winds, he lugged my knapsack when I l)ecame fatigued from the long marches, cared for me when I was sick and protected me from rough usage at the hands of others. May he still live and may he have the fruits that are his just dues, for under his black skin beat a white heart. In the fall the regiment assembled at Law- rence, Kansas, to take the trail over the Smokey Hill route on the Staked Plains. One who has never been on the plains in those early days can- not conceive of the great pleasure which this trip afforded me. The mighty mystery and sol- emn stillness of the e'reat wastes and stretches of OF Minnehaha. uii])oi>])lc(l land filled niv }'ouni;' heart to over- tlowin^ with rc\-ercncc and awe. And then the animals bounding- in freedom across the plain. lUififalos o^razinij in .s^reat majestic herds, thous- ands u])()n thousands, lumbering- away with a heav\-. rolling- run at the ajiproach of Uncle Sam's white coA'ered wag-ons. Many a night in those days did I awake to see sitting arcjund in the cold moonlight a pack of wolves, making tlie night hideous with their howling. The antelope skipped by us with light and flying feet, the prairie dogs barked at us from millions of their towns and the rattle snakes and owls glided and flew past us and followed the prairie dog down intO' his hole. Occasionally we saw a mountain sheep. One night I awoke paralyzed with horror. A rattlesnake in search of warmth lay coiled on my breast. For twO' hours of terrible agony I la}- as one dead. P^inally it crawled away only to sink its fangs in the leg of a comrade in the next tent. At times we saw Indians, but always m too small numbers to cope with us. However the fear of them ke])t us from hunting the .plentiful game all around us. So we ate our wormy hard- 9 The He km it tack and maggcjty meat with many a wry face, l)ut without a murmur. As we came to the dititerent posts two com- panies were stationed at each, to be increased a few days later by two companies of cavalry. Companies H and A were stationed on Pawnee Creek at Fort Leonard, afterwards Sherman's headquarters, and where Bill Cody earned his spurs. It was there I met with an adventure that came near costing me dear. Taking my gun one day I strode out of camp in search of adventure. Xot knowing the danger I was in I forgot myself in the picturesque surroundings and wandered on till near sundown. Making for a small clump of trees in which to camp. I walked directly into the midst of a band of six Indians. With terrible yells the\- threw themselves upon me. In a twink- ling I was bound to a tree and the dry fagots piled high about me. Kneeling down one struck his Hint and steel and was soon blowing a piece of punk to a blaze. Did you ever see a cat play with a mouse? That is the way those red devils played with me. 10 THE HERMIT AT HOME. This shows the hermit sitting at his cabin door among- the ivy and flowers. The place was a wilder- ness of blootning- and beautiful flowers during the summer time and many Avere tlie liouquets given to visitors who came from far and wide to visit the hermit in his liomo. 'I'he Hermi. I can still sec them in ni_\- fancy dancing around me with savat^e joy. But I was not to die thus. Just as I had given up all hope, the reports of two rifle shots rang out on the air and two of my tormentors bit the dust. The other four took tn their heels and get- ting safely on their ponies made their escape. A white man now came b lunding to my side, kicked away the fagots and cut me loose from my uncomfortable position. I sank to the ground unconscious for my nerves had been given too hard a strain. With a dash of water he brought me to and seeing that my rescuer, wore the ep- aulettes of a colonel, I weakl\- brought my hand to a salute and stood at attention. "May I ask your name. Colonel," I said. "Cer- tainly," he replied. "My name is Christopher Carson." I cam])ed that night with thai most iuii(|ue and wonderful man. He told nie to go to sleep as his horse would apprise him of any danger. Be- fore retiring he told me some of his wonderful experiences, which same experiences came \lack Hills, lieinq- turned Ixick b\- the soldiers. T joined a tra])])ing- outfit, making- up a trio of ha])])y, reekless, devil-may-care fellows. \'e started up ihe Missouri, well knowing- our f;ite if catight by the Indians. Yet hundreds of white nien were every day taking their chances for the rich furs that might lie taken l)ack. Ihit danger and nature sharpens one's wits. If a deer bounded from a thicket or a squirrel barked excitedly, we took to cover, for that meant that some one was near. ( )ne learned to avoid sticks under the feet and to use his nose. The .^mell of Kinakinic or red- willow bark is ])eculiarly strong. The Indians use this wood fo- pipes and a few whitfs of tobacco through it leaves a scent that will drive awa_\- mosquitos, Hies or woodticks. As I have said there were many white men trapping- in and around the Alissouri and some 1.') The Excursion Steamer Gracie Mower will make regular trips between Fort Snelling, Minnehaha and Soldiers' Home, connecting A\ith street cars fit Ff)rt Snelling for St. Paul, and at Minnehaha for Minne- apolis. TIME TABLE. Leave St. Paul, foot of Jackson street, 9: 30 daily. Leave Fort Snelling for Minnehaha 10:30, 11:30, 12: 30, 1: 30. 2: 30, 3: 30, 4: 30. Leave Minnehaha for Fort Snelling 11: 1.5, 12: 1.5, 1:15, 2:15, 3:15, 4:15. Leave Minnehaha for St. Paul 5:15: leave Fort Snelling for St. Paul 5:30. Children not over twelve years of age, to Fort Snel- ling and return, five cents. Steamer to charter for evening excursions, ?10.00. Take a trip on the Gracie Mower and see the high- lands of the tJpper Mississippi river. J. C. SMITH, Manager. 'J" HE Hermit of ilu'in met sonic terrible fates at the hands of the red skins. Tlie torture tliat an Tn(han cm devise is past belief. I have found a skeleton tied to a stake that was driven into a red ant hill. The sequel of this hellish act was only too ])lain. The ants had eaten the man alive. Again we found the skeleton of a man and that of a rattle- snake tied to the same stake, the man with a rope, tlie snake with a buekskin. A rain would shrink the rope and stretch the buckskin. iJut to resume our journey. We crossed the river and bore to the cast to get l)y Pine Ridge and StaufHng Rock Agencies. We then recrossed the Muddy, making for the U])per Camion ]'>all. One evening hve horsemen joined our p'lrty while we were cooking our supper. Their hors- es looked jaded and worn, and upon our asking them to 'light and eat, they quickly got down, unsaddled and made themselves at home in west- ern stvle. We were glad to welcome tliis addi- tion to (jur ranks that night, bul bitterly did we regret next morning. Scarcely had daybreak ar- rived when we heard the cry. "Hands up," and you can bet that hands u]) it was, for we were IG OF MiNNKHAHA. surrounded 1)\- t�cul\ while men on liorses with Winchester ritles at nim. "What is the meaning of this outrage," I asked. ■"Shut \ alive. My time has come." "Xonsense. old hov." said I, "never say die." "I feel it in mv 1)one-^." lie rej)lied, "hut I'll die game." Rah-Rah-Rah-Rcc-Ree-Rcc, Who are — who arc — who arc we, We arc the Br-wers, don't you see. Going to Snelling — cliee-chcc-chec. A pretty picture showing one of the many loads of liappy tourists that take the trip to Fort SnelHng on one of the rigs belonging to the C. C. Patten Bus Line. Thousands of visitors to the Falls take this ride, the charge for the entire round trip of six miles being only twenty-five cents a passenger. The busses leave ^Minnehaha Falls every half hour. The drive through the beautiful and historic govern- ment reservation takes one by the new fort and parade ground, past the famous old round tower and block house and near the fortifications of the old fort just above the point of juncture of the iMississippi and Alin- nesota rivers. From here the drive passes out onto the great government steel bridge, one hundred and sixteen feet above the water of the Mississippi river, where one may get a \'ievv of river, forest and fort, unsurpassed in the United States for beauty and grandeur. From here one may also see Mendota, the famous old Indian village and oldest town in the state. When visiting Minnehaha Falls no one should miss this beautiful drive. The Hermit His prophetic words were too true. . six o'clock or thereal)outs the Indians came ii]) and as^ain attacked ns. We waited till they had come (|uite close and then our ritles spoke together, 'idien a strange thing happened. Two horses came tearing from the ranks of the Indians, their dead riders falling as they came. I understood it in a Miioment's time. They were horses cap- tm^ed from white men and the;.' now ran for us. Trust a horse brought up by a white man to know the difference between a white and a red skin. It was l)ut a second's time to mount these fresher horses. Then we made a lireak for lil)er- tv. A perfect hell of shots and yells surrounded and came after us. Gradually our fresh horses drew awa\-. but too late to save Jack. I turned to see him pkdi forward in his saddle and with a "Goodbye liill," pitch to the earth. I stopjied long enough to see that he was dead and then taking his horse pushed on. It was well that I did so for before morning my horse had stej^ped in a hole and broken his leg and after ])UtTting a bullet in his brain for pity's sake I took the other horse and rode away. 30 OF Minnehaha. lUU I was iKit yd out of daiii^cr. I was l)oii\Q; followed in a mo?t k'isurcl) fasliiim for the In- dians thought 1 could umI ])()ssihly esca])e and my capture was only a matter of time. ]5esidcs, thev did not wish to come too close to the heavy hrace of revolvers and the Winchester I still car- ried. I managed to elude them long enough to give my horse a nuich needed rest, however, and then took to the saddle once more hoping this time to get awa\'. I'ut I made the mistake of my life in one re- spect, in another way j^erhaps I saved myself. Before I knew it 1 was in a tra]). They were surrounding me and I knew now it was a race for life. But my spued availed nothing for they were heading me toward a dee]) fissure with high hanks on either side. They now commenced to taunt me with "Took- ta neah Puckchee waucon," meaning. "Where are yott going, devil." But the gully now widened out and T wondered at their confidence for I was graduall\- drawing away from them. But I soon saw the reason for it. 'Hie .gully came tO' an almost ahrupt end in a gorge or creek al:)out twelve feet wide. Checking my horse in time I rode hack toward the red 31 Government Bridge from the St. Paul side to the Minneapolis side of the Mississippi, and view of the main part of old Fort Snelling-. From this bridge a view of Mendota, the oldest town in Minnesota, may be had. Mendota is an Indian village and a tribe of Indians still live there. Mendota at one time came near to being the capital of the state. The IIkkmit devils l)ack of me dctcniiined to risk all in one terril)le leap for life. To their crv of "where are you S'*M'i,U'' devil." 1 suddenly .crif:d, "Tahon," meaning, "over there." and wlieeling my animal made for the gorge. ?\1\- nolile horse. He rose like a deer and to my hysterical relief landed clear and iwv on the other side of the awful chasm. lUillcts now whistled after me for it was their last chance of gTtting me. for to get over the gorge they had prol)al)ly to go down or up the stream many miles. That night a heav\' r;iin set in and though very uncoiufortahle to me in the saddle was really a great hlessing for it hroke all signs of mv trail. In the morning 1 crossed the \'ellowstone again and had the good luck to kill a deer. Believing 1 was in a strange country I made a fire and was isoon feasting on the fat of the land. 1 then covered my tire and lay close u]) to' it to get some warmth into m\- chilled body. Overcome with fatigue 1 fell asleep. I must have slept until ahoul four in the afternoon for 1 was suddenly awakened 1)\ the strong smell of the Kinakinic. I did not open r.iy eves as yet. One learns to be careful. OF Minnehaha. I kiU'W tlial I was surrounded and in ;ui in- stant had made up ni\' mind to ])lay off for crazw Indians arc ']"iiE Hermit next morning they were still there. Init as soon as we had eaten they prepared to move. They asked me to go with them. l)Ut T jjointed to the sky and then to the ground signifying that the Great Spirit wished me to remain there. Thev left me strong in the conviction that I was crazv and I sometimes think I was and that 1 have never gotten over it yet. I now once more restim.ed my saddle and for three days and nights saw not a sign of Indians. On the third night as I was traveling along about nine o'clock I heard a voice singing in a rich Irish l)rogue "Nora O'Xeall." Xever in my life have I heard sound one-ha.lf so sweet to my ears as the voice of that Irish bush-whacker. As I came nearer I saw a canvas topped wa- gon in the firelight and knew it was a freighting outtit going to Bismarck. I cried, "Hello friends." and was told to "'light" and "come in." 1 found later it was one of "Broad Waters' " outfits. I Avent with this party to liismarck and from there left for Minnesota, hi Minnesota I sold my horse, having discovered that he was qjeedy and later 1 learned that he made some remarkable fast time running. 34 CHArXER \"II. UP THE BIG MUDDY In August, 1874, I once more started for the West. V\'itli the money received from the sale of m\- horse 1 l^ought my outfit and another horse. In malting these purchases 1 feU in with two men b}' the names of Charley Brown and Ole Oleson, the latter a true Scandinavian. Both were good brave fellows, good shots and good trappers. Brown was of English parentage as evidenced by his use of his "hs" and his favorite ''bloody blooming." etc. Their horses were in pasture at Jamestown, while mine was at iNIoor- head, so we shipped our ^supplies to Bismarck. At Jamestown, where I went first v>itli th.e boys Ole got into troul^le. \'hile taking a drink in a saloon a crowd of rowdies tried to make sport with him l:)ecause he was a Swede, ^^'ith one blow of his fist Ole had downed his first in- sulter and then the crowd flashed knives and revolvers on him. It was at this imicture that Brown, app.er.red on th.e scene to h.ear cries of OF Minnehaha. "Down with the Swede." "Blast my blooniin' l)l()(.(lv 'art if yon do," cries Brown and steps in along- side of Ole. Tt was thns that I fonnd them facing- the tonghs a few minntes later. With the hntt of my revolver I laid ont two of the rowdies and hred a conple of shots aronnd the ears of the others and snddenly we fonnd onrsclves alone with the barkeeper who was slowly emerging from behind the connter. "It's my treat fel- lows." said he, "name yonr poison." ^^'e left town that afternoon and at the end of three days were in camp on the Big Mnddy near Bismarck. Arriving at Bismarck we found we did not have enough pack horses and as T had purchased one more at Moorhead it was th.eir turn to get another. After awhile they came back with two good looking ponies, but mean — while thev had filled uj) on enough rot-gut to float a canoe. Both thought that they were as good men as John L. Sullivan, and there was notliing to do l)ut let them have it otU. "Aye tank I vas better man as \ou Scharley." says Olc. "Blast mv bloody, blooming 'art if you are," savs. Brown. "Come on Sweden an' I'll knock 3G The Hermit the bloody nose off'n ye." So I made them give me their arms and let them set to. It was a good honest man's fight and a draw. Both were bleed- ing at the nose while one of Ole's eyes wa^ closed. While I split my sides with laughter they sat grinning alt one another trying to re- cover their breath. At last I said, '"Well you are both Yankees now so shake hands to the new nationality/' which they did. The next morning we were in the saddle bright and early headed for the upper Yellowstone. As we got farther west we saw Indian signs at every hand to keep us on the alert. On Green river we had a brush with five Cheyenne braves and proved too nnich for them. We learned then that Sitting Bull had been in that country at war with the Crow and Man- dan tribes, so we changed our plans somewhat, and crossing the Yellowstone, made for the Lit- tle Muddy. Up near its head waters we found good pro- spects and proceeded to arrange our camp and make it strong and secure. We built under- ground stables and ishack and then got in ha}- for our stock and provisions for ourselves. \'t then commenced our trapping. 37 OF Minnehaha. We took in beaver, otter, mink, fisher and mar- tin seemingly without end. Along in December the snow became so deep that we had to suspend operations until the following March. During the interval we anmsed ourselves playing cards, throwing knives, wrestling and sparring. Oc- casionally we killed a black-tail deer for food. Ole had a fight with a g^rizzly to cap the climax and got pretty badly chewed up. Along towards the first of February while out hunting for deer I came to an Indian lying be- side a big grizzly's carcass with a leg and an arm broken. It had been a great fight. The bear had broken the guu and with it the Indian's arm. ^^'itll his good arm and a knife he had killed the bear and in its death struggle it had struck his leg, breaking it like a pipe stem. The poor devil was nearly dead from cold and loss of blood. I swung him over my shoulder and carried him to the shack. Placing him on a bed of furs we set the broken limbs and soon had him as comfortable as could be expected. He drank our coffee and became our guest for two months and he never answered us with more than a grunt. He was our star boarder. When he got 38 The Hermit so he could walk he siuldenly came up missing without a word of thanks or sign of gratitude. I thought I had seen the last of him hut I had not. Meanwhile in our talks Charley had told of his home in old England, of the death of his wife at Sheffield and of the little daughter left with her grandparents. On one occasion he had said, "Boys I feel as though I shall never see the set- tlements again and if anything should happen to mc write my little girl and if you get out with the winter's catch send her mv share."' Ole seemed to have the same feeling. He gave me the address of his old father and mother in Stockholm requesting whichever of us came out alive to forward his share to them. 1 laughed at their fears hut could not cheer them up. I alone was to come hack from that trip. The end of the iseason drew to a close. We cached our tra])s in case we should need them again, packed oin- horses and turned our faces toward the east and civilization. Charley and Ole were down hearted and one not knowing them would tliink tliey were show- ing the white feather. lUu it was the result of 39 OF Minnehaha. lionest convicliiin tVr nn Ijrawr iiu-n iravi'lcd llie Wc-t. W'c travckd nights diwii the l.ittk' Missouri, koepin;:; out of sig'lit in daytinu'. One ni,giit we can-.ped in a sink h')k> where we were surprised 1>\- a hand of Siiaix Inchans. We had l)ecoine s:)nie\hat careless, haxdng- -een U) sig-ns of Inchans. so this {'uv.v we were at their mercy. p-or a whik' we storid thcmolT and tlien resolved to make a hreak throu,gh their ranks for hlierty. I'oor ( )k^ never o-Qt through and Charhe v.-as hatUv wnun(k>d. Another buhet sent after him tuml)kd him from his beast, (kad. As for myself I was struck v.dth a Hying hatch- et which luckily for me struck ;i twig turning it- self over so that the heavy head came full on my tem])le instead of the sharp edge. I was knocked from m\- horse and fell as one dead. AMien 1 came to I was bound from head to foot and tliey were tying" me to a saddle. Shortly after we started for their camp about ten miles distant. Arriving at the village I v/as surprised to see our "'star boarder" of the ])ast winter, the Indian I had l)efriended. Me greeted 40 The Hermit nie with "Honkc^la," nieaniri<;-, "How are vou, friend?" He cut my thoiii^s and set me free and led me to liis teepee. After I liad gone in he and mv captors held a very animated conversation outside. I cotild make out enouoh to know that I was safe and that he was the great chief "Black Eagle." ^Ty property was carefully put away untouched and I spent the night comfortably in the village. The next morning Black Eagle himself escorted me to the scene of the last night's fight. There I found the hones of both Charlie and Ole picked clean by the wolves. These I buried decently and marked the grave with a few stones. I could not but rellect on the fate of these two poor fellows, who had been born and raised in dilTerent parts of the world, who had crossed the waters to meet and die in a strange land far from their loved ones. . But according to the Good Book our trail shall cross in the lumtiug ground above. Black luigle and his band accompanied me for a number of days. They had many tights with the Crovv's and Afandans and took many scalps. At the end of three weeks we were nearing civili- zation. ( )ne morning I I'ound m\- horses all sad- 41 OF Minnehaha. (lk(l ami ])ackLcl standing- ready tor me. Black luigie tokl me to nidunt and then pointed to the sontli. saying: '"White man, gO' find wagon road, go Mandan. ride like hell. Yott save r)lack I^agle. r>laek l^agle save you. Xext time r.ieet kill. \'e even now. Go." I started my horses on a walk, disdaining- to look hack. I rode in the direction indicated un- til I came to the wagon road ahotit thirty miles from Mandan. I reached there in the evening and went into camp. The next day I sold my furs to a traveling fur agent receiving twenty- four hundred dollars for the lot. As agreed I sent eight hundred dollars apiece to Charlie's lit- tle girl and Ole's parents and kept eight hundred m}-self. I now took my stock to Jamestown where I found pasture for it and went on tO' St. Paul. After a trip to my hoyhood's home where I saw my mother for the last time I started on another trip for ^^lontana. 42 THE NEW PAVILIION AT MINNEHAHA. Just coiiipletcd at a cost of $7,500. Located directly in front of tlie falls on the point of land overlooking the beautiful Minnehaha glen. The pavilion is occupied hy Jacob Barnett who carries a full line of refreshments at popular prices. Everything is clean and neat and a well trained corps of assistants wait upon the customers. The pavilion is proving ver>' popular under the able management of Mr. Barnett and is already the center of attraction for all hungry and thirsty pleasure seekers. CHAPTI-.R nil. A TRIP TO THE BIG HORN COUNTRY I now went to I'^argo and wliilc there l)ec;une ac(|uainted witli a middle ag-ed, quiet sort of man who modestly represented himself as a frontier tra])])er. We 'Soon struck up a partnershi]) and I ]iroposed a trij) up the Little Missouri where m\- traps were cached. lUit he thouo-ht the danger from the Indians was too g-reat and ])roposcMl the Big- Horn country. So it was agreed that we were to go to the Big- Horn country for the win- ter. My new ])artner, Thomas ( ireason 1)\- name, said he could be read}' in three da\-.-" time. lUn- ing our outfit we shi])])ed it on to l^ismarck and once more I left for Jamestown to get m\- stock. T found one of my most Vcduahle horses dead, having" been struck h\' lightning. It was a big' loss to me, for aside frcnii his actual cash value. I feared nothing- in the saddle with him. I still had eig-ht to spare and I threw the saddle on one after another trying to decide which I should use for a saddle horse. I tinally decided on two and The Hermit set out. But when I finall}' met Tom I was in need of a pillow to sit on for my new mounts were western horses from the range and my sad- dle had met me about half way at ever\' jump for the last twenty-four hours. The journey to- Bismarck was very painful to me and when we g"ot there 1 liad to take a couple of days off to rest up and get some of the sore- ness out of me. On the third day we started on what was to be one of the most eventful trapping expeditions I ever made. Again I was ordained to come back alone, ^^'e moved through the Bad Lands slow- ly. This land, 55 miles wide and 125 miles long looks more as one would expect the infernal regions to look than anytliing else I can think of. Chasms run into canyons, hills into mountains and the whole thing is serrated and gorged with jagged rocks. Soft coal is found in some places, but of a very soft quality. The climate seems to have a ])etrifying influence upon things, as we fovmd at different times snakes and other small- er animals perfectly petrified. By the way, this country can produce more 44 OF Minnehaha. rattlesnakes to the square iiicli than anv other known land. After crossing- this belt of country we pui^hcd on. traveling' nights and hiding daytimes. Striking the Little Big Horn we were not long in locating our winter residence. \'c found a cave under an overhanging bank, that with a little digging exactly fitted our needs, ^^'e now walled up the front with a solid stone wall and fixed a large stone so that we could use it for a door Ijy rolling it back and forth and fastened it with a key stone. Wc cut a quantity of hay from the big supply below us in the valley and brought that into our camp. Next we brought in wood and set about curing meat for the winter's use. In a few w'eeks we were well fixed for a siege. A spring bubbled up at one end of the cave and ran out under our stone wall to the river below. We could stand a siege of six months if we had to. Our traps ran up and down theLittle Big Horn for a distance of ten miles. Later in the year we set them on some of the smaller stream^ running into that river. Fur was very plentiful and we 4. J No one visitinji' llic F"alls should fail to visit the Sold- iers' Home. A foot bridge over the beautiful IMinnehaha glen leads from the park to the Home. The site of the Min- nesota Soldiers' Plome comprises fifty-one acres of wooded land beginning at the juncture of the Minneha- ha creek and running one mile north. It lies one-hun- dred feet above the level of ihe water's edge. For beauty and convenience of situation, picturesque- ness of view and perfect adaptability to the purpose it cannot be excelled: and it has withal a historic and ro- mantic interest which will ever prove of increasing in- terest to visitors. Within the city limits of Minneapolis, divided only by the river from St. Paul, only three miles from Fort Snclling, around which so many military memories cluster, amd in summer literally cooled by the spray oi the laughing cascade immortalized in Longfellow's clas- sic, the ideal of a soldier's heaven would seem to have been found. The buildings are about fifteen in numl)er built of red brick. They comprise five cottages, a new dining hall, hosi)ital. administration building, pavilion, two steam plants and other outbu'ildings such as barns, etc. One feature of the Home is its beautiful lawns dotted with flowers. The inmates of the Home care for these, cut- ting the grass and trimming the flowers. The pavilion is used for entertainments which are giv- en the old soldiers under the auspices of the Woman's Relief Corps. The dining hall is under the charge of soldiers de- tailed for the work. Each man works one week, wait- ing on table, washing dishes, etc. The hospital employs five lady and six male nurses, all outsiders. The laun- dry has five outside people and three members of the Home assist these in the work. The ofticers in charge are Commandant James Comp- ton. Adjutant McKusic, Quartermaster Straub, Surgeon Bissel and Chaplain Smith. Visitors to the grounds are made to feel at home at oncc' as every old soldi?r on the place has constituted himself a committee of one to show strangers the points o'f interest and no one ever leaves the grounds without a thrill of gratitude for the courteous and kintl treatment shown by the old bovs of '6i. The Hermit worked hard taking cmt the Httle animals and curing their skins. For the benefit of the small boy who would go trapping — let me tell some of the hardships we underwent. We rose long before daylight and while one got the breakfast the other did die chores around the stock. Then each man took his gun, revolvers, knife and hatchet, seventy-five rounds of ammunition and struck out across the country to the farthest traps, sometimes being five or six miles on the way when the sun rose. He began his day's: work of tal-cing the catch from the trap, skinning it and resetting the trap. Thus he worked along toward camp. Sometimes he was compelled to go into water to his hips to free his traps. \'e usually arrived in camp long after dark and our work was even then Idv no means fin- ished. .Vfter getting supper and caring for the stock we must stretch the skins, remove all the fat from them and hang them up to dry. those that were dry we must pack in bales for shipping. Day after day we followed this routine, sleep- ing at night in wet clotlies perhaps, and eating the coursest thdugli most nourishing food. So 40 OF Minnehaha. von sec a trajjper cannot l)e a lazy man. Do not believe all the romantic things yon hear boys abont the life of tiie trapper. He did not lie around in his moinitain retreat before a blazing- tire of logs and tell stories. On the contrary he worked long and hard for every cent he made. Besides this his life was in danger at all times from animals or {jrowling red skin. (Jften our packs coming in at night would weigh nearer to one hundred pounds than fifty. W'e always saved all the tails of the beaver as every trapper thinks them a great delicacy being more tender and appetizing than frogs' legs even. As winter came on our traps were taken from the frozen streams and set on land and when the heavy snows came they had to be taken into camp altogether. It was then that we got a much needed rest. We had only to eat and sleep now and occasionally sally forth for fresh meat. This consisted princii)all}- of elk or 1)lack tailed deer. In the spring we commenced our trapping again and worked day and night to fill our packs. We had seen no signs of red skins and often felt like leaving our guns in camp. The last clay in .\])ril we starled as usual fo-- our traps with the 47 The Hermit intcntidn of pullino" them in as the season was about OA'er. Little did we (h'eam that we should never ai^ain see each other on this earth. Arriv- ing- at my traps I made a discovery that sent me scurrying to cover. Indians had discovered my traps and I knew that they were waiting to am- bush me. I fell l)ack about two miles and was hurrying noiselessly through the woods with ev- ery sense on the alert when suddenl}- my prog- ress was arrested by a soft crooning voice of a woman. I soon discovered the singer. It was an Indian girl about twelve years old. I stood stock still admiring the forest beautx" of the little maid- en, when suddenly my ear took in another sound. I lifted my eyes to the nearest large tree above the girl and was horrified to see outstretched upon a limb one of the largest moinitain lions I have ever seen. Jt was crouched antl read\' to spring upon the unconscious girl. I raised my gun instinctively, but reflected in.- stantly that to shoot would bring u])(in me the whole tribe, Init I could not see th.e girl perish in such a way and so I fired. That shot probably saved my life from the Indians afterward. 1 caught the lio , or its fatal 48 OF Minnehaha. sj)rini;". but U^o late to save the Indian t;-iii entirely from harm. The heavy body hurling forward knocked her down and broke her leg besides la- cerating her llesli badly. The child had on a dress of cheap and gaudy cloth probably obtained from a trader. This T tore in strips and bound up the little one's wounds. Then when she had sufficiently revived I asked her the way to her village. Evidently she understood what I meant for she pointed out the direction and picking her up I carried her along. In a few minutes we arrived at the village. No one offered to stop me and I carried her past crowds of wondering braves and astonished squaws. She finally pointed out a teepee before which stood an Indian of very stately appearance. I looked up at him and he pointed into the tent. In I went and deposited my btirden on 'some fur robes. He entered after me and to my surprise said in very good English, "Wil Ithe white man tell me how he conies to be carrying the child of Sitting Bull in this manner?" I explained, telling liim all. He again said, "White nuui is brave. Not many white men would do what he had done." 49 The IIekmit He tlien asked me where m_\- comrades were and I told him of Tom. He shook his head and I knew what he was thinking- about. The Indians had found my friend. Sitting Bull, for it was the great Indian chief- tain himself, would not let me go until the next morning. So I set the broken limb of the little girl and put on cloths wet in cold water to keep down the inflammation. At intervals during the day I changed these. ]\Ieanwhile runners had been sent out to call in all wandering bands of Indians. In the morning I was asked to leave. Sitting Bull gave me a fine belt and told me to leave the country as soon as I could get out for he could not answer for my safety from other bands of Indians who were even now making for that point. I bade the child goodbye, little thinking that she would remember and return life for life at some future day. Neither did I think that in a few short weeks the country was to ring with the death of the brave Custer together with all his brave men at the hands of this same band of savages. OF Minnehaha. i went directly to the cave and not finding Tom there strnck ont upon his trail I found him as I had expected, dead at the first trap. He had been shot in the back and httle was left beside his bones. Sadly I hollowed out a shallow grave and laid him to rest. Back to camp I went again, alone now and far from civilization, not knowing what sort of fate I might meet. Night found me in the saddle with my pack horses loaded and provisioned. All night I pushed on at a stiff trot. In the morning I stopped in a diick forest. Back a little way I found an open glade where I turned my horses to graze after watering them. As for myself I dared not sleep or build a fire. As night came on I searched out a sheltered place, built a fire and broiled some bufifalo meat and made a cup of coffee. I then stamped out the fire and ate my supper. Once more I took the north star for my guide and pushed rapidly on. Tn this way I traveled for five days and nights. I knew that I was some- where' near civilization, but how near I did not know. I was going insane for lack of sleep and on the sixth night T lost all sense of reason. When ')'he Ukrmit I came to I was in a friendly Indian's camp. Only himself and squaw lived there on the outskirts of civilization. I had hwii ravins^' for two weeks with brain fever. He had foiuid my horses lying down and exhausted. I stayed witli him two weeks longer, slowly recovering". This Indian was one of God's noblemen and his name was well known as a friend of the white man. He was afterwards g-iven the land where his caljin stood by the government. When I became well enough to go I said, "Well, Hauka, I nmst go to Bismarck. Come and go with me and when I sell my furs T will give you and your s(|uaw a ])resent. He an- swered, ''Me go." At the end of my journey I sold my furs get- ting three thousand dollars in easli. I gave Hauka two hundred dollars and after making arrange- ments for ])asturing my stock I took the train for Fargo, where I hunted up Tom's widow. I di- vided equally with her after telling her the sad news of her brave husband's death. I next took the train for tlie Twin Cities and was thunderstruck to read in a few days of the Custer massacre. 52 CHAPTER IX. IN THE POWDER- HOR.N COUNTRY After speiulint;" tlie summer visiting' in the state I once more got the fever to go trapping again. I once more found myself in Bismarck looking for a partner. But I found that the trappers looked on me with superstition. Every one of my form- er comrades had found a grave in the west, and I alone had returned. Trappers) are probably more superstitious than others. I am to a certain degree myself. I can refer my readers to a certain chair that sits at the corner of one of the dining tables in the Min- nesota Soldiers' Home. Inside of two years while I was an inmate of that home nine dilTerent men were given that seat at table. Three died of heart failure, three died in bed and three were sent to the insane asylum. But this shows that there is at least some foun- dation for superstition. After remaining in Bismarck about a week I had about given up all hopes, of finding a ])artncr 'J" HE Hermit when I chanced to nin onto a half-breed Cree Indian fighting for his hfe with a gang- of toughs and tin horn gamblers. Stepping to his side. I laid out three of the party with the butts of my revolvers. The rest fell back trj the outskirts of the town to plan a revenge of some sort. I was a bad looking man in those days being above or- dinary stature and hardened by my outdoor life into a splendid specimen of physical manhood, and thus I established a wholesome fear in such cowards' minds. The plan which these rascals thought up cost them dear a few hours later. While the half breed and I w-ere getting our supper over in mv camp a perfect fusilade of bullets whistled over our heads, one coming close enough to cut the rim of my hat, another g^oing through the half breed's shirt. In the next minute we had kicked out the fire and were behind some trees giving as good as was sent. Suddcnlv a band of trajjpers and hunters camped near us bore down on the fellows and took three of the hoodlums prisoners. They were found to l)e bad fellows and a lynching party Vv'as in order. :iiSKn The Hermit Well, the half hrecd and I formed a partnership and left town that ni_o-ht. He told me his name was Louis Reill and he was a fine specimen of manhood. Later he went to Canada, headed a rebellion, became the Sitting Bull of the great northwest, was captured and died on the scaffold. We went up the Powder Horn trail to the Pow- der Horn river. We kept clear of Indians for thev were very warlike. In the spring of '']'] Crazy Horse came tearing through that part of the country and we had to get out until General Miles gave him a severe battle and beat him. During this time Louis had a brush with In- dians and killed six in an ambush fight. We got back to civilization without a dollar. In the next few years Louis and I knocked around all over the great Northwest, sometimes striking it rich and sometimes poor. We trapped, hunted and fished and bore all kinds of hardships un- complainingly. I was among the stirring scenes that laid the foundation for the new West. I 'saw civilization slowlv rooting out savagry and making wa}- for a great and free people. I tram])e(l across the richest portion of this great LofC. 55 The Hekmit United States many times and fully realized iis great wealth long- before it was developed. I think now of the great cities that have risen up where once only the Indian and buffalo roamed and where I trapped among them both, and I am content. ;My health broke down under the privations I endured in the great \'est and I came to the ]\Iin- nesota Soldiers' Home in 1890. 15ut the life tliere did not suit my tastes as I had been alone or near- ly alone so much that I did not care for company. So I built the sod house known to thousands of visitors of the wonderful Ahnncliaha b\ills and since 1 89 1 I have lived there in solitude on the pension allowed me by Uncle Sam. I have come to be identified with the place and no visitor thinks a trip to the falls complete without seeing the vine covered cottage of "The Hermit of Min- nehaha Falls." THE MONARCH OF THE IVilNNEHAHA GLEN.