Illinois News Index

Lake Shore News (Wilmette, Illinois), 25 Dec 1914, p. 5

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■Mm Cavity in Base Had Seen Indian Councils/Robbers' Trysts and Feasts of Tramps. OVER 600 YEARS OLD Early in Last Century It Was Always Known as Black Hawk's Tree. It was some time in 1903 that the giant cottonwood that has stood seuti nel over the Glen View road for cen- turies at last toppled and fell, but the memories that clustered around it will endure long alter its exact site Is for- gotten. It was celebrated in many ways. It was said, to be the largest tree in the whole Mississippi valley, v. as an Indian rendezvous before the white man came and long after. When the Indians forsook it, highwaymen, whose deeds electrified the whole north shore, used It as a safe hiding place from the officers of the law, and as a neighborhood meeting place It -- nerved its-*purpose,*Aoi* the-thne-of the Black Hawk war until in modern colonists were -waging their wafr against King George it bad become a giant among the forests of Illinois, where Indians roamed, almost in ig- norance of the white men.' who were soon to drive them from their fereet habitations. When the 4r*t white travelers came, they gated at the big trees altitude and glrib In wonder. Within the great hollow that had occu- pied its interior since the times o* the earliest white inhabitants of the re- gion, robber bands had tthoe their homes and predatory animals of the forest had had their lairs. From such romantic connections it became in its later years the shelter of prosaic tramps, and to this tact this monarch of the woods owed its downfall. The fires kindled by them ware loft to smolder and attacked the massive walls with such effect that death and destruction followed. A section of the trunk may be seen now at the Central street greenhouse of Richard P. Gloede, Bvanston, its size attesting the truth of what has keen written about its dimensions. Farmer Kotz said la 1902 to an inter- viewer: Ln Salle and Marquette Camped There. "I have lived within gunshot of that tree since I was born, forty-five years ago, and the tree was as big when I was bom as it is today." Mir. Kotz had heard that La Salle and Mar quette camped In the hollow of the tree when they Visited that region in their early exploring trips. His father told him that in the '30fa Black Hawk warriors camped in and about the opening. Back in the '70's an inquisitive boy, in examining the roomy interior of the tree, found a large silver urn, sil ver spoons and sugar bowl, with other valuable table service, hidden in the top of the hollow. The plunder was identified as stolen from a Cass street residence in Chicago by a hand of burglars. This gang had been led by a man named Jack Warde, who had hidden the loot there. Jack Warde's gang for years kept the residents of the north shore terror stricken and it was known to make lis headquarters in the big tree. The sugar bowl, when found, was half filled with hickory nuts that had been stowed nway by a squirrel. '.' > '■ -'- Hunter Killed by Bear, " Henry Dletz, ah aged farmer of the time when the tree was burned, then told a story of the cottonwood which was told to him by his father. Early in 1835 the farmers of the neighbor- hood wgre losing sheep,. hogs and chickens . in great numbers. Their losses were credited to bears, hut Bruin could not be located. One day a hunter saw two bear cubs-playing about the tree. He killed one. but it cost hint his life, for the mother hear rushed out and attacked him. A des- perate conflict followed, the hunter's en ly weapon being a knife, for his rifle-was unloaded. He finally kilted the mother hear, but was so fearfully yi THB LAKE SHORE NEWS, THURSDAY, DECEMB ***!*9t!*m, times the wayfaring tramp took the I mutilated by her claws that he died place of the more picturesque char- acters they succeeded; The accompanying pictures were taken by Dr. B.'C. Stolp of Wllmette, who has practiced in this' vicinity for many years. One shows it in solitary stage, giving some idea of its height of 130 feet. Tbe other shows a man over six feet tall standing within its hollow base, and children playing around the stump. Three feet from the ground this tree was forty-five feet in circumference Its diameter was eighteen feet Over Six Hundred Years Old. Straight up, for a distance of seventy feet, the trunk stretched with never a limb. The cavity in the base was so large that a man on horseback could ride into it without lowering his bead. English foresters who visited it said that it was over «<» years old. In this chamber Indian councils have been held and treaties ratified. It could easily hold two score of people and in modern times whole Sunday schools have had their picnic lunches inside its monster trunk. Many writers have said that it was the largest tree in the United States, with the excep- tion of the California redwoods. In 1832 forest fires hi that section killed every tree but this. It was un- harmed, and that gave rise to a super stition that obtained to the last of its existence, that it van under the pro- tection of the great Spirit and hence 'good medicine." The Indian belief was passed down to the farmers of *h»t region, and youth and maMens believed that it exercised a spell that - was potent in their love affairs. Was Here When Columbus Lanoed. In the times of the crusades in the Holy Land it had taken root In the rich black loom of what ia these modern times was a part of Farmer Kote's land. When Columbus made his trip- across tbe unknown Atlaarlc it had reached a i after three weeks"suffering.. When the hollow of the tree' was examined after the fight the floor was found to be thickly covered with bones add horns, the remains of animals the bears had fed upon. To what prosaic uses it might be put was seen in a raid made by the Evanston police upon it just before it fell, in an effort to find illicit liquor. */e Seymour Cwrrey Tetts of the Arrival of First Explorers President of Evanston Historical Satiety Says It Is Over 240 Years Since the Explorers First Beheld These Shores. HUNTING A GREAT SPORT IN THE EARLY DAYS By J. Seymour Cun-ey. It its now almost a hundred years since white men, of X we have authentic ranging through count we pass over Journeys of explorers mlssioi and traders, made through tot and over prairies, on hikes and Hv along the north shore as well throughout the vast spaces of ■'had"' since the discovery of the great west tn 1673, down to the time of which we are writing, these regions had been traversed by white men in search of knowledge or profit, or in missionary enterprises. It hi difficult to realise that it is now more than *» j*ari Since the first explorers beheld these shores and drew maps of the region which we inhabit; that contours and outlines verb laid down on these maps, names bestowed, and descrip- tions written, which correspond quite accurately with the localities as we know them at the present day. p«rt Rebuilt te *#1#. In tho year 1816 Fort Bearborn at the mouth of the Chicago river had been rebuilt after the destruction of the old fort and the Indian massacre four years before. A few traders and settlers had followed the re-establish- ment at the military post, and the place began its existence as a frontier settlement. The Pottawatomie, In- dians were here in great numbers at that time, the traces of whose camps and villages are found in this neigh- borhood at the present time. The War of Kll was over, and the Indians, who had added with the enemies in that war. hsd country's resumed peaceful relations with the scattered white settlers, though it was not yet quite safe to wander far from the shel- ter of the fort. There were still to follow, the wild alarms and terrors of tbe Black Hawk war in 1832, but after that outburst of savage hostility had subsided the tribes ware transported to their reservations in the west, and permanent peace was at last secured. In the year 1816 when the new ere in the settlement of Chicago opened a young man twenty-four years of age appeared on» the scene of whom we shall here give some account. His name was John Kinzie Clark, a nephew of John Kinzie known as "Chi- cago's first settler." Be was a half brother of Archibald Clybourn, who also caine to Chicago about the same time. Young Clark was born at Fort _ and grew np among the In- dians, so that he was familiar with the neighboring forests. B. F. Hill [Benjamin Franklin Hill], Who with his father came here to 1836, related some years ago at a meeting of the Bvanston Historical society that tbe number of wild animals In the country was immense. "You could hardly cross from one ridge to the other any day," he said, "without starting up a drove of deer. Yon would think we ought to have had plenty of venison to eat, but we did not get Say, for a good reason,--we hadn't a gun in this country hardly that was or eight rods away." .'. £tgee«i Were Abundant. " /' But the most abundant game In the early day, and even down to the eigh- ties, was the wild pigeon, or "passen- ger pigeon" as It t8 called In the text books. This splendid gamo bird was found In inconceivable numbers 'aH over the eastern and western states. . ■ ' w Vf • -1' \*( .» ',■ Names of John T. £irie, Jas. Simpson and Edward Hines Attached to His Bad Paper. . CAUGHT AT CAJ.VAR* : - .:' •■ '{-■'■- .VT ■' :■'.■•>' ' In Interview With a LaKe Shore News Reporter He Confesses His Quilt The Evanston' police patrol driver should be in charge of tho Kaiser's air ship to speed him on his rapid trips to and from the front. Quick head work on the part of the police depart- ment resulted in the arrest of one of but strange to say It has in the hist the bravest confidence men by whom |eje^khtterly e««nct.-the north shore has been chosen an a 11 field ror risky operations. The man, who gave his name as J. t published a standing offer hundred dollars to be .given no who will discover a nest of pigeon anywhere in the coun try, and will send a man' to examine the birds in order to make the identi ficatlon certain. So far the society haB not met with any success What* ever, though many reports have been received, resulting, however, in every case of finding the so-called discovery to be the abundant mourning dove Although at one time the wild pigeon was the most'numerous of all Ameri- can birds, there is not known to be a single living specimen in existence to- day. Its total disappearance is utter- ly unaccountable, and though many explanations have been offered qone has proved generally acceptable. It remains one ot the mysteries of na- ture that probably can never be re- solved. Wild pigeons were so abundant here in Evanston that thoy were taken In traps and nets, and sent to market la Chicago ia great numbers. Bit Uaf field procured a large fishing net which he spread cut over the surface of tbe ground mill supported it on pests. The ends and sides were tied down and an opening left at one cor- ner. Over the space Inside he would scatter corn SOT IWWr tJfeh*'refire"*ld give the birds a chanco to gather for jibe feast. "In two feinutos," It is le» lated, "the ground, under the BIT would, be alive with pigeons, and a jerk of a rope attached to the net would imprison them all." Garaeld called this operation "pigeon-fishing,'* and he made considerable sums of the Ullrich store he went into a store conducted by August Rodelius at 827 Davis street. He here picked out a which valued at $37 and gnvo 'one of - M money by selling the birds at three aS^^S^ffi1^m®^S^»# 'fiBBStai of the ^^JS^^S^^S^^Sm Or***!** and Lee streets, so we are called "Indian dark, and blsj Mrs. Crain's •---'- <«TA|IC**Hp«ASTH NEXT SUNDAY Christmas Cantata Will Be Given at Methodist ' Church. Next Sunday morning at 10:45, "The Star of the East," a Christmas can- tata, will be given at tbe Methodist Episcopal church. The chorus choir win be assisted' by the two following quartettes: Miss Peterson, Mrs. Harker, Mr. Ben O. Llel, Mr. Marshall. , Mrs. Burrows, Miss Flentye. Mrs. Colwell, Mrs. Harker. Mr. C. W. Edwards, bead of the I1H- nois College of Music and conductor, has promised an especial treat to aB who attend. wforas, n nome or a nation, a ln love can bring peace where wan war; still it to true, as said b? Burke, that "n very great pan er^{tn-ldilaeg the mischiefs that vex tbe world arise often met with in the early north shore region. His services as guide and scout were naturally in great demand by the military people and settlers, as he knew the country in every direc- tion. He married a daughter of Stephen J. Scott, an early settler In this neighborhood of whom mention has been made in former articles. During the Black Hawk war he was a soidier at Fort Dearborn and was employed in carrying dispatches from Gen. Winfleld Scott to Gen. Atkinson at the Four Lakes (now Madison, Wis- consin). :>■?; Knew the Territory Well. "Indian Clark" knew the north shore well and without doubt often passed over the Green Bay trail which in later yean become the famous Green Bay road, for it must be re- membered that there were frequent and regular communications kept up between the forte at Green Bay and Chicago from the earliest days of the American occupation. After tbe Black "" war "Indian Clark" settled per- y at Northfleld on the north nch of tie Chicago river, near tbe present site of Glenvlew. The earliest settlers in this region found Clark as a neighbor, and many stories are told peclally of his prowess as a [e kept a drove of at Northfleld, and at the cabins of the seti morally seen mounted on one *el* and leading one or two others behind him* their halters hitched to tho tall of the one following. These ponies he would offer to sell. Some- times there would bo a deer which he had shot thrown over the back on one of the ponies. 1, F. Hill, an old resi- dent of Bvanston. related that on one occasion be saw Indian Clark passing along with three, deer, two isa« pony he was leading, and < indthlnwefr hi the pony £j riding. Beer were vary plentiful of him recol- lections." Others followed a similar practice and at e:.ch season when tbe migrating flocks appeared the pigeons were trapped by wholesale. The slaughter of wild pigeons was carried on everywhere throughout the country, and the Chicago market was overwhelmed with birds arriving in some cases by the carload. In ac< counting for the extermination of an entire species of game birds, ashes occurreti in the case of the wild pig- eon, the conjecture may be hazarded that while the methods we have spok- en of could scarcely have caused the death of every individual specimen still, in the case of birds of gregarious instincts, a reduction In their num- bers below a certain point might eas ily have had the effect of accelerating their complete extinction through the sheer loneliness of the last survivors. game of other varieties, first year of John A. (1854), Mr. P< his During the the northwest corner of HInman ave- nue and Grove street. Some men who were with him procured a gun and at- tempted to Shoot one of them bet with- out result. One of the deer ran to the lake and plunged la, pursued by two of the men ia a boat. Thee tat with en ear. There ware plenty of wolves ON ITS REPUTATION. An Evanstonian tells this story: I was ln Detroit a few weeks ago with a couple of friends and as Is my cus- tom I West out to tbe Ford automobile factory. 1 was just entering the fac- tory when who should come out but Henry Ford, the president? He asked us if we cared for a ride. We assured him we would. He then ordered one of his men to bring ont a brand new IpldY The party jumped in and Mr. Ford, who drove, beaded for the coun- ty -'.-. .. i "Surely is some car, Mr. Ford,- re* marked tbe Evanstonian. "They don't make any better ones,1* Was the reply. By this time they had reached the con- crete roads of Wayne county and were hitting it up at a thirty-mile clip. The engine ran perfectly and the little car fairly hnmmed. At tbe approach of a bill about twenty-five miles from De- troit the. ear suddenly stopped for no r. ford seemed to be indignant. „ jted, as did his guests. He lift- the region at that time, as well as ed the heed and looked at the engine. Nothing was wrong, lie tested the teries and they were O. K. He wsi dumfounded. finally he peered into tbe gasoline tank. It was empty. WlM5^m£*01** lot at when the new car was' brought out^oi"|?W»"W the factory the mechanic failed to put any gasoline Into it. The car had gens twenty-five miles en its reputation." venue met, to year 8ke--^Net so Katow, is a Japanese, and when taken into custody he had in his possession a number of checks to which be had signed the names of wealthy north shore residents. He went into tho jewelry store of William Ullrich at 809 Davis street Monday afternoon and presented a check for ISO bear lug the signature of Edward nines. Mr. Ullrich Not Caught. He picked out a watch worth $34 dnd tendered the-check in payment. He said be was employed by Mr. Hines as a butter. Mr. Ullrich went next door and called up Mr, Bines on the 'phone. The latter said he had never heard of the fellow. Mr. Ullrich tooki the check back to his store and told the man that ho could not take it. As soon as the men had gone the jeweler called the police station and a search was be- gun for hlra. The red lights.were flashed on ell over the city and every policeman was notified to be on the lookout for. the man; Ha Tries Again. The man was determined to have a watch, and as soon'as he hud left the clerks the check In payment, ask- ing for the balance in cash. The store was filled with Christmas shop- pers, and as Mrs. Hines had often sent checks in payment for' jewelry. Mr. Rodelius did not take time to look at tbe check but told die clerk to'turn tbe watCh end, money over W the cus- tomer. The mad appeared to be ex cited and kept telling the dark that he was In a hurry, as he must get back to the Hines residence in. time to cook the evening meal.. ..... patro| and Street Car Race. In the meantime the auto patrol started in pursuit of a etreet car which Katow was thought to have hoarded. Officers' Shea and Wlndef- born were In the' machine and 'Over- took the car a fo.w blocks thin side Of Calvary cemetery, where Shea got on the Car. WIndolborn in the legendary "Flying Dutchman" sty1* opened everything wide and proceeded down tho street to the yeint where the Clark street ours* start. The man was here taken off the car and brought back to the station. The entire trip was'made in seven minutes. 1 '•'■■'- Admits Guilt. Katow here admitted his guilt. Other checks were found in his possession bearing the names of John T. VitU- of Carson, Pirie, ffcbtt ft Cd., and James Simpson, president of Marshall Field ft Co. He hSd about $200 in his possession, and a post card mailed from a town In Wisconsin to "T. Tomito. care of Col! McDbunald. Fort Sheridan." In an Interview with a .represent* tlve from the Lake Shore News Tues- day morning. Katow admitted his ghilt, and said that he had been up against it, and bed to have money! He said he had passed similar checks In Lake Forest, one at a shoe store and another at * Jewelry store. Katow I8 a well educated little fel- low, a former student at the Univer- sity of Michigan, : according to his story. He has worked for wealthy families in Lake Forest, but has been out of a job for several weeks, and said he had decided to adept this means of procuring funds only after he had spent a whole night In a rail- road station, and had had no food for an entire day. Gilbert Brae. Also Visited. Early la tho afternoon Katow suc- ceeded in passing oae of his bogus checks on Gilbert Bros. He bought a scarf for 12.00. gave a check for $15, and took the remainder with him la The checks were made out on blanks rrotn in* mm k*- of Chicago. where the checks were i have sworn out warrants the man, and he has beau Although Katow said la his late* view that he bad formerly worked at the Hines home, n was said mere to- ss your farewut would be. Mr. Smith-!day that they had never bad a Jap- atmastassM great railroads who waa retired at seventy. "He'll die now,* said his friends kindly. But be didn't, in- stead, he became interested la the wild flowers, and now ia is too busy In looking for the ram's bead orchid. and trying to Had a new station for the hart's tongue tern, and tramping around in the woods snd fields ln aH kinds of weather, even to think of dy- ing. Anyway, he wouldn't have time until he's finished h!s monogrnnh oft the willows of the United States.--Lip- pincott's. Old tngllsh custom. ' An ancient custom of a race decid- ing the tent was witnessed at Bourne, Lincolnshire. England, recently. A race was run by two boys during the letting of tho Whitebread meadow, and upon the return of the winning boy the last bidder was returned the tenant tor the year. After expenses are paid the rent money 1* spent in bread, which is distributed to house- holders In the town. rii ;:'■ $N*#°M.fed Seam -*.', ^ The bully depends on main strength. A bullying nation is as disgusting as a bullying man. A strong man. mor- ally and physically, relies on his sense of justice, a strong nation has "a de- cent respect to the opinions of man- kind." and will be as.sensl«vei|4i^ honor in keeping its word, aa an upright man in his dealings frith others. The bully-will not reason. •L11A30M Removing Rust WfttHi Iroif* ■ Rust oh iron or steel may be re- moved easily if tbe metal is boftai ln a hot caustic-soda or hot caustic- potash solution. .This so softens the rust Chat it can easily be removed by the acid ptakb? t ____________ Classified Advertisements TELEPHONE. WIU*ETT£, 1640 Wist Ads in tec Lake Shore News are charged at the following rates * Real Estate Classifications. 7»a'cents per Ime. AS Otltf Chtsificatioaa. 5 ceaU per fine. Minimum Price. IS cents. No advertisement charged for less than 25 tests. V»*li»!*WejeteweB^ HELP WANTED , Wanted To Rent Houses «MW« ^imM^fm, Classified Business List

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