THE RED MEN OF IOWA.

In the latter part of the summer of 1832 the cholera broke out among the troops at Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, and raged so fearfully that within ten days about one hundred persons died out of a population of four hundred. There were confined in the guard-house at Fort Armstrong at that time two chiefs of the Fox tribe who had been concerned in the killing of some Menomonies at Prairie du Chien, and had been surrendered by their nation as leaders in that affair, and were awaiting their trial. The commanding officer was prevailed upon to release them from their prison and to allow them the range of the island, on a pledge that they would be forthcoming when wanted. They pledged themselves not to leave the island until they were permitted to do so by the proper authorities. During all this time the dreadful scourge was raging among the people on the island, and when all were leaving who could get away, the two chiefs remained hunting and fishing, although by means of canoes moored about the island they could easily have escaped. When the epidemic had subsided they presented themselves at the fort to await their trial, thus showing how binding they considered a pledge given in this way. after being kept as prisoners pending the result of the Black Hawk War, they

One of the pioneers of Scott county was John Wilson, well known among his neighbors by the sobriquet of "Wild Cat Wilson." In 1836, Wilson and his sons took a "claim" in that county over which the Indian trail crossed leading from their villages on Iowa River to the trading-house of Colonel Davenport on Rock Island. One day while Wilson and his two boys were engaged in cutting and hauling logs, a party of Black Hawk's disaffected band came along and ordered them to desist from making any improvements, giving them notice also that they must leave. "Wild Cat Wilson," however, was not the man to be intimidated by their threats, and continued at his work. The Indians went on to Rock Island, where they spent several days in drinking and carousing. On their way back to Iowa River they halted at a spring near Wilson's cabin, where they turned their ponies loose and laid off their blankets. They were then just in ripe condition for a quarrel or a fight. The only white men in the vicinity were Wilson and his two sons, James and Samuel. On the arrival of the Indians at the spring they were some distance away in the timber. Pretty soon James came along with his team, and the miscreants commenced an attack upon him. He ran back to the timber for his father and Samuel. There were some twelve or fourteen of the savages. Very soon they were confronted by "'Old Wild Cat" and his sons, but the Indians succeeded in getting the old man down. One of the boys seizing the bow of an old ox-yoke,