.
It was while Michel Cadotte
had charge of the northern Wisconsin department, that an occurrence happened,
which may be considered as an item in the history of the Ojibways, and
which fully demonstrates the strong influence, which the traders of the
northwest had already obtained over their minds and conduct, and also the
fearlessness with which the pioneer, whom we have made the subject of this
chapter executed justice in the very midst of thousands of wild and warlike
Ojibway.
A Canadian 'coureur du bois'
employed at the Lac Courte Oreilles post, which was under the immediate
charge of a clerk named Mons. Coutouse was murdered by an Indian on Lake
Chetac during the winter. This was a crime for which the Ojibways had seldom
committed, and Michel Cadotte, knowing fully the character of the Indians
with whom he was dealing, at once became satisfied that a prompt and severe
example was necessary, in order that such a deed might not again be committed,
and that the Ojibways might learn the proper respect for the lives of white
men. He took the matter especially in hand, and immediately sent a messenger
to Lac Courte Oreilles to inform the Indians that the murder must be brought
to Fond du Lac (Lake Superior) and delivered into his hands, and should
they refuse to comply with his demand, he notified them that no more traders
should go among them, and their supply of tobacco, guns, ammunition and
clothing should be entirely stopped.
The war chief of Lac Courte
Oreilles, named Ke-dug-a-be-shew, or 'Speckled Lynx', a man of great influence
amongst his people, and a firm friend to the white man, seized the offender,
and in the spring of the year, when the inland traders returned to the
depot at Fond du Lac (Lake Superior) with their collection of furs, he
went with them, and was delivered into the hands of Michel Cadotte. The
rumor of this event had spread to the different villages of the Ojibways,
and an unusual large number of the tribe had collected with the return
of their different traders, around the post at Fond du Lac, induced mostly
from curiosity to witness the punishment, which the whites would inflict
on, one who had spilt their blood.
When all his clerks and
men had arrived from their different wintering posts Michel Cadotte formed
his principle clerks into a council, or jury, to try the Indian murderer.
His guilt was fully proven, and the sentence, which was passed on him was,
that he should suffer death in the same manner as he had inflicted death
on his victim - with the stab of a knife. Mons. Coutouse, whose, 'coureur
du bois' had been killed, requested to be the executioner of this sentence.
The relatives of the Indian
assembled in council, after having been informed of the fate, which their
brother was condemned to suffer. They sent for Michel Cadotte and his principle
clerks, and solemnly offered, according to their custom, to buy the life
of the culprit with packs of beaver skins. Cadotte himself, who is said
to have naturally possessed a kind and charitable heart, became softened
by their touching appeals, and expressed a disposition to accept their
proposition, but the clerks and especially the 'coureur du bois' whose
comrade had been killed, were so excited and determined on vengeance, that
the offer of the Indians was rejected.
On the morrow after the
trial the execution took place. Michel Cadotte led the condemned man from
the room where he had been confined, and leading him out into the open
air, he pointed to the sun, and gave him the first intimidation of his
approaching death, by bidding him to look well at that bright luminary,
for it was the last time he should behold it, for the man whom he had murdered
was calling him to the land of spirits. He then delivered him to the hands
of his clerks; the gate was thrown open, and the prisoner was led outside
the post, into the presence of a vast concourse of his people who had assembled
to see his punishment. The fetters were knocked from his wrists, and at
a given signal, Coutouse, the executioner, who stood by with his right
arm bared to the elbow, and holding an Indian scalping knife, suddenly
stabbed him in the back. As he quickly withdrew the knife, a stream of
blood spurted up and bespattered the gateway, and the Indian yelling his
last war-whoop, leaped forward, but as he started to run, a clerk named
Landre again buried a dirk in his side. The Indian, though fearful and
mortally wounded, ran with surprising swiftness to the waterside, and for
a few rods continued his course along the sandy beach, when he suddenly
leaped up, staggered and fell. Two women, each holding a child in her arms,
the Indian wives of John Baptiste and Michel Cadotte, who had often pleaded
in vain to their husbands for his life, were the first who approached the
dying Indian, and amidst the deep silence of the stricken spectators, these
compassionate women bent over him, and with weeping eyes, watched his last
feeble death struggle. The wife of Michel, who is still living (1852) at
an advanced age, often speaks of this occurrence in her early life, and
never without a voice trembling with the deepest emotion.
(Note
(Bartlett): This
wife of Michel Cadotte, the Warren hereby mentions, was his maternal grandmother
and the one who at her husband's trading post, at the Falls of the Chippewa,
gave birth to a son in 1791.)
The traders, being uncertain
how the Indians would regard this summary mode of punishment, and possessing
at the time the double advantage of concentrated numbers and security within
the walls of the stockade post, determined to try their temper to the utmost,
before they again scattered throughout their country in small parties,
where, if disposed to retaliate, the Indians could easily cut them off
in detail.
Michel Cadotte was himself
so closely related to the tribe, and knew the strength of his influence
so well, that he felt, no apprehension of these special consequences; but,
to satisfy his men, as well as to discover if the near relatives of the
executed Indian indulged revengeful feelings, he presented a quantity of
'eau de vie' to the Indians, knowing that in their intoxication they would
reveal any hard feelings or vengeful purposes for the late act, should
the actually indulge them.
The Indian camp was that
night drowned in a drunken revel, but not a word of displeasure or hatred
did they utter against the traders, and their future conduct proved that
it was a salutary and good example.