USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of Wisconsin from prehistoric to present periods : the story of the state interspersed with realistic and romantic events > Part 60
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The Wisconsin Central Railroad Company's lines in Wisconsin are 758.81 miles, including spurs and branches. The Wisconsin Central lines were, for several years prior to October 1, 1893, operated under a lease by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. On or about October 1, 1893, the Wisconsin Central Railroad lines in Wisconsin were, by order of court, severed from the management of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and placed under the management of the genial and courteous H. F. Whitcomb, as receiver. Mr. H. F. Whitcomb was the general manager of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway Company for many years, and is considered one of the best railroad men in the state.
THE GREEN BAY, WINONA AND ST. PAUL RAILROAD COMPANY.
This company was originally chartered, in 1866, as the Green Bay and Lake Pepin Railroad Company, for the purpose of building a road from the mouth of the Fox river, near Green Bay, to the Mississippi river, opposite Winona. During the year of 1870 preliminary surveys were made, and during the latter part of that year and the succeeding year, 1871, forty miles of road were constructed and put in operation. In 1872, one hundred and fourteen miles were graded and the track laid. In 1873, the balance of the road was
586
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
built, sixty-two miles, reaching the river. In 1876, it acquired the right to use what was known as the " Winona cut-off," between Winona and Onalaska, and built a road from the latter point seven miles to La Crosse, thus connecting it with one of the principal cities on the Mississippi river.
This road was commenced under discouraging circumstances, and was only pushed through by the energy of a few men at Green Bay and along its line. The city of La Crosse aided the extension of the road by subscribing seventy-five thousand dollars, which was secured by corporation bonds for that amount.
Samuel Sloan, president of this company, and Theodore Sturgis, its sec- retary and treasurer, reside in the city of New York, while S. W. Champion, its general manager, J. B. Last, its general passenger and ticket agent, and F. B. Seymour, its superintendent, reside at Green Bay. The total number of miles of main lines owned by this company are 209.30, with 15.50 miles of branch and leased lines.
TABLE OF RAILROADS AND RAILROAD LINES IN WISCONSIN. (Railroad Lines hereinbefore mentioned are not included.)
NAME OF COMPANY.
MILES OF MAIN LINES.
MILES BRANCH LINES.
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Ry. Co 497.
69.18
Chicago, Burlington & Northern R. R. Company 222.43
IO.
Chicago, Fairchild and Eau Claire River Ry. Co. 16.
Chicago, Madison & Northern R. R. Co 91.31
Chippewa River & Menomonie Ry. Co 22.
Duluth Short Line Ry. Co 1.75
Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Ry. Co. 67.86
62.03
Eastern Railway Company of Minnesota 22.10
2.61
Goodyear, Neillsville & Northern Ry. Co
Kewaunee, Green Bay & Western R. R Co. 32.91
15.
Kickapoo Valley & Northern Ry. Company 34.
Menomonie R. R. Co 5.02
Milwaukee & Northern Ry. Co
255.50
St. Paul Eastern Grand Trunk Ry. Co. 60.02
Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Ry. Co. 271.42
Northern Pacific R. R. Co. 88.89
Milwaukee & Superior Ry. Co.
11.60
Milwaukee, Bay View & Chicago R. R. Co 12.
Oshkosh Transportation Co 4.10
Prairie du Chien & McGregor Ry. Company 1.75
Port Edward, Centralia & Northern Ry. Co. 30.
587
WISCONSIN'S RAILROADS.
TABLE OF RAILROADS AND RAILROAD LINES .-- Continued.
MILES
MILES
NAME OF COMPANY.
OF MAIN BRANCH
LINES.
LINES.
Sault Ste. Marie & South-Western Ry. Co .. 37.
St. Cloud, Grantsburg & Ashland Ry. Co. 12.
Abbottsford & North-Eastern R. R. Co. 15.16
Packwaukee & Montello R. R. Co
7.86
Wisconsin & Chippewa Ry. Co 5.
West Range R. R. Co 7 .
Romance of our Lakes & Erivers.
Oucha Rock
" Thus she calls him, and she beckons -
* From the river, dark and silent, Flowing calmly far below.".
THE LEGEND -OF-
OVERS' LEAP.
BY OTTO SOUBRON.
WHERE the rocks in grandeur tower, This the tale the wavelets murmur, This the song the caves re-echo
Of the legend of the river; Of Weharka and Oyeka; Of the victory of Love: 'T'is a tale of hate and vengeance, Full of uncurbed, savage passion; Full of never-dying love!
The impossible had happened: Chippewas had come to visit In the land of the Dakota; They who had been death-foes ever Sat in council now together; Chased and sang and danced together;
Sat and smoked the pipe of peace. Fair were maidens of Dakota, Fair were those of Chippewa: So it happened that the warriors
Billed and coo'd, like gentle wood-doves, Vanquished by the victor, Love.
Nearer drew the guests' departure, And the hearts of dusky beauties Beat and swelled and throbbed and fluttered
At the painful thought of parting. But the saddest of the maidens Was Weharka; for Oyeka, Only son of Chief Etoka, Stole her heart, and she must leave it- Leave it with the youth who told her That his own was ever hers! Ah, the low notes of his reed-flute, In the nights so white and silent, Drew the tear-fount from her eye-lids! When she sat on high embankment With her lover, looking downward
i
To the floods of the broad river That beneath them sighed and murmured. In her heart stole secret envy- Envy of the playful wavelets That would clasp him, that would kiss him When herself must dwell afar!
" Let my people go without me," Said she to the man thus cherished;
"All the bonds I gladly sever- Let me stay but in thy presence; Let me share with thee thy wigwam,' Be thy wife, thy docile slave!"
But with brow of cloudy darkness, And a voice betok'ning sadness, Thus responded young Oyeka: " Oh, my life's bright light, Weharka, Never canst thou share my wigwam! Never shall unite in wedlock Chippewa with the Dakota, Is the law of Manitou! All I am and have, Weharka, I would give to see thee happy, Shed for thee my own red life-blood. As my wife here in Dakota Shame and death would be thy lot! Therefore, sweet one, thou must leave me, And forget that e'er I loved thee, Thee, the prairie's choicest flower!" Weeping, trembling and despairing, Clinging to the red man's bosom, These the words she faintly uttered :
" It will kill me, oh Oycka! I shall die, my love, without thee, Wither like the prairie flower 'Neath the north-wind's icy blast! Y'et my spirit will be near thee, Haunt thee ever, yes, and claim thee, Not in life here, but in death!"
Then the Chippewas departed, With her people went Weharka, Dumb with pain and grief and sadness; Leave she took of stern Oyeka, Who, with clasped arms, dark and rigid, Faced her like a stony idol.
ii
Ah, poor fawn, why thus reproach him ? Stern decree of awful spirits Makes him seem devoid of feeling, Bids him hide his pain and love, Makes him turn to ready hunters, Urge them to the stirring chase: Bisons on the plain are grazing, They have come in countless numbers. Mount! We are in need of robes.
Mounted on their small, fleet horses, Spears in well-trained hand, e'er ready, Darting o'er the sun-lit prairie, Like the whirlwind ride the men. There in countless, surging number, See the shaggy bisons graze! Ha, beneath black hair outfloating, How the bright wild eyes are gloating! Tigers, they, fierce, on the spring! Nearer to the surging herd there That but little dreams of danger, In long line up ride the hunters, Closing on them in death's circle. Singling out his chosen victim, Now the spear strikes fear and terror,
And the slayers thrill with joy! Shout and shriek and groan are mingled With the thunder of the hoofs! Frantic bisons, horses, riders, All in one durk mass enknotted! O'er the smoking, dusty prairie, Onward flies the bloody chase!
Weary of the wild excitement, On the prairie rest the hunters, Gathered round the blazing camp-fire, On the new-won robes reclining. Passing round the pipe, they glory In relating long, minutely, The adventures of the chase. But Oyeka has not joined them, Sits aloof in sullen mood ; He no longer shares their pleasures, Nothing now to him the chase ; For Weharka dwells no longer In the land of the Dakota.
iii
He will miss her soft voice ever, Dark and lonely waits his wigwam -- Dead the bright flame of his soul!
Such his melancholy musings, When a messenger aroused him, Struck his braves with sudden terror, Turned all softness quick to stone: "' Woe, Oyeka! Woe, thy father, Our good chieftain, great Etoka, Has been slain by an assassin, Murdered by a Chippewa!" Slow and heavy rose Oyeka, Gazed upon the trembling speaker, Gazed upon the dying embers With a look of cruel coldness, With a look of deadly hatred, To his men then calmly spoke: "Chief Etoka is no longer; I will henceforth be your chieftain! Rise, and raise the cry of war! " Up they sprang with wild, fierce menace, Ringing rose the cry of vengeance:
"Death-foes ever were the Chippewas! Traitors ever were the Chippewas! Death then to the death-foe ever! " Ringing rose the shout of war.
Following the course of waters On the bluffs along the river, Camped the women of the Chippewas, Not suspecting that Oshonee, Only brother of Weharka, Prompted by long-rankling hatred, Broke the new-bound tie of friendship, Slew the chief of the Dakotas; Turned a traitor to his tribe. But a few miles from the village, All impatient, before day-break, In advance the men had started, While the women with the children Unconcerned they left behind them, Later in the day to follow.
Slanting beams the sun is sending Through the amber-tinted foliage,
iv
To the spot where joyous children Sport and pick the falling nuts, While the ever-busy women In the merry shout and laughter Of the young ones gaily join. Wives and maidens both are happy! They no longer fear the meshes Which the women of Dakota Drew around their wayward lovers,
Wove around their foolish men! Sad alone seems young Weharka; For her heart is with Oyeka, With the son of Chief Etoka, Who in battle slew her father, And to whom his son Oshonee, Her own brother, had sworn death. Yet Weharka loves Oyeka, Loves him wildly, loves him madly, His while living, his in death.
Did you hear ? The piercing war-cry Checks the laughter of the women, Stops the children's noisy sport! Painted with the War-god's colors, Red and black, a threatening storm-cloud, Like a band of awful demons, On the scared and trembling children; On the terror-stricken women, Dark and savage swoop stern warriors, And Oyeka leads them on!
Listen to the cry of anguish; To the quick-dealt blows of tomahawks, As they crash into the skulls! Now they tear the sleeping infants From the breasts of frantic mothers, Dash their brains on tree and rock! Maiden, are your hands uplifted To the dark-browed youthful warrior Who but yesterday has wooed you With a low voice of devotion, With a look of untold love ? You appeal in vain, poor maiden; He who serves the God of Vengeance In the land of the Dakota Is not moved by tears of women,
V
Must renounce the God of Love! Blind to innocence and beauty, He must mow, a blood-stained reaper, In the vale of tears and woe.
There, Weharka, is Oyeka! Has he come, poor maid, to save thee ? With an eye of fawn-like meekness, Mutely raised to his, confiding, Kneeling, see her at his feet! Pity knows not the young warrior When he serves the God of Vengeance. Then prepare thee, oh Weharka, For Oyeka's eye means death. Up she springs with sudden terror, To the precipice she hastens, Ends her woe in floods below. *
Clear the heavens, bright and moon-lit! From his tent forth steps Oyeka. Feathers from the wings of eagles Crown the brow of the young chieftain, And a warrior stern proclaim him On his belt the many scalp-locks. He has quenched his thirst for vengeance, He has slain the vile assassin Of Etoka, his loved father; He has drunk the traitor's life-blood, Torn the heart from his false bosom, In his frenzy, wild, exulting, Trampled on his reeking heart!
Peace will find his father's spirit In the unknown land of shadows, But his own is sick and restless, And sweet slumber flies his couch. Dead the faithful, loving maiden, Lowly in the dust Weharka, Dead the idol of his soul! Ah, that last look of Weharka! Ah, those eyes of fawn-like meekness Raised to his in mute appeal! Nevermore can he forget them, They will haunt him evermore!
In the sighing of the forest, When the breezes sway the tree-tops,
vi
In the murmur of the waters Sweeping past the rocks beneath him, In the varied tones of nature Now he listens for her voice. In the mists that float and hover O'er the dark and silent river Now he sees her phantom form. Yes, she calls him, calls him ever, In the nights of gloom and darkness, In the nights of storm and lightning, When the thunder's crash re-echoes From the towering, frowning rocks, In the nights made fair, resplendent With the countless starlets twinkling, In the nights so white and silent, When the moon sheds liquid silver O'er the rocks and o'er the river, Up she drives him from his sleep.
To the precipice he wanders; There he listens, there he gazes At the waters deep below. In his eyes a strange light burning- There he gazes, there he listens To her voice so sad and low:
"Come, Oyeka, I await thee, Leave behind thee grief and sadness, From all troubles I will free thee, Come, with me is peace and rest!" Thus she calls him, and she beckons From the river, dark and silent, Flowing calmly far below. All his heart consumed by yearning, Deep remorse within him burning, Long he stood there, long he listened To the sweet voice of the spirit. And she wooed him, and she won him, Not in life here, but in death!
This the simple, plaintive story, Full of uncurbed, savage passion, Full of terror, hate and vengeance, Full of never-dying love! 'Tis the tale the waters murmur, 'Tis the song the rocks re-echo Of the legend of the lovers, Of Oyeka and Weharka, Of the victory of Love!
vii
LAKE WINNEBAGO FROM NORMAL SCHOOL OSHKOSH
ONGISE SAL
MEETOR CHARDS. ENLCO.
INDEX.
PAGE.
Amygdaloidal Deposit.
12
Age of Fishes.
24
Ancient Forests.
26
Area and Population of Counties.
42
Ancient Unknown Fortifications.
50-54
Antiquities.
52-57
Allouez, Claude Jean.
81
Bituminous Coal Origin.
27
British Supremacy in the West ..
115-116
Black Hawk and Wars in Which He Participated.
179-231
Black Hawk's Early Life,
179-183
Black Hawk at Green Bay.
188.189
Black Hawk Assists British in War of 1812.
191
Battle of Stillman's Run
206-208
Battle of Wisconsin Heights.
215-216
Battle of Bad Ax.
219-224
Black Hawk's Celebrated Speech at Prairie du Chien.
226
Black Hawk's Surrender.
224
Black Hawk's Visit to Washington and Eastern Cities
227-228
Black Hawk's Death
228-230
Black Hawk's Grave Desecrated, note.
230
Barstow, Administration of Governor
293-298
Bashford, Administration of Governor. 299-302
299-300
Bribery of Legislature, 1856. 305-306
391-402
Boyd, Frances
473-474
Bennett School Law.
533-534 528
Coal Origin.
27
Causes of Igneous Irruptions.
3
Copper Deposits
12
Conglomerate Deposits.
12
Cambrian Age-Potsdam Epoch.
13
Clinton Epoch.
21
Carboniferous Age.
26
Columbus and His Discoveries.
59-60
Chickamaugun.
169
Col. Dodge at Pecatonica.
244
Census of 1830.
259
Copper Origin.
Census of 1855.
298
Carpenter, Matt. H., Defeated for U. S. Senate.
437-438
Carpenter, Matt. H., Illustration,
479
Carpenter, Death of. 490-493
Census, State, 1890.
535
Chicago and North-Western Railway Company. 571-578
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company.
579-583
Bashford-Barstow Contest.
Batteries, First to Thirteenth
Bragg, Gen. E. S., Illustration.
INDEX.
PAGE.
Density of Sphere.
3
Devonian Age.
24
De Vaca's Thrilling Experience.
66-67
De Soto Discovers the Mississippi.
69
Death of De Soto
69
De Villiers Killed by Young Blackbird.
105-106
Downfall of New France.
112
Decline of English Rule
128
Depredations by Black Hawk's Bands,
242-245
Dodge, Henry, Illustration.
278
Dodge, Administration of Governor
2,9-280
Doty, Administration of Governor.
281-282
Dewey, Administration of Governor
285-288
Dodd, Harrison H., Organizes Treasonable Orders.
429-445
Earth's Liquid Stage.
2
Earliest Known Land.
4-6
Exceptional Deposits.
12
Eocene Period.
20
Early Asiatic Emigration.
45
Early Settlers and Settlements.
149-154
Eighth Wisconsin Battery
397
Eleventh Wisconsin Battery.
399-400
Eviston, John W.
467-469
Formation of Islands.
13
First Origin of Life.
I3
Fossil Tracks
15
Fossil Forests
26
First Glacial Period.
35
French Explorers and Explorations.
72-92
First Jesuit Chapel,
81
Father Menard ..
81
Father Marquette's Death and Burial.
84
French and Indian Battle near Neenah.
97
French Expeditions at Green Bay.
149-150
Fort Howard Erected
152 176
Fraudulent Treaty of 1804.
185-186
Farwell, Administration of Governor.
289-292
Fugitive State Law Tested.
294-295
First Wisconsin Cavalry
384-386
Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry
389
First Heavy Artillery.
389-390
First Wisconsin Battery.
391-392
Fourth Wisconsin Battery
393
Fifth Wisconsin Battery.
393-394
Fairchild, Administration of Governor.
417-423
Fires in Oconto, Brown, Door and Kewaunee Counties.
427
French Chapel Burned.
94
Fond du Lac ..
INDEX.
PAGE.
Fourierism in Wisconsin
457-460
Financial Depression.
568
Geology.
1-44
Galena Epoch .. 17-18
Geography of Reptilian Age.
30
General Atkinson Takes Charge of Black Hawk
227
Green Bay, Wisconsin's First Settlement.
149
Gerrymandering Cases.
542-553
Green Bay, Winona and St. Paul Railroad Company.
585-586
Heavenly Bodies
1-2
Huronian Age
9-10
Hudson River Epoch
18
Hamilton Epoch.
24-25
Hennepin's Discoveries.
84-85
Hubbell, Impeachment Trial of Levi.
291-292
Harvey, Administration of Governor.
402-405
Harvey, Drowning of.
404-405
Harvey, Mrs., Enters Army as Nurse.
405
Home for Soldiers' Orphans
419
Hartsuff, Lieutenant.
469-471
Hoard, Administration of Governor.
529-535
Interval between Devonian and Glacial Ages.
33-34
Interval between Glacial Epochs.
37
Indian Famine,
79
Indians Plunder French Fort at Green Bay
94
Indians Moved Across the Mississippi.
201
Iron Ore Origin.
9-10
Iron Brigade ..
318-319
Iron Brigade Boys, Illustration,
310
Infantry Regiments, First to Fifth inclusive.
321-328
Ironsides, Wreck of.
429
Joliet's Discoveries ..
83
Jefferson Davis-Wisconsin's First Lumberman
166-167
Jefferson Davis-Illustration
225
Keweenawan Period. 11-12
Kilbourn's Narrative.
208-211
Keokuk-Illustration.
190
Laws of Rotation,
2
Laurentian Age
6-8
Lower Magnesian Epoch
15
Lower Silurian Age.
16
Lower Helderburg Epoch.
23
List of Elevations
43-44
La Salle, Robert Cavalier
85-92
La Salle's Assassination
91
Legislature, 1856, Bribery of ..
305-306
Lewis, Administration of Governor
411-415
Lady Elgin, Loss of
461-478
INDEX.
PAGE.
Ludington, Administration of Governor.
479-483
Miocene Period-Illustration,
14
Mound Builders.
53-54
Moran Punishes Tribute-Exacting Foxes.
IO1-102
Massacre of Foxes on the Wisconsin,
104
Military Posts Captured
121-126
Milwaukee.
172
Map of Rock River.
203
Mormonism in Wisconsin,
457-460
Niagara Period.
21
Nicollet Discovers Wisconsin.
74-78 76
Northwest Territory, the ..
129-147
Ninth Wisconsin Battery.
397-398
Newhall House Fire.
503-527
Original Condition of the Earth
I
Origin of Planets
I
Ocean's Formation.
4
Origin of Copper.
4.38
Prehistoric Wisconsin
45-57
Ponce de Leon
60
Prominent Settlers.
152-154
Prairie du Chien
155-168
Portage
169
Pecatonica Battlefield
209
Products of Territory in 1842.
262
Peck, George W .- Illustration
382
Peshtigo Fire,
423
Potter Railroad Law.
434-436
Peck, Administration of Governor
537-587
Quarternary of Ice Age.
35
Reptiles of Mesozoic Era-Illustration
28
Reptilian Age.
29
Reptilian Birds
30
Radisson and Grosselliers.
79
Randall, Administration of Governor. 3ยบ3-309
Regiments, History of Sixth to Tenth,
329-335
Regiments, Infantry, Eleventh to Sixteenth. 337-346
Regiments, Infantry, Seventeenth to Twentieth, 347-353
Regiments, Infantry, Twenty-first to Twenty-fifth 355-362
Regiments, Infantry, Twenty-sixth to Thirtieth. 363-367
Regiments, Infantry, Thirty-first to Thirty-fifth, 369-373
Regiments, Infantry, Thirty-sixth to Fifty-third. 375-382
439
Rusk, Administration of Governor
497-501
Railroads, History of Wisconsin,
571-587
Railroads, Table of.
586-587
Rusk, Jeremiah M .- Illustration,
Nicollet in Oriental Robes-Illustration.
Oshkosh Fire
INDEX.
PAGE.
Salina Epoch.
23
Second Glacial Epoch.
37
Second Glacial Period-Illustration
38
Spanish Explorers and Explorations.
59-70
Spain Claims North America.
70
Spain Surrenders American Possessions
70
School Land Fraud. 296
Sharpshooters, Berdan's, Co. G.
383-384
Second Wisconsin Cavalry
386-387
Second Wisconsin Battery
392
Sixth Wisconsin Battery.
394
Seventh Wisconsin Battery.
395
Salomon, Administration of Governor.
407-409
Snyder, Fred.
462-466
Smith, M. E.
471-475
Smith, Administration of Governor.
485-495
Scene on M., L. S. & W. R'y -- Illustration
496
State Treasury Cases
555-568
Trenton Epoch.
16-17
Tertiary Age ..
31
Territorial Days.
234-278
Taxable Property in 1845.
262
Territorial Government
264
Territorial Legislature.
265-278
Territorial Population in 1836.
257
Territortal Boundaries.
255
Territorial Reminiscences.
246-250
Tallmadge, Administration of Governor,
283-284
Third Wisconsin Cavalry.
387-388
Third Wisconsin Battery.
392
Tenth Wisconsin Battery.
388-399
Twelfth Wisconsin Battery
400-402
Thirteenth Wisconsin Battery.
402
Taylor, Administration of Governor.
431-438
Treasonable Orders.
439-445
Twin Lakes-Illustration
502
Upper Silurian Age.
21
Upheavals.
27
Vein Deposits.
12
Wisconsin Under French Dominion
93-112
Wisconsin Under English Rule.
115-128
Wisconsin Heights Battlefield.
218
Wisconsin in the Civil War
311-402
War Governors-Illustration
320
Wisconsin Boys-Illustration
396
War Measures. 308-309
War Measures.
413
Washburn, Administration of Governor
425-430
Wisconsin Central Railroad Company
583-585
2503
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