By: Stan Jordan
The above picture is of Antwerp’s new tanker, it will be used in all of Antwerp’s fire district and any emergencies in the surrounding area.
The firemen in the picture are left to right: Nick Bragg, Fire Chief Ray Friend, Gale Jordan and Jim Terwilliger. These boys went down to the Atlanta area and drove this truck here.
This truck carries 3000 gallons of water, it is mounted on a Kenworth chasis. It has tandem dual wheels and a two man cab. It has a four inch discharge port but it is also a fire fighting truck, if need be, or it also has a five hundred gallon per minute pump, if need be.
It carries a 2 1/2 inch hose crossways and 2 1/2 inch hose deadlay. These are firemen terms, but this is certainly a handy outfit.
See ya!
Election Day is Over
By: Stan Jordan
Thank goodness, November 8th, election day finally arrived. It took about a year and a half to get here. It was the longest, dirtiest, most senseless, backstabbing, childish display of people who want to be our leader.
I think now is a good time to start a motion to end a lot of that silly nonsense. Lets be like Canada and put a limit of how long you can bombard the American people with politicking. How about four months, or maybe even 100 days. No politicking before the fourth of July of that year.
Yes, I know about free speech and all of that, but we common people also have rights and the way of politicking now is way too long, too much and a lot of it is senseless and we have had enough.
Yes the news people, the tv and radio people will scream about free speech but the people have had enough of politics at election time for a year and a half enough is too much. Now is the time to talk about putting a limit on this campaign for office nonsense.
See ya!
A little on the local eagles
By: Stan Jordan
As of this date, November 3rd, you still can’t see the eagles’ nest here in Antwerp because all of the leaves are not off the trees yet but they should be off pretty soon.
I have talked to a number of people this past summer about the eagles and I’m glad to say there is still a lot of interest on those big birds.
Tony and Freddie Langham were in the shop the other day and we had a fine talk on the local wildlife. Freddie lives very close to the Maumee River and he said he sees them cruising the river all the time. He said one time, a few weeks ago, there was five eagles in his back yard. Probably the adults teaching the younger ones.
Anyhow, he said it’s always exciting to see them. He said he knows of five eagles nest in this area and he is going to make a study of it and maybe he’ll have some more to report.
See ya!
Sam Rivers, Indian Agent Chapter 7: Limping Buffalo and Plans
By: Stan Jordan
I was very glad to see Limping Buffalo, the Shaman of the White Elks Tribe. It had been quite awhile, many moons had passed, since they met last time.
I had Callie make some coffee and we brought some of the kitchen chairs over into the store area plus the soldiers had made a couple of benches for this very purpose.
We smoked the peace pipe and the warriors liked the coffee after a fashion, a spoonful of sugar in it then they really liked it.
We soon got down to answering questions. I asked Limping Buffalo: Just how many are in your tribe? Everyone, men, women, children and anyone looking to have a papoose. We will try to order a blanket for each and every one. How far is it to your camp or wiki-up? Are there any other tribes of any other nations in the area? Do your people plant gardens? Do you people cut hay for the horses? Do any warriors have rifles? Does anyone want to learn English? Does each member have a horse? Do you have any work horses for plowing or pulling wagons? Can you supply us with a runner to carry messages from your camp to here or maybe on to Fort Kearney if need be?
The soldier who had gone out hunting for game this morning was lucky, he shot a big white tail buck. While the others were talking he and a couple of the Indians butchered the deer out and hung him from a tree limb. They took a hind quarter and cut it up into strips and Callie fried the whole quarter and made a number of pans of corn bread muffins.
There were four soldiers, six warriors, Callie and I, and the Shaman. Those 13 people ate that whole quarter and a number of muffins with jelly and honey. Everyone was satisfied and the Indians grunted their approval and thanks. The soldiers slept in the store room and the Indians in the barn on the hay and straw.
The next day I and some of the fellows dug some holes and erected a spit and fire place in the outside cooking area. We built a post on each end and then took some old wagon axles—the axles will hold the pole over the fire. This was wide enough to hang two big pots over the fire at the same time.
As soon as the fire was going good, I put on a pot of soup beans and put in some deer meat and fat also. We all sat around the fire and talked about everyone: Chief White Elk, Jim, Billy and the general at the fort. Then we discussed having classes on speaking English. “How do we do it? It takes two days going to get here from the Lakota Camp.”
“They should be prepared to stay a few days at a time, furnish their own meals and sleep on the hay in the barn.”
We talked about plowing up some acreage at the Indian camp to raise vegetables, hay and corn. Should I ask the General for a plow and team to plow for the Indians and for Callie and me? I would pay for the plow.
This morning after a good breakfast of pancakes, Limping Buffalo and the braves started north to get back to the Indian Camp.
Then shortly after, the soldiers and the two wagons started south to go back to Fort Kearney.
I sent a letter back to General Kearney with the boys. I told about all the good work the soldiers had done and I thanked the General for the boys’ help and all the favors. I then asked the General if I could send a team and plow sometime late in March to fix a garden by then and some acreage over at the Lakota Camp.
I also wrote, “I would like to recommend that young soldier named Mo to be a runner between us. I guess he reminds me of that Billy Metzger, he is always ready and willing to work.” I also asked the General if I could send along some seeds and plants for the gardens and some seed potatoes. He didn’t know if the natives knew about potatoes or not, but they are a good staple food. I want to give the Lakotas every chance in the world to live and act like the whites. They are not a warring nation and they deserve good treatment.
I am eager to help the Indians, but I need a lot of help from the Army but I quickly tell Callie that General Kearney is a down right good officer and fellow.
Next Week: Getting Settled
See ya!
