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Homecoming Guest Tells A Thrilling Story
West Allis Woman, When a Child, Thanks to Her Father's Jesting Words, Was
Sold to Wild Tribe and Only Recovered with Difficulty.
Held a captive by the Indians and finally released through the efforts of
Solomon Juneau; Milwaukee's first mayor, was the experience of Mrs. H. E.
Jordan, 477 Sixty-third av., West Allis, who is to be a guest of honor at
the Milwaukee Homecoming celebration in August. Mrs. Jordan is a daughter
of the late John A. Hearn, one of the pioneers of the city, whose joking
with the Indians was responsible for his little daughter's captivity.
The Homecoming celebration recalled the incident which Mrs. Jordan related
to the Journal, as it was in August 1842, that she was held captive by the
Indians.
One Sunday morning, she says, her mother dressed the little girl and
arranged her hair in curls preparatory to a walk with her father who was
very proud of his little daughter. A short distance from their home, they
met a band of Indians in gala attire.
One big squaw came up to Mr. Hearn, saying, "Pretty papoose; you swap for a
basket of Indian beads?" Mr. Hearn said he would. The squaw seemed so
pleased with the little girl that Mr. Hearn thought he would let the Indian
take her for a few minutes. The Indian woman took the girl and started
toward her wigwam.
The father followed and asked for the child back. The squaw then gave an Indian yell and in an instant Mr. Hearn was
surrounded by warriors. They refused to give him back the child. Frantic with grief the father sought Solomon Juneau.
The latter held a consultation with the Indian chiefs and finally after long negotiations secured the girls release. Mr. Hearn
was severely reprimanded by the old Indian chief and by Solomon Juneau for fooling with the Indians.
Mrs. Jordan is the mother-in-law of Mayor Walsh and City Physician H.T. Brogan, West Allis.
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