Page 162 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

158 WISCONSIN IIISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

reported FARNSJVORTII the commanding officer at Fort
to
Howard, as selling whiskey to the Indians contrary to the laws
regulat'ing the Indian trade. The commandant sent down an
officer with a file of men to destroy FARNSWORTH'S whiskey,
and drive him out of the Indian country. Upon arriving at
the place, the officer informed FARNSWORTH of the object of
his visit; when the latter expressed his astonishment that any
one should have made such a complaint against him; inviting
the officer to search thoroughly and see if he could find any
whiskey; that he freely confessed he kept a little good brandy
for himself and friends, but that he never sold any, and con-
cluded by inviting the officer to take a little of his choice
liquor. He readily consented. FAI~NSWORTH then asked the
officer if he might offer some to his men, which was granted;
and he helped the soldiers to a boiintiful supply. The officer
stuck closely to the brandy, and sent the soldiers in search of
whiskey; but they did not search very thoroughly, and after
paying their respects once Inore to the brandy, reported that
they could not find any whiskey, artd that they believed that it
was nothing but rnalice that prompted the Fur Company to
charge ~AI~NS\VORTII with vending whiskey to the Indians.
The report was perfectly satisfactory to the officer; and
gave
FARN~W~RTII them all a good supper, lodging and break-
fast, and plenty of the beloved brandy, and then parted good
friends-the generous trader not forgetting to supply them
with several bottles of the favorite beverage to last them on
their return journey. During this farcical search, FARNS-
WORTH had four or five barrels of whiskey buried close by his
house.
The Fur Company now hit upon another expedient to get
E"ARNSWORT~I out of the country. A large party of Indians
was employed to go to his house and seize his goods and
whiskey, if he declmed to give them to them. So in the
winter of 1820-21, they made their appearance, and frankly
told their business, adding that they were brave men, deter-
mined to carry out their design. FARNSWORTH told them in