122 THE FOREST PRESERVES 



Next to the spring-water, this preserve might well enjoy 

 a national reputation as a squirrel refuge. Despite the ravages 

 of hunters in years gone past this 1,600-acre tract today stands 

 as the greatest expanse of squirrel-inhabited wood in the coun- 

 try. 



This is probably due to the inexhaustible supply of nuts 

 produced each year on the thousands and thousands of walnut 

 and hickory nut trees found in the tract. Those who have 

 made studies of the wild life of this forest have found every 

 variety of squirrels. 



As would be expected, there is the same prevalence of bird 

 life in this incomparable woodland with its density of forest, 

 its mixed growth and its undergrowth all features that go to 

 make territory preferable in the eyes of wild animals. 



As the Salt Creek follows the west boundary of the pre- 

 serve, so the state road follows the east boundary, bringing 

 motorists at many points within easy walking distance of the 

 springs for which the district is famed. 



Then there is the highly improved Higgins road that 

 shoots its way directly through the forest. For the driver 

 seeking something different there are countless trails, passable 

 as drives, leading from these roads into the heart of the forest. 



Duck swamps found here and there through the woodland 

 are probably the explanation of the thing that brought the In- 

 dians here for the discovery of the spring water. Though his- 

 tory tells of no spectacular activities in Indian days there are 

 many things to show its popularity among the original inhab- 

 itants. 



Discovery of Indian heads at all parts of the forest have 

 demonstrated that the Indians, in their days of peace and in 

 their days of war, did not overlook this dense patch. Early 

 settlers have told of temporary camps always to be found near 

 the Elk Grove springs. 



The dense character of this tract is best illustrated by an 

 interesting story of the Indian day activities that is worth re- 

 peating though historians have given it no recognition. It 

 shows how the redmen appreciated this spot as a safe retreat. 



Some time before the Fort Dearborn massacre the soldiers 

 and settlers about the Fort received their first intimation of 

 impending Indian troubles by a preliminary massacre per- 

 petrated on the so-called Hardscrabble farm, a few miles south 

 of the Fort on the Chicago River. 



A small band of Winnebago Indians was responsible for 

 that outrage and tradition has it that, respecting the military 



