[EXTRACT HISTORY OF NORTHWEST.] 
COUNCIL OR MEDICINE TREE. 
On the 22d day of August, 1804, Captains Lewis and Clark, with forty-two enlisted men, passed the mouth of the Big Sioux River about one mile to the south of this renowned 
tree. On the day before, viz: August 21, 1804,while the command of Lewis and Clark laid over at a point about five miles below to pay their respects to Sergeant Charles Floyd, who 
was buried on the summit of a high bluff with the honors due a brave soldier, it is believed that the Sioux Indians, who inhabited this section and were known as the Yankton 
Sioux, were at the same time holding council by their chiefs and medicine men under this tree, and were excited beyond measure on account of the proceedings taking place five 
miles below them on the Missouri river, by what to them was an invasion of their country by the long hated yet never until now seen white man. If this noble tree could now 
communicate to us what took place there on that day and on the days following until the summer of 1848, when Wm. Thompson settled at the mouth of the Floyd river, history 
would then indeed be complete. In 1846 it is believed that Theophile Brughier made choice of the land where this tree now stands, as he was a prominent man and acquired great 
influence with the Yankton Sioux, and became the firm and staunch friend of Hu-yan-e-ka (War Eagle), who was always the friend of the white men. Hu-yan-e-ka (War Eagle) 
being about 18 or 20 years old at the time Lewis and Clark passed up the river, August 21, 1804, was no doubt among the many who counseled on that day under this tree of what 
should be done with the invaders. The title of the Indians to this land became extinct in 1847, and in 1849 Mr. Brughier settled on it and became the owner. The evidences of burnt 
stone and bone under the grass and roots tell us much of what has taken place under the shadow of this great tree; and like the bird that comes home to die, so with Hu-yan-e-ka. 
(War Eagle), when aged and feeble, he came and died near this historical tree, in 1851, and was buried, like Floyd, on the summit of a high bluff overlooking this now beautiful 
park, where the eye with one vision can scan a portion of the commonwealths of Iowa, Nebraska and Dakota, with Highland and the Corn City as a background. Perhaps the 
last council of a chief was held under this tree in 1854, when Smutty Bear, the successor of Hu-yan-e-ka, was surprised to find John K. Cook and Gen. Lyon, who fell at Wilson’s 
creek, with others, making a survey at the mouth of the now Perry creek, where Sioux City now is. Smutty Bear ordered Dr. Cook to cease his labor, but not succeeding, he is 
supposed to have repaired to the old council tree, and there, with chiefs and medicine men, decided to strike their teepees and departed to the northwest; and it is believed that this 
was the last council ever held under the ancient tree on the once famous camping ground of the Sioux, now the Riverside Park. 
WAKA-CHA-SHA, Pet of tlie Sioux. 
