Davenport Democrat Davenport, Scott, Iowa July 20, 1924 SAU-NE-NUK THE HOME OF A FAMOUS CHIEF, WHERE BLACK HAWK LIVED IN BARK HOUSE AND RULED ROOST. Sau-ke-nuk, Black Hawk's town, was nearly four miles south of Rock Island city, and one mile west of the Milan bridge, on the north side of the Sinasipi or Rock river at the yellow sand bank. It was said to number about 2,000 people, which was a large estimate. Many families had bark houses made by setting poles in the ground, then running small poles along, lashed to these posts with rawhide things, then siding up and covering with elm bark. This elm bark siding was procured by the squaws in the spring. They would cut thru the bark to the wood of the tree, and then again would split and open the bark straight downward from one cut to the other, and then pull it off clear around the tree. This would given an unbroken strip of bark seven feet high and nine feet wide from a tree three feet in diameter; and this sides up very rapidly. Black Hawk's residence was built of bark. It was about 16 by 20 feet, with the doorway at the east end. His bed stood in the northwest corner. It was made by setting a forked-post in the ground at the southeast corner, of the bed and then carrying poles from the fork to the cross pieces that held the siding of the house. Then small sticks were laid across the frame work thus formed, which made the foundation for the matting, skins, etc. The opening for the door was usually closed with a hung blanket, tho sometimes a rush matting or a large skin was used. This house was close to the bank of the Rock river. A large majority of the houses were wickiups, constructed by setting willow poles in the ground in a circle, then bending them together into a rounded shape near seven feet high in the middle. They were then covered with matting made of rushes woven closely together a yard wide. An opening was left in the top for the escape of smoke. The fire was made on the ground in the center of the wickiup. Another opening was left for a doorway, closed with a blanket. Matting, hides and dressed robes were placed all about for sitting and lying. The cooking utensils were mostly of sheet iron. Spoons were wooden ladles, and there were large and small wooden bowls, some quite prettily ornamented. Their mode of cooking was, of course, very different from ours. -- Indians Move from Wigwam to Pesthouse. The Indians confined at Camp McClellan are dying off fast. There are about 250 left and 50 of these are in the hospital and pesthouse. Smallpox has got among them and it is thinning them out rapidly. About 20 have been sent to the pesthouse within a week..---The Democrat, March 11, 1864. Cathy Joynt Labath Iowa Old Press http://www.IowaOldPress.com/ Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/