CHAPTER XXXI

ST. PAUL'S MISSION. FATHER FREDERICK EBERSCHWEILER. 

SCHOOLS

St. Paul's Mission, also an offspring of St. Peter's, is located in what are called the Little Rockies, on the reservation of the Gros Ventres, and Assiniboines. Some fifty years ago, the Gros Ventres alone were reckoned at bout 10,000 souls. Today, all told they numberless than 2,000.

Father De Smet, and after him Father Point, were the first who did some missionary work among these Indians. Next came Father Giorda, who in 1862, baptized 134 children belonging to the tribe of Gros Ventres. Both nations were visited several times by Father Rappagliosi, who did much good among them. Father U. Grassi also was among them for a time in 1879, and baptized a number of Assiniboines. Some children of the same tribe were baptized in 1883 by Father J. Damiani, and several others by Father J. Bandini in 1884. Both tribes for years had been asking to have among them resident Black Robes, but to no avail for along while.

In 1885, Father Cataldo obtained from the U. S. Government the authorization to erect buildings on the reserve for school and mission work. No sooner had leave been granted, than he directed Father Eberschweiler to commence operations at one by putting up a temporary structure, not far from the spot where saintly Father Rappagliosi had died. This, however, was done as a preliminary move only, and to forestall opposition on the part of certain non-Catholics, who were ever ready to throw obstacles in the way of Catholic action. The place presented serious disadvantages for a permanent Mission site, there being no timber in the vicinity, and the water, besides , was so saturated with alkali as to be of a milky color (hence the name of Milk River). Further still, owing to the low bed of the river, water could not be brought out to irrigate the land; and without irriga-

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tion successful farming, because of the dry summer weather prevailing in this section, would be out of the question.

On the other hand, it was a matter of prudence that something should be done without delay toward the establishment of the Mission. Hence, according to directions, Father Eberschweiler secured a small wooden building near Fort Belknap, and fitted it up for a chapel where he said Mass December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It was on this temporary site and in such quarters that St. Paul Mission was started. Father Eberschweiler passed the winter of 1885-86 studying the Assiniboines language, instructing some twenty children, and visiting the sick. Of the latter he instructed and baptized several at their own request in that their last illness.

After conferring with the Indians, Father Eberschweiler early the following spring, 1886, started for the Little Rockies to seek for a more desirable site for the Mission. On May 1^st he picked out a charming spot on People's Creek, a stream of sweet, clear water, which has its source up in the mountains, and running through the valley below, empties into Milk River near Fort Browning. While the soil is rich and timber plentiful, numerous mountain springs feed the stream just mentioned and supply an abundance of wholesome water for domestic use and also for irrigation. The Indians felt much pleased with the location, the more so, that the spot was one of their favorite resorts in the buffalo hunts of former years.

Soon after, at the suggestion of Father Eberschweiler, all the chiefs and leading men of the two tribes petitioned the government to be allowed to move and settle on these lands. The authorities looked favorably on the petition and appointed a special Commission to carry out the wishes of the Indians. Accordingly, in January, 1886, by treaty stipulations the Indians surrendered to the government whatever country they claimed as their own, except an area of some 40,000 square miles adjacent to the Little Rockies, which the Government was to recognize as reserved and set apart for their own exclusive use and occupancy.

From a moral and a material point of view, as well, the condition of the Gros Ventres and Assinboines at this time was, indeed, very deplorable. Those to whose inefficient ministry they had been confided for years had won neither the good will

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nor the respect of their charges, and had done practically nothing to lift them from degradation and barbarism. Reduced, besides, to a state of destitution and beggary by the rapid and total extinction of the buffalo, and the country around offering no advantage whatever to make a living by agriculture, the poor wretches attempted to eke out a filthy and miserable existence by wholesale prostitution. The military post close by afforded them additional opportunities for the degrading traffic. But, according to the new treaty they would be some sixty miles off, and beyond the baneful influences of their present contaminating environs; they would be on soil that offered every facility for easy and successful farming by which to make an honest living; while their proximity to the new Mission could not but benefit them in many other respects.

That such good results were looked forward to even by the officials in charge, is manifest from the report of A. O. Simons, the Agent, who under date of August 26, 1890, wrote to the Indian Department as follows:

"This is good ground for hope that the spiritual and moral teaching of the Rev. Fathers at St. Paul's Mission will in time effect a great good in eradicating the evils of immorality and drunkenness and creating a conscientious feeling in favor of virtue and temperance." And it was not long before these forecasts were borne out by the result.

In the meantime, Father Eberschweiler had been hard at work to erect suitable quarters on the site he had selected for the Mission. He commenced, in the summer of 1886, the construction of a large log structure, 25 X 75 feet, and of two others, but of smaller dimensions. Having spent the winter of 1886-87 at Fort Belknap, he returned to the Little Rockies, where the buildings under construction were soon after completed and made ready for occupancy. But while busy in the erection of quarters, Father Eberschweiler did not neglect missionary duty among the Indians, and b y the end of 1887 he had baptized 138 children under seven, and twenty-one adults. Adding top the number those baptized subsequently, we have in the Missions' records a little over 500 baptisms at the close of 1890.

During the summer of 1887 arrangements were made with the

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Indian Department, through the Catholic Indian Mission bureau, for the opening of a contract school. These were now completed by the arrival of a colony of Ursulines who were to assist the Fathers in the work. The school opened in September with an allotment of twenty-five pupils, at a per capita of $100 a year. Subsequently, this number was raised to fifty, then to one hundred, and later on, to one hundred and sixty pupils. Today the number in attendance is in excess of the number of children provided for by the Government. And this can be said of every Catholic Indian Contract School; since in every one of them more Indian children are kept and educated than are supported or paid for by the government.

These Indian children are good-natured, docile and quick to learn; but, like unto all the rest of the race, a second nature with them is laziness and a deep dislike of any manual labor. Their training is, consequently, made to suit their wants, as in every other Catholic Indian School, and consists of a plain English education going hand in hand with varied manual exercise.

From the manuscript records of St. Paul's Mission and its schools we glean the following incidents. We have no doubt that they will be found both interesting and edifying.

A boy, in very poor health, was brought to the school. The Sisters took him in, and tenderly cared for him; the more so, that no hope could any longer be entertained for his recovery. Some two months after, growing worse, he was made happy by being baptized. The little hero bore all the sufferings of his sickness with most remarkable patience. He would hold a small crucifix in his hands, and frequently kiss it with the greatest affection. On being anointed he seemed to be comforted beyond expression. One day he told some who had called to see him, to come no more, as with their coming, "The Angel disappeared," quote the boy; adding, "Do you not see him leave when you come in?" he further spoke as follows: "When I am alone the Angel stays by my side, speaks to me, and makes me feel ever so happy! He bids me be cheerful and tells me he will stay with me until the time arrives for me to be led by him to see God" Our little Nicholas (the name given the boy in baptism) was taken off by "his good angel" on the Feast of Our Lady, the Help of Christmas.

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The boy had just been buried, when one of the youngest of the little girls, whose name was Martha, declared that she, too, wished and longed every so much to die. Her wish was granted, and she passed away early in the morning, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart.

On the very same day, Mary, another Indian girl, about nine, and seriously ill, was admitted to her first Holy Communion, a favor she had been fervently asking for a good while. The Sisters dressed her in white and brought her to the chapel. She received our Lord with an angel's fervor, and so wrapped up was she in her devotion, that she could scarcely be induced to consent to leave the chapel. The girl had been at school at St. Paul's, that she might end her life among her people. Though but nine, she had the sense and wisdom of a much riper age. The young child suffered very much, yet she appeared altogether unmindful of her aches and pains, her whole soul being taken up with holy and heavenly things. She found her delight in praying, and in arranging a number of holy cards ina semi-circle before her eyes, that she might see them all at a glance. A little statute of Our Lady seemed to draw her attention in a most special manner; she would often and lovingly look at it, and as often and as lovingly press it to her heart. To have received the name of Mary in baptism seemed to fill her soul with the greatest joy. There was no need of any cautious proceeding to inform her of he approaching dissolution, since she appeared to be actuality in love with death, yearning after it and speaking of it, as she did, with the greatest pleasure.

The evening before her death, Mary called for the Father and all the sisters, and asked them to pray for her, as her house, she said, was near. Death, to all appearances, was in her eyes and on her face, when the little girl assumed, all of a sudden, a most beautiful expression. Her gaze was slightly turned upward, and she seemed as if absorbed in the vision of some entrancing beauty; no all aglow with inexpressible joy. While thus enraptured, the little girl exclaimed: "Oh! . . . .Oh! . . . .Oh!. . . Mary! You have come with angels to take me

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with you! Oh, how good! Oh, how beautiful you are! Oh, how happy I am!" the bystanders, Father, sisters, and all were silent listeners. The girl remained in an almost ecstatic state a quarter of an hour, and then fell quietly asleep. The next day, when her last moments had arrived, she called again for all, asked them to pray for her, and placing herself ina most devout position to die, at high noon, July 4^th, her happy soul went to her God. Soon after her death, her parents asked for instruction and were baptized.

And now, nothing remains but to bring the Mission's history to a close by chronicling the changes that have since occurred. Father Balthasar Feusi replaces Father Eberschweiler in the charge of the institution; being assisted by Father Francis Sansone and a lay brother. New and substantial improvements are, not only contemplated, but already under contract.

Father Eberschweiler has moved to Harlem, a station on the Great Northern Railway, whence he attends the Assinibones at Fort Peck Agency, and several settlements of whites along the road, as well as some camps of half-breeds on the banks of Milk River. The Harlem station is a dependency of St. Peter's Mission.

As mentioned above, Father B. Feusi took charge of the Mission in 1891, replacing Father Eberschweiler, and held it till 1894, when Father Charles Mackin became the local Superior. During his term, which extended to 1902, the latter built a fine stone church, and replaced the former log building occupied by the Sisters and the girls' school, with a new and imposing structure also of stone. The unstinted generosity of a personal friend, no less rich than grateful, enabled him to start and bring to completion these substantial improvements. He was succeeded in the charge of the Mission by Faster Ignatius A. Vasta, who some five years later left it in the hands of Father Joseph M. Piet. Father H. J. Vrebosch came next, and after him, Father Hubert Post, who in turn was succeeded by Father B. Feusi.

Leaving St. Paul's, let us now proceed to the Mission of St. Labre, whose history we shall present in the following chapter.