Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-17
KIncennes, Ind. Dec. GO.
AN CAPTIVE RECLAIMED.

The followin ing is a reinstatement OF facts
by Mr.. Edward Tanner, of New Madrid
county, Mi who passed through this place
on the 18th inst. with brother. who, after
a captivity of 90 years, he has al length re-
claimed from among the Chlppawa In
dians:
Mr. Tanner is man Of undoubtedveracity
and most excellent intelligence and We
muchregret that, for want of time, we are
compelled to omit many interesting par
ticuars in relation TO his brother, and his
own adventures in pursuit of him, bat the
following will no doubt, be read with some
degree OF interest, not only for the uncom-
mon perseverance of that gentleman, but
may facilitate others in recovering their
friends, whom the disasters Of Indian war
fare have placed in similar situations.
Mr.. Tanner is son Of the late John Tan
ner. who formerly resided at Tanners Sta
ton, on the Ohio. Mr.. Tanners young
est brother. the subject Of this story. in the
year 1890, then about nine years old, while
gathering nuts. few rods from the Station
was carried off by the Indians. Various
unsuccessful exertions were made for bis
recovery previous to the year 1875, when
DIR. Tanner attended Gen Wayne's treaty
with the Indians at Granville. In l79S ne
visited this place, and, having heard that a
number of Shawanees and Delawares had
gone over the Mississippi with Lorimere,
an Indian trader, 1899 he went and search
ed among them. In May, 1900. he left
home, in Woodford county, Ky. crossed
the Ohio at Cincinnati examined through
all the Indian tribes on the waters Of the
two Miamis, the Scioto, Sandusky, Miami
of the Lake, the rivers Raisin, Detroit,
Sandwich, and Maiden, and through the
principal part of the Indian country in Up
Der Canada, and all the waters that run in
To the south side of Lake Michigan; thence
10 the head of the Illinois, and to the Elk
hart, the head of the Wabash, and down the
ives, side ofshe Great Miami, crossed the
Ohio, home. Believing his brother dead,
he gave I'D further search until last March,
when he received a letter from Mr. Cas-
,leman, enclosing one from Lord Selkirk,
which contained such Information as lett
very little doubt of the existence OF his
brother amongst the Indians in the north
Again, on the inst Of August last, Mr.. Tan
ner set out, waited on Gov. Clark, got ssch
papers and instruments as his excellency
thought necessary, left St. Louis the 18th
for Lord Selkirk's colony in the north; on
his arrival at Prairie du Chen, an Indian
trader at that post informed him that man
had come into Michilimacinac, with the IN
dams from the north. resembling him
in person changed his route, assembled the
Ousconsin river 10 the portage, crossed the
Fox river, assembled 10 Green Bay, obtain
ed further encouraging information; and
being informed that the person he was in
pursuit of spoke tie Chippewa tongue,
procured an Interpreter; sailed for Macki-
nae IN board the Widows Son capt. RUPEE
ly; arrived; got information that the said
person had gone to Detroit; sailed for that
place arrived; called on Gov. Cass, who
informed him that the said person "ho was
called Taylor) had gone to Kentucky, in
search of bis relations; being furnished by
his excel'ency with horses, &c, pursued on
to Fort Meigs learned that the said person
had been unsuccessful in his search afer
friends, and had returned: be then turned
back, and found his brother IN the neighbor-
hood of Detroit, on the 18th of last month.
The feelings Of the two brothers, when
introduced to each other, through an inter-
prefer, after separation OF 90 years, is
theme for finer pen than mine.
Ii seems that thr name Of John Taylor,
had, through some mistake in the sound,
been taken by the Indians for ,lohn Tanner,
which is his proper name.
There is the strongest family resem-
blance, both in the person and features of
these two brothers and although they can
not converse with each other, except
through an interpreter, they look upon and
act towards each other with the most ar
dent fraternal affection.
The man Of the woods, who, indeed, has
nothing of the savage wildness and ieroci-
ty in his appearance. is now going to New
Madfid, TO remain with his friends this win