The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-11-24
From the Detroit Free Press. |
Tecumseh,


celebrated chief. Captain Knaggs, who il
spoken of in that communication, is ahighly
respectable citizen Of Monroe, and was one
of the most active aud useful partizans in
service during the war Of 1872. Almost IN
Vulnerable and miraculous were his chair
breadth escapes" from the sayages
He related to me, when last saw him
several anecdotes Of TEcuMsEH, which Illus.
trate his character Among others, IL states
that while the enemy was in fui! possession
of the country, Tecumseh, with large band
of his warriors, visited the R8ain. The in
habitauta along that river had been stripped
of nearly every means Of subsistence. Old
Mr.. Ryard, who was lame, and unable by
his labor to procure living for himself and
family, had contriyed 70 keep out Of the
sipht OF the wandering bands OF savaees, a
pair of oxen, with which his son was able
to procure a scanty support for the family.
II 50 happened that while at labor with
the oxen, Tecumsell, who had come over
from Maiden, met him in the road, and walk
ing up to him, said, My friend, must have
those oxen. Ny young men are very hungry;
they have nothing to eat. We must have
the oxen
Young Rivard demonstrated. He told the
chief that, if he took the oxen, his father
would starve to death.
WELL" said Tecumsch, 'swe are tie con
querors, and everything we want is ours
must have the oxen: my people must not
starve; but ! Will not be 50 mean as to rob
yon Of them. will pay you one hundred
dollars for them, and that is far more than
they are worth; but we must have them"
Tecnmseh got white man to write an or
der on the British Indian agent, Col. Elliot,
who was on tie river some distance below,
for the money. The oxen were killed. large
fires built. and the forest warriors were soon
Teasing Oh their flesh. Young Riyard took
the order 10 Col. Elliot, who promptly re-
fused to pay it, saying, "lVe are entitled to
our support from the country we lave con-
quered. ] will not pay it The young
man, with sorrowlul heart. returned with
the answer TO Tecumseh. who said, ale
won't pay it, viii he! Stay all night. and
tomorrow we will 20 and see" On the
next morning he took young Rivard and
went down to see the Colonel. On meeting
him he said, :Do you refuse to pay for the
oxen bourht!'' .Yes,'' said the Colonel,
and he reiterated the reason for refusal. II
toaqht them" said the chief, ";or my young
men were very hungry. promised to pay
for them. and they shall be paid for. have
always heard that white nations went to
war with eqrf athsr, and not with peaceful
individuals; that hag did not rob and Plunder
poor people. I will not.' "WeII,'' said
the Colonel, Il willno pay for them" "You
can do as you please SAID the chief; but
before Tecumseh and his warriors came to
fight the battles o! the great King, they mad
enough to eat, for which they had only 70
thank the Master OF Life and their good
rifles. Their hunting grounds supplied
them with food enough; to them they can re-
turn.
Ih's threat produced sudden change =
tn E3tearfs mind The detection OF the
e r chief, he well knew, would Immediate
y withdraw all the nations OF the red
man from the British service, and, without
them, they were nearly pow criess on this
frontier.
"Wcli,' said the Colonel, iii must pay, !
4 WILL
Give me hGrd money" said Iecumseh
4 mot rag money (army bilsl
The Colonel then counted out hundred
4 dollars in coin, aud gave them to him. The
Chief handed the money To young Inward,
a and then said 10 the Colonel, "HFe me one
Il dollar more
1t was given, and handing that also te
R!vard, he said, take that II Will pay You
Il for the time You have lost IN getting youf
money
n How many mFfewarriors have such notions
" Of Justice!
u At the time Col Dudley approached fori
hilI3' w l|3ltNI ~ i''Hl ~ "N"N'~'f'