The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-06-14
A NOBLE INSTANCE OF INDIAN
FAITH.

4
81 A correspondents of the Detroit Free
Press gives some deeply interesting an
ecdotes of the great Indian warrior and
prophet, Tecumseh. While. the enemy
was in full possession of the country
around Monroe and Detroit, Tecumseh
with large band of his warriors, visited
the river Raisin.- The inhabitants along
that river had been stripped of nearly
every means of subsistence. Old Mr..
Riyard "a Frenchman) who was lame,
and unable by his labor to procure liv-,
ing for himself and family, had eontrived
to keep out of sight of the wandering
bands of sayages a pair of oxen, with
which his son was able to procure scan
ty support for the family.
1t so happened that while at labor
with the oxen, Tecumseh, who had come
over from Maiden, walking up to him,
said. o--
".My friend, 1 must have those oxen.
My young men are very hungry; they
have nothing to eat. We must have
those oxen" 5s-.4si- -,s. s.. -i.fs.
s5 Young Rivard demonstrated. He
told the chief that if he took the oxen
his father would starve to death.
"Well," said Tecumseh," we are con-
querers, and every thing we want is ours
L must have the oxen; my people must
not starve; but 1 will not be SO mean as
to rob you of them; will give you one
hundred dollars for them, and that is far
more than they are worth but we must
have them" .--.ttt I=fa .s=7f
Tecumseh got white man to write an
order on the British Indian Agent, Col.
Elliot, who was on the river, some dis
tance below, for the money. The oxen
were killed, large fires built and the for
est warriors soon feasting on the flesh.
Young. Riyard took the order to Col.
Elliot, who promptly refused to pay it,
saying" We are entitled to support
from the country we have conquered. I
will not pay it, iaa .7s1-isia
-5E The young man with sorrowful heart,
returned with the answer to Tecumseh,
who said " He won't pay it, will he 2
Stay all night, and tomorrow we viii go
and see"
On the next morning he took young
Rfvard and went down to see the Col
On meeting him, he said, g Do you refuse
to pay for the oxen I bou ght ?"
.iz-F'' Yes, /" said the Colonel, and he re-
iterated the reason of his refusal. asi.
s,.. 81 bought them," said the chief, " for
my young men were very hungry. l
promised to pay for them, and they sjiaA
be paid for. 1 have always heard that
the white nations. went to war withreach
other, andnotwith peaceful individuals !;
that they did not rob and, plumber poor
people I will not -. -.
: "Wen," said the Colonel, <'I will
not pay for them. ns'i= q @ -si'-s+'5
et' You can do as you please, . said the
ychief, but before Teeumseh and his war
riors, came to, fight the, battles of, the
great King, they had only to thank the
Master of life and their good rifles
Their hunting grounds supplied them
with food enough, to them they can re-
turn !5e. s5,s s=- szel. .sasi=
This threat produced sudden change
in the Colonefs mind. The disafection
of the great chief, he well knew, would
Immediately draw all the nations of Red
men from the British service, without
them they were nearly powerless on this
frontier ..-..-.
"Wen," said the Colonel, eff I mast
pay, will. -
"Give me hard money! said Tueum-
sch, e not rag money, army bills"
The Colonel then counted out a hum
dred dollars in coin, and gave them to
him. The chief handed the. money to
young -Rivard, and then said to the Co
lionel, 'GiYe me one dollar more" 1t
was given and handing that also to
young Riyard, he said, g Take that; it
will pay you for the time, you have lost
in getting your money" t..f5. .sa,i