Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-12-04
TECUMSEH'S HONOR.
AN lNDIiN'S WORD AND GRATITUDE.

nv iNblhh huhD hND hhllluDE.
A correspondent Of the Detroit Free
Press, gives the following interesting an
ecdote Of the great Indian warrior and
prophet, Tecumseh:
While the enemy was in full possession
Of the country around Monroe and Detroit,
Tecumsch, with large band Of his war;
rlors, visited the River Raisin. The in
habitants along the river had been strip.
ped Of subsistence. Old Mr.. Rivard,
Frenchman, who was lame, and unable 10
procure n living for himself and family,
had contriyed to keep out Of sight Of the
wandering bands Of savages a pair Of OK.
en-, with which his son was able 10 pro.
cure a scanty support for the family. 1t
so happened, that while at labor with the
oxen, Tecumseh, who had come over from
Maiden, methim in the road, and walking
up 10 him, said:
"My friend, we must have those oxen.
My young men are very hungry, and they
have nothing to eat. We must have the
oxen"
Young Rivard demonstrated. He told
the chief that if he took the oxen his faith.
er would siarve.
"Well," " said Tecumsch, "we are the
conquerers, and everything we want is
ours, must have the oxen; my people
must not starve-butI will not be so mean
as 10 rob you Of them. | will pay you
one hundred dollars for them, and
that is far more than they are worth but
we must have them"
Tecumseh got white man to write an
order on the British Indian Agent, Colo.
mel Elliot, who was on the river some dis.
lance below, for the money.
The oxen were killed, large fires built,
and the forest warriors were soon feasling
on their flesh.
Young Rivard took the order to COL
Elliot, who promptly refused to pay it,
saying 1--WE are entitled 10 our support
from the country we have conquered.
will not pay it,"
The young man, with a sorrowrul heart
returned with the answer to Tecumseh.
who said, "To.morrow we will Igoand see. 81
In the morning he took young Rivard
aud went 10 see the Colonel. On meeting
f him, he said
"Do you refuse to pay for the oxen
bought 7"
YES" said the Colonel, and he reier.
ated the reason for refusal.
81 bought them," said the chief, "ior
my young men, who were very hungry
| promised TO pay for them, and they shall
be paid for. | have always heard that
white nations went TO war with each Other
and not with peaceful individuals; tha
they did not rob and Plunder poor people
| will not"
: "WeII," said the Colonel, 81 will mol
pay for them"
"You can do as you please" said the
chief; "but before Tecumseh and hi,
warriors came TO fight the battles of the
great King, they had enough to cat, fol
which they had only to thank the Master
of Life and their good rifles. Their hun.
ting grounds supplied them with iooc
enough and TO them they can return"
This threat produced a sudden change
in the Colonels mind. The disahecton o
: the great chief, he well knew, would i'm
. medately withdraw all the nations Of the
red men from the British service anC
without them they were nearly powerles.
on the frontier.
"Well," said the Colonel, "If | mus
pay, will"
"Give me hard money" said Tecum
t sch, "not rag money,"-(army biIls.)
The Colonel then counted out a hun
dred dollars in coin, and gave them tc
him. The chief handed the money t,
young Rivard, and then said TO the Col.
"Give me one dollar more" 1t wa
/ given, and handing that also to Rivard
he said d,-"Take that it will pay YOU 70
the time you have lost in getting you
, money"