The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-14
Reninisesace s Of Red jacket.

An old citizen Of Buffalo gives the Commercial
Advertiser of that city the following reminiscent.
ces Of the celebrated Indian chief Red Jacket:
sin the summer Of 1896 was serving the bal.
snce OF my apprenticeship with Stocking Il Dart
on the corner of Swan and Main streets.
boarded OF Dyer's Hotel. stone building on the
corner Of Exchange and Main streets, where
speak OF Red Jacket, with some other Indians,
had been In Buffalo for several days sampling the
=" are-vster" dispensed by the various p1blicsns.
So long had the spree continued that the red men
had exhausted their small supply OF cash, and
most Of them had even parted with their blankets.
g. was going back TO my breakfast one morn.
ing-ve used to 60 TO the shop and work before
breakfast In those days, just TO give Us en- appe-
tite-snd was passing the slversmith's shop Of
Bob -, which was situated about where
Glennys crockery story Ia now, when Bob hailed
me. On going into the shop he showed me large
silver medal, and asked me what I thought OF
that. asked him where he got 1t, and be re.
Piled bought II Of anlIndian last night for four
shillings.' he asked me II thought It was good
silver. / replied that 1t certainly was, aud told
him IL vas BED Jackets medal, the one that had
been placed about the neck Of the chief by
General Washington himself.
al hadn't much spare money 10 those days.
Was obliged TO clothe myself out OF my salary of
forty. five dollars year but told Bob that he
must neither melt nor sell the metal, and would
get the four shilings, redeem 1t and return 10 to
Saohct. Wout uOWu 10 NY DOhrOlng mouse, TOLD
the story to the men-got sixpenoe from one, q
shilling rom another, and some threw in pennies,
until the desired amount was raised, with which |
Immediately returned to Bob's, who took the
money and delivered me the medal. After going
back and getting my breakfast, /, instead Of re-
turning to my work, went out TO hunt up Red
Jacket. In shout half an hour / came across him,
walking along In company with old Susie, half
negress, in front Of Jake Slebold's store on Main
street. said, To-gus, CODA, Jacket (How do
you do, friend Jackst') He replied, to-gus, in q
surly tone, and appeared TO be considerably Cross
al then pulled the medal out of my pocket,
showed IT TO him. and asked him II he knew IT,
Scratching II from my hand with q very surly and
emphatic Ugh y he stalked of with Susie, with.
out the utterance Of another syllable. / thought
be might have thanked me, at least"
This medal 10 now In possession OF Colonel
Ely Parker, granddaughter Of Red Jacket, and
General Grants chief of staff and is, OF course
from the associations connected With it, above all
price.1
When Lafayette visited Buffalo In 1851 our
old friend continued, after q silence OF some min.
think, by Birdseye Wilcox, which escorted La.
fsyette from the steamboat TO the Eagle Tavern,
where the reception was TO take place. hap
pened to be stationed near the platform In front
OF the door, on which were . number Of dlstin-
guished individuals, including Lafayette, Red
Jacket and others. After Red Jacket had been
introduced to the llustrious marquis, the latter
requested the Inexperienced p. Pratt, an
uncle OF our present worthy citizen of that name,
who spoke the language of the Senscss fuently-
TO inquire Of Bed Jacket what had become OF the
young chief who 30 strenuously and eoquently
opposed the treaty Of Fort stsnwix. When this
question was repeated TO Jacket, he drew him.
self proudly up, appearing to me at
least six inches taller than he really was, and,
placing bis hand upon his breast, replied Tell
him he stands before him. Never In nv life.n
continued my friend, :" did I see q movement OF
other man."