The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-02-15
From the Chicago Interior.
ROHN-YAN-ACE.
by GARRY GAINES.

by GARRY GAINES.
Many years ago whefi the country
westward of the Allegheny M ountains
was almost wilderness, fierce wars
were waged by the Indians against
the white people who had left the
Eastern States to make new homes fol
| themselves in that wild but fertile re.
gion. In those terrible days of the
early settlement of the State OF Ohio
two brothers by the name of Poe were
conspicuous for their unflinchin9
bravery and skill in contending with
their red-skinned enemy. The histo-
rians of that bloody warfare have
made frequent mention of these two
men, and their exploits and hair
breadth escapes have been celebrated
in song and story; but the following
incident, in which Adam Poe, the
younger of the brothers, plays prom
inent part, has never before been Civ
en- in detail. After years of fighting
and skirmishing, in which hundreds
of poor settlers had lost their lives by
the tomahawk of the savage, or been
taken prisoners to be burnt at the
stake, a treaty agreement was made by
the chief Indians and white people not
to modest or harm each other any
more.
The majority Of the Wyandot tribe
at this time occupied what was known
as the Sandusky country, including all
the terrftury-southward from the lakes
to beyond the Maumee and Miami
rivers, although their villages and
towns, composed of few struggling
wig ewams, were scattered at intervals
of many miles through the almost un-
broken forest in different parts of the
State.
After peace had been declared, Ad-
am Poe built a cabin. took his young
wife, aged only about seventeen years,
and commenced farming little piece
OF ground near the Licking River.
His reputation for courage had be-
come household word among the
settlers, and even the Indians them
selves grudgingly acknowledged the
prowess of the "pale-faced brave"
There they lived happily and quietly
and fearing nothing, at the time of our
story.
Now, it SO happened that during the
late troubles with the Indians, Adam,
River. had killed powerful Wyan-
dot chief named Big Foot, one of the
foremost men Of his tribe and, though
the Indians made professions of peace,
the loss of their chief ranked in their
breasts, and they resolved his death
should be avenged. Accordingly the
great men and sachems called a coun-
Gil of the braves of the tribe to select
one from among their number to take
the life of Adam Poe, the slayer of
Big Foot. Their choice fell upon
Rohn- yan-ace, a strongly built, ,muscu-
lar Indian, whose keen, eagle eyes
and fearless bearing betokened the
warrior. Pledging himself, before
moon had passed to return with the
scalp Of Adam Poe, Rohn-yan.ace left
the council, aud took his silent way
through the dim fore st toward the
white settlement, and at the end of
a weeks travel arrived at the little
farm of Poe.
1t was bright, snnshiny day; the
crows were cawing and flying through
the tall oaks and beeches watching
their chance to rob the fields of the
Of the newly planted
grain, when the Indian took his seat
on the fence that surrounded the patch
of corn Poe was cultivating. There,
on his return from his dinner, Adam
found him; he spoke to him, but
Rohn- yan-ace did not return the greet
ing. This occasioned no surprise, for
Poe knew we'll the taciturnity of the
race, and the sight OF strange Indian
did not in the least alarm him, so he
worked steadily on. All through the
long afternoon the dusky stranger
watched him as he went whistling
merrily 10 and fro, forward and back,
through the rows of corn hills, appar
emily unconscious OF the Indians
presence.
AT last, when the trees were casting
long shadows on the grass, and the
setting sun looked like great ball Of
fire low down in the western eky, the
days labor came to an end, and Adam
shouldering his ak and hoe, walked TO
where the Indian sat. and in friendly
tone inyitcd him to go home with him
to eat his supper and stay all night.
After a moment of hesitation Rohn.
yan-ac signiied his Willingness 10 go,
aud motiOning for Adam to lead the
way, they set out in single file toward
the cabin that st6od in sight at the
other side of the clearing. Arriving
there, Adam gave him seat by the