The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-14

For the IniSllisobetr.
Years ago, d early as l8S2, fort called
ST. Louis was established by the French
on the summit Of the immense rock now
known as Starved Rock, on the bank OF
the Illinois river,
Far above the water it lowered, isolated
from the bluff extending along the shore
on the south, and accessible by only one
path.
A small body Of men could here protect
themselves from an army Of thousands,
for the path was rugged, the steps some.
times a yard in height and but two per.
sons could ascend abreast.
tits not known at what period this fort
was abandoned by the French, but It had
not been occupied by them for sometime
previous to the year 1850, when the event
took place from which the rock received
It's present name.
The Illinois Indians had been power.
full tribe, but gradually their number had
diminished. They were forced south.
ward by stronger tribes, and at last flee
ing from the enemy, bent on extermina.
ting them, all that remained Of that once
proud nation took refuge on the summit
Of this rock, which comprises about half
an acre, Is covered with soil, and Is encir-
cled with fine trees which grow upon the
edge.
They had brought no provisions with
them, and beneath, the rock was sur
rounded with savages, cutting them off
from all means OF obtaining food. They
looked over the valley, once their own,
but now in the possession of powerful
enemies, and felt that no relief could come,
no help was near.
One dark and stormy night, starving
and desperate, with faint hope that in
the darkness some might escape, they
crept down the steep side Of the rock and
were surrounded bV the foe.
A terrible conflict ensued. AgoniEiug
shrieks and the wild battle cry mingled
With the roar OF the storm, were caught
up by the wind and carried on till they
died away in q moan, and the mangled
bodies OF the victims were scattered on
the sloping ground at the foot Of the rock,
But in the confusion eleven warriors
slipped down to the river bank, hurried
into canoes belonging to the enemy, and
silently, swiftly piled their way down the
river, never leaving their canoes nor stop
ping for food till St Louis was reached,
where they received aid, and soon crossed
the Mississippi river and Joined other
tribes. These were the last Of the Illinois
Indians, but the name has been perpetu-
ated in the State.
One quiet day in October we stood on
the summit OF the rock and looked down
over the valley. Far beneath flows the
river, and beyond were the fields and
orchards, aud farther as q background
rose the bluffs. In the distance lay the
town Of Utica, where years ago was the
village Kackackia and the Illinois Indians
gathered for their annual feast. Here on
the west and south the terrible battle was
fought. On this circle in sight of all this
fertile valley, those proud warriors saw
their women and little ones emaciated and
suffering dying Of hunger.
ut was many and many year ago.
that all this occurred, but as We stood
upon the edge Of the rock beneath the pine
trees, and listened to the breeze as it
passed through the branches-"ever sigh
ing, ever singing, "-in imagination the
whisper changed to the rush and roar Of
battle, the roll Of thunder mingled with
shrieks and groans, which sank in moan
and died away, and again, before us the
valley lay in the sunshine. The river
flowed peacefully on, "a purple haze was
over all the landscape, and on every side
evidences Of civilization and prosperity.
DO DOROTHY.