Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-10-24
Whole Number 1855.


Indian language, "they are cutting Of
their gun barrels so that they can hide
them beneath. their blankets. And when
the great chief draws the peace belt or
Wampum during his speech, the warriors
viii take the scalps Of my good omeer
and all his men"
And then the poor girls gr1eT burse
forth anew, sitting down on the floor or
the quarters, she began to swing back
and forth and utter that dolefdl note al
ways expressive Of a squaT's great sOr-
row "Wahono winl Wahono W1nF'
When she became calm again, and the
Interpreter was enabled to learn the
whole plot, it appeared that the savages
were actually intending to come to the
council fully armed, every weapon con-
cealed under their blankets; and at a
concerted signal from Pontiac, they
would begin a massacre which would ,
only stop when the last Of the garrison
was dead. A thousand warriors were to
wait outside the gates ready to enter
when those within should open to them
at the beginning of the fray.
What a Judas was Pontiac, and how
worse than a demons kiss was to be
that signal of the peace belt which would
begin the carnage2 But 4forewarned Is
forearmed," and Major GladWin proved
equal to the occasion
The night was spent in stern prepara-
ton for the mornings event. The sol
diers were informed of the plot, and
every man enjoined to put his musket
in perfect order, load It carefully and
nick the flint, and fill his cartridge box
with ammunition. Several cannon were
posted SO as to command the council
house. and when supplied with ammuni-
tiOn were covered with sail cloth to hide
them from view. Certain weak places
in the stoekade were quietly repaired
And, in short, everything possible Wal
done in order to give a fitting reception
to Pontiac and his blOod-thirsty band.
Promptly at ten o'clock the Indians
appeared at the gate ready for their
reacherous work. The stipulated two
hundred warriors were counted of and
marched IN, apparently unaPmed, al
though it must be confessed that for
warm July morning their extreme care
in holding their heavy blankets snUgly
about them seemed rather ridiculous.
When they had all entered, the gates
were not only snugly closed, but ceR-
tain ingenious fastenings applied which
no Indian could readily loosen or break.
Thus Itappeared as if whatever daughter
of the troops they might undertake the
two hundred must have it out, unsided
by the savages the other side Of the wall.
Within, Pontiac noticed the garrison
under arms and posted In battle order
around the council house, and upon ask
ing the reason was told that it was de-
signed as a mark Of honor to him and
the distinguished chiefs attending him.
Whether the willy old sachem mistTuStOd
the real cause his stoical face gave no
token. AZ
The council house was simply wide
roof supported on posts, without side
walls, so that when the Indians had
stationed themselves according to their
ideas of rank they were in plain view Of
the preparations and precautions that
Major Gladwin had effected. -
After a few Of the highest chiefs and
some of the officers had puffed the PsVa
of peace, Pontiac began his speslh, u
the course of which the graR>l aatas.
trophe was to occur. To say tnsl S7eEy
white man in the fort was suppre2ing
furnace of excitement would not cORVey
the intensity of the hour. Around The
speakers waist was the wampum belt,
designed to introduce the carnage, while
under many a warriors blanket the Ill
concealed shapes and corners of Wea-
rons were discernible.
But Pontiac and his band could not
have felt at ease under the circumgtan-
ees. The cannon had been uncovered,
and the gunners stood with burning fU-
ses; every soldier was In position to dis
charge his musket at a seconds warning;
while the saYages, encumbered with
blankets, and crowded together, we're
placed at a serious disadvantage.
The speech proceeded, and at the point
where the Wampum was to be passed to
Major GladWin as the signal for the
fight, each officer drew his sword, each
soldier raised his gun to his shoulder t.
fire, and each gunner at the cannon
stepped forward for his fearful duty.
But these movements showed the In
dIans thai they were detected. ROntiS
stammered and trembled. every chic
hinched, and many exclaimed, and f0
once these stOics Of the forest we're IN
nerVed.
But here Pontiae's eOnsUmmste subtle
ty came to his help. He neatly avoided
the concerted sign, and closing his speech
with words of the Warmest regard fol
the whites, gave way for Major Glad
wins reply.
And now the polite and kind souled
commandant showed himself master Of
the situation. He directly and loudly
charged Pontiac with his tTeachery, and
Saunted him with the crime and failure
of his diabolical plot.
When the old chief denied, and pre-
tended there was no plot, and that his
warriors were actually unaTmed IS be
had promised, Gladwin drew his sword,
and gallantly marching down the line
of savages, pulled aside many Of their
blankets, ana revealed the shortened
guns, tomahawks and scalping knives.
At this the red skins confusion knew no
bounds. But words are inadequate to
describe the scene; the reader must
picture it for himself
Just here appears the superiority in
noble and humane qualities Of civilized
man over the barbarian, for instead Of
taking away their arms, and imprisoning
the whole band, or opening the great
guns upon them, Major GladEin merCi-
fully ordered them from the fort, though
it must be acknowledged that he did it
with vehemence of words and vigOr of
action that could not have been very
hattering to the pride of q pomPOus
Indian emperor like Pontiac.