The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-14

GROUsELAND.
The House Where sold TIppecanoe" and
Tecumseh Held Their Celebrated Debate.
g. Walter Barr. in Chicago Tribune.
AS they reach the east side OF the Wabash
river, passengers on the Ohio e. Mississippi rail-
road who look from the north windows may see
surrounded by shrubbery, the first brick house
built west OF the Alleghenies 1t was
erected by William Henry Harrison in 1904,
when he was Governor of Indiana Territory.
On the porch next the railroad stood General
Harrison during the celebrated council with
Tecumseh, which the latter began with the senti-
ment: ''The sun is my father, the earth is my
mother, and on her bosom will | repose." A
large tree near by is often pointed out as the one
under which the Indian remained, but the Hon.
Henry S. Cauthorn. whose grandfather was one
OF Governor Harrson's guards on this occasion,
says that the locust tree which sheltered Tecum-
sch stood between the house and the railroad,
and its stump disappeared thirty years ago.
With the Shawnee exclamation. Tell him he
lies' hurled at the interpreter, Tecumseh
started from this house on his inceediary tour
among the Southern Indians Around the same
tree that waved over this aboriginal Bismarck,
was held in 1910 an immense mass-meeting in
honor of "Old Tippecanoe."
General Harrsons aristocratic tendencies are
apparent all over the place. Two surveys down
the river from the Ohio Post were laid out after
called "Grouseland" The owner also often
spoke of it as my plantation" and Harrison
Place." Trees and shrubbery in infinite variety
were planted, and the place was carefully farmed.
Along the river front of the grounds was built
palisade of catalpa posts set deep in the ground
side by side. Behind this a small force could
make strong defense The preservation of this
wood has been so remarkable as to cause an in
vestieaton by the State Geoogist.
In the midst of these surroundings the house
Vuo hrilS Of lie hy1rn an fha I'D Tha
money which paid for them bought large farm,
now one of the best in the county. The house
fronts the railroad. An deliberately.
walnut door admits one into a large, high hall,
arched in carved walnut, from which an easy
stairway ascends. Light comes through
staned-glass window high up at the
further end. 1t is one of those delightful halls
that seem to greet the visitor with a hearty well
come and that one leaves with earnest desire
to enter again. On the left is the large room in
which the Governor received in state and where
the Territorial Council met. That end of the house
next the "Ouabache" river is the arc Of circle
for better defense, and inside the chairs of the
early legislators were ranged in this curve.
Throughout the house the windows. so deeply
embrasured as to protect rihemep, are six by
twelve feet In size, with small panes of glass, and
solid shutters both inside and out. All the wood
work is carved walnut. When the frontiersmen
met there to formulate an Indian policy. upon
which they staked more than does the present
Interior Department upon its own, the bright
flames played around the huge back log in the
fireplace, and the richly-carved, polished mantel
reflected them to the high ceiling and into the
faces of the small, generally har-
monious council A stone tomahawk
lying quietly by an old fashioned
chair is all the furniture that is left to-day, but
they are suggestive enough. On the opposite
side OF the hall is the old sitting-room, with its
own fireplace. wainscoting and wood-carving,
and back of it is the very long dining-room At
the foot of the latter the inside shutter shows
l,.111 IN1n &Aah nSr ~ tnG 1ov,C hnnA
and dangerously near the edge of the wood. AL
most in the center of the house narrow, dark
stairway leads down to the basement, and at its
foot is the ole powder-magazine protected by
heavy, arched masonry, and very like Dutch
oven. Opening from the same room is a stone,
windowless dungeon, perfectly adapted to keep
ing prisoners of war safely. The ceiling over
the magazine and, in fact. the whole basement,
was made proof by thick daubing of mud and
straw on lathing. The basement has narrow
windows commanding every side, and must have
been intended as last resort in of attack or
siege when the rest of the house might be cap
tured or fred.
The second floor contains large state chambers
and cozy little bedrooms. each with snug closet
at the side OF the fireplace. very suggestive of
black bottles and nghtcaps The garrett, which
extends over the whole house, has two dormer
windows, with very extensive viw. From one
can be seen, miles away. prehistoric Indian
mound from the other 70 doubt the feet Of Te-
cumseh was watched as il came down the river
to the great council which began so eloquently
and ended so abruptly From different points
in the house the Wabash, the great highway of
that day, can be seen for many miles, both above
and below.
After General Harrison left here for Tippeca-
noe battle-ground and the White House the place
was allowed to run down. In 1910 the boys Of
the adjoining school used the rarest fruits from
its trees rs weapons in the frequent battles
which the history of the place melted among
them. The house is in good state of preser-
walton, and little changed from what it was
when built Two hundred miles further east,
along the same railway, is the last dwelling place
Of old Tippecanoe. Locomotives give the war
whoop of civilization every time they pass his
plantation" at Grouseland, and dozen tele-
graph wires stretch from his grave to the house
where he planned his great successes when il
took months to communicate with Washington.
The arguments of Tecumseh advanced in the
great council would have been listened to had
they come from any ruler with army behind
him. The conduct of the great Indian was
worthy of any patriot, and there was much mai
esty in his words and actions. General Harrison
would have been treacherously murdered there
on the porch but for the vigilance of his guard,
but the Indians were exasperated by the knowl-
edge that their country being held by him
by the right of force, and that there was no just
ice to be had in that unnecessary council. Te-
cumseh left Grouseland, with plan in his head
which would have changed many things had it
not been for the jealousy of his brother, the
prophet. He reminds one most Of Bismarck in
his diplomacy. and of Patrick Henry in his pa
triotic eloqnence.
Mark Twain on the sold Masters