The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-03-26
Relics of Tecumseh.

An interesting bit of Indian war histo-
~ of this vicinity is brought out by the
presentation to Huff Post, G. A. r., at
Lawrenceburg, of a powder horn, once
the properY of the Indian Chieitain
Tecumseh. This horn was carried slung
across Tecumseh's shoulder in the famous
battle Of the Thames in 1913. 1t vas
presented TO the Post by Henry Morris,
of Iawrencebnrg. He is a son of VIM.
Morris. better known to Ohio Valley pio
nsers as "Indian Bill" who figured in
many savage and bloody encounters.
Afler the great fight, seventy-six years
ago. Indian Bill " found the body Of
the slain warrior The powder horn
still attached TO the string around Tecum-
seh's neck, lay on his breast. The scout
removed it, and preserved it as the most
sacred of his relics. At his death, few
wears ago, he presented it to bis son Hen
nv. The horn was cut from the head Of
the first buffalo Tecumseh shot He care
fully scraped and polished 1t, and
displayed a great deal Of skill and ingen-
uity IN fitting bottom t) it and shaping
the mouth. The entire surface OF the re-
ceptacle is covered with Indian charac-
tens and legends. Mr.. Morris has anoth-
er and more CORY and ghasily trophy Of
that famous battle IL is strip Of skin
cut from the middle of Tecumseh's back.
The old settlers felt about the same saw
age satisfaction in cutting up and muiila
ting the bodies Of their slain red foes, as
the Indians did in scalping After taking
the horn off Teeumseh's body, old " In
dian Bill" tnrned the chiefiain on his
face. and with his scalping-knife cut a
strip of skin several inches wide off the
back down the entire length. This strip
was cured. and for the remainder of Bills
life did service as razor strop. Indian
Bill Morris, at the lime of his death, in
Switzerland county, Ind, a few years
ago. was l04 wears old. When only sew
en- years old, living with his parents near
what became the sight of Lexington, by.
be was stolen and carried into captivity
by the Indians. Two white men were
taken prisoner with him. When the
party reached what is now ChillicOthe,
Ohio, then a great Indian encampment,
the two white men wereskinned alive by
the squaws Of the village, and then slow
ly roasted 10 death The boy was made
a slave by an old squaw, and suffered in
credible hardships. When she died Bill
/ fell 10 the lot of another old woman, who
I devised even more fiendish treatment for
him than his first mistress. Bill was
washing hominy at the river one day
when he was about fifteen years old,
when the old woman struck him with
club. The infuriated lad wrenched the
weapon from her ard dealt her blow
that knocked her senseless into the river
and she was drowned. The boy was
followed for three days and nights 10y the
savages, and finally escaped by hiding
himself in hollow log that was floating
OOAns tiiC OAliO NtAA OAANi Ntht
wood. When he finally reached the set
tlement of Cincinnati, he narrowly es-
capped being shot for an Indian, so close
ly did be resemble one. He finally got
back 10 his parents, who had long mourn
ed him as dead. Prom that long captiv-
ity among the Indians he got hat inn
plscable hatred of the red man which
distinguished him in after life. For many
years, in company with Daniel Boone
and other noted pioneers, Bill followed
little else than Indian trails, and no less
game than a sayage redskin satisfied his
hatred. lie was one of the bravest sol
diers under Colonel Dick johnson, and
killed nine Indians himself in the battle
Of the Thames, When he saw Tecumseh
fall under the unerring aim of eomrade
he rushed forward and secured the pow
der horn, and the strip Of skin of the
dead chiefs back-Gincinnati (Ohio)
Letter.