Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-25
TWO NOTED RED BRAVES.
The Wonderful TanacharIson and the
Great Teoumseh.

hOnueriui IhnhcharlsOn ana the
Great Teoumseh.
1t is absolutely certain that the red
race of this country has produced more
remarkable men than any savage race
the world has ever known, and it is
safe to soy that under different con-
ditions their influence would be felt on
the progress of civilization for many
centuries to come. The King Philips,
Tecumsehs, Pontiacs. Osceolas, and
Tanacharisons were not ordinary men,
Their diplomacy in matters OF state was
of the highest order; their military
campaigns were such as only natural
born leaders plan, and their lack of
success was in the main caused by the
influence brought to bear upon their
followers by unscrupulous opponents,
who absolved themselves from all the
common rules of war in their dealings
with these people on the principle that
their barbarous condition denied them
any rights.
Tho early history of Pittsburgh, says
u writer in the Dispatch, would not be
complete without some reference to
many of the Indian leaders who became
famous by their endeavors to prevent
the encroachment of the whites. The
conspiracies of Pontiac, Tecumseh, or
the Prophet, and the results of the
battles of Fallen Timbers, Tippecanoe,
and the Thames were all as important
events to Pittsburgh in their day as
was that memorable struggle at Gettys-
burg nearly or quite century later
When Washington was dispatched on
his celebrated mission to the French by
Gov. Dinwiddie in 1853 he first con-
ferred with the leading sachems of the
Six Nations, among whom was one
Tanacharison, the Half King, who, it
may be said, gave the future father of
our country some of his earliest and
best points in statecraft. OF this man
Ianacharison, one writer, and an au-
thority at that, has even gone so far as
to say that in character he resembled
Washington very much and might have
equaled him in many ways had the con-
ditions been different.
1t is worthy OF note that the confer
ence between Washington and the Half
King took place hardly dozen miles
from this city 137 years ago, on the 25th
OF the present month. Washington was
but 2l years of age at the time, and the
battle of Braddock's Field and York.
town had not been fought, but the re-
markable qualities which made him
famous afterward had already been
noted, and the visit to the French in
many ways added to his reputation, as
its result, as embodied in his journal"
were copied by nearly every newspaper
of the time.
His companion, the Half King, be-
came thereafter his steadfast friend
Tanacharison accompanied him tho fol-
lowing year on his expedition to dis
lodge the French from the disputed
territory on the Ohio, and appeared to
be sort Of general counselor in all the
operations of the young American
leader until after the surrender of Fort
Necessity at the Great Meadows. The
friendly intercourse would no doubt
have been renewed thereafter, but
Tanaoharison died at Harrisburg on
October of that year. But little is
known of this chieftain's early history.
1t is seldom that three children born
at one birth live. Still more rare is it,
in fact it is doubtful, If it ever did oc-
cur in previous case, that the three
became famous in after life. However
such would be the history of Tecumseh,
some authorities spell it Tecumtha, the
famous Shawnee, and his brothers,
Esasawa, the prophet, and Kumskaka.
The remarkable event took place at
IPiqua, near Springfield, Ohio, about
the year ITO.
Space will not permit of an extended
account Of these men, in fact any first
class biographical dictionary will
furnish that information, but certain it
is that no greater man among these
people ever held sway than Tecumseh.
In many respects he differed from
many of his race. He was not fond of
display. He was at all times dignifed
and austere in his manners indeed, it
was these two qualities, it is claimed,
that gave him such control over his fol-
lowers. OF his ability rs statesman it
may be said that in all his dealings
with the United States Government
none but the ablest diplomats were per-
mitted to meet him.
As an orator he was almost match
less. There is extant an account of an
American spy who surreptitiously over
heard Tecumseh's harangue to his
warriors the night before the battle of
the Thames. At the finish the toss OF
u cap would have made renegade OF
the scout, but happily, circumstances
prevailed that prevented this action,
and the spy returned to the camp with
information that led to the utter defeat
of the Indians and British in the battle
of the following day and the death of
the noted warrior who was the leading
spirit of the opposing forces.
Speaking of him as soldier an
American military man said: "He was
an excellent judge of position, and not
only knew but could point out the
localities of the whole country through
which he passed" aud English writer's
say there were few officers of his time
in the United States service who were
better able to command in the field.
American writers qualify this by adding,
"in his peculiar mode of warfare" but
admit that Tecumseh must have been
better skilled in military tactics than
most, if not all, of his countrymen,
whether predecessors or contemporaries.
. Gen. BeIknap's Three Wives.