Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-03-19
Pioneer "reminiscences.
By j. e. CowDRICK.
(ooncluded.)

we were now ABOUT one and 1a
miles from the village and could plain
ly see them dance; II one of thel
number were sick, they would beat tn
drum incessantly until he was bette
or died. At a wigwam near our hous,
an old Indian had been sick for lonJ
time. At last the drum ceased and th
corpse was carried by on the shoulder
of two Indians, rolled in blankets anC
tied to pole. They pnt in the gra v
the tomahawk, knife, camp kettle, etc.
of the deceased, saying that he woulC
need these things in the land to which
he had gone. Their burial service wa
very impressive.
The Pattowattong Indians inhabited
the Auglaize and Bean River country,
their trading post being Ft. Defiance
This tribe had been to Maiden, Canad,
to receive their pention and on theil
return, stopped at Tamway village for
visit and rest. A dispute arose, cul
tongs sta bbing and killing the Ottawa
chief. The Indians present called 6
council or court as was the custom and
sentenced the guilty one to death by
being stabbed, the nearest relation act
ing executioner. On my way to Water.
vile, met an Indian girl who said that
an Indian had been stabbed and she
had been sent for. On entering the
village, we found that the execution
had just taken place. The several hun.
dreds were seated on the ground about
the squire in solemn silence. l did not
hear a word spoken nor any weeping.
The doomed man knelt beside the one
he had slain, and bearing his breast sto-
ically received several stabs without
'fiinching before he fell. In talking the
event over with d. w. Howard at pi-
Oneer meeting, he said that he was sent
for at the time of the murder but did
not arrive before the execution. Mr..
Howard talked the Indian language flu
emily and was a great friend of the In
dians always having their confidence
and was one of their number when they
went west. He was with them during
the ceremonies of the unhappy Ind
ian who was executed. The execution
er saib to him 'when saw the long
British knife that l must stab him
with, I almost a squaw-not brave
but I 90 into the bushes and pray to
the Great Spirit to give me strength
for nv duty, then / could kill him."
Some white men wanted the Indians
arrested for violation of our laws, but
wiser council prevailed.
During the Summer two or three
families moved in and settled near US.
This gave us prospect of a school sup
ported by private subscription.
One day as / was going to fish, l ran
on to bear in the woods. With my
fish-nole T persuaded him to climb a
tree and tied my shirt around the tree
to keep him up; fastening home, and
procuring nv gun and dog, returned
only to find Bruin gone. He proved to
be half tanned one that had escaped
from the Indians.
About the 1st. of August, Cepaw, a
friendly Indian, reported that their
was plot started by the Indians to
kill all the Whites within two miles
of the river, both sides, from the head
of the Rapids to the mouth of the river.
They were then to flee to Canada. The
full moon in August was the night to
consummate the plan. He claimed to
have heard the whole thing talked over
in the council tent while he crept in
at the side, feigning drunkenness. To
confirm the report, he said that their
was at point three miles
north of Otsego. Three Bolt and other
friendly Indians went to the place
and found about 500 Indians
painted inv style. Tney refused 10
give any explanation of their conduct.
This greatly alarmed the Whites.
AS the night drew near for the attack,
the friendly Indians went on an island
In the river, taking with them all of
the canoes, allowing no white people
with them, as the Indians would show
no quarter if they protected the Whites.
In the evening of the fatal night,
families in groups hastily assembled at
various places fortifying for defence, re-
solved never to surrender. From our
neighborhood we went to
he saw-mill, armed with axes, pitch
orks, etc. Others assembled at the
tone house built by David Hodge and
which can yet be seen as you go down
he canal. The saw-mill was kept
unning all night. 1t was lucky no
riendly Indian crossed the river dur
ng the night. In the morning we re-
Ilized that it was past time of full
noon and no Indians had appeared.
While trying to decide what to do next,
Peter Manor appeared on the scene and
aid: II come to tell you all to go to
'our homes; there is no danger. l am
he head war chief of the Tamway
ribe. They could not war without
0y consent and knowledge. tell you
hat knew nothing of this; go back to {
'our homes; you know Peter Manor
II believe him." The fight was at an 9
nd. L
This incident was sufficient to make 9
lasting impression on the mind of a
oy who had read in history at school t
ccounts of Indian cruelty in the O
'rencn and Indian war.
In April, 1884, we moved to Henry U
ounty. After our things were on the l
at-boat at Otsego, I was told to go to 0
for medicine; that the s
oat would proceed up the river, and t
nat on my return, / must follow up e
be river till their camping ground Il
vas reached. ] would have to walk or v
I'm % miles before got back to the
.arting point. I do not remember
nything of the long and desolate a
'urney, except that / lost the medi- b
inc and found my mother. r
We arrived at Damascus on the 3rd.
{ April. We found our log cabin rails G.
| and roof on, Ii miles from this point. "
lot tree had been cut save where the @
ouse stood.
There was at this time living here Il
ldge Vance(his wife wasan Indian la "
", Edward Scribner, the belongs, q