Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-08-31
o,RTy'S oRAve.
The Renesade's Resting Place FcvnQ
on q River LELAND.


on River LELAND. ,
In the early part Of the present zen.
fury, when the Indians Of the great
Northwest territory were giving inc
Government 80 much trouble, and the
sturdy pioneers who had boldly pushed
their way into the forests of northern
Ohio and planted their log cabins along
the numerous streams, were compelled
to carry their muskets into the fields to
protect themselves from the attacks Of
rowing savages, a band of murderous
renegades from the Delaware, Ottawa
and Seneca tribes, who were led by the
notorious Simon Girty. infested the
Maumee valley and for years terrorized
the settlers by their bold robberies and
murderous assaults without revealing
their rendezvous.
Shortly after or about the time Of the
war Of 1912, Simon Girty, with his
brother George, was sent into northern
Ohio from their home In Pennsylvania
to conduct Government trading posts.
OF George Girty but little Is known con.
corning his life In the Northwest, and
It Is fair to suppose that he remained
true to the trust confided to him; but
not 30 Of Simon Girty. Of whom. al
though history has little to say. there
still live many legends relating numer.
Gus deeds Of murder and pillage perpe-
trated by himself and his band Of blood.
thirsty followers. Many times 0irty'e
band Of red devils were followed to the
banks Of the Maumee river about
twelve miles below Defiance, O., but
here all trace Of them was lost. They
disappeared as suddenly and mysteri.
ously as though the earth had opened
and swallowed them.
II finally became a general belief.
however, that the band Of land pirates
had hiding place some place on an
Island In the river near the spot where
they had 20 frequently bafiied their pur.
suers, and the island was given the
name Of "Girty's' island, which name
h stil1 retains. This island IL about 100
yards wide and 900 long, and Ii covered
BY . heavy growth Of forest On the
western end the ground 10 high ana
slopes gradually to the waters edge
at the east
There ID legend which says that q
one time 0irty captured . white girl
from one Of the numerous settlements
alSng the river and carried her to thio
island, which he had fortified with .
cannon secured while he was yet .
Government agent. The legend also
relates that the settlers discovered the
hiding place Of the band, and, with the
assistance Of some troops, gave Girty
battle and forced him to run the can.
non OF the point into the river to pre-.
vent its being captured. Many Of hls
band were killed In this encounter, but
nothing could be found Of the white
girl, Girty or any Of the survivors, who
disappeared Just a. It became evident
the battle was against them and they
had no escape.
About two years ago State Canal
Commissioner Hartwell came to Den.
ance and sold Girty's island, together
with two smaller ones. to Mr.. w. H.
KEENAN,. The island 10 at one Of the
most picturesque bends In the Maui
NEE river and recently Mr.. KEENAN, de-
cidsd to build q summer residence on
the high position Of Girty's island. He
set number Of men to work to make
an excavation for q cellar. The men
had almost completed their work when
the ground on which they were stand.
ing gave way and they were precipitat
cd into q large cavern, or room some
twenty feet deep and fifty feet square.
James Ferguson, one Of the workuen,
had his left arm fractured BY the fan,
but the others escaped uninjured.
A. soon a. they had recovered from
their establishment they set about -
explore their strange abode. They
found that the walls Of the room were
lined with cedar logs, which were stun
In fair state Of preservation.
In one corner Of tho room they found
the bones Of score Of men. Besides
the bones, which were badly decayed,
they found countless arrow heads, tom.
ahawks, spearheads and the remains Of
o dozen muskets. There was also .
badly decayed spinning wheel and some
pieces Of furniture. together with num-
erous pieces Of broken earthenware.
Beneath pile Of this earthenware they
found box about foot square which
had been hewed out of solid oak. The
cover to this box was fastened secure
~ with hint arrow heads. In the box
were found four Spanish doubloons,
some nfty pieces of English money Of
various denominations, six silver spurs.
three silver.mounted pistols and mum.
erous trinkets.
The hnd has created quite q sensa.
tion, and II 10 believed thst at last tho
mystery Of the disappearance Of Simon
Girty and his band Of cutthroats has
been cleared up, a. they undoubtedly
found q last resting place In the cave