The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-10-26

VI IHe Sneep nor crow OF COCK. NO
farmhouse overlooked their banks,
no steeple pointed toward heaven.
The massive buffalo, the stately elk,
the timid fawn and antlered buck
were here.
Itwas trading post of importance
as early as 1872 and in 1857 the
famous De Vincennes, who considered
it the key of the West, was sent here
as commandant, and built the fort
which stood near the McCulloch res
idence. Father Allouez was among
the early French priests who came
here, if not the first, for in 1850 he
described the portage between the
two rivers, and we know that he and
Father Dablon were among the first
priests sent to the Miamis. About
the same time the noted Father Hen
nepin passed through.
The lilies of France gave place to
the cross of ST. George, as British
garrison took possession of Fort Mi
ami at the head of the Maumee.
This time it stood on the east bank
of the st. Joseph, and in 1760 was
commanded by Ensign Holmes with
a small detachment of the Sixtieth
rifles.
The flag of Great Britain waved
until the expedition led by General
Anthony Wayne arrived here at 5
P. M. of Sept. II. The next day he
selected the site of the fort, com
manding the meeting of the waters,
and on the 24th the work upon it was
commenced, one week of rest inter
vening. On the 22d of October, 1894.
the flag of the United States-"old
glory" as we love to call it-foated
over it, and after firing fifteen rounds
it was christened Fort Wayne.
One hundred years have passed
since then. The signs of war have
been entirely obliterated, and city
of a hundred spires is clustered
around and over the site of the old
Fort des Miamis. 1t was the begin
ming of a new era as we'll as the be-
ginning of the history of Fort Wayne.
Never again was any but the star
gemmed banner of the Union to float
nor any foreign power to claim do
minion over it. Once more was it to
pass through the perils of siege by
savage enemies, elated by the fall of
the fort at Chicago and drunken with
the blood of the hapless garrison.
The decetful but powerful Tecum-
sch had succeeded in poisoning the
minds of the Indians against the
Americans and against their chief,
Little Turtle, who had remained the
steadfast friend of the United States.
The fort was beleaguered and all
outward communication cut off. The
waiting garrison knew not whether
their messenger for succor had sue
ceeded in his mission until one day
William Oliver in some unaccount-
able way managed to pass the hostile
lines and bring them promise of COM
ing aid. Through treachery and the
unfortunate inebriety of the COM
manding officer the post had nearly
fallen. The victories of Harrison at
the Thames and at Tippecanoe broke
the spirit of the savages and brought
to them condign punishment.
All honor to the man in homespun
who laid our States foundation so
deep and strong.
All honor to those, whether wood
ranger, explorer, trader, priest or SOL
dier, who were the pioneers of this
wilderness, the instruments of God
in opening to civilization the great
West, and especially the spot where
our beautiful city with its busy streets
and marts, its happy and prosperous
families, its $4,000 people, whose
brave and honest men and beautiful
and virtuous women, surrounded by
their equally gifted children, look
back with pride through the mists
of the century, and their hearts sing
peans of love for the heroic souls
whose blood was shed or whose spir-
its went up to God through fire that
we gain this heritage.
In those dark and bloody days two
characters shine out, one represent
ing the impetuosity of the advanc-
ing wave of civilization and its supe-
riority of the white over the red.
One was the prince of soldiers, An
thony Wayne, whose history is, or
should be, houshold word and who
needs no eulogy here. The other
was his competitor for the laurels of
victory, the great war chief of the
Miamis, Me che Gun ma qua, the Lit
tie Turtle. For great he was. In
military affairs his was a genius of
high order, combined with sagacity
and wisdom far beyond the average
possession of men. In peace he was