Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-20
Briefs.
YELLOW FLAG OVER CHICAGO.
The Western Metropolis Was Once u
Dependency of Spain.

From the Chicago TimesHerald.
Few people are aware that Spain's flag
once fioated over Lake Michigan by right
of conquest: that the site of Chicago was
once a Spanish dependency. But such is
the fact. While the American colonies
were struggling for their independence
Spain made attack in the rear, from the
lower Mississippi valley, which it then con-
trolled. A military expedition was sent
from st. Louis across the states of Illi-
nois and Indiana to St Joseph. Mich, a
small post then held by British soldiers.
The post quickly capituated, and the flag
of CASTLE waved unquestioned for a few
days in the wilds of Michigan. BY that
act the prairies of Illinois became Spanish
possessions and the command of Lake
Michigan fell from British hands to the
mercies of the dons.
This interesting event occurred early in
the year 1871. 1t had by that time become
apparent to the powers of Europe that the
American colonies would achieve their in
dependence and the very important ques-
ton arose what territory should be trans
ferred TO the new nation born ON the wild
western continent. France was still smart
ing under the loss of Canada and of the
great lakes eighteen years earlier. Spain
was yet an aggressive explorer, and both
nations INDUCED hopes of territorial gain
would be arranged
1t was doubtless with this aim in view
that the little Spanish post at the confiu-
ence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers
received instructions from the King of
Spain to acquire some color of title to the
fertile lands and the great inland waters w.
ing west of the Allegheny mountains These
instructions must have been urgent for
they were carried out in the dead of winter
and in the face of great difficulties
The expedition which left St. Louis jan
uary =, 1871. consisted of sixty-five militia
and sixty Indians. OF the militia thirty
were Spaniards and thirty-five were prob
ably French traders, whose sympathies and
interests were then with Spain rather than
with England. The Indians according to
Spanish authorities, were of the nations
"Otaguis, Sotu and Putuami." In the last
name may be easily recognized the Potta-
Watom1es. whose children it was perhaps
who massacred the American soldiers and
settlers at Fort Dearborn thirty-one years
later.
Don Eugenio Pure had charge of the ex-
petition. Don Carlos Tayon was second in
command, and with them was Don Iuis
Chevalter, "a man well versed in the Ian
doubtless the Louis Chevelie, French
trader, who narrowly escaped death when
the savages, during Pontiac's war in l763
captured the English post at St Joseph
ana massacred eleven of it's fourteen occu-
pants He was versed not only in the Ian
guage Of the Indians, but in their weak
nesses, and was master Of diplomacy in
negotiations with the unlettered tribes.
His services were especially valuable. for
the incursion to the lake country was TO
be made through the hunting grounds oY
Indians friendly to the English Their men
tralty must be purchased, for upon that
neutrality hinged the success of the exne-
dition An tnkling of the lavish hand with
which this non-intervention was to he nur-
CHASED Is presented in the Spanish official
account of the Journey. Each of the mill
tlamen was Obliged to carry provisions
Tor his own subsistence and yarious mo-
chandise to content, In. case of need the
barbarous nations through whom they were
Obliged TO cross. The commander hy 500
sonable negotiations and precautions, pre-
vented considerable body of Indians, who
were at the devotion of the English frn,,
opposing this expedition" Not only was
mere th Ia liberal distribution Of gifts among
the Indians, but share of the goods re
the captured at the fort was promised in
the event of success Two great chiefs
Eluturno and Naquigen." were also mem.
bers of the expedition.
The distance from ST. Louis to St To-
seph was 220 leagues" The weather was
severe and the party suffered 1.-The great