The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-05

William Henry Harrison the struggle cuI-
minated in the fierce battle of Tippecanoe.
The power Of the Indians was broken for
ever upon the Wabash. The Indian confed-
Grafton in Indiana dissolved. the remnants of
the various small tribes turned their faces
toward the setting sun and most of them
were finally swallowed up by the larger
tribes and ceased to maintain their original
tribal organization.
LAST OF THE INDIANS.
The last Indians to forsake their hunting
grounds on the Wabash We're the Pianki-
shaws and a remnant of the Shawnees.
Mr.. Richard Flower, who conducted an
English colony to Edwards county, Illinois,
IN 1918. says: I'VE visited the Piankishaws
on the Wabash from which the Shawnees
had just departed" The Shawnees appear
to have had several settlements in south
western Indiana, one of them being upon
Pigeon creek above the present site Of
Evansville. The history of this last link
which bound the red man TO the lower Wa
bash country is quite remarkable These
ShaWnees had a tradition that they We're
the original Indians of North America, and
that the master of life had created them
from His own brain, that they were en-
lowed with greater genius than any other
Indians and also that they were the pro-
BenitOrs of all the rest. Albert Gallatin eX-
pressed the belief that the Shawnees be-
longed to the Lennapee tribe of the north
since they appeared to possess many traits
IN common. But their first family
claims We're Of little avail against the new
order Of things. The car of progress was
rapidly moving westward and few more
years saw them far away from the graves
OF their ancestors.
Events crowded upon the heels of one
ahotner with startling rapidity in the Wa
DaSh valley. First came the French and
erected forts at various points, both to indi-
cate their possession of the country and to
serve as trading posts with the Indians. In
que time the red coat made its appearance
In the wilderness, for. with the fall Of Can
ada. all the Northwest Territory passed into
English hands. Finally there came upon the
scene what DR.. Holmes once characterized
as AN Englishman reinforced''-the native
horn, genuine American-With his heart all
afiame with patriotic ardor and having, a.
mat time, an intense dislike to John Bull
as Well as determination to persuade"
him to move on" The Indian "Chippy
Coke" had already been transformed into
Post Vincent" When the Englishman
came he fancied the name of Fort Sack
vile. but Fort Patrick Henry just about
miled the ideal of the Americans for a forti-
he'd place In the wilderness of Indiana Two
sturdy Americans held the fort One of them
was Captain Helm, the commandant: the
other, a man named Henry, the latter
which was so placed as to command the
passage Near by stood Helm with lighted
match General Hamilton and his British
troops marched until they were startled by
the cry of 'haltp' The British commander
demanded the surrender of the fort, but
Helm. with an oath, declared that no man
should enter the fort until he knew the
terms. Whereupon Hamilton replied "the
nonors OF war, and the plucky garrison
then marched out. much to the chagrin of
the British general. 1t was the same Yankee
shreWdness-the ability to cope with any
and every situation; making everything
bend to ones will, which characterized the
American captain on this occasion and it
was the same spirit which enabled Gen
George Rogers Clark, on a subsequent occa-
sion, TO make the most romantic campaign
In all our history and to achieve a triIImnh
which eliminated at the same place where
helm had displayed such nerve-a triumph
Wnlcn, judged by its later results, was one
of the most momentous in our history
Clark and his men on those damp February
days, wading in water sometimes up to
their chins holding their guns above their
neads; enduring hunger and fatigue, and
at last, breaking the power of the English
their grasp, is one of the most fascinating
chapters in all our history.
In 1853 France disposed of Louisiana prov
ince to Spain, and that government with
its characteristic selfishness. imposed eriev-
Gus commercial restrictions upon the people
Of the central Mississippi basin, but these
Qld not weigh heavily upon the white man
IN the Wabash region since his wants at
that time were few and simple, being con-
nned TO his needs in the matter of trapping
ana Killing wild game. Nor did they materi-
ally afrect the French on the Wabash, who
were mostly engaged in trading with the In
dams and sending their furs to Canada for
Shipment to Europe. In 1901 the province of
Louisiana was retroceded to France
At last the Indians, French English and
Spaniards were out of the way. The stage
was ready for the actors in the new drama
about to open. Here and there a homestead
was being disposed of in Kentucky Men
women and children were busy packing up
their few household belongings, preparing
TO take up the burden of life under new con-
ditions and environments. Flatboats were
launched and one after another disappeared
behind the distant bend of the Ohio as thew
We're borne along upon it's glistening bosom
the advance guard sailing away towards
It's hopeful yet uncertain destiny.
Washington, d. C. T. M. WEAVER.