The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-17
INDIAN RESEARCH.
How General Putnam
Smoked the Pipe
of Peace.
A NEW PAMPHLET.
Strong Appeal to Red Men
Pending a Formation
Of the Peace Treaty.

Rutland, April 16.-An exceedingly in
teresting pamphlet entitled Rufus
Putnam and His Pioneer Life in the
Northwest" is by Rev. Sidney Crawford
of this town, and is from the proceed
ings of the American Antiquarian So
ciety at the annual meeting in Worces-
ter, October q, 1898, from the press of
Charles Hamilton, Worcester. Mr..
Crawford while on an historical mission
to Marietta had access to large col
lection of Rufus Putnam's unpublished
letters and journals in the archives of
the college at Marietta.
In his paper he brings out features
of Putnam's life that have heretofore
not been published. He mentions brief
iy Putnam's service in the French and
Indian and Revolutionary wars, his
service in town affairs in Rutland and
the organization of the Ohio Company.
An advertisement taken from d De-
cember issue of the Worcester Maya
zine is spoken of.
OHIO COMPANY.
Adventures in the Ohio Company
who subscribed with Rufus Putnam are
requested to meet at Mr.. John Showers,
innholder, in Worcester, on Tuesday,
the 18th instant, at two o'clock n the
| afternoon, to choose an agent or agents,
| agreeable to the articles of association,
as the said Putnam is very soon TO set
out for the Ohio Country, and can serve
his friends as agent no longer.
Rufus Putnam.
Rutland, Dec, Sd, 1887.
| Some of the details of the trip to
| Ohio follows this advertisement, also
ar account of the labors of The COM
pany after reaching Ohio. Mention is
made of the first Fourth of July cele-
| bration in which General Putnam took
| the lead.
An account of the Indian war which
dates from Jan. II, 1871, during which
many of the Ohio Company withdrew,
not receiving any help from the gov
eminent, Putnam organized company
| of scouts An amusing incident is men,
| toned. zone night when danger was
| threatening, under cover of darkness,
! Col. Sproat came into the blockhouse
| with box of papers for safe keeping.
There followed some young men with
| firearms. Next a womasi with her bed
and children. After them an old man
with his leathern apron full o. gold
| smiths tools and tobacco.
His daughter brought the china tea
| pot and saucers Another brought the
great Bible. But when all we're in,
mother was missing. Where was moth
er? One said She must be killed by
| the Indians oh, no., said another,
mother said she would not leave the
house looking so, and so she remained
to put things little to rights. And
after awhile the old lady came bringing
the looking glass, knives forks, etc"
During the war Putnam made an ad-
dress at an Indian council convened
for the purpose of arranging a treaty
OF this Mr.. Crawford says Some
parts of which are worthy to rank high
in our American patriotic literature. It'll
begins as follows: Brothers, leta us
smoke a pipe of friendship When the
preliminary part of the proceeding
was over he proceeded; Brothers, II
congratulate you on our first meeting
together this day. My speeches, which
sent you so days ago, have reached
you, and you are now come to hearl
what I have to say to you.
1--WE meet one another for a good
purpose, and the Great Spirit who has
preserved our lives to this day, where
we see one another face to face, and
shake hands together, will be witness
to all our transactions. We meet to-
gether on no strange ground. 1t is the
ground on which your ancestors have
kindled council fire, and where you
since have met and smoked the pipe of
peace. This fire must always be kept
burning bright, so that you and your
allies may see it, and meet one another
at all times without difficulty or fear,
there to smoke the pipe of peace, friend
| ship and love.
brothers, rose from the great coun-
ell fire OF the United States four
months ago. There l saw the chiefs
of the Five Fires and the chief of the
Cherokee nation smoke the pipe of
peace with the great chief of the Uni
ted States, George Washington. The
fire was burning bright, and all that
were around it felt happy. The great
chief wished this happiness to extend
to all nations. His council fire is
kindled for the benefit of all nations.
He loves to see his brothers; to talk
and smoke with them. Brothers, while
the great chief, George Washington,
was thus joyful with his brothers that
were with him he looked around and
saw with sorrow that some OF his dis
tant brothers could not enjoy this hap
piness with him at present.
He observed that a dark cloud had
sprung up between them and the Uni
ted States some time ago, and that this
cloud had darkened the sky so much
that his brethren and the people of the
United States could not distinguish one
another but stumbled against each
other and stuck the tomahawk in each
others heads.
Brothers, the great chief wishes to
have this dark cloud removed and dis
persed, to see the tomahawk drawn out
of the heads of each other and buried in
the deep.
ITO take each other by the hand
anew and establish a new and lasting
Friendship between all the brothers and
the United States. has appointed me
agent for this purpose. l am therefore
come to you in confidence that we shall
be able to accomplish this great work
and / may return again to the great
chief with assurance of friendship and
peace.
Brothers. I told you in my speech
which ! sent you that when 1 came
should bring your women and children
with me and return them to their
friends. They are now with you.
Brothers, 1 shall always speak to
you from my heart. not from my lips
only. Speak also from your hearts
Tell me the cause of your uneasiness
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