The St. Louis Republic., 1900-12-09
PONTIAC AND ST. ANCE
BURIED SIDE BY SIDE
The Ottawa Hatred Of the EnsshSpeakine Pioneers.

WRITTEN FOR TIE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
I notice in The Republic OF recent date
the announcement OF the purpose OF the
st Louis Chapter OF the Daug hters of the
American Revolution to erect a bronze
tablet. with appropriate inscription in the
rotunda Of the Southern Hotel. to perpetu-
ate the memory OF the life. tragic death and
burial Of Pontiac. the leader OF the OF
tawas, Ojibways and Pottawatomies in tha
region of the great Northern lakes
The occasion is opportune to recall and
put on record some Of the facts relating to
the subject.
During the great street ilIumina ton in
st. Louis on Thursday night. September TO-
1891. was 90 fortunate TO be chaperoned
in witnessing It by my old friend the late
Colonel David II. Armstrong. who died
March Is. 1893.
One of our many points OF observation
was the southwest corner OF Fourth and
Walnut streets and near the Southern
Hotel. While standing there 1 recalled the
Interesting historical fact. and directed
Colonel Armstrong; attention to II, that
We stood "holy ground" II being the
spot or very near II. at which. in 1863.
five years after the founding of St Louis
by NJ. Laclede and Auguste Chouteau. the
remains OF the celebrated Ottawa Indian
chief Pontiac were buried and at which
rossbly they yet reDcse.
f-pHtidC WIS the most npte0 ara lfHltntldt
Indian chieftain OF his generation. the big
brave Of Western savages. and undoubted-
ly the mightiest man OF war who ever
reigned over the red men of the Mississippi
Valley. He was n typical Western Indian.
In respect to friends. nobler. Drawer
heart ever beat In the breast OF a white
man. Toward enemies. however. no treach-
cry was considered unworthy or dishonor-
able. no torture too severe. DisehsbowelinS
his victims. he could witness the,: writh-
irgs in agony without emotion o. SYM
pathy.
In 1865 ST. Ange de- Bellerive Cas h. I, mis-
called in history. for this was a nickname)
was the French commandant of Fort
Chartres. which was located in the Amer
lean Bottom short distance above Kas-
kaskis and less than A mile from the east
bank OF tho Mississippi River After the
surrender of the fort to Captain Stirling by
St. Ange. under the treaty Of Paris. 1868.
the fort passed from French to English con-
troll, and the French commandant, July :.
1885, removed with his officers and troops
to st. Louis, which thereafter was con-
sdered the capital Of Upper Louisiana
st. Ange and his men hated the English
and the American settlers OF English
descent. and Pontiac fully shared their
animosity. This fact proved a strong bond
Of union between st. Ange and Pontiac.
Pontiac's prowess I'm war and his dis
tinguished natural abilities enabled him to
form confederation Of many Of the Indian
tribes to resist the warlike purposes Of
the English. These facts. added to the dis
tinction he won In the ambuscade and de-
feat Of Braddock. near Pittsburg, and the
terrible massacre at Michilimackinak in
vested his name with a romance that ex-
cited everywhere intense curiosity to behold
the great chieftain. This finally proved a
cause of his death.
In 1863 st. Ange invited Pontiac to visit
him at st. Louis and urged him to accept
the courtesy. He came, and was warmly
received. He came gayly bedecked In the
gaudy uniform Of a French officer, for the
F'rench-Canadian Government had rewarded
him for his hatred Of the English and the