The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1901-09-05
Angus Corb|y's Captivity
Story of Early Indian Life and Adventure in the Territory
Northwest of the Ohio River
WRITER OF MARSHALL COUNTY


recognized the little creek that wound
down through the marshes from Mux-
sen-kuck-ee and guided the canoe into
its narrow gullet. whence they thread
ed their way amidst grass and weeds
and splatter-docks and through sue
cession of ponds into the cool. deep
lake. on the opposite shore of which
he had spent summer of his captivity
with the Potawattamies. A high and
wooded point jutting out into the lake
and backed by one of the shallow,
weedy ponds of the outlet afforded a
secure and convenient camping place
where, shielded from observation
themselves, they could view the entire
: perimeter of the beautiful sheet and
could overlook the whole of its tur-
quoise surface and its emerald banks,
low and bright in places, bold and
dark in others.
This exquisite little body of water,
which was fed entirely by subaqueous
springs and was clear, cold and deep,
was about twelve miles in circumfer-
ence and was favorite resort for the
red men during the corn season, as it
is now for their white brothers dur
ing the heated months of summer.
AS Angus lad expected he found
many corn fields and several villages
about the lake and it was his purpose
to begin his Investigations here, the
region they had just quilted being too
low and wet for the Indians to inhabit
in the summer. His only plan was to
enter the villages boldly and in a
friendly manner and he knew that if
his advances were repealed it would
mean almost certain death. The
camp on the point was well chosen,
for it could be approached only by
water or over low ground and its land
approach was confined practically to
one direction. and the little party
made it their first business to raise a
low protection of logs and conceal it
by an artful arrangement of brush, in
which they slowed their supplies.
while they made a hiding place for
the canoe under a thick growth of
willows on the strand. A spring of
water could be reached under cover by
crawling on the ground.
Satisfied with these provisions for a
retreat and defense in case of need
Angus, accompanied by Pierre, set out
to cross the broad bay to high bluff
on the north shore where columns of
smoke indicated the presence of a vii
lage and back of which Angus knew
there were fields of growing corn.
The intrepid adventures rowed direct
ly to the foot of the bluff and beached
the canoe at a point presenting an
easy ascent to the top. They had al
ready been observed and were met at
the landing by a dozen curious men
and boys, whom, to their establishment.
Angus addressed pleasantly in their
own tongue and asked to be conducted
to the chief for friendly visit, and
the little cavalcade of silent men.
chattering squaws, laughing boys and
barking dogs escorted the two strang-
ers up the slope to wigwam where
| the chief sat in state awaiting the is
sue of the visit. To him Angus made
complimentary speech and explained
his business there. stating that party
of four were bearing a message from
the English to the French officer at
st. Joseph and asking to be informed
if there was any waterroute to the st.
Joseph river.
The chief, without answering the
question, asked much concerning the
intentions of the English toward the
Indians and at length said that the
messengers should be his guests over
night while he considered the matter
further, by which Angus and Pierre
knew they were to be held as prisoners
as they had feared would be the case.
Torture and death or slavery loomed
before them in awful prospect but
their minds were prepared for such a
situation and they were alert and vigil
liant, noting closely everything that
passed. They were kept apart from
each other, though not openly res
trained, and if either attempted to 60
beyond the confines of the village he
was led back on some excuse. A feast
was made in the evening and the two
prisoners were treated as guests.
participating with great show of en-
ljoyment but all tie while searching
Ifrutively for signs of the torture they
feared Their self-possession was
somewhat disconcerting to their
lcaptors, who suspected that such con-
fidence must be backed by not-dis.
tant army, and the chief concluded
that in the morning he would direct
the messengers to their destination
and release them, thinking that if the
party consisted of but four, as they