The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-08
a BIT OF HTsToRY.


Dispatches from Topeka tell of the
difficulties that have surrounded the at
tempt to hold fitting ceremonies at the
laying Of a corner stone for the monu-
ment to General Zebulon NJ. Pike in a
Kansas county. Only after an injunc-
ton had been served on the tenant of a
grove adjoining the N onument was pos
tive announcement made of the big
celebration that Will occur there July 4.
The laying of The corner stone near
the little town of Belleyille has a pecu-
liar connection with the coming worlds
fair. It was on the site wherein the
foundation of the monument is now be-
ing laid that history records the first
pulling down of the Spanish flag to
make place for the Stars and Stripes in
the interior of the Louisiana purchase
After the formal transfer of the
Louisiana territory had been ratified,
President Jefferson, with his character
fstic enterprise, sent out exploring par
ties. The expedition of Lewis and Clark
is well known. A year later. in 1905,
zebulOn NJ. Pike. then a captain in the
United States army. was detailed to
find the headwaters of the Mississippi.
He returned the latter part OF April.
1906, after having satisfied himself that
Leech Lake was the source of the river.
Ten weeks later he started from his
camp in Bellefontaine, now the site of
the cemetery of that name in St. Louis.
with twenty infantrymen to explore the
land lying to the west. The diary kept
by the intrepid captain is full of rare
incidents that show the indomitable
courage of himself and companions.
He assembled the Missouri river to a
place near where Omaha now stands
and then diverged to the southwest.
He had previously returned fifty Usage
Indians to their tribe, they having been
rescued from captivity. Reaching a
point in what is now Republic county.
he first secured traces of a Spanish ex-
petition under Lieutenant Malgares,
who, with 240 men, had set out from
Mexico to intercept Pike and his party,
to explore the country and to receive
the allegiance of the Indian tribes.
Pike came within a few days of meet
ing Malgares. AS it happened the Span
ish commander. fearing treaehery from
the Indians, had retraced his steps
southwark. The American captain
camped upon his trail while he undid
the work of the Spanish troops.
Malgares had taken the allegiance of
the Pawnee Republic. the most powerful
Of the Kansas and Nebraska Indians.
september ~ 1SU6, the Spanish flag float
ed over their village Seeing this. Pike
gathered the chiefs in council, and as
he says in his diary, made them smoke
the pipe of peace" The Indians professed
friendship for both Spaniards and Amer
leans.
Captain Pike. however, told them that
it was impossible for the nation to have
two fathers: that they must either be the
children of the Spaniards. or acknowI-
edge their American father" After this,
according to his diary, IAN old man
arose, went to the door, took down the
Spanish flag, brought it and laid it at
my feet; he then received the American
flag and elevated it on the staff which
had lately borne the standard OF his
Catholic majesty"
Following the lead Of the Pawnees the I
other Indian tribes acknowledged the
American government The Usage and
the Kansas Indians even sent represen-
tatives on the expedition. Pike proceed
ed on his way to the Peak now bearing
his name. was captured by the Span
iards, taken to Mexico, held prisoner and
then released. The diary of the worthy
captain was kept in the gun barrels Of
his trOoD