The Press., 1901-06-06
HE CURSED THE TOWN
END OF THE FIRST CAPITAL OF ILLl- NOiS PROPHESiED BY AN INDIAN.


 The Destruction of the Town of Kas-
 kaskia Was I'm Accordance With
 the Last Words of the Chief Who Died For n WOman's Love. Since the waters of. the Mississippi river washed away the last vestige of Kaskaskia the first capital of Illinois, an old legend that contained the proph- ecy of the total destruction of the once fourishing little city has been recalled. Kaskaskia was situated on a peninsula at the junction of the Kaskaskia and the Mississippi rivers, and in 1882 the | Mississippi river cut its way through the peninsula, leaving the remnant of i the town on an island. The water con- | tinued to wash away the rich alluvial deposits on which Kaskaskia was built until, late in 1900, the last foot of the land where the town once stood disap- peared. This singular ending of Kas- kaskia's once splendid ambitions has | recalled to the superstitious the story that the town was cursed in the eight eenth century by an Indian who had been wronged by one of the leading citizens.
 Jean Benard came to this country from France in 1898, bringing with him his wife and his 10-year-old daughter Marie. The family settled in Kaskas- kia, where Benard established a mer- chandising business. The Frenchman soon became one of the most prosper ous and most influential men of the town. Marie, his daughter, grew to be | a beautiful woman, much courted by | the most eligible young men of the new | country. She was in no hurry to ac- | cept any of them, and her fame as a | belle spread from Lake Michigan to the gulf of Mexico.
 l A young chief of the Kaskaskia tribe of Indians. having become converted to Christianity after several years of study under the tutelage of the Jesu- its, built himself a house in Kaskaskia and was taken into partnership in one of the trading houses there. He was prosperous, handsome and well edu- cated and was soon received into the homes of the white settlers. One night at ball he happened to meet Marie Benard.
 | The girl was at once fascinated by the tall, fine looking Indian, who fell in love with her at first sight and made no secret of his admiration. But Be- nard pere soon noticed the attachment | and forbade his daughter from commu- nicating with the young Indian. To make sure that there would be no more meetings Benard used his influence to l hn inF off VT of the social entertainments given in Kaskaskia.
 l But love always finds way, and the young couple managed to see each Oth- CT despite all the precautions of the l girls father. But Benard became aware of these meetings and again took means to prevent them. He was a man of wealth and influence, and he had the Indian forced out of his part nership in the trading company.
 The Indian left Kaskaskia. For al. most year nothing was heard of him, and Benard thought that his daughter had forgotten her lover for she ap- peared gay and careless. and she &C., cepted with apparent pleasure the at tentions of young Frenchman. One night when a large ball at Kaskaskia was at its height Marie Benard disap- peared.
 Those who searched for Marie dis covered that the young chief of the Kaskaskians had been seen that even- ing in the town, and the conclusion was at once reached that the girl had eloped with him. Benard at once organized 8 party to go in pursuit of the fugitives. As there was a heavy snow on the ground, their trail was easily discov- cred and followed. The Indian and Marie had crept away afoot, and as their pursuers were supplied with fast horses the young lovers were captured 1 after a days chase about 40 miles from Kaskaskia Their destination had been the French settlement at St. Louis, where the Indian had provided home for his wife.
 l The Indian surrendered without re- journey back to Kaskaskia. taking the two captives. Most of the men who composed Benard's party wanted to kill the Indian instantly, but Benard would not allow it, for he said that they should leave him to deal with his daughters lover.
 l When the party reached Kaskaskia, the girl was placed in the convent there. Then Bernard took the Indian to the bank of the Mississippi and, binding him tightly to a log, turned him adrift in the river. AS the help less Indian floated away to his death he raised his eyes to heaven and cursed Benard, who, he declared, would die a violent death. The Indians last. words were a prophecy that within POO years the waters which were then bearing him away would sweep from the earth every 3estige of the town, so that only the name would be left.
 The unhappy girl died in the convent. Benard was killed in 1712 in a duel. The last trace of Kaskaskia has been obliterated, and the superstitious de- clare that the Indians curse has had something to do with the passing of the once fourishing town. On dark and stormy nights the ghost of the Indian is said to appear. The specter. with strong arms bound and face upturned, | floats slowly by on the river where the stream sweeps by the site of the van- ished city in which Marie Benard once lived and in which she died mourning the red man that she loved.-Chicago Inter Ocean.
 He Knew Better.
 "Oh, John," she cried. "baby's cut a toothv
 "Aw, go 'wayw broke in little Willie, who was playing on the floor. You l can't cI1f a tOofhi YOn nav hrpalx tf