The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-20
A Monument to Francis vigo.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
The editorial, History in Fiction, In this
mornings Journal Sunday. May I'D, relat-
ing to General Clark's capture of Vincennes
and to the raising of the flag of the United
States, contains a reference to Col. Francis
Vigo. 1t is a fact to be regretted that so
few, comparatively. of Indianas citizens
are well informed about the history of their
own State-particularly its early history.
English's Conquest of the Northwest is
too bulky and too discursive for general
circulation, but books like "The Young Peo-
pies History of Indiana" Stories of In
diana" and Historical Sketches of Old
Vincennes'' ought to be found in every
home in the State. A history of Indiana,
rich in biographical matter, we'll arranged,
we'll illustrated and well bound so as to
stand use by boys and girls, and withal
adapted to be used as a supplementary
reader in the seventh and eighth grades,
would be welcomed by myself. and, / am
sure, by many other superintendents in
the State.
But am DEPRESSING. What took pencil
to write about Is the States lack of ap-
probation of the services of Francis Vigo
and the consequent failure TO honor his
memory and his last resting place. Any
one well informed about General Clarks
expedition from kaskasia will say that
Francis vigo, the merchant. trader and
man of wealth in his day. made 1t possible
for Clark to succeed But this was not all:
Colonel Vigo ruined himself financially as
the result of bearing the greater part of
the burden OF expenses of Clark's expedi-
ton. He died in poverty; his coffin was
not paid for till forty years after his death,
when Congress tardiy paid the claim.
Capital is generally timid in time of war
Vigo might have kept the shelter OF the
Spanish flag: he might have gone on ac-
cumulating wealth by trading; he might
have let General Clark and his brave and
desperate men shift for themselves. But
he did not: he furnished goods and placed
his own credit at Clark's disposal. What
Morris was TO Washington, that Vigo was
TO Clark.
Sword and monument honor the memory
of the captor of Vincennes. Well does he
deserve them. But IL Is not TO the credit
of our own State and its citizens that the
grave of Francis Vigo is marked by only
a small stone slab. about eighteen inches
high, Inscribed with his name and the date
of his death. Three years ago. while
spending some days in Vincennes I re-
member that / and a friend-also a visitor
spent two hours trying 10 find vigos grave.
and Ii was only by lucky chance that we
found IL at last.
For fifty-seveE years. some of them I'm
poverty, Francis Vigo vainly waited for
Congress 10 pay him for goods and money
furnished General Clark to fit out his ex-
pedi;ion He died In 1896. and his remains
rest to-day In grave that is practically
almost unmarked. Whether General Clark
was ever citizen of Indiana or not il
for mainy years a resident of vincennes
and citizen OF Indiana. public monu-
ment should do suitable honor TO the last
resting place OF Francis Vigo. IL would
be fitting for Knox and Vigo counties to
this purpose. w. c. MCCULLOUGH
Superintendent OF Schools
Sullivan, Ind. May Is.