Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-20
driving the Six Nations as allies into
the kings arms.


50 conduct that these Indians on our
frontiers shall take neither one side
nor the other, but remain passive
while the storm RACES. To work openly
Tor this is not possible If 1t were pos.
sible to work openly, and If Quider
should die, / would send such a mes.
sage to my Lord Dunmore Of Virginia
as would make his bloodless ears burn!
And they may burn yet!
"Iou are to know, Michael. that Lord
Dunmore, governor Of Virginia, is, in
my opinion, at the bottom of this. He
1t is who, foreseeing the future. as do
all thinking men, has sent the deluded
Cresap to pick a quarrel with my Ca
yugas, knowing that he is making fu-
ture allies for England. 1t is vile! It
Is d monstrous thing! 1t is not loyalty!
1t is treasonw
This outburst left me stunned. Save
tor Sir William, knew not where now
% anchor my faith. Our king already
In these few days had become to my
youthful mind distant. wavering
shadow, no longer the rock to which
loyal hearts must cling-unquestioning
Now the dark pages turning in the
book Of fate were flying faster than
young eyes could mark. First to the,
Hall came Joseph Brant called Thayen-
danegea, brother to Mistress Molly.
and embraced us all, eagerly admiring
my uniform with an Indians frank
naivete, caressing Silver Heels curly
pate and praising her beauty, and fon-
ding Esk and Peter with Albany
sweets till forbade them to approach,
Tor their sickness did disgust me.
Now, though Sir William had hither-
to trusted Brant in all things. I noticed
he spoke not to Brant of Quiders mis-.
sion, though MIR. Butler had already
scented a mystery in the Cayuga's
visit and often asked why Quider had
never spoken his message, for he was
not aware that both message and an
swer had been delivered long ago.
That week there were three council
fires at the lower castle, which Brant
/ and Mr.. Butler attended in company
| with certain thin little Seneca chief
called Red Jacket, filthy, sly and
sullen creature, who was perhaps a
great orator, but all the world knew
him for glutton and coward.
Our house had now been thronged
with Indians for week. Eleven hus-
dred Mohawks, Cayugas, Senecas,
Onondagas and few Tuscaroras lay
encamped around us. holding long talks
with Red Jacket, Mr.. Butler and
/ Brant. but Sir William attended no
fires, and very soon / discovered the
reason. For suddenly Sir John John
son arrived at the Hall, and with him
Colonel Daniel Claus and his lady from
Albany, which abrupt advents began
stir and hustle among us that In
creased as day by day new guests
arrived at our house. Johnson Hall,
Colonel Guy Johnson's house and the
house Of Colonel John Butler were now
crowded to overflow with guests.
Sachems and chiefs of the Oneidas ar.
cans and from the three regiments OF
militia which Tryon county maintains
3D. officers from my own troop of irreg-
ular horse quartered at Albany, and
whom now met for the first time, and
finally, in prodigious state, came our
Governor Tryon from New York, with
troop of horse which for beauty OF
clothing and impudence Of department
l had never seen equaled.
The house rang with laughter and
the tinkle of glasses from morning till
night. On the stairs there swept q
continuous rush and rustic Of ladies'
petticoats like the wind blowing
through corn. Ladies filed the house
There were maids and lackeys and foot
men and chair bearers and slaves
thronging porch and hallway; new
faces everywhere, new uniforms. new
gowns, new phrases, new dishes al
table, new airs at the spinet, new
songs.
And now. piling confusion on confu.
sion, comes from the south my Lord
Dunnlore from Virginia. satin coated
foppish, all powder and frill and scent.
ed like French lady. But, oh, the gal.
liant company he brought to johnson
Hall-those courtly Virginians, with
their graces and velvet voices, with
their low bows and noiseless move.
ments, elegant as panthers and proud
as heirs to kingdoms ALL
4 Some lodged at the inns in town
some with us. some with Sir John
Johnson and others with Colonel But
ler. But they all thronged our house
day and night till was like to stif1e
with the perfumes and scented clothes
of our white guests and the wild ami.
NAL aroma OF the Indians.
AS for Silver Heels, / saw her but
twice, and then she disappeared entire
~. l was sorry for her, believing she
had been cooped within the limits OF
nursery and play room, but had my
pity for my pains, as 1t turned out
1t came about In this way: had
been relieved Of duties at the block.
house to receive reports of Quider'a
sickness. rs it was now believed Ger
tain that the Cayuga must die, and
had been ordered to dress in my new
uniform to accompany Sir William to
a review Of our honest Tryon county
militia, now assembling at Johnstown
and Schenecfsdv