Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-08-04


tude and understood the best capacity
of his men. He had genius-that is he
possessed the secret of extracting from
himself and from his followers the last
refinement of devotion TO purpose.
There was a certainty, from first to
last, that effort would not flag at any
point short of the topmost possible
strain.
The march before them lay over a
magnificent plain, mostly prairie, rich
as the delta of the Nile, but extremely
difficult to traverse. The distance, as
the route led, was about 10 miles. On
account of an open and rainy winter
all the basins and fiat lands were in
undated, often presenting leagues Of
water ranging in depth from a few
inches to three or four feet Colonel
Clark understood perfectly the stra-
tegic Importance of Vincennes as post
commanding the Wabash and as a
base of communication with the many
Indian tribes north of the Ohio and
east of the Mississippi. Francis Vigo
(may his name never fadeD had
brought him a comprehensive and ac-
curate report of Hamilton's strength
and the condition of the fort and gar
rison. This information confirmed his
belief that it would be possible not only
to capture Vincennes, but Detroit as
well.
Just seven days after the march be-
gan the little army encamped for a
nights rest at the edge of wood, and
here, just after nightfall, when the fires
were burning merrily and the smell of
broiling buffalo steaks burdened the
damp air, wizened old man suddenly
appeared, how or from where nobody
had observed. He was dirty and in
every way disreputable in appearance,
looking like an animated mummy,
bearing a long rifle on his shoulder and
walking with the somewhat halting
activity of very old yet vivacious and
energetic simian. OF course it was On
Gle Jazon, "Oncle Jazon sui generis," as
Father Beret had dubbed him.
"Well, here 1 amr' he cried, ap-
preaching the fire by which Colonel
Clark and some of his officers were
y
a mile O. who I am to save yer livers
an lights"
He danced a few stiff steps, which
made the water gush out of his tat
tered moccasins, then doffed his monde
script cap and nodded his scalpless
head in salutation to the commander.
Clark looked inquiringly at him.
while the old fellow grimaced and
rubbed his shrunken chin.
81 smelt yer fat a-fryin' somepin
like a mile away, an it set my in'ards
to grumblin' for a snack, so I jes'
thought I'd drap in on ye an chaw
wittles WI ye."
you," remarked the colonel, with dry
smile He had recognized Onele Ja-
zon after a little sharp scrutiny. Il
suppose, however, that we can let you
gnaw the bones after we've got off the
meat"
"Thank zee, thank zee, plenty good.
\ feller ats as hongry as 1 am kin go
through a bone like a feesh through
water"
Clark laughed and said:
II don't see any teeth tEat you have
worth mentioning, but your gums may
be unusually sharp"
''Ya-a-s, bout as sharp as yer wit,
Colonel Clark, an sharper N yer eyes,
Il long shot Ye don't know me, do
ye? Take ernother squint at me, an
see f We kin member a good lookin'
man.
''You have somewhat the appearance
of an old scamp of the name of JaZon
worthless gun on his shoulder. and
used TO run from every Indian he saw
Down yonder in Kentucky" Clark held
out his hand and added cordially:
How are you, Jazon, my old friend,
and where upon earth have you come
from?"
Oncle Jazon pounced upon. the hand
and gripped it in his own knotted fin
gers, gazing deIightedly up into Clark's
bronzed and laughing face.
"Wheie'd l come frum? l come frum
ever'wheres. Fust time 1 ever got
lost in all my born days. I've been a
trompin' round in the water seems
like Il week, crazy as a pizened rat, not
a-knowin' north f'om south ner my
big toe f'om a turnip! Who's got some
tobackerE"
Oncle JaZon's story, when presently
he told it, interested Clark deeply.
He and Kenton had, with wise judg
ment, separated on escaping from the
Indian camp. Kenton striking out for
Kentucky, while Oncle Jazon went to-
ward Kaskaskia.
The information that Beverley would
be shot as soon as he was returned to
Hamilton caused Colonel Clark serious
worry of mind. Not only the fact that
Beverley, who had been charming
friend and a most gallant officer, was
now in such imminent danger, but the
impression (given by Oncle Jazon's ac-
count that he had broken his parole
was deeply painful to the brave and
scrupulously honorable commander.
Still friendship rose above regret, and
Clark resolved to push his little col
umn forward all the more rapidly,
hoping to arrive in time to prevent the
impending execution.
Next morning the march was resum-
ed at the break of dawn, but swollen
stream caused some hours of delay,
during which Beverley himself arrived
from the rear, haggard and weirdly
unkempt apparition. He had been for
three days following hard on the ar
my's track, which he came TO far west
ward. OncIe Jazon saw him first in
the distance. and his old but educated
eyes made no mistake.
"Yander's that youngster Beverley