Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-16
CHAPTER XVII.


NN the 9th day of February,
17T9, Colonel George Rogers
W 81 Clark led an army across the
Kaskaskia river and camped.
This was the first step in his march
toward the Wabash. An army! DO not
smile. Fewer than 200 men, It is true.
answered the roll call when Father
Glbault lifted the cross and blessed
them.
1t was an army, small indeed, but
yet an army, even though so rudely
equipped that could we now see 1t be-
fore us, we might wonder Of what use
Il could possibly be in a military way.
Clark knew when he set out on his
march to Vincennes that he was not
lndulging a visionary impulse. The
enterprise was one that called for all
that manhood could endure, but not
more. With the genius of born lead
er he measured his task by his means
He knew his own courage and forti-
tude and understood the best capacity
of his men. He had genlus-that Is he
possessed the secret of extracting from
hllhHtlA anu llOll Ills lOllOMt tIb lllt lunl
refinement of devotion to purpose
There was 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
magnificent plain, mostly prairie, rich
as the delta of the Nile, but extremely
-,
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 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 1t 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
nights rest at the edge of a wood, and
here, just after nlghtfall, when the fires
were burning merrily and the smell Of
broillng buffalo steaks burdened the
damp air, a 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 n very old yet vivacious and
energetic simian. OF course 1t was On
Gle Jazon, "Oncle Jazon sui generis," as
Father Beret had dubbed him.
"Well, here amw he cried, ap-
preaching the lire by which Colonel
Clark and some of his officers were
cooking supper. "But ye can't guess in
mile o. who am to save yer livers
an lights"
He danced few stiff steps, which
made the water gush out of his tat
tered moccasins, then doffed his monde
script cap and nodded his scalplcss
head in salutation to the commander.
Clark looked inquiringly at him,
while the old fellow grimaced and
rubbed his shrunken chin.
~ smelt yer fat a-fryin' somepin
like a mile away, an 1t set my in'ards
10 grumblin for snack, so l Jes'
thought I'd drap in on ye an chaw
whites WI ye."
"Your looks are decidedly against
you" remarked the colonel, with a dry
smile He had recognized Oncle ia
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 'ee, plenty good.
A feller ats as hongry as l am kin go
through a bone like a feesh through
water"
Clark laughed and said:
81 don't see any teeth that 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,
a long shot Ye don't know me, do
ye? Take ernother squint at me, an
see 4 ye kin member a good lOOkin'
mani"
"You have somewhat the appearance
OF an old scamp OF the name of JazoI
that formerly loafed around with 9
worthless gun ON his shoulder, anc
used to rIIa from every Indian he saw