The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-05-11

In his reduced condition Heckewelder
used II when finished to visit Mr..
Calhoun and the Indians of the village
In order to procure some food.
MISSION A FAILURE.
It soon became evident that this
missionary effort would be complete
failure. The Indians were induced to
believe that the sole object of the visit
of Post and Heckewelder was to de-
liver the Indian country into the
hands of the white people, Post was
forbidden to return, war with the
English colonies was imminent and
Heckewelder was twice warned by
friendly Indians to leave the country,
He wrote this state of affairs to Post
and received answer to return as
speedily as possible. 1t was some time
before the young missionary could do
this. He was too weak to walk his
horse had been stolen or was lost, and
Mr.. Calhouns pack horse drivers,
who had intended to set out to Pitts
burg with furs, were all laid up with
the fever Every time Heckewelder
visited Tuscarora he saw strangers,
who scrutinized him closely. One af-
ternoon one of Calhoun's men called
to him from the opposite bank of the
river requesting him to lock his cabin
door and cross the river Immediately
as Mr.. Calhoun wished to speak to
him on business of great Importance.
Having wrapped up few articles Of
dress in my blanket" says Heckewel-
der in his journal, 81 padded across"
AS soon as | arrived at Mr.. Calhoun's,
he told me privately that an Indian
woman, who frequently came to his
store, and who made spirits which he
kept for sale, had asked him that day
whether the white man who lived
above on the other side of the river
was his friend. and that on answer
ing In the affirmative, she said: Take
him away; don't let him remain one
night longer In his cabin; he is in
danger there" The next morning l
wished to return to see whether any
thing had taken place at the cabin,
and, IL Possible, to fetch a few neces-
sary articles which had been left be-
hind in the hurry of my departure
Mr.. Calhoun. however, would not let
me go. but sent two of his strongest
men to see how things stood. One
of them. James Smith, was a man of
such uncommon strength that the In
dians considered him a Manitou (God)
and would hardly be anxious to engage
him personally. They reported that
the house had been broken open dur
ing the night, and that, judging from
appearances there, two persons had
been in. There were signs of a late
fire on the hearth. and they had evil
IDENTIFY been waiting for me. Of course
my return was out of the question:
any attempt would have been actual
foolhardiness. l never saw my lonely
cabin again, remaining under the hos
pital roof of the trader. Meanwhile,
as l afterward heard, emissaries of
the Seneca and northern Indians were
busily engaged in exciting the Della
wares to take up the hatchet against
the English, and soon after my de-
parture war broke out. At Mr.. Cal
houn's / experienced nothing but the
most true-hearted friendship; and un-
der his kind treatment / recovered
from the fever"
About this time the chief, who had
accompanied Post to Lancaster, return
ed, their friendship for the English,
for some reason, considerably cooled.
King Beaver, however. remained ia
vorably disposed, and advised Hecke-
welder to hasten his departure. Cal
houn's men were now restored to
health this trader lent the youthful
a young horse, and with
the drivers set out for Pittsburg. On
the third day he met Post returning
in company with an Indian agent,
Capt. Alexander Mckee, who was GO
ing to the Delaware village to receive
Indian captives which the chiefs at
the late treaty had promised should
be restored. They were in ignorance
Of the real state of affairs, but in
sisted upon proceeding, not regarding
the dangers as imminent In this they
were soon undeceived. The agent,
however, was protected by the friend
ship of the chiefs, but returned with
out the promised prisoners. Post,
whom the Indians suspected of secret
designs against them, as they were
at loss to explain his missionary
had to fly for his life,
and was conducted to place of safe
ty through a secret forest path by one
Of his former fellow travellers to Lam
caster His diplomatic services in
seeking to procure a treaty with the
Indians doubtless increased their sus-
picions and caused them to view with
great mistrust his asserted religious
object In their behalf.
AHIoCTnNy Adv NrynDL cyunnntan