The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-11-20
ReIdted HOnOrS
For Great Hero

W ~ >NAo ~
PADUCAH, KY, Nov. Yesterday
was the 156th anniversary Of the
birth of one of Americas most heroic
men, General George Rogers Clark
unfurled the first American flag In
Illinois and was largely responsible
for making the great northwest ar
American territory. Dying in poverty
and want, the great soldier was for
gotten for nearly a century. A few
years ago movement was inaugurateo
to rescue from obscurity the name and
fame of the almost forgotten hero
and this patriotic project had It's
elimination this month in the dedica
ton of a handsome monument at Fort
Massac. near Metropolis, Ill. Some 81
the most notable events of American
history centered about this old mill
tary post 1t was here, according &c
history that Aaron Burr plotted his
treason.
Clark was born in Albermarle coun-
ty. Va, November 19, 1852. He dice
at Locust Grove. near Louisville, Ky.
February 10, 1918. His body rests II
beautiful Caves Hill cemetery, Louis
vile.
He began life as a land surveyor In
1772 he visited Kentucky and com
manded a force of armed settlers there
In 1916 he was elected to the Vir-
ginia assembly, and procured the forma-
ton of Kentucky.
In 1877 Clark was commissioned to
take possession of the forts in the
northwest territory, then under the
jurisdiction of Virginia. He and his
men embarked on the Ohio river
floating down to a small recess a
short distance above Fort MasSac
From Massac he went overland
through water swamps and difficulties
innumerable to Kaskaskia and Vim
cenneS.
All of the fertile region northwest
of the Ohio river was Wrested from
the British by the valor of this sol
der. yet he died in poverty. The state
of Virginia sent him a sword after he
became old and poor, which he broke
to pieces. eXclaiming:
when Virginia needed a sword l
gave her one. She sends me now toy.
| want bread
The Daughters of the American Rev
olution. by diligent effort, caused the
passage of a bill through the state
legislature in the year 1903, which APP
prOpriated $4,000 for the purchase
and restoration of the site of Fort Mas
sac. Twenty acres of land We're pur-
chased and work was commenced in
the winter of 1904. The transfer of
the fort to the state took place Deem
Der 16, 1908.
A broad gravel drive encircleS the
fort, which was converted into a park,
and numerous foot paths run in all
directions. The four bastiOns have
been rebuilt and mounted with can
non. At the corner that projects far
theSt out over the river, a large flag
standard has been erected, and by It's
side a stately monument towers IN
cOmmemOratiOn of George Rogers
and Clark and the heroes known and
unknown who defended this sacred
spot.
The trench which was dug around
the fort is still observable. The mas
sive entrance which has been built
ument to the. zeal and enterprise of the
Illinois Daughters of the American
revolution.
Fort Massac is on rolling plain on
the northern side of the Ohio river,
SO miles from it's mouth and ten miles
below Paducah 1t commands an ex-
tensive view of the river In it's days
of usefulness it stood % feet above
highest water mark. From this point
of vantage, with the aid of a field
glass, objects were observable IA
miles down and IS miles up the river.
LAS DeSOto and his followers were
the first white men to discover the
Mississippi river, so were they the
first to select a temporary resting
place on the banks of the Ohio at Fort
Massac. Hence, it was first occupied
by white men in 1912.
George Rogers Clark carried the
American flag with him during his
conquest of the! northwest. AS he
landed at Fort Massac, June "a, 1878.
it is not only possible but quite prob
able that at Fort Massac the stars and
stripes Were first unfurled in Illinois
by Clark and his men.
In 1887 Spain endeavored to intrigue
for the seizure of Fort Massac. The
price to be paid was 100000. Luckily
the plot failed.
In 1874 when General Wayne sent
Major Thomas Doyle to serve as a
garrison, the fort was occupied for the
first time by military forces of the
United States. Fort Massac. thus re-
built and garrisOned, became a post
of considerable Importance, and so re-
manned until after Burrs conspiracy
Aaron Burr arrived there in June
1905, spending four days with General
Wilkinson. He sought to aid the Span
lsh, who were advancing upon Will
klnson. Burr's colleague in this enter
prise was Blennerhasset whose wife
spent day and night at Fort Mas
sac. Wilkinson reported Burrs trait
orous act to President Jefferson and
aided in arresting the guilty.
During the war of 1912 Fort Mas