The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31


 Birmingham and past Mount Pinson to Bear Meat Cabin CBlountsvillel, on to Tennessee via Ditto's Landing tWhites- burgD. The Indians who lived at Mound Camp Ground and around Slyton often spoke of a white woman who had been captive going back home and the fine horses they rode. old Bear Meat, owner of the cabin, was said to be a very in- telligent Indian, and from considerable dealing with United States agents and his frequent trips to Huntsville, spoke English very well, frequently said that she passed through his village, and that he had conversed with her. The late MT Thomas Nations, one of the earliest pioneers of Blountsville valley and who owned beautiful estate and fine brick mansion on the Huntsville road about two miles north of Bountsville, often said that the party of gentlemen and Mrs. Crawley passed up that road He was living there when the United States sol diers cut down the crops of the white intruders in Browns valley; also was well acquainted with the brave and un- fortunate Cherokee warrior. Stooka.
 Colonel Pickett. in his history of Ala bama (volume page 47) says that in the year 17Sl a party of more than one hum dred persons, including women and chil- dren, fleeing from Natchez. Mississippi crossed the Warrior river at the Tusca- loosa falls, by alternately wadng and swimming from rock to rock This was S4 years before any settlement was made by Americans, which was In the year 1915. Mir. Evans of the prominent mer- cantile firm of Evans &. Carman, New York city, said that when a boy in that year he marked and shipped goods to a United States trading post at the Black Warrior falls.
 MT. Gaines was a member of a distin- icla fa,, ..P Edmund P Gaines of the United States army. He was a man of placid manners and courtly demeanor, the truth and goodness of his soul beamIng plainly In his face. He knew his duty at all times and did it. 1t has been said that ''all great forces move silently and his en- tire career was an exemplfication of the wisdom of that adage. The most trying event failed to remove the serenity of his temper and his self-control was perfect: but he was as firm as iron and could neither be influenced or intimidated to swerve one iota from his purpose During his term of office the state passed through a dangerous crisis in which it's very life was threatened, and but for his powerful influence With the Chpc- Jaws and other friendly tribes and his prompt action in sending a swift and trusty messenger through the wilderness to Governor Blount at Nashville, inform ing him of the intended alliance of the Creek Indians with the British, and his timely suggestion that Gen. Andrew Jackson, with whom he was personally acquainted, should bring his brigade of mounted volunteers at once to subdue them, is due the fact that the Creek war was ended in remarkably brief period of time and the probable exterrni- nation of all the new settlements of whites in Alabama was prevented.
 That he stood high in the confidence of the government and the territorial off cials is manifested by the celerity with which Governor Blouns responded in dis patching General Jackson and a large body of gallant troops to the scene of ac- ton. The 30 battles, followed by the memorable battle of tic Horse Shoe, in which more than 4000 Creek warriors were slain, were momentous events in the his tory of Alabama, and when the dove of peace lowered over the land, human hearts were lifted up in gratitude for salvation, and human hands set to work in the building of a great commonwealth. MT. Gaines lived to see it's wonderful progress and prosperity, himself beloved and honored by all He passed away at the advanced age of S9 years
 Of him gentleman of rare culture and who personally knew him writes fol- lows:
 MT. Gaines was a genial as well as an honest man, deeply imbued with a full recognition of the justice and humanity of Washington's policy, and in all his dealings with the Indians he won their highest regard, so that his personal char acter was of great service to the United States in making treaties and arranging terms for the cesslon of territory. These treaties were made at his house, and at such times he would entertain at his table all the chief men of the tribes interested In June, 1S05 the Indians met the United States commissioners at St. Stephens by appointment. The object was to purchase the Indian claim. so as to connect the Tombigbee settlement with that of Natchez, and the Indians assembled in large numbers The chiefs and their cap tains were invited every day to dine with the commissioners at Mir Gaines house, and therefore he saw much of them dur ing their stay at St. Stephens, which he says caused both surprise and admira- ton. That he found them not such saw ages as he had imagined, and that they had vein of humor and pleasantly with which they were not usually credited. MT. Gaines then relates an incident which took place at his table to illustrate this, where about 20 United States officials and an equal number of chiefs and captains were at dinner the Indians enjoying the wine fully equal to the whites.
 There were three great medal-chiefs present, Mingo- -homo-stubbee, Mingo- Puck -Shennubbee and Push-matta- Ina, and they all seemed to enjoy the wit and humor that the occasion brought forth, interpreters being interspersed at the table to facilitate the conversation. A young American lieutenant made him. self troublesome to the old chief, Mingo- by asking a great many questions Finally he asked who among them was considered their greatest war rior The chief answered: 'T was con- sidered the greatest warrior until on re- turning from a visit to President Wash ington. at Philadelphia, I found out it was not the case" "Ahi indeed how did you make the discovery" inquired the lieutenant. well" replied the chief, "the good President sent us back home in a ship to New Orleans, and when we were out at sea, entirely out of sight of land, a storm came upon us. The waves were so high they seemed almost to kiss the clouds and the ship rolled about among them, until I thought that we would never again see the beautiful hills and valleys, forests and streams of our be- loved country, and that our bones would lie scattered on the bottom of the strange waters instead of resting peacefully with our departed relations. All this alarmed me, and l found that I had not the irmness in the hour of danger and the utter fearlessness of death that a great warrior should feel, and concluded to go down into the cabin to see how rny friend over there, Mingo- Puck-Shennubbee, was affected by this new and strange danger, I and what do you think he was doing?" The description of the storm had attract ed the attention of every one at the table.