Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-26

the Little Wabash. ordinarily three mile,
apart. now were one stream. five miles
wide 1t took the little force three days
70 cross On the twelfth day out from
haskaskia. Clark reached the Embarrass
swampy hillock the desperately worn
na1-starved men huddled together TO,
.ne night without fire, without food, wet
10 the SKIN and nearly frozen.
Next morning they heard the sunrise
gun of VincenneS. Their goal was nine
miles away over a waste of waters. They
came at last to the Wabash
Here is portion of Clark's report:
From the spot we now lay on it was
about ten miles to town, and every foot
or the way put together that was not
three feet under water and upward
would not have made the leng h of two
and half miles. and not a mouthful of
provisions. If l was sensible that you
would let no person see this relation
would give you detail of our suffering
Tor TOUR days in crossing those waters
and the manner it was done, as l am
sure you wouldn't credit it. out it is too
incredible for any person to believe ex-
cept those that are we'll acquainted with
me as you are, or had experienced some
~
cuse me until I have the pleasure of see
Ing you personally"
But if the flood brought terrible suffer-
Ing to them. it brought, too. safety. For
cross the Wabash. Then they captured a
boat in which were five Frenchmen from
Vincennes. From these they learned that
Hamilton had no suspic on of an alta X
At last they were across the river but
they had to wade three miles to a hillock
on1I r,oi-
clothes were ice-clad before they fell ex-
hausted to sleep through the night. Next
day they had to cross Horseshoe plain,
which had been transformed into a lake
by the flood waters. All along the line
men dropped and it was only by the ut
most exertfons of the strongest that they
were saved from drowning. 1t was four
miles across this plain, and when the
edge of an island grove was reached
there were few in the party that d d not
women little meat was obtained, and
by making broth the poor. exhausted
men were revived.
Hamilton still was unaware of Clark S
arrival. The town was two miles away
Clark, believing that bluff would count
for a good deal in his position. sent a
proclamation into the town advising the
people he would attack the fort that
night. warning all friends of the king to
get within the fort with the hair buyer
general and promising good treatment
to all who were friends of liberty. Every
one was ordered to keep within doors. as
any one found on the streets would be
considered an enemy.
Remarkable as it may seem, Hamilton
knew nothing of this proclamation. Peo-
pie in the fort saw people in the public
tn "a
per. but did not inquire what 1t signified.
The people in the town could see Clark's
camp. but trees near the fort hid Ii from
Hamilton and his men. The resid ants of
the town. appalled, by the daring of
man who came in such flood to attack
the fort and holding him in awe on ac-
count of what he had done at kaskia.
were afraid to advise Hamilton of his
peril SO they hurried to their homes and
awaited developments.
At nightfall Clark entered Vincennes.
One section of his force surrounded the
town and the other proceeded to the fort.
From some leading citizens Clark got
plentiful supply of powder and ball, which
he was in urgent need of. When Clark
opened fire on the fort Lieut.. Gov. Ham,
ilton and some of his officers were drink
ing punch along with Capt. Helms, their
prisoner Hamilton thought the shots
were fired by roistering Indians, who
signaled their arrival in town by
a discharge Of firearms. 1t was not until
news that some of his men were wounded
was reported to him that he understood
swallowed the last mouthful in manner
so hurried that it upset him for the rest
Of the afternoon, because the doorbell
rang and the aides Of the executive board
came rustling in. Also, tiptoeing clerk
from the bureau of publicity twisted an
L. hn 1o,. \
TO him, Il guess you better come here
Jim, they've got things all ball
I'd up about Judson's stand on the tariff
and James hurried from one part of his
home to the other, transacting business
all the way.
Paw whooped his youngest hopeful
hat evening, as he came home from
school, paw, what does Tom Judson
mean when he says his paw says you're
Paw, thur amt no ole hen
oecked you, is there? Say. paw. / licked
Tom for sayin' you wuz henpecked Say,
paw. you going TO be home ever day
low?''
The publicity bureau is great institu-
ion. and from 1t Genevieve, with much
dignity, sends forth campaign literature
whenever James is before the public.
You ought to see her house, cooes
he wife of another prominent politician.
She has those men trapesing in every
where and the meals are something fierce.
am thankful to say that not one of that
political set ever finds himself under my
'oof." Which is hardly a thing to be
proud Of. either.
James spends much of his time away
rom home. He has to. Of course. But 1t
$ a fact that no matter how crowded
hotels are, James will always have a
DOM to himself. and he takes his meals
n silent and solitary grandeur wherever
,e may be. No matter how his friends
nay clamor. his rue Is invariable.
The crowd can have his society during
rom home.
Copyright. 1900. by the Associated Literary