The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-11-01
Black Hawk, Erected by Sculptor
dorado Tail, Again OVerlOOkS
Former Hunting Grounds Of
the SaCs and Foxes.

va Y the magic of the sculptor
Black Hawk of early Illinois
fame has come back second
time to overlook his former
dominion from the cliffs of the Rock
river.
What may become one of the
most famous statues in the world
stands above Eagles Nest, across the
river from Oregon, III. 1t has been
in process of making three years and
is now near completion The Indian
figure, which is forty-eight feet high,
stands facing the south, looking down
the river. The head and profile and
folded arms appear perfect in detail
as they are outlined against the sky
and forest from many viewpoints
around the country.
The claim OF the statue to fame lies
in three things: First, any one who
runs-even any one who autos-may
read its message. Those who are rush.
ing by in autos and steam cars and
motorboats stop or turn to look as
long as they can and fall into reverie
over the former occupancy by the red
man of the places they are now in.
The statues great size, forty eight
feet, without counting either the arti-
fetal base or the natural rock founda-
ton $50 feet high on which 1t is placed
puts 1t on scale with the Goddess
of Liberty In New York harbor and
the great statue Of THE Pilgrim on
the New England coast.
The third and greatest claim to fame
Is that 1t is built to be permanent
And it is believed that 1t will outlast
the sphinx. the pyramids and even
the stones of the druids.
Concrete Key to Future.
1t is utilitarian concrete which has
unlocked the door to a future which 1t
Is hoped will make the statue of Black
Hawk overtake the sphinx in age by
enduring after time has effaced that
grim figure.
So far concrete has not been applied
to the art Of real sculpture in modern
times. Fountains and pergolas and
outdoor architecture to which artistic
scrolls and designs are added have
been made of Ii. Temporary figures
have been erected at exhibitions in
| which some form of concrete has been
used haphazard In the ruins of Rome
| the Parthenon statues are found to
| have been made of It.
When he was on a tour IN Europe
dorado Taft, the Chicago sculptor. dis
covered this, and there came to him
his great idea for the means of maxi
ing an enduring statue. With the
process in mind It was not long before
an adequate subject presented itself.
For thirteen years he has had his sum-
mer home and studio MT Eagles Nest.
on the Rock river. Standing for the
| hundredth time at the highest point
OF the cliff and looking south at the
land and river. he never failed to re-
member that It was from here that
Black Hawk was finally driven out of
Illinois.
Romantic Story of Black Hawk.
Black Hawk, chief Of the Sacs and
Foxes, fought on the English side In
the war OF 1912. He saw sooner than
anybody else that the whites would
take all the Indians happy hunting
grounds from him. He tried every
thing from war TO treaties to check
the whites advanee. AS be grew old
| be became more attached to bis home
i al t@4T@ stsk
! against removal to the Iowa reserva-
ton by the government. He even
tried living IN peace with the whites.
but be had achieved such reputation
| that any depredatlons that any Indian
committed were laid at his tepee door.
Finally he and his people were driv-
en- across the Mississippi by Uncle
Sans soldiers. After that, as an old
man, Black Hawk petitioned the gov
eminent that he might go back and
view his old domains on the Rock
river. Many members of the tribe
were brought with him, and suddenly
there was panic among the whites.
Whether it was intentional from the
first on the part Of the Indians or the
outcome Of suspicion, war was pre-
cipitated. Abraham Lincoln and JEFF
ferson Davis both fought with the
whites, and Black Hawk was made a
prisoner. Afterward he was ignomini.
ously shown around the country after
being taken TO washington to see
President Jackson
Reinoarnation In Concrete.
Now in concrete he again surveys
his domain with an air of immutable
sitsdain,n as enc artist puts 1t.
'Black Hawk is my greatest foolish
ness Mr.. Taft said the other day.
Il did not study any one type or race
Of Indians he said. aIt Is COM
posite Of the Foxes and the sacs. the
Sioux and MohaWks, and, I'D short. 1t
represents the Indian personality. /
have left of The usual Indian trap
/ pings the feather and bnckskin and
other conventional signs. There is even
a hint Of the old Roman in the face.