Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-20
WASHINGTON:
r. DANGERS HE ENCOUNTERED


Listen; The Great Spirit protects that man
chief of nations. and people yet unborn shall
hail him the founder of mighty empire.
Shawnee Indian Chieftain's Prophecy.
was first called to
M the public service OF his country
W in 1853, when only twenty-one
years old. At that time the French OF
Canada were erecting forts on lands to
the west. part of which belonged to Vir-
ginia. The governor of that state select
ed young Washington to carry letter to
the French commander on the Ohio river
to forbid the encroachment. The four
hundred-mile journey of the messenger
was full OF peril especially since two
hundred miles OF the distance lay through
trackless wilderness OF roaming In
dams. 1t was on the return from his
official errand that Washington encoun-
tered his greatest difficulties. such as
those described in the following letter:
port Of my proceedings to his honor the governor
determined TO prosecute my journey the near
necessary papers. pulled off my clothes and tied
myself up ia a watch coat Then with a gun
In hand and pack ON my back. III which were
my papers and provisions. ] set out with Mr..
Gist. fitted in the same manner"
Washington then told of his falling i'll
with a party of hostile Indians. One of
the red men fired at Washington at Il
range of fifteen feet yet missed his aim
Not only Washington spared at that
time from the enemy, but travelling afoot
all night and most of the next day i'll
severe December weather he was given
strength to endure the hardships OF the
natural elements On this same journey
the young traveller was forced to make
a crude raft for crossing the Allegheny
river, which he had expected TO find
frozen and solid. Midway of the stream
the party. becoming damned in the ice
tried to release the raft by using large
poles with the result that Washington
was thrown into ten feet of water. Saved
again from an early death, the young
hero was enabled to board his raft.
In the celebrated defeat of Braddock
near Fort Duquesne Washington had
casion TO display great courage and self
possession Within a short time after
the first firing of the enemy Col Wash
ington was the only aid uninjured, con
sequently 1t was upon him that the whole
duty of distributing the orders of the
commander devolved. Although the young
American had two horses killed under
him and four balls passed through his
coat. he escaped unhurt while every
bIi was elmer Killed or
wounded. Out of eighty-two officers,
twenty-six We're killed and thirty-seven
wounded. Among the soldiers In the ranks
il4 lay dead or suffering from their
wounds. After "A conflict of several hours
the troops gave way in all directions
Then Washington and two others carried
Braddock off the field mortally wounded
The preservation of Washington during
TINS battle was almost miraculous. He
was exposed more than any other Off
mo NJ
attacks on account of his superior brav-
cry. 1t Is said that famous Shawnee
Indian chieftain afterward asserted that
ne discharged his rifle seventeen times
during the battle in his efforts to hit
Washington. From that incident the red
skin prophesied that Washington would
never be Killed by bullet, and that he
would live to be a mighty chief.
In IT,. during his exploration of the
Kama wia. Washington and his compan-
ions received a visit from a party OF In
dians. The Interpreter advancing an
nounced that he was conducting a party
which consisted OF a grand sachem and
some attendant warriors. The chief was
a great man among the north western
tribes and the same who had commanded
the Indians against Braddock seventeen
years before. Hearing that Col. Wash
ingtOn, the man at whom he had emptied
seventeen loads OF his rifle to no avail.
was In the western country. he had set
out on a mission to find him. Col. Wash
ington received the ambassador with
courtesy. When the chief was introduced
To Washington he is said to have recog-
nized the hero of the Braddock night, al
though surrounded by colonial officers
Washington's friendly hand was extended
To the grand chief as to the warriors, but
the cllieftaln showed such reverential
Difference to the colonel that neither
would he clasp his hand nor eat of the
feast which was prepared for the red
men. Seeing his followers amazed. the
sachem spoke:
II chief and the ruler many tribes.
My Influence extends TO the waters uf the great
lakes and far TO the blue mountains. ! have
travelled long, weary path that might see the