The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-12-26
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ERIgaIlNDEGN
ALBEP7 P1Ss6M TtRhthe
PONTIAC.

OF sayages, each wearing the peace
blanket and carrying some article OF
sale. A more harmless crowd OF In.
dams, apparently, could not have been
found In all America.
So carefully were the blankets ar.
ranged that the keenest eye could
not have discovered the arsenal Of
rifles, knives and tomahawks that
were hidden beneath their folds. The
leader Of the supposedly peaceful Wis
ftors was Pontiac, was chief Of three
northwestern tribes and one OF the
greatest Indians In all history. His
was the plan for entering the Detroit
stockade. at the head Of his bravest
men, Disgusting the whole party as a
band Of traders. Having entered the
fort. the blankets were to be cast
aside. the gates thrown open to a
larger body Of hidden Indians, and the
d%efenseless English garrison and
townsfolk massacred.
A Massacre That Failed.
But an Indian girl had whispered
the secret to the commandment OF the
garrison. So, when Pontiac stalked
into the Enclosure, he found the walls
bristling with armed and prepared
soldiers. 1t was a venture on which
hung his entire career; perhaps the
whole future OF, Americas ic~olonists.
And the trick had failed. Yet Pom.
tiac's heavy copper-colored features
showed no disappointment as he calm.
ly stalked out again at the head Of his
bafled followers and proceeded to lay
siege TO the place. :
Pontiac was born on the Ottawa
river, Canada. in 1870. He early be.
came chief OF the Ottawa, ojibway
and Pottawattomie tribes. France rul-
ed Canada in those days. The north.
ern Indians loved the French. The
English never had the knack OF get
Ting on with the savages. But the
French had. Hence, while the In.
dlans were forever fighting the Eng.
fish, they were almost always
Frances loyal friends. When. in 1746,
the French garrison at Detroit was
threatened, Pontiac and his braves
rescued the fort from peril. In 1855,
when the British general, Braddock.
Numbered into a French and Indian
death.trap near Pittsburgh, Pontiac is
said to have led the Indian section OF
the attack.
Then, in 1850, when the French lost
Canada to the English, a New Hamp-
shire ofieer-AIajor Rodgers-march-
troit TO take possession OF that fort.
Four hundred Indians lay in ambush
to destroy the troops. Pontiac per-
suaded The 400 lurking savages to
give Up the idea of attack. Then he
met the %colonists and escorted them
safely To Detroit. He was prepared
to he the Englishmen's friend. But
the colonists did not treat him as he
thought so great a chief ought 10 be
treated. His friendship turned to
hate. He plotted to destroy every
EnglIshman in the west.
The Great Conspiracy.
The Indians have seldom stood to-
gether in any strong or permanent
confederation. Yet such was Pontiac's
genius that he combined numbers OF
tribes into one mighty league against
tho English. lie mapped out a fine
plan OF campaign. There we're e i'm
rortant frontier forts held by TIE
colonists. Pontiac arranged that at
a certain date each OF these forts was
to be attacked and destroyed and the
surrounding country ravaged. He him.
self moved against Detroit. The In
dian girls treason to her people saved
that fort from surprise. Pontiac then
bcsieged Detroit. But Indians have
not the knowledge to conduct a long
siege. When once the Detroit garri.
son sailed forth against Pontiac's
camp, the colonial troops we're driven
back again with terrific loss OF life.
But Pontiac was forced to give up the
siege. This wrecked his whole plan
Of CONQUEST. For, though the Indians
captured eight Of the twelve forts and
spread terror throughout the western
settlements. yet Detroit had been the
key to the whole situation. And Pom.
tlac's failure to capture that strong.
hold had lost for him the trust OF
many OF his followers. Some OF the
tribes deserted. The confederation
fell to pieces. The war dragged on
until 1865. Then a treaty was signed
with the English, an Pontiac became
outwardly p%eaceable again. The
great conspiracy had failed. Before
another could Re formed a Kaskaskia
Illinois Indian, in 1863. was bribed by
an English trader to murder Pontiac.
The price offered for the crime was a
barrel Of whiskey.
The Illinois assassin crept up be.
hind Pontiac In the forest and treach.
erously killed him. The mighty chief.
tain was buried at st. Louis with
military honors, and his adorlng fol.
lowers avenged his death by nearly
wiping out every Indian tribe and
family In all Illinois.
Mad! We'll, Ratherl
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