Sharp County record., 1911-12-29
A~%~~~~~
PONTIAC.

blanket, slouched into the courtyard
Of the Detroit fort one spring day in
1853. AT his heels followed a throng
Of savages, each wearing the peace
blanket and carrying some article Of
sale. A more harmless crowd Of In
dians, 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
stors 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 we're to be cast
aside the gates thrown open to a
larger body Of hidden Indians, and the
defenseless English garrison and
townsfolk massacred,
A Massacre That Failed.
But an Indian girl had whispered
the secret to the commandant Of tho
garrison. So when Pontiac stalked
into the inclosure, he found the walls
bristling with armed and prepared
soldiers. It was a venture on which
hung his entire career perhaps the
whole future Of Americas colonists.
And the trick had failed. Yet Pom
tiac's heavy copper-colored features
showed no disappointment as he calm
Jy stalked out again at the head Of his
baiIled followers and proceeded to lay
siege to the place.
Pontiac was born on the Ottawa
river, Canada, in 1920 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
dians were forever fighting the Eng
lish, they were almost always
frances loyal friends. When, In 17l6,
the French garrison at Detroit was
threatened, Pontiac and hLs braves
rescued the fort from peril. In 1755.
when the British general BraddocG,
h1ts pIar fy,tA nH To-
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, New Hamp-
shire ofIlcer-Major 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 |
10 be the Englishmen's friend. But
the colonIsts did not treat him as he
thought so great a chief ought to be
treated. His friendship turned to
hate He plotted to destroy every
Engllshman In the west
The Great Conspiracy.
Tho Indians have seldom stood 10.
gether IN any strong or permanent
confederation Yet such was Pontlao's
genius that he combined numbers Of
tribes into one mighty league against
the English He mapped out fine
plan Of campaign. There were 70 i'm.
rortant frontier forts held by tse
oolonlsts, Pontiac arranged that at
a certain date each Of these forts was
10 be attacked and destroyed and tie
surrounding country rayagsd. He him
self moved against Detroit, The In.
dian girls treason to her people saved
that fort from surprise, Pontiac then
besicged Detroit But Indians have
not the knowledge 10 conduct long
siege, When once the Detroit garri-
son sailed forth against Pontlae's
camp, the colonial troops were 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 Indiana
captured eight Of tho twelve forts and
spread terror throughout the western
settlements, yet Detroit had beon the
key TO the whole situation And Pom
taos failure 10 capture that strong
hold had Lost for him the trust Of
many Of hls followers Some Of the
tribes deserted, The confederation
fell 10 r'eees. The war dragged on
until 1765 Then a treaty waa aligned
with tho English. an Pontiac bocamc
outwardly reeoeahlo again, The .
great conspiracy had failed, Before
another could be formed a RaaJaalsia
lllihoIs indian, IN 1889, was brihed by
hn Engliah trader 10 murder Pontiac.
The price offered for tha crime was a
barrel Of whlsIJoy
The nllnoia ascaaaln erept up be.
hind Pontiac IN the forest and treaeh.
efously killed him, The mighty chief