The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-01-29
KEoKUK

The Sac tribe met In solemn coln-
ell to choose chief. At least they
thought they were gathered for that
purpose. One man-Keokuk C"The
Watchful One -knew better. He
knew that the CHIEF, was already prac-
Itleally chosen and that he himself was
booked for the high ONCE. For years
Keokue had schemed and toiled and
Intrigued in secret for the thiettain.
ship. He. had many obstacles to over.
come. For instance, he did not belong
to one of the tribes ruling families.
from which chiefs we're always taken.
! in fact, he was rank outsider" the
last man that the Indian aristocrats Of
The old school would be likely to
choose to rule them. Yet by. years of
sheer diplomacy he had oltwitted
them all. And when the election was
over he was declared chief.
A Blow and a Feud.
Up from the circle Of leaders leaped
an Indian warrior-Blaek Hawk. Dis.
gusted at the choice Of his people. he
showed his contempt for the new chief
and for the election itself by tearing
of his folded blanket and striking
Keokuk across the face with it Keo-
kuk bore the blow meekly. But at a
/ FAR later day he avenged 1t. Thus be-
gan the lifelong feud between Keokuk
and Black Hawk.
Keckuk was born in the Sac and
Fox territory In Illinois about 1850. OF
lowly parentage, In a nation" where
ancestry counted for much, he never
theless set out early in life,to rise to
the summit of power. His life motto
was that the men who knows when 70
pretend to lose may often win. He
was a fighter. Tales of his exploits
on the battlefeld-both on the eide of
the British in the war of 1912 and
against rival Indian trlbes-were told
far and near. But mere warlike
courage could not avail to win him
the promotion he wished. So he
turned to diplomacy He was wond-
rous orator and quickly made name
for himself in tribal councils.
Keokuk was too wise not to see
the uselessness of opposing the white
mems westward progress. He fore.
saw that the government would soon
be all.powerful in the west. So he
not only pretended to make friends
with the white authorities, but man
aged always to use the seeming friend
ship to his own advantage Where
gallant, impetuous Black Hawk broke
himself to pieces in the vain effort to
thrust back the tidesof civilization, Ke-
okuk crafty swan with that tide to
prosperity and safety. When the
government bought for g mere pit.
lance the ancient hunting grounds and
village Of the sacs and Foxes, Keokuk
urged his people to obey the white
mans orders and move westward to
new lands,
Black Hawk refused to move west
with the bulk Of his nation" He
called on the sacs and Foxes to rally
10 his standard and to attack the
white men. The council had practical.
~ decided to do so, when Keokuk
arose ard7by marvelously eloquent
speech persuaded the bulk of the ma
ton" to keep the peace. His pleas
are said to have held back other
tribes from joining the confederation.
Thus Black Hawk went to war against
the government with only q small part
Of the force he would otherwise have
had. Keokuk was beginning to pay
for the blow Back Hawk had struck
him. And, as the wars terrible death
list showed, the debt was paid by
many. an innocent man-both red and
white-as well as by Black Hawk him
self.
Black Hawk was totally routed by
the government troops late in 1899 and
was taken captive. While his enemy
was in prison Keokuk made his own
position so strong with Indians and
Washington authorities alike that he
was appointed by the president as
head chief of all his nation" He
lived, in royal state at a village on
the site of the present city of Keokuk.
la. Black Hawk returned from csptiv-
fly in 1888, found himself deposed,
supplanted and utterly subjugated by
the willy diplomat.
The Final Revenge.
The local Indian official, Major Gar
land, at banquet given in honor Of
Black Hawks release, told the re-
turned captive that the president de-
sired him henceforth to obey Keo-
kuks orders in all things. Black
Hawk, in fury at this GROWING In
suit, declared he would obey no one.
Keokuk smiled blandly and said:
Our brother is old. Let US forget
what he has just said"
Maddened, helpless before the smil-
ing diplomacy of his foe, Black Hawk
gave the impression of being unworthy
the loving kindness Of his great and
good friend, Keokuk. But members
of Black Hawks former band under.
stood the situation and sided with
their old chieftain. Between them and