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

IIdlS
ALBEpT 6STtpaGltE
PoNTlAc.

Qlanket,s SlOueneu INTO lus C0uFl!dFu
of the Detroit fort one spring day in.
17GS. At his heels followedsa thropg
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 we're 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;
itors 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 brayest
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
defenseless English garrison and
townsfolk massacred.
A Massacre That Failed.
But an Indian girl had whispered
the secret 20 the commandant of the
garrison. So. when Pontiac staiked
into the Enclosure, he found the walls
bristling with armed and prepared
soldiers. 1t was venture on which
hung his entire career; perhaps the
whole future Of Americas colonlsts.
And the trick had failed Yet Pom
taos 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 1920. He early be-
came chief Of the Ottawa, oiibway
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
dams were forever fighting the Eng
lish, they were almost always
Frances loyal friends. When, IN 1915,
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 Frencii and Indian
death-trap near Pittsburgh, Pontiac Is
said to have led the Indian section OF
the attack.
Then, in 1860, when the French lost
Canada to the English,Sa New Hamp-
shire offcer-Maior Roagers-march-
troit to take possession Of that fort.
-Four hundred Indians ayein ambush
to destroy the troop: Pontiac per.
suaded the 400 lurking savages to-
give up the idea OF attack. Then he
met the colonlsts and! escorted them
safely to Detroit. He was prepared
to be the Englishmeus friend. But
the, colonists did not treat him as he
thought SO great chief ought to 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.
getber in any strong or permanent
confederation. Yet such was Pontiac's
genius that he combined numbers Of
tribes into one mighty league against
the English. He mapped out a fine
plan of campaign. There were y I'M
portant frontier forts held by the
coloulsts. Pontiac arranged that at
certain date each of these forts was
to be attacked aud 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
besieged Detroit. But indians have
not the knowledge to conduct a long
siege. When once the Detroit garrl.
son sailed forth against Pontiacs
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 Indians
captured eight of the twelve forts and
spread terror throughout the western
settlements, yet Detroit had been the
key 10 the whole situation And Pom
tiac'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 u treaty was signed
with the English, an Pontiac became
outwardly peaceable again. The
great conspiracy had failed. Before
another could be formed a KasBaskia
Illinois Indian, in 1869 was bribed by
an English trader to murder Pontiac.
The price offered Cor the crime was a
barrel Of %hiskey.
The Illinois assassin creDt up be-
hind Pontiac in the forest and treaeh.
erously killed him. The mighty chief
tain was buried at ST. Louis with
military honors, and his adqring fol-
lowers avenged his death by nearly
wiping out every Indian tribe and
family in all Illinois.