The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-02-01
.aLAeK AAWK

known Of his several indian names
vas Maxi: TaIme shelia.Isiak ~
sneans Big bird; that Is black and Isl
Usually translated Black Hawk he
had the figure Of 4 Gfeek SOD ana 2
mead and face closely resembling sirl
Walter SCOTS.
Black Hawk began life h ne sac
and Fox Nation, near Rock River I'M
illinois. BY the time he was fifteen
he had gone through che torture and
weird ceremonials emitting him 90
can. himself 4 brave Next year. iIt3
1888. the slxteeny eal-old lad went
the head Of small war party against
100 Usage Indians and won his arstI
victory. at nineteen he led 200 sacsI
and Foxes against 200 osages, RnllyI
100 Of the osages were slain, and
Black Hawk with his own hand killed
six OF his foes.
ARefusal TO Yield.
In the War Of 1879 Black Hawk was
persuaded by Tecumseh to join the
British ranks as a brigadier general.
with 500 naive followers he did val.
liant deeds against the United States,
and incidentally learned much about
civilized warfare, Keokuk head
chief Of the tribe, was-or pretended
10 pea friend Of the government
RIack Hawk hated Keokuk and START
ed strong opposition faction, with
himself al. its head. A treaty had
been made whereby for yearly pay
rnent Of $1,000 the sacs and Foxes
were to turn over to the white men a
7OO.mile tract Or land east Of the
Mississippi river. Accordingly Keo.
kuk and his followers moved west
across the MississIppl, Black Hawk
refused to 50. He said the officials
had made the chiefs drunk and trick
ed them into the unfair treaty, and,he
refused to be bound by any sucG.
agreement Then he started a con.
federacy OF neighboring tribes for
the purpose Of destroying all settlers
who should try to seize the Indian.
lands.
BIoodshed followed. Governor Rey.
nolds OF Illinois called ont the militia.
A brief campaign Was followed by a
new treaty, which Black Hawk signed.
In accordance with this agreement he.
moved his braves and squaws across
the Mississippi But he only stayed.
there long enough to:!perfect his plan
for a great Indian confederacy against
the white men. Then, assured that
many tribes would flock TO his stands
ard, he rectossed to the rivers east
bank. But only small proportion Of
the warriors from other tribes whose
aid he had relied on actually 5olned
him. 80 he found himself on the
brink OF war; with the government
and with perhaps less than half the
following he needed for such a con.
ffct He sent a flag of truce to q
government force that was pursuing
him. The indian who bore the flag
was Shutdown. by the soldlers. Where
at Black Hawk in fury attacked the
troops (27O men under Major Isaiah,
stlllmanl on May "A, 1892, and with
only seventy Indians put them to ut:
ter rout. The was was on!
q Black Hawk swept like wtldare
through the nearby settlements, leay.
ing fame and death in his wake. The.
government saw 1t had a real from
tier war on It's hands and sent broad
cast a call for troops. Qn the con
bict that Followed there were four
officers who we're later 10 win ma,
tlonal fame, They were' Abraham
Lincoln, Winfield Scott, Zachary 2Tay.
lor and Jefferson Dayis.) Black Hawk
attacked Apple River Fort on June
"a. 1892. and next day defeated a,
strong detachment Of United States.
troops. But the odds against him
were too severe. As the white sol
diers masscd IN greater numbers Black
Hawk and his gallant braves were
forced gradually backward, fighting
furfously for every inch OF the way
until they reached the mouth o. the
Bad Ak river. : * United States steam
ship lay of the shore.
Insult to a Fallsn-Foe.
Black Hawk sent forward a flag d
truce. The steamship dlsregarded the
white flag and hurled shells into the
Indian camp, where s1laws and
papooses we're huddled. The pursuing
troops finished the rout. The Indian
army vas cut to pieces Black Hawk
escaped, but was soon captured. He
was held prisoner for months at Fort.
ress Monroe. then taken on tour Of
New. York and other big cities that hr
might. see the full power OF the white
man. He was at last, permitted to re
turn home, only to find that the gov.
eminent Mad made Keokuk chief Of
his old.ttine warriors. Beaten. de-,
posed from rank and power, home.
less. hopeless, the old chief did not
long survive his disgrace. he died.
Oct. 8, 1888, near Des MoInes, Ia.
when Black Hawk was captured In
1882 he turned to his fellow prisoners
and cried. Farewell, my nation!
Black Hawk tried to save you and
avenge your wrongs, He shed the
blood Of many Of the whites. Now he
a. ,rJSoror and bIa nJay,a ira nvar.