Norwich bulletin., 1913-05-01
AMERICAN INDIANS
TEcUMsEH

council They were Hned up on the sides of a huge square. Colonel flaw about to harapgue them. As Flaw lIins rose to speak, he halted. dunn founded at strange sight.
 Into the hollow square staIked a tall Indian. His face was painted jet black, streaked with queer daubs of white. His haIf-naked body was as black and hideous as his face Upon his head waved a forest of eagle plumes. Behind his back dangled the tail of a newly slain buffalo. Like some nightmare ghost the weirdly- arrayed Indian strode into the square. ages in like disguise. Around the open square they marched in utter silence. their leader haltipg now and then to exchange mystic peace signs" with the more prominent of the Creek chiefs
 Then the odd procession vanished. No word had been spoken Yet the Creeks, who had come to the confer ence perepared to join forces with the United States. suddenly changed their minds, Hawkins most eloquent pleas fell upon deof ears Nor could the commissioner understand what had befallen He asked the name of the black painted leader who had thus broken in upon a solemn council. The Half-awed reply of the Creeks was:
 "Tecumseh!"
 Man Who hated Progress.
 Tecumseh was bravest and wisest of the Shawnee chiefs. He was born near Springfield, O., in 176S. When he was young man he won fame in Waynes Yankee troops. From boy hood he hated the United States Nor could Gen. w. H. Harrison, the local Indian agent. soften his hatred.
 He repudiated all land treaties made with the whites and in 1908 hit upon westward progress. He planned to combine all the warning western tribes and to form them into a mighty federation whose object was to destroy the white men. Teeumseh was helped by his brother, the Prophet" who accomplished q series of neat hand made miracles that made a tremendous impression on the natives.
 The great plan failed. through the loss of the battle of Tippecanoe (at which Teeumseh was not present. ) far south, There he sought to stir up the tribes against the government and to make them allies of the Brit ish. For the War of 1912 was at hand. Like frebrand, he swept through the south. Almost everywhere his HeFce elOquence drew the indians to his standard. In alarm the govern ment tried to check this uprising. Hawkins was sent to urge the Creeks to stand firm in their allegiance to Uncle Sam. But Tecumseh was too clever for him. By marching into the council square and by the use of cer- tain sacred Indian rites he quite spoiled the effect of Hawkins speech.
 Then Tecumseh made a fePVent ap- peal to the Creeks to cast off the white men. to give up farming and to turn back to their old wild life of hunting and fishing. He said he bore that message from the Great with the British. One Creek chief, Big Warrior" by name, doubted this and demanded proof.
 "I will give you proof!H shouted Te- cumseh. When the hour for the up- rising comes you shall see my arm heavens. I go now to Detroit. When I arrive there I shall stamp my foot. and every house in your village shall fall to the ground. This was in the autumn of 1872. In December of that year a comet stretched across the the Creek village. This was proof enough for the Creeks that Tecuseh was inspired.
 A Mysterious Disappearance
 Meantime Tecumseh took the field with the British in the War of 1912. He was made brigadier- general and at the head of thousands of native warriors along the Canadian border did mighty deeds against the United States. Says a British historian:
 But for the red men led by the brave Tecumseh it is probable we should not now have Canada"
 At the siege of Fort Meigs Tecum- sch was foremost in the attack. He saved all the American prisoners there from torture. For. although he hated every white man. he would never permit a captive to be tortured or burned, Just before the famous battle of the Thames Tecumseh laid aside his gorgeous uniform and sword and donned his simple hunting dress. When he was asked swhy he did this he answered simply and fearlessly:
 This day I shall die.''
 Nor after the battle could any trace of him be found It was claimed - but not pdoved-that Col Richard Johnson killed him, But his body was not discovered on the field. Supersti- tious natives believed he was miraou- lously spirited away to the happy hunting grounds. His exact fate is still a mystery General Harrison wrote praising Teeumseh's genius for war and statecraft, and added that but for the westward march of the white men he might have been "foun- der of an empire that would have riv va He'd in glory those of Mexico and