The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-04-25
E',.,;;::.7 & S.,,..;o| Place Of Illinois
F:0nG,T Uncovered.
One Present at Ceremony Tells Of
Weird Fites Of Fox indians in
Placing Memorial Over Grave
of Co.. George Davenport.

Rock Island Ill.-An old cedar post
placed at the head Of the grave of
murdered Illinois pioneer by friendly
Fo~ Indians who mourned the set
tiers death, has been uncovered in a
heap nf musty legal papers in the Of
nee Of an attorney here. Though
sworEleaten and partially decayed at
still shows weird traces that once
'wcTe crude sketches symbohcal Of
grief and battlefield achievements
A band of prairie brigands swOoped
down upon the home of Col. George
Davenport. wealthy settler who own
ed the island in the Mississippi on
which the government arsenal is now
bui;}, and murdered him. The crime.
committed July 4. 1S45, is recalled by
old residents in Rock Island and
Davenport, Iowa, which town, by the
way. is named after the victim About
the same time that one of the murder
ers was hanged for tho bloody deed
some Fox Indians who. through their
dealings with Davenport. had come to
have a deep friendship for him, fash
toned this old cedar grave post and
erected it at the head of his grave.
For some years the post marked the
grave of Colonel Davenport Then his
body was removed to family lot in
Chippianock cemetery. south Of Rock
Island. and for years the old grave
post of the Indians was thought to be
lost. Recently it was discovered when
the musty contents of an old law Of
flee were moved into modern quar-
ters The founder of the firm had
been Davenports attorney
Tho weird rites with which the IN
diaHs Ilant> the grave plot are mar
rated by ono who was present at the
ceremony and to whom. according to
his statement, the facts stand out in
his memory as clearly as over
1T was On . Friday afternoon.
about the mid,ilo Of the year 1915.
thot | Venl to tho island where the
Davenport HON stcad VAS and where
Col. George hu;i boon buried Arrived
thu re- behold = band Of Fox Indians
wiz whom he had always bnen worry
friendly. lying in 4 circle about his
grave. In the center Of tive ring of
PROSTATE Indians the head of the
graz" rose a new white cedar post
The ceremony began when two Of
the braves arose and drew weird fig
ur''s' upon the post. Others did the
same in pairs and in turn A third
Indian carrying a war club. advanced
and drank to the health Of the dece.
dent. then walked three times around
the graz, delivering himself of most
earnest cNhcrtations. This was 70.
peated until each Indian had taken
part in the ceremony The pictures
that were drawn upon the post were
to represent the browning achieve
ments Of him who drew them and at
the same time were meant to display
the grief Of the Indians at the loss Of
their friend.
FOLLOWING the ceremony of planting
the post huge feast was set UPON
the grass. a health was drunk inyok.
ing the Great Spirit to open the doors
to admit their friend Colonel Daven-
port Then meat Of various kinds
was brought upon the table. After
the dinner several Indian dances were
jndulged in. | left the braves as
nightfa!l came. gathered about a camp
fire. preparing further to do honor to
their murdered friend"