Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-03-22
Marker at Burial Place OF Illinois
Pioneer Uncovered.
Ono Present at Ceremony Ichs OF
Weird Rites OF Fox Indians '"
PLACING Memorial over Grave
OF Col. George Davenport

Rock Island. III An old CEDAR post
placed ut the head OF tho grave W
murdered Illinois pioneer by tr'eh"S
Fox Indians, who mourncd the b''
tiers death. has been uncovered III
heap of musty- legal papers III 'no u,
fee Of an attorney here. ln""f"
worm eaten and partially-decayen ~
the ends. the unique grave marker
still shows weird traces that once
wcrc crude sketches symhoiCH VI
grief and battlefield achievements
A band of prairie brigands swo"p'o
down upon the home OF Col "eo'E'
Davenport n wealthy settler WHO wv"
cd the isIard I'm the MisaiFslppi on
which the government arsenal Is no"
built and murdered him The crime
committed July I. lNi5. Is r"cAh'""l
old residents I'm Rock Island an"
Davenport. Iowa which town. Nv wv
way. is named after the victim ABOUT
| the same time that one OF tho nurue'
ors was hanged for the bloody ue'u
some Fox Indians who, through ther
dealings with Davenport. had come 10
| nave n uffN lIIfHbNH'P w
Toned this old cedar grave post anu
erected II nj the head OF his grave.
For some years the post marked the
grave Of Colonel Davenport 1hen n's
body was removed to family lot w
Chippianock cemetery. south OF NocN
Island and for years the old grave
most OF the Indians was thought to ne
10 diucnvprCd wnRn
the musty contents OF an old law OF
Ace we're moved into modern quar-
ters The founder Of the firm had
been Davenport's attorney
The weird rites with which the In
dams planted the grave plot are mar
rated by one who was present NJ the
ceremony and to whom. according 70
his statement. tho facts stand out In
his memory as clearly m ever.
1T was on Friday afternoon
about the middle of the year 1S15
, that I went to the island whore the
! Davenport homestead was and where
= Col George had been buried Arrived
: there. beheld n band Of Fox Indians
with whom he had always been yer!
friendly. lying In circle about hi
{ grave In the center OF the ring o
PROSTATE Indians. the head Of tn
). grave. rose new white cedar post
THE ceremony began when two
the braves arose and drew weird hr
ures upon the post. Others did tn
i same in pairs and In turn. thir
= Indian carrying n war club. advance
I and drank to the health or the dec
n dent. then walked three times aroun
!. the grave. delivering himself OF mos
A earnest exhortations This was r.
, heated until each Indian had take
=. part in the ceremony. The picture
~ that were drawn upon the post WEI
"a 70 represent the browning achiev
y. ments Of him who drew them and {
n the same time were meant to displa
"a the grief Of the Indians at the loss
IA their friend
n. Following the ceremony Of plantr
the post a huge feast was set upf
10 the grass A health was drunk invo
~ ing the Great Spirit to open the doc
mr. 20 admit their friend Colonel Dave
10 port. Then meat of various kin
- was brought upon the table AT
q, the dinner several Indian dances we
- INDUCED in ! left the braves
"A nightfall came. gathered about car
N fire. preparing further TO do honor
n. their murdered friend"