The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-02-13

my Companions. Had we not been very tired
am sure we should not have slept much that
night"
The next night he related that they had good
dinner & a good Feather Bed, which was a very
agreeable regale"
In describing an Indian war dance, he went on,
Some liquor elevating their Spirits put them in
ye Humor Of Dauncing. Ye best Dauncer jumped
about We ring In most comiele Manner"
Others OF that wilderness gang told story OF
the boy surveyor which he was too modest to
relate about himself-how young George turned
the tables On Big Bear the willy chief who was in
the habit of holding out his sinewy hand with
seeming friendly intent and saying, Indian fash
ion, How" Woe to the unsuspecting white man
whose hand Big Bear seized In his terrible grasp,
while he laughed in savage glee at the pale.
faces anguished contortions.
Young Washington had been warned in time
He had huge, strong hand Of his own and knew
a trick or two that he thought he would like to
try on that Indians wiry claw if he could just get
the right hold. His chance came soon enough for
Big Bear, who presented a seemingly amicabe
paw with an innocent How"
The young surveyor seized the Indians hand
with such friendly enthusiasm that Big Bear did an
agonizing little dance in very comical manner
while the spectators, both white and red stood by
and shouted with fglee to see the cruel savage
caught in his own trap. Never again did Big
Bear show such solicitude for the health of George
Washington.
At the age of twenty George was the chosen
envoy to carry notice to quit" from the gov
ernor of Virginia to the French commander en-
camped in the Ohio region. He wrote in his jour-
nal OF that expedition concerning the supper given
him by the French and Indians at the fort at Ven
ango: ~
THE wine, as they dosed themselves pretty
plentifully with 1t, soon banished the restraint
which at first appeared In the conversation, and
gave license to their tongues to reveal their
sentiments more freely. They told me that it was
their absolute design to take possession of the
Ohlo--and by c. they would do IT."
AT the French FORT while awaiting the COM
mandants reply, the young envoy from Virginia
played diplomatic game for the friendship of the
Indians When the French piled the Indians with
liquor, young Washington promised them guns
and the game of diplomacy seasoned with savage
sauce, went between the grizzIed ehevaIier. old
in the arts of war and duplicity, and the Young
Virginia major, who possessed common sense and
humor wthal
After the awful slaughter of Fort Duouesne.
into which he had rushed from bed of fever In
vain attempt to save Braddock and his army.
Major Washington was left In command of the
scattered forces. AT this time he wrote to his
brother Jack letter. which at least suggests
Mark Twains attitude toward the grossly ezag-
gerated" story Of his own death:
Forth Cumberland, Is July 1855.
Dear Brother. As i have heard, since nv ar
rival at this place, circumstantal account Of nv
death and dying speech, 1 take this early oppor.
tunity OF contradcting the first, and of assuring
you that have not as yet composed the lattur.