The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-27
ILLINOIS WILL
PUBLISH, TALE
OF SHABBONA
Historical Account OF Chiefs Ef-
forts To Save White Settlers to
Be ChrOnicled.

Springfield, Ill, Dec. 27.-History
of Illinois boasts of few incidents
of greater importance or historical
interest than the Indian Creek mas
sacre," on May 20, 1882, IA miles
north of ottawa, according to an
account soon to be published by
the state department of public
works and buildings. A monument
erected by the state at cost of
IS 5000, marks the last resting place
of the Is who fell there, sacrificed
to the rifle and scalping knife OF
Black Hawks Indians.
"Shabbona Park" is the name OF
the seven and one-half acres at that
place 1t is near the village of
Harding, in Freedom township, and
| is the property of the LaSalle Coun-
ty Memorial association, but the
state of Illinois has maintained an
interest in it, and has appropriated
regularly for its upkeep. The mark
! is named for the Indian chief who
proved a true friend of the settlers.
| The story, as the department Will
/ publish it, is as follows:
| "Shabbona, the chief of the Pot
towatamies, but a friend of the
whites, was called to attend a war
! dance near Dixon in May, 1882, and
was urged by Black Hawk to unite
his several tribes with the Sauks III
a war of determination upon the
white settlers along the frontier.
! Black Hawk Speaks.
BLACK Hawk said. "Shabbona, il
you VIII permit your young men to
unite with mine l will have an
army Ike the trees in the forests
and / will drive the palefaces be-
| fore me like the autumn leaves be-
, fore an angry wind.
Aye replied Shabbona, but
7 the palefaces will soon bring an
army like the leaves of the trees
and sweep you into the ocean be-
meath the setting sun Shabbona
! continued that he had made a
VOW to the Great Spirit when he
was second in command to Tecum-
sch in the battle Of the Thames,
that he would never again take up
the tomahawk against the pale
faces.
But being unable to dissuade
the willy Sank chief from his muir
derous designs, he stole forth from
the council of war in the dead OF
night and decided he would save
the lives of the frontier settlers
from the terrible torture of the
tomahawl1 and scaIping knife.
He knew the consequences OF
becoming a traitor to his people
He knew that his motives would be
suspected By the palefaces whom
he would befriend He knew but
few of them personally nor could
he speak their language. The dis
lance to be travelled to the white
settlement was more than one hun
Idred miles in a straight line but
the distance was much farther by
!. the zigzag course he must take tC
reach them. could he warn them OF
their danger and save their lives.
. Joined by Son.
Mounted On his favorite pony
guided only by the stars for a com
mass. he started on his long jour
ney. Coming to the south, he wa:
/, 1OlnGQ Dy MS sun , Pc anu q " a
went these couriers of mercy. Pyp:
to the west and ShabbCna to thu
east. over prairies and through tim
; bers in the dark night, where there
were no roads or bridges, pursued
by Sauk spies
Turning his back upon his owl
peopIe forever. well knowing h
would be branded as a Benedic
Arnold. he went from house t
house calling upon the people t.
flee for their lives telling some to g
IN the fort at Ottawa, others u
! Fort Dearborn at Chicago. Ever.
settler was warned, along the who'll
: frontier in time to speed TO point
of safety.
: Blu alas. there were a few VIII
failed to heed the timely warmth
! and notably so the victims OF tn
Indian Creek massacre, when i
> white men and children we're sea p
. ed and several women were takel
+ captive. Hence it is that the his
. sory of the trials of the pionee
, settlers of this county could not b
{ written without relating the virtue
: of the great chief, Shabbona.