The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-04-05


inches to three or four feet. Cold
winds blew, sometimes with splits Of
snow and dashes of sleet, while thin
| ice formed on the ponds and sluggish
/ streams. BY day progress meant wad-
I ing ankle-deep, knee-deep, breast
deep, with an occasional squirt of
swimming. BY night the brave fell
lows had to sleep, Il sleep they could,
on the cold ground in soaked clothing
under water-heavy blankets. They
flung the leagues behind them, how
ever cheerfu!ly stimulating one an
other by joke and challenge. defying
all the bitterness of weather, all the
billings of hunger all the toll, danger
and deprivation of a trackless and
IiCuseless wilderness, looking only
eastward, following their youthful and
intrepid commander to one of the
most valuable victories gained by
American soldiers during the War of
the Revolution.
Colonel Clark understood perfectly
the strategic importance Of Vincennes
as a post commanding the Wabash,
and as a base of communication with
the many Indian tribes north Of the
Ohio and east of the Mississippi. Fran
CTS Vigo may his name never fade0
had brought him a comprehensive and
/ accurate report of Hamilton strength
and the condition of the fort and gar
rison This information confirmed his
telief that it would be possible not
/ only to capture vfncennes. but Detroit
as well.
Just seven days after the march
| began, the little army encamped for
n nights rest at the edge Of a wood;
and here, just after nightfall, when
the fires were burning merrily and
the smell of broiling buffalo steaks
burdened the damp air, a wizzened old
man suddenly appeared. how or from
where nobody had observed. He was
dirty and in every way disreputabls
in appearance. looking like an
animated mummy. bearing a long rife
or his shoulder. and walking with the
somewhat hating activity Of very
cid. yet vivacious and energetic
simian OF course It was Oncle Jazon,
"Oncle Jazon sui generis, as Father
Beret had dubbed him.
We'll. here 1 am" he cried. ap-
preaching the fire by which Colonel
Clark and some Of his officers were
cooking supper. but We can't guess
in a mile o. who I am to save yer
Iivers and lights
He danced a few steps, which made
the water gush out of his tattered
moccasins. then DOTTED his monde
script cap and nodded his scalpless
read in salutation to the commander.
Clark looked inquiringly at him.
while the old fellow grimaced and
rubbed his shrunken chin.
7 smelt yer fat "A fryin' somepin
ike a mile away. an it set my n'ard's
to grumblin' for a snack; so I jes'
thought I'd drap in on ye an chaw
| whites vi We"
Your looks are decidedly against
YOU" remarked the Colonel with a
dry smile He had recognized Oncle
JazOn after a little sharp scrutiny. Il
suppose, however, that We can let
you gnaw the bones after we've got
off the meat"
Thank zee. thank zee, plenty good
A Teller ats as hongry as 7 am kin
go through a bone Ike a feesh through
water"
Clark laughed and said:
7 don't see any teeth that you have
worth mentioning. but your gums may
be unusually sharp"
"Ya-a-s. bout as sharp as yer wit,
Colonel Clark, an sharper'n yer eyes.
a long shot. Ye don't know me, do
We? Take ernother squirt at me. an
sect We kin member a good lookin'
mani
You have som ewhat the appearance
Of an old scamp by the name Of ia.
ION that formerly loafed around with
worthless gun on his shoulder, and
used to run from every Indian he saw
down yonder in Kentucky" Clark
held out his hand and added cordially:
How are you. Jazon, my old friend.
and where upon earth have you come
/ from7"
Once Jazon pounced upon the hand
and gripped 1t in his own knotted fln-
gers. gazing delightedly upon it
Clark's bronzed and laughing face.
'Where'd I come frum? I come frum
| ever'wheres. Fust time I ever got
| lost in all my horn days. I've been a
/ trompin' round in the water seems
| like a week, crazy as a pizened rat.
not a KNOWN north Fom south, ner
my big toe fom a turnip! Who's got
/ some tobacker2"
| Oncle Jazon's story, when present
| ~ he told it, Interested Clark deeply
in the first place he was glad to hear
/ that Simon Kenton had once more
! escaped from the Indians; and the
news from Beverley. although bad
enough. left room for hope. Frontiers
| men always regarded the chances
better than even, so long as there was
life Oncle Jazon. furthermore, had
! much to tell about the situation at
Vincennes. the true feeling Of the
French inhabitants, the lukewarm
friendship of the larger part of the
Indians for Hamilton. and indeed
everything that Clark wished to know
regarding the possibilities of success
in his arduous undertaking The old
mans advent cheered the whole
camp. He soon found acquaintances
and friends among the French
volunteers from Kaskaskia. with
| whom he exchanged creole gestures
and chatter with R vivacity apparently
! inexhaustible. He and Kenton had.
with wise judgment, separated on
| escaping from the Indian camp, Ken
ton striking out for Kentucky, while
Oncle Jazon went toward Kaskaska.
The information that Beverley
would be shot as soon as he was re