White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-08-10

Meadows he announced he would reach
Fort Duquesne not later than June
twenty-eighth. But although 1t was
only seventeen miles to the Great
crossing, this portion of the march
was not covered until June twenty.
fourth, making five more precious
days consumed. Truth of 1t was the
entire army was forced to mark time
at the heels of st. Glars tree-chop-
pers.
1t surprised me to learn that small
bands of Indians were already harass-
Ing the army and that only strict po-
lice methods prevented massacre.
At that point In the campaign, Cap
tain Jack and his riflemen would have
been of inestimable service.
1t was obvious that the army was
sick and disrupted, and that the pro-
vincials were filled with f0rebodings
as they daily looked for fight in the
woods while being tied down and ham,
pered by absurd military restrictions.
This gloomy bearing on the part of
men supposed to know the ways OF
the Indian discouraged the regulars.
What was another inexplicable piece
of folly was Braddock's failure to util-
lie Croghan's forty roquois warriors
on the march. It seems that Colonel
James lnnes, governor at Fort Cum
berland, did not wish to have any of
the sixty Indian women and children
left under his care during Braddock's
absence. He assured the commander
that eight Indians would suffice as
scouts and that the, rest should be
directed to take their families away
from the creek.
Why General Braddock should have
listened to such ruinous advice Is be-
You'd any forest-runners comprehen-
sion. Up to the time the Onondaga
and ] left Willis creek, 1t had been
the commanders great desire to have
as large body of Indians accompany
him as possible. He completely re-
versed his judgment and agreed with
lines that eight would be enough.
It was to Captain Hogg's camp OF
road-builders, slightly in advance of
the body under Sir John st. Clair. that
Cromit had taken Beauvais. While in
the camp, be had. been impressed by
the great fear of the men. They con-
sidered it miraculous that my COM
panion should succeed In bringing a
French prisoner through the enemy's
savages and into the camp.
Although he assured them that no
Indians were then lurking about the
camp, they were very loath to sep
arate from one another, or to pene-
trate more than short distance into
the woods. False alarms we're repeat
eddy being given, all of which slowed
up the work of hewing out the road
for Braddock.
While In the road-camp, Cromit had
met Christopher Gist, veteran of the
Ohio country, who was now acting as
a scout for Braddock. On learning
that Cromit was to report back to me.
could he find me, Gist had supplied
him with many of the facts relating
to the departure Of the army from the
creek and it's faring as far as the
Great crossing.
"And that just about empties my
SKULL" said Cromit in finishing his
] long recital. 1--WE walked soft and
easy SOS not to jolt anything out OF
my poor head. And tween you and
me and the Monongahela that Gineral
Braddock will lick himself before the
French have chance to have wiring
with him If he amt mighty careful.
If he'd send six or eight hundred rife
men ahead and turn back all his big
guns and wagons, we'd have Du-
Quesne In two shakes of dogs tail"
"No matter how slow the army is
in coming, it will reach the fort"
told him. "The French are whipped
already"
He said nothing to this, and fol
once found the grin missing from hi;
homely face. explained my pla1
for him to wait in Allaquippa's vii
lage and to be ready night and da!
to carry to the army any news tina
the On0ndaga mlgnt Orlng IN. Int
program did not please him, but BIZ
visit to Hogg's camp had Impressed
him with fear that all was not go
ing we'll with our cause, and he wa
much more amenable to reason thai
formerly.
Round Paw was waiting for us a
the southern end of the village. T
relieve Cromit from possible annoy
ance should he be seen in the CON
pany of an avowed supporter of tn
French we agreed It was better 70
the Indian and me to enter the villa 3
together, while he held back for q
: hour. When he next saw US, be wa
not to recognize US.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)