The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-08-26
TALES
or THE
CHIEFS
SPEMICALAWBA
BY
Editha
L.
Watson

The Indian boy. crouching in a cor
ner, wished with all his wild young
heart that he might be invisible. The
white soldiers killed Indians, that he
knew, but they were quick to see
everything, and he was unable to run
away without their seeing him. 1t was
wrong to show fear, but all the same,
the lad was afraid-terribly afraid.
His black eyes were the only part Of
him that moved, as he huddled into
as small space as possible, hardly
daring to breathe.
General Logan, with his troops, was
on an expedition against the Ohio
tribes. The general was not a hard
hearted man, and when he spied the
young Shawnee. his impulse of kind
ness took practical form. The boy
was made captive. but he was well
treated, and when the general returned
to his home in Kentucky, the lad
accompanied him.
Here he was given treatment such
as the young Indian had not dreamed
possible. He was taken into the
Logan family and given the generals
name-an honor of itself. He went
to school and received the education
of white boy. And when this was
over, and the lad had grown into a
youth, he was sent back to his peO-
pie.
Although he was called by the
Shawnee Spemicalawba. or High
Horn" to the whites he was known
as Capt. James Logan. His life in
the good generals household had i'm
planted in him an ardent friendship
for the white race, and he did all
that he could to prove his loyalty,
even to death.
He opposed Tecumseh, his uncle,
when that brilliant orator famed
through the country trying to kindle
the spark of resentment into the fire
of war. Unable to dissuade Tecumseh
from his plans, Logan did the next
best thing: he enlisted in the War
of 1912, and served the American
forces well as scout and spy.
1t was during this service that Lo-
gan proved his loyalty with his life.
During an engagement against great
er numbers, his party had been forced
to retreat. While the move was a
legitimate one under the circum-
stances, and such as they themselves
would have made in a similar case,
some of the thoughtless white soldiers
questioned Logan's good faith. Some
thought that he should have stood
against the enemy. if he had died in
the attempt; others felt that lie had
joined the army with the purpose in
mind to delay and complicate mat
tiers. Who could tell what was in the
mind of an Indian? And Logan, for
all his education and training, was an
Indian still.
Logan was hurt by this SANDER. He
knew it to be unwarranted, and he
determined to accomplish some deed
which would clear his name and es-
tablish his honesty for all time.
With two Indian companions, he
went down the Maumee river, hoping
to find an enemy. This hope soon
became a reality, for Captain Elliot OF
the British army. with FIVE Indians,
appeared, and at once declared LO-
gan and his men prisoners.
Here was the opportunity for which
the chief had longed. Watching their
chance, the three Indians attacked
their captors, made brave fight, and
succeeded in killing Elliot and two
of his men. Logan was not unframed.
however-he and one of his men were
severely wounded.
Great was the surprise in General
Winchester's camp, when the three
Indians entered it, bringing with them
the horses of their conquered enemies.
Logan felt that he had indicated his
honor, and he was proud. His wounds,
however, were deep and serious, and
soon deprived him of his triumph.
The agony was more than he could
endure. and after suffering for two
days, he died.
The Indian captain was buried with
military hOnors, to the envy Of the
other Indians in the camp. General
Winchester and Major Hardin eulo-
gized him as man of courage. in
telligence, and sincerity. The general
wrote to General (afterward Presi-
dent) Harrison that "more firmness
and consummate bravery have seldom
appeared on the military theater. .
He was buried with all the honors
due to his rank. and with sorrow as
sincerely and generally displayed as
ever | witnessed"
"a 1922 Western NeWsnaner UnionN