The Coolidge examiner., 1934-02-23

en- from ylncennes. the real center ~ their sow-
er In that region. his hold on kaskaskia vas pre-
car.ous az bes, and his chances FOR extending
his conquest were very slight The only answer
10 bis problem vas 20 attack Ylncennes and
capture or drive away Gen. Henry Hamilton, the
British commander and bis force there. of this
Roselll says:
CLARK. st Kaskaskla. was helpless until be
knew what was going on at ylncennes. over COO
miles away through muddy wilderness infested
by those scalping Indians OF General Hamilton
whose prowess had brought upon that stern aghi
or the nickname OF Hair.Buyer' No news had
leaked through since August ist u77s) winter
with its terrors was already upon them: and
spring bound 20 reopen the line ~ supply
between British yincennes and British Detroit
vlgo. al this time. already n prosperous mer.
chant who could not with impunlfy forego his
interests and an Italian 20 whom the future of
this Franco Anglo Hlspano- American continent
might have seemed immaterlal left everything.
and. wIth no remuneration whatsoever. started
upon his career as gentlemsn-spy. lie took
with him a single servant and made FOR Vim.
cennes.
-Hls one chance to accomplish his mission
depended upon the following succession o.,
events: lie must be taken prisoner-prevall upon
his savage captors not 10 scalp hlm-appear be
fore Hamllton-manage 10 avoid not only i'm
prIsonment or execution. but even expulsion
lInger on In vlncennes, seeing everything In the
fort and everybody In the settement-then make
good his escape. Not an easy program; but one
which be followed according TO plans and schef-
ule."
For vIgo succeeded In doing Just as he bad
planned He was captured by Indians. brought
safely to Fort Sackville nj ylncennes. questioned
By Hamilton. succeeded In allayIng the British
generals suspicious enough so that Hamilton
allowed him 10 depart after he had been AT
vlncennes for some time upon his signing pledge
that be would return 20 ST. Louis without doing
anything Injurious TO British interests" yIgo
scrupulously kept bis pledge by returning to 81
/ Louis after which he Immediately departed FOR
Kaskaskla and made the report to Clark on the
condition of the garrison al vincennes which
determined Clark's decision to march against
that post.
/ Eut this spying trip Of vigo's not his only
contribution to the success OF Clark's expedition
/ In fact II was the least OF H. for far more
important was his financial help which made
/ the expedition possible. During the summer ot
/ IT'S Clark had only Virginia currency. which
was no good with the French merchants of that
/ town. Tor the purchase of supplies until vigC
induced them to accept It. Now Clark was agalr
In need OF money-to pay his men, TO buy arms
and supplies. Again vigo came To his rescue. or
| December he cashed a draft OF Clark's or
Oliver Pollock. the Virginia agent at New or
leans. for more than 5000 and on January .:
he cashed another for nearly S1.5O0.
"Forty-eight hours later. Clark and his party
OF I72 rapidly equipped with Vigos cash anC
/ supplies were disappearing In the wilderness
/ eastbound" writes Roselli. "A long time would
PASS before the gallant colonel beheld Pollock
sarcastic letter explaining his refusal to exten'
further credit 20 the Americans How ColOne
j Clark and the State OF Virginia expect sucl
heavy sums to be paid by men without money, I
q mystery which only time can polrt ogt' Ii 1