Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-02-21

the qulntessence of Irony that the fiscal agents
letter was written on the very same day when
Vlgo, the stranger, was turning over his entire
fortune as an unprotected, unregistered, unlim-
ted loan, which he never could collect If Clark
'ailed-and which he never did collect even
though Clark, by winning a skirmish, annexed
an empire"
For, as every American knows, Clark did win
his "skirmish' at Vincennes, a skirmish which
ended In the surrender of Fort Sackville by Ham,
llton to the Virginia leader on February rs. 1779,
and the capture of this post strengthened the
hand of the American peace commissioners at
the close Of the Revolution In demanding that
the western boundary of the new Republic should
be the Mississippi river instead of the Allegheny
mountains. But how many Americans know
what was the reward of Vigo for his services In
making that possible or what was his later
career?
1t Is not a story of which we, as a nation, can
very well be proud. After the Revolution vigo
made his home at vincennes. He continued to
provide money to sustain American credit In the
newly won wilderness. He tried to build up a
series of trading posts and protected trade routes
between Philadelphia, Detroit and New Orleans
that would bind the Indians to the American
cause. His extensive loans finally led to hnan-
cial disaster for the rich Spanish merchant"
and his plan for the trading posts and trade
routes was defeated by American inertia and
i~neptness In dealing with the Indians. When he
tried to get back some of the money which he
had lent Clark and others, a penurious and sus-
picious federal government refused to honor his
claims, despite the fact that Clark made full
Acknowledgement Of the justice of the claims In
letters to Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and
to George Mason.
To vfncennes came William Henry Harrison,
first governor of the territory, who became Vigo's
friend. Years later while the Italian was pressing
his claims against the government, Harrison.
then President, used his influence (unsuccess-
fully, albeit) to get them paid.
To vincennes In 1884 came the noted traveller,
Macmillan, prince of WED, who wrote in his
journal: Another interesting character lives
here, but forgotten, neglected, and In great pow
erty. | mean Colonel Vigo, who rendered impor-
tant services to the Americans. They, indeed,
gave him the rank Of Colonel, but now suffer
him TO ~starvel"
In 1876 the "vlgo claims" totalIng $40, 1856
were paid by the government to the second gen.
Grafton Of his in-laws. But the payment had
come Just 40 years too late to save Francis Vigo
from repeating the words which had become his
refrain In the long evening of his last days:
Everybody has forgotten me-everybody.'" He
died on March %, 1886, and this once wealthy
Spanish merchant" possessed at that time, ex-
elusive of his credit CD upon the government
exactly $77.6o.
Indiana remembered him to the extent of nam
ing q county after him. The bronze voice Of a
bell, which he gave to his fellow citizens of
Indiana sounds every day from the courthouse
Of vigo county at Terre Haute TO recall his
memory, and over a grave in the cemetery at
vincennes the Daughters Of the American Revo-
luton have erected a memorial which tells that
here lies Francis Vlgo, patriot, whose devotion
to the cause Of American liberty made possible
the capture OF Fort SackyIlle."
Co by Western Newspaper Union.