The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-02-22

ably include Henri de Tontl, the MAN With the
iron Hand companion In arms OF the great
French explorer La Sale
But there's still one missing He was one of
the foreigners who aided the American colonies
ID their struggle for Independence and thus had
part IN founding this nation. Every American
knows of La Fayette and De Kalb the French
men; kosciuscko and Pulaski the Poles: and
Won sfeuhen. the German-all of whom fit that
description. But how many OF them know about
francesca Vigo, the ItaIian7
He was a soldier. banker spy, patriot dinlo-
mat and merchant prince: he lahnred nightly
In the cause OF American independence and long
afterwards In the interests OF the new Republic;
he Is not only entirely worthy of being included
In any list, no matter how small and select. of
Italians who profoundly influenced American his
tory. but he also deserves q position of honor In
the remembrance of Americans with the French
men. the Poles and the German previously men,
toned.
II this Is true, why is vlgo 80 little known to
most AmerIcansf Because he Is one OF those
forgotten heroes" who by some strange turn
OF fate have been denied the fame that Ia right
fully theirs. But fortunately for Vigo's fame
felioW-conntryman. who won renown few years
ago BY excavating the buried Roman city of
Leptls Magma In northern Africa has turned his
talents from archaeology to biography and the
result Is the first full-length portrait" OF this
little-known hero of the American Revolution
the book "Vgo: Forgotten Builder of the
American Republic" by Bruno Roselll, published
by the Stratford company of Boston.
1t is especially appropriate to examine this
portrait at this time. for February rs will
mark the hundred ffty-ffth anniversary of
the capture of Vlncennes by George Rogers
Clark. one OF the outstanding achievements OF
the struggle for liberty because of Its later re-
suits. Without the aid of francesca vigo, George
Rogers Clark might not have won that splendid
victory. nor from 1t have come those important
results.
Most OF the school histories mention Vigos
name. but they assign him q minor role In the
story Of Clark's conquest of the Old Northwest
But MIR. RosellI has revised that view OF him. or
his early llfe this much can be said: He was
born at Mondov. Italy. on December g. 1747
Early In life the spirit OF wanderlust seized him
and he ran away from home. eventually arriving
10 Spain, where he enlisted In the Spanish army
Tor service In the colonies as muleteer driver
or caretaker OF the longeared animals which car
red army supplies.
Vigo was first sent to Havana Cuba, with his
regiment and after a year there was sent to
New Orleans where we find him listed as
'fusilero" In the militia of that colony Next
he became member OF body of irregular
river to ST. Louis where lived His
Excellency Don Fernando de Leyba governor OF
Upper Louisiana which had been ceded to Spain
BY France In 1762.
The post was small and presently the two
men came face to face" writes Rose .They
ully understood their mutual needs and while
starting from the opposite ends of the social
adder, they had the wisdom to find at once
COMMON meeting ground" So a little later
the two men entered into a secret partnership.
orming an alliance which their nelghbors only
urmised at first, but which became matter of
'ublic record at de Leybas untmeIy DEATH
'hus Vigo embarked upon the career which was
0 make him famous throughout the Mississippi
alley at the time as the Spanish merchant"
designation which is largely re-
ponsibe for later in regard to his ma
onality.
BY the time George Rogers Clark appeared on
ne scene Vigo rated as one OF the wealth
,st men In that part Of the country with agen-
les for his fur-tradng business in Kaskaska.
incomes and as far north as Mackinac The
-ory of Clark's capture of Kaskaskia In ITS ia
10 familiar to need recounting here but Vlgo's
art In the capture OF Vincennes the next step
Clark's ambitious plan TO wrest the Old North
est from the British. is not so well known
Clark realized that until the British were driv.