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

the qulntessence of Irony that the fiscal agent,
letter was written on the very same day wher
Vigo, the stranger, was turning over bis entire
fortune as an unprotected, unregistered. unlim
tied loan, which he never could collect II CLARK
faied-and which he never did collect even
though Clark, by winning a skirmish annexed
an empire"
For as every American knows, Clark did win
mis- "skrmish' at Vincennes. skIrmish which
ended In the surrender of Fort Sackville by Ham
llton to the Virginia leader on February o. ITO.
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 vlgo for his services In
making that possible or what was his later
career7
II Is not story OF which we as nation can
very we'll be proud. After the Revolution yigo
made his home at Vincennes He continued Ia
provide money to sustain American credit la the
newly won wilderness. He tried to build IN
series or trading posts and protected trade routes
between Philadelphia Detroit and New Orleans
that would bind the Indians to the American
cause. Ills extensive loans finally led to nnan-
clal disaster for the Fieh spanish merchant
and his plan for the trading posts and trade
routes was defeated by American inertia and
lneptness in dealing with the Indians. When he
tried to get back some of the money which he
had lent Clark and others, penurIous and sus-
piclous 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 Vincennes 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 yincennes In 1884 came the noted traveller.
Macmillan prince of Wied, who wrote In his
journal. Another interesting character lives
here, but forgotten, neglected and In great pow
erfy. 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 1875 the ''Vigo claims" totallng $40 $685. 60 |
we're 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 Vlgo I
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 %, 1885, and this once wealthy
spanish merchant" possessed at that time ex-
elusive OF his credit t) upon the government
exactly s7762.
indiana remembered him to the extent OF man,
Ing 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 'lgo county AT Terre Haute to recall his
memory. and over grave In the cemetery at
'incennes the Daughters OF the American Revo-
luton have erected a memorial which tells that
mere hes Francis Vigo patriot whose devotion
70 inc cause OF American liberty made possible
the capture OF Fort Sackve."
by Western Newspaper Union