The Coolidge examiner., 1934-02-23

the qulntesscncc of Irony that the fiscal agents
letter was written on the very same day when
YiEo. the stranger. was turning over his entire
fortune unprotected. unregistered. unlsn-
ted loan. which be never could collect n Clark
,ailed-and which he never did collect even
though Clark. BY winning a skirmish, annexed
an empire.
For. ns every American knows, CLARK did win
bis ~sklrmsh" az ylncennes. a skirmlsh which
ended In the surrender OF Fort sackvlne By Ham
lion 20 the Virginia leader on February -. l7'9.
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 Yigo FOR his services In
making that possible or what was bis later
career7
II Is not a story Of which we. as nation. can
very well be proud. After the Revolution vlgo
made his home at yIncennes lie continued 10
provide money 20 sustain American credit In the
newly won wilderness He tried 10 build up a
series OF trading posts and protected trade routes
between Philadelphia Detroit and New Orleans
that would bind the Indians 20 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
lneptness In dealing with the Indians. When he
tried 10 get back some OF the money which he
had lent Clark and others. a penurious and sus-
plcious federal government refused 10 honor his
claims. despite the fact that Clark made full
aeknos ledgement OF the justice OF the claims In
letters to Patrick Henry. Thomas Jefferson and
TO George Mason.
To Ylncennes came William Henry Harrison,
first governor Of the territory. who became Yigo's
friend Years later while the italian was pressing
his claims against the government, Harrison
then President. used his influence tunsuccess-
fully. albelO to get them paid.
! To vineennes 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 ylgo. who rendered mpor
tant services TO the Americans. They. indeed
gave him the rank OF Colonel, but now suffer
him 20 starve."
In 1876 the "ylgo claims" totaling S49s9 Gl
were paid by the government To the second gen
GRAFTON OF his In-aws But the payment had
come Just 30 years too late 10 save Francis VigC
+ from repeating the words which had become hi:
refrain in the long evening OF his last days
/ Everybody has forgotten me-eyerybody. H'
died on March 80. 1896, and this once wealthy
/ Spanish merchant" possessed at that time, ex
elusive OF his credit 90 upon the government
exactly S7762.
! Indiana remembered him TO the extent OF nam
ing a county after him. The bronze voice OF {
bell. which he gave 10 his fellow citizens o.
Indiana sounds every day from the courthouse
OF VIgo county at Terre Haute TO recall hi
memory. and over a grave In the cemetery a
yincennes the Daughters OF the American Revo
luton have erected memorial which tells tha
here lies Francis yigo, patriot, whose devotion
to the cause OF American liberty made possible
the capture OF Fort Sackyille"
G BY Western Newspaper Union