USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > A history of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Indiana : a complete and concise account from the earliest times to the present, embracing reminiscences of the pioneers and biographical sketches of the men who have been leaders in commercial and other enterprises > Part 4
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"They at length arrived in safety at the Red Banks, where even greater diffieulties were undergone by settlers than had been endured by them at Vienna. Here, too, as at the former place, they culti- vated the soil guarded by sentinels.
"About this time the smallpox prevailed at Red Banks, and little Isaae was vaccinated. He was, however, still under the necessity of giving more or less attention to his father's cattle, in cutting cane and
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
providing food for them. Accordingly, in company with others, he frequently went across the Ohio river in canoes to cut cane. On one of these routes, accompanied by Peter and George Sprinkle, and John and Jacob Upp. As boys are naturally inclined to do, they began running and jumping, and playing about, as soon as they reached the shore opposite to Henderson. They were all unconscious of their danger, until from behind an ambush, which was made of cane, cut and stuck in the ground for the purpose of concealment, eight Indians, six of whom were found to be Pattowatomies and two Kickapoos, came rushing upon them. In confusion and astonishment the boys all attempted to escape. The eldest, Peter Sprinkle, a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years of age, ran nearly to the river and was shot down, three guns being fired at him at once. Little Jacob Upp, a small boy of about seven years of age, finding escape impossible, stood still and begged for his life, crying, " Don't kill me, don't kill me ; " but it was of no avail-the cruel savages buried the tomahawk in his skull, and put an end to his cries.
"George Sprinkle, who was larger than Isaac, and John Upp, who was smaller, were taken almost on the spot where the Indians were discovered. When the author of this narrative first saw the Indians, he ran, without saying a word ; and on hearing the reports of the guns that killed Peter Sprinkle, he looked back and saw an Indian in pur- suit of him. He continued his race, until in a short time he felt a blow upon each shoulder, which he afterward found came from two Indians, instead of one, that had pursned him.
" These blows stunned him so that he fell and in falling he lost his hat. He had no sooner touched the ground than his savage pursuers had each hold of an arm lifting him up. Even in this predicament he attempted twice to reach for his hat, but failed to get it. He after- ward learned from one of the Indians, who took him, that if he had made a third attempt to get his hat he would have killed him. They led the affrighted Isaac to the rest of the company, and as he thought, to the place of execution, but to his surprise when he came there, he found his associates, George Sprinkle and John Upp, in the custody of the savage red men, yet alive.
" Here, in full view of the Red Banks, the savages holding up the yet warm sealps of Peter Sprinkle and Jacob. Upp, raised the war- whoop and started with their young prisoners, holding fast to Isaac's hand as they compelled him to run after them. Such was their fear- fulness that he would yet escape, that in swimming the bayou a short distance from the river, one still held him by the hand. On reaching
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the camp where these savages had lain the previous night, they put moccasins on the boys, and compelled them to follow them or keep up with them, running all day and traveling all night.
" In the evening of the first day one of the boys, John Upp, became so much exhausted that he could run no longer. The Indians, with a view of compelling him forward, threatened him with their toma- hawks; but finding that he could not go two of them assisted him.
" The morning of the second day they came upon three bears, which the Indians had killed; and in great haste each took a small portion along with him. They crossed the Patoka river, and on the bank they stopped for the first time to cook and eat. The boys by this time were much fatigued, and well nigh worn out by constant and hard traveling. Nothing worthy of note transpired until the evening of the third day, when, after making a small fire of sticks, they pro- duced the scalps of the murdered boys, and after cutting the meat out of one of them, they carefully put it on sticks before the fire, and cooked it; then, in the presence of the boys, they ate it, shaking the remaining scalp at them. This they did, not because they were hungry, but each that he might thereby say, ' I have killed a white man, and have eaten him.' And thus they acquired no little reputation as warriors. The remaining scalps they then stretched on hoops, made for that purpose.
" That night they danced the war dance, and made their young prisoners walk around with them, and would have had them dance had they not been too much exhausted. This was afterwards their regular employment every other night.
" In their route they attempted to cross a stream in a small canoe, which was only large enough to carry two men; however, one of the Indians conveyed the boys across the creek, and, on reaching the opposite bank, George Sprinkle being a little fearful, and knowing that he could not swim, leaped from the canoe to the bank. On per- ceiving this, the Indian gave him a blow with his paddle across the back, which injured him seriously, so that it was with difficulty he ascended the bank.
"The reader will remember that Isaac had been vaccinated just the day before he was taken by these cruel savages, which was the 8th day of April, 1793, according to his best recollection. In something like a week he became very sick with smallpox, but was nevertheless com- pelled to travel every day, even when scarcely able to hold up his head, or help himself in the least. The knowledge which his friends at home had of the fact that, if alive, he would be thus afflicted,
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augmented their uneasiness and anxiety about him. Their fears could but be great that the cruel wretches would kill him ; and if not, that he would die of the smallpox, exposed as he was in an Indian camp. Their manner of crossing rivers, ponds or creeks was to swim or wade; and, siek as Isaac was, such was the manner in which he was compelled to pass them. He was under the necessity of swimming a small river, after the disease had appeared upon him which was the means of driving it in so that it made him very sick. "Then, for the first time the savages displayed some humanity, and after kindling a fire for the night they wrapped Isaac in two blankets and placed him near the fire, in which situation he spent the night. In the morning the pox appeared again and he was some better, but still unable to travel. Nevertheless it was his fate to go, and he endeavored to do so, until, faint and sick, he fell to the ground. His Indian drivers, however, soon raised him and compelled him to go forward.
"Fatigued with traveling and afflicted with fever, he suffered much for water, which they frequently refused him. Wheu in crossing water he would lift up some in his hand and put it to his mouth, they would push him down in the water. At night, encamping near a small stream he asked leave to go for water; they granted it, but an Indian followed him to the bank and then kicked him down a steep, where he fell among the rocks, and was badly hurt by the fall. At an- other time, passing a small branch, he asked permission to drink, which was grauted ; but as he put his mouth to the water an Indian with his foot crushed his mouth into the sand. With this most brutal treatment, swelled till shapeless with sores, which were constantly suppurating, and not infrequently, especially in the morning, discharg- ing blood, he was forced to march.
" Provisions growing scarce they spent one day in hunting. In the afternoon, having killed two deer they stopped to cook ; Isaac, being in the way of one of the Kickapoos, he took the liberty to kiek him down a descending ground, some twelve or fifteen feet. The kicking was no pleasant thing to Isaac; and here he found in one of the Indians a friend, who claimed him as his, and was much offended at the conduct of the others.
" In a few days they passed the Kickapoo towns, where the two Indians of that nation left the company for home, and the prisoners saw them no more so as to recognize them. They soon arrived at another town of some note, on the Illinois river.
" As they entered the town, on the fifteenth day after they were taken, it being the 23d day of the month, on passing a few wigwams,
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
some of the warriors gave a signal, which brought out several squaws, who relieved them all of their packs.
" At this place the prisoners were conducted in the presence of, and exposed to the view of, a vast crowd of Indians, many of whom came up with apparent friendship, and gave them a hearty shake of the hand.
" From this place they were conducted across the river to a wig- wam, where something was provided for them to eat, which very much pleased their palates, as it somewhat resembled small hominy, and they had seen a squaw put a handful or two of sugar into it, after striking a dog over the head and driving him out of the wigwam with the ladle with which she stirred the mess.
" As the evening came on the Indians began to collect, and as the other two boys had been painted and trimmed by the Indians, pre- vious to their arrival in town, and Isaac was not (though none of them could account for it) it was the opinion both of him and them that it was their intention to burn him ; however, when they were all collected, the young prisoners were ordered out, and the Indians in one vast body danced a war dance around a small fire, the prisoners and the warriors that took them being next to the fire, and opposite to or fac- ing them as they danced aronnd, were two squaws, bearing on canes from the Ohio bottoms the scalps of the little boy and the young man who had been killed when the others boys were taken.
" Next morning almost all the Indians of the world (as Isaac thought) collected on the opposite bank of the river for a ball play, where they spent the greater part of the day in that exercise, both men and women sharing in the pleasures ; the sexes engaging apart of each other, and seemed to delight greatly in the employment.
" In the evening a company of some two or three hundred elderly Indians came marching down to the wigwam where the prisoners were kept, bearing two large kettles of hominy, beating their drums, rattling deer hoofs and making music of different kinds. They marched several times around the hut, and then with great ap- parent solemnity placed the kettles on a handsome green, and when they were all seated around them, two men waiting on the rest di- vided the contents of the kettles, putting a small portion in every man's bowl (for they all had bowls, and, as was their custom, ladles.) A prophet then, as was supposed, repeated as lic sat, a lengthy cere- mony, after which they enjoyed their repast in good order and dis- persed.
" On the morning of the fourth day Isaac was presented with his
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
moccasins by a squaw, who also gave him and the other lads some- thing to eat. Soon after an Indian of the company that had taken the boys came in and beckoned to Isaac to follow him, and without a thought that he and his associates were now to be separated until they should meet at home, he followed his guide the whole day up the Illinois river, wading many swift running streams, which, as Isaac expressed himself, washed off many a scab. By this Indian he was piloted to a wigwam where lived, as he afterward found, the mother of the two warriors that had taken him, and who were detained at the village by sickness, of which one of them died. Here, being deliv- ered to this old mother and being seated by her, she immediately gave him a new blanket and provided him something to eat. This day's travel had again freshened Isaac's sores, and so fatigued him that al- though he was wrapped up in a new blanket and kindly treated, he had no rest, but felt in the morning almost as bad as formerly.
"The squaw, in whose eare Isaac was left with a view to cure him, made preparations for it, and with a sharp flint scarified him and rub- bed the sores with a rough piece of bark to make them bleed ; then caused him to jump in the Illinois river. This was all done through kindness, although it was harsh treatment.
" From this place Isaac, together with many Indians, started up the river to an Indian town situated upon a small island in a lake through which the Illinois river passes, now ealled Illinois lake ; this place they gained in five days, nothing very important transpiring on the route. It was Isaac's fate, however according to the direction of the squaw to whose care he was committed, to jump in the river every morning.
" Soon after this time the smallpox made its appearance among the Indians on the island, and the kind old squaw who had given so mueh attention to Isaac, and thereby endeared herself to him, was one of the first subjects and victims of that destructive disease. He had for a long time feared that if that disease broke out among them they would kill him, as he had been the means of bringing it among them; and although he sometimes hoped that some of the most cruel and bar- barous of them would die with it, yet he more frequently desired they might all escape it, as he feared the consequences. Their manner of treating the disease proved fatal in many instanees. They invariably at first, in that as in all other cases of complaint, took a severe sweat and then jumped into the river ; and so terminated the existence of many. The death of this humane and motherly old squaw gave the anthor of this narrative most unpleasant feelings, and was the cause of much distressing exercise of mind. He had found her a true and
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
tender friend, and one who was willing to do for him all that she could but when he saw her taken from him, he found himself far from home without a friend, among strangers, in the midst of foes, and surround- ed with sickness producing death in every direction. His spirits sank and all hope was well nigh gone. No cheering thought checked his distress-no gleam of hope could light up his countenance, or buoy up his disconsolate spirit.
" The death and burial of the squaw, whom Isaac recognized almost as a mother, was extremely solemn and impressive. Appearing sen- sible of her approaching dissolution, she gave Isaac to her daughter, who lived with her. She was buried after their manner with great solemnity, and many of the Indians painted themselves black and mourned for her ten days, fasting every day until evening ; but all this was not expressive of Isaac's grief for the death of her who had nursed him with so much tenderness and friendliness. Now left alone he found no one to whom he could unbosom his sorrows.
"A number of Indians died of the disease on the island before they left it. Necessity seemed to compel them to leave the island, and supposing that a change of situation would improve their health, they started, moving a short distance at a time and spending but little time at any one place. They had not moved very far when the squaw in whose care Isaac was left, followed her mother, being a victim of the same disease. Indeed, they lost some at every place they stopped. This squaw left a young child, some twelve months old, which it fell to Isaac's lot to nurse, and besides the attention he had to give that infant, it devolved on him to nurse the sick, to bury the dead, and frequently to do it all alone. Worn down with fatigue through this ardnous labor, he devised the means to be relieved of the burden of the child. Accordingly, as he carried it on his back wrapped up in a blanket in Indian style, he drew the blanket tight around it and so put an end to its cries, removed his own burden and terminated its life.
"After the death of an Indian of some note, whom they buried with as much splendor as their circumstances would permit, his squaw and four children, the eldest of whom was large enough to support the family by hunting, left the rest of the Indians and moved down the Illinois river in a canoe.
"Isaac's fears being great, lest he should yet be killed for bringing the smallpox among them, he was undecided whether to tell or not that he had brought it, when he heard two squaws talking upon the subject, and learned from their conversation that the Indians were of the opinion that they had taken the disease from the handling of 4
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
goods sold them by the French. This so relieved his mind that he told them nothing about it.
"Some weeks afterwards the rest of the Indians turned their course down the river, also taking little Isaac with them ; still some of them were sick and dying. After passing the island in the lake where the disease first appeared among them, they descended the river for some distance; but how far and how long a time is not in the recollection of the author.
"A short time now elapsed before they started again up the river, passed the town on the island before mentioned, and Isaae, having been committed by some means to the care of another squaw, traveled up this river in the same eanoe with her, and passing the place where her husband had been buried, she steered the canoe to the shore, aud taking out some venison in a bowl, had Isaae accompany her to the grave. Here she kindled a small fire over the head of the grave, into which she threw some of the venison. Setting down the bowl she told Isaae to eat of the meat, which he did, while she walked to some dis- tance and mourned with loud and sore lamentations for nearly an hour; then she returned to the grave, wiped off the tears, threw some more meat into the fire and on the grave and bade Isaac to start.
"About this time Isaac begau to be threatened, as he learned from the Indian boys, by an old chief who said that he had brought the smallpox among them, and while this was in agitation, one of the In- dians arrived who had taken Isaac and who had been left sick at the first town, the place where Isaac had been separated from his asso- ciates, his fellow prisoners. This Indian, Isaac met with much joy, as he claimed him as his property.
"A few Town Indians now arrived among these Pottawatomies, sell- ing them goods, trading for furs, etc. These Indians were acting as agents for a merchant at Mackinaw, as is frequently the case.
"To one of the Town Indians Isaac was sold for what he thonght would amount to abont $500, and was delivered to his new master perfectly naked. He was then told to mount the horse behind the man that bought him, and they rode off across what he now thinks was Spoon river.
"They then traveled for some days north of the Ohio river, to the hunting ground of the Indian who had now purchased him. Here the "Big Buck" was killed and a feast prepared to have Isaac adopted into the family.
"Now being made an heir, Isaac was trimmed, his hair pulled out,
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as was the custom of that nation, except the scalp, and a hole made through his nose.
"In his nose they put six silver rings. His hair, being long, was divided and plaited, one half before and the other half behind; the hinder part ornamented with beads, and the forepart filled with silver brooches.
"The season for making sugar being over, they moved to the mouth of the Chicago river and commenced making arrangements to go to Mackinaw with their skins and furs.
"As the route which they had to go led them near the shore, they encamped every night on it, where, for the security of both the canoe and its loading, they were under the necessity of unloading, drawing it out of the water and turning it upside down, thus making it answer the purpose of a wigwam. They continued this route for some days and arrived at a small island, on which were a number of Indians; where they landed and spent the night. Between that place and Mackinaw they landed ou another small island, inhabited by Indians, with whom Isaac was left until his Indian father and mother returned from Mackinaw.
"Isaac's Indian father and family now started with him and their fresh supply of goods to return to Chicago. Nothing of importance transpired on the route. Sailing along the shore of Lake Michigan, they encamped every night as before, and at length arrived at the mouth of the Chicago river, where they had embarked for Mackinaw. Here, having raised their canoe on forks and so secured it, they removed from place to place, principally up the river, trading with the Indians and making a living by fishing, and later they started for the old hunting grounds on the Illinois river.
"Toward spring, but while the snow was yet on the ground, they turned their course again for Chicago, spending their time in hunting and trading, until they arrived at their old camp just in good time for sugar making.
"Before they left the sugar camp they had many drunken sprees, in some of which Isaac's life was greatly endangered, but by some means preserved.
" Arrangements were now made for another trip to Mackinaw; and, having collected all the skins they could, they thought of taking Isaac along with them ; but fearing that he would get away, they called in an old prophet in whom they placed great confidence, and who went into what they called a sweat-house to powwow, and informed them of such things as they wished to know, as to what would happen in the
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
future. Accordingly, Isaac went to work to prepare the sweat-house within the wigwam, covering it with skins and blankets, and rolling in a large hot stone upon which the prophet ponred water, and leav- ing an opening at the top of the wigwam for the steam to come out. Into this house the prophet entered, powwowing and singing, while Isaac and his little brothers danced around it, waiting on the prophet as he ordered, until the smaller boys becoming tired laid down and went to sleep. Some time elapsed and the prophet came out. Isaac immediately, as if worn out and overcome with sleep, threw himself down upon some deer skins and pretended to be asleep. The old prophet took a seat near his Indian mother and commenced speaking. She asked him many questions, and he answered them. But none of them were of much interest to Isaac until she wished to know if she would keep him if she took him all the way to Mackinaw. The prophet, much to Isaac's gratification, told her she would, but she must be careful not to let him talk much to white people.
" Now, full of glee and in fine spirits, they loaded their bark canoe and. started. After many days toiling and sailing, they all arrived in safety at Mackinaw.
"Here, unloading the canoe, and preparing to encamp under it, Isaac was conducted by his Indian mother, in company with her two eldest boys, to the house of the merchant for whom they traded. After showing Isaac to them, and suffering him to talk but little with them, the merchant's lady gave each of the boys a slice of bread well but- tered, which Isaac received very gratefully and ate. It was the first bread he had tasted since he last ate at his father's table.
" Here Isaac was permitted to walk about in company with the In- dian boys, but was generally accompanied by his Indian mother, and sometimes by an uncle and aunt who had come with them to that place in a little bark canoe.
"As he walked along the beach with them he saw a ship lying at the wharf, and a man standing near, whom he supposed was the captain. Their attention was mutually drawn towards each other. The captain, perceiving that Isaac was white, asked him where he was taken prisoner; he replied from the Red Banks on the Ohio river. Isaac asked him, 'Are you the captain of this vessel ?" He said he was, 'Where are you bound ?" said Isaac.
'Detroit,' was the reply.
'When will you start ? "
'In the morning.'
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
'Can I,' said Isaac, 'run away from the Indians and get aboard your vessel ? "
'Yes, but you must be careful how you come.'
"Here Isaac was commanded to hush and was taken away by his In- dian friends. Towards evening Isaac was called to convey his Indian father, who was drunk, across an arm of the lake, in a little bark ca- noe, belonging to his uncle, as the Indian wished to join a company of his friends who were over there drinking and carousing. Having done this Isaac returned late in the evening, and landing near the camp, drew his little bark partly on the shore and went to the camp contented as usual. Here he found an English soldier, who seemed to feel much solicitude about him, and whom Isaac told he would rather live with the Indians than with the white people. Fearing that such interviews with the white men would lead Isaac off, his Indian mother made him lie down by her, for she had gone to bed. The Englishman went away. Isaac, however, did not sleep, but waiting until he thought the rest of them were lost in the quietness of a pleasant nap, he caught his blanket in his teeth and softly stole from behind his moth- er, drawing his blanket after him. He got out, straightened himself and listened ; he could hear no stir, except the quiet music of the lake before him, which invited him to liberty. He stepped softly to the little bark canoe he had drawn to the shore, and seating himself in it, he moved as gently as possible around the picketing that enclosed the town and extended into the lake, and again turned to the shore. Giving his canoe a push into the lake, he steered his course for the vessel on which he had learned he could make his escape. When he reached the vessel the captain was walking about on the deck, and seeing Isaac approach he met him and told him to follow him. They weut together into the cabin. The captain was much perplexed to know what to do with Isaac, so as to secure him, and screen himself from the censure of the Indians, with whom his greatest trade was carried on. At length, however, he told him, ' I have a little negro boy in the kitchen who will find you out, let me do with you what I may. If you go to him and tell him your situation and object, he can take care of you ; but do not tell him that I know anything about you.' Isaac went into the kitchen and awoke the negro, but he appeared un- willing to have anything to do with him. Fearing that, between them he would have to go back to the Indians, Isaac told the little negro that his master knew that he was there, and had told him to come to him. 'Then,' said the negro, still lying in his bunk, 'get in here.' Isaac tumbled in with him but not to sleep. His fate, as yet, was too
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