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Show Qtoriesof I GREAT INDIANS I Dy ELMO SCOTT WATSON t Copyright, IMS. Wtetern N.wip.per Union. CORNSTALK'S FAME AND DEATH AT POINT PLEASANT pVEN If tho Slmwnces had not given -' to history n Tecumseh, they would bo well represented In the Indian hull of famo by Cornstalk. Ho rose to greatness In tho Ilattlo of Point Pleasant Pleas-ant during Lord Duntnorc's wnr In 1774. That was the first "All-American" engagement Slmwneo Indians led by Cornstalk against native frontiersmen commanded by Col. Andy Lewis. On tho evening before tho battle the Shawnco chief, knowing tlint ho was already outnumbered and that another army was marching agnlnst him, offered of-fered to cross the Ohio nlono nnd make overtures for pence, no was overruled by his warriors. "It Is well," ho said. "If jou nre resolved to fight, then fight you shull. Hut If nny wurrlor attempts to run nwoy I will kill him with my own hnnd." Kurly tho next morning ho attacked. It was n desperate all-day battle. Cornstalk was everywhere, encouraging encourag-ing his warriors. Once, true to his threat, ho cut down with his toinn-howl: toinn-howl: a skulker. Then Lewis out-Hanked out-Hanked him. Tho chief skillfully with-drew with-drew his forces, leuvlng the white mnn In possession of tho field, but nt the cost of 75 klllod nnd 150 wounded. When Lord Dunmoro offered to mnkc peace, Cornstalk called c council of his chiefs. "You would not make peace before Point Pleasant. Whnt Is your voice now with two armies of tho Long Knives picsslng upon us?' ho demanded. de-manded. "If It Is for war, let us first kill our women and children then go out nnd fight Uko men until we, too, ure killed." The Shnwnees wcro silent. Cornstalk dashed his hatchet Into tho council pdsL "You act Uko children!" he exclaimed. "I will go nnd make peace in j self." So ho went alono to Chtlllcothe nnd signed the treaty. He never broke It. In 1777 he went to tho American fort at Point Pleasant Pleas-ant and warned tho settlers that ho might not be able to restrain his restless rest-less warriors. Tho commandant detained de-tained him and his son, Elllnlpslco, as hostages. Ono day some roving Indians ambushed am-bushed and killed n settler. Declaring that the Slmwnces had planned the ambush, a party of whites rushed to the cabin where they wero held prisoners. pris-oners. Cornstnlk heard their angry rrlcs outsldo the door. Ho knew that the ond had come. "My son," he said to Klllnlpfllco, who was badly frightened, "tho Great Spirit has Boon fit thut we' should die together. It Is well. Lct us die Uko men and Slmwneo warriors." war-riors." Ulslng to his feet, ho facod the door. As the Infuriated settlers threw It open the old chief drew himself up proudly nnd opened wide his arms. A second later he sank to the floor, pierced through the breast by seven bullets. Point Pleasant had brought him both fame und death. |