“Indian Murders etc.”

Date

4-27-1812

Newspaper

Charleston Courier

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 2

Newspaper Location

Charleston, South Carolina

Serial Number

364

Abstract

Account from the St. Louis Louisiana Gazette about Indian religion. Also report of road to Arkansas Post by the Spring River in Northeast Arkansas was destroyed.

Transcript

St. Louis, (U.L.) MARCH 21. INDIAN MURDERS, &c Since Christmas last, the following murders have been committed by the Indians in this countrytwo persons near the mines on the Mississipi, nine in the district of St. Charles, within the settlements supposed to be killed by the Kickapoos, one man at Fort Madison, on the 3d inst. by the Winebagoes. There were several men who left Fort Madison for this part of the territory about the 17th inst. who are supposed to have fallen into the hands of the enemy, as they have not been heard of. Main Poc, the Pottowattomie, is preparing a war party to proceed against the Osages, this fellow has been until lately at Fort Madison, and is thought at the Peorias, that he intends to strike at the whites. We received a few days ago, some account of Gov. Harrison treating with some of the chiefs, who were in the late action on the Wabash. This news may be correct; but we know from the most authentic channels that those are only squads of bands, who either are amusing Gov. Harrison, to avert a merited retaliation, or wish to secure their individual families from an expected attack this spring. The officers of the garrisons of Chicago and Fort Madison, U. S. agents on the Mississippi, and Illinois traders, travelers and spies, all concur in the same story, that the Indians have no idea of making peace with us; that red wampum is passing through all the upper villages, from the Sioux of St. Peters, to the head of the Wabash; that at every council fire, the Americans are devoted and pro-cribed; and, in short, that a general combination is ripening fast. We should be sorry that Gov. Harrison should be the dupe of a few rascals, or that he should call our frontier people in a fatal security, by giving them a sporific from Vincinnes. We know that we have a better opportunity of acquiring a knowledge of Indian movements thatn can possible be attained on the Wabash, and therefore will sound the alarm when danger is apprehended. It is a well known fact, that more, if not all, the Indians cast of the Mississippi, have divided into smaller bands; some are for peace, while a band of the same nation are determined on war with the U. States; thus, one party of each of the Pottowattamies, Kickapoos, Puants, &c. are treating with Gov. Harrison-the others are butchering our frontier people; yet the practice party will not scruple to engage for the whole nation, whom they known it is impossible to restrain as long as there is a British subject suffered to trade within the limits of our territories, or receive presents at Malden. In consequence of various and groundless rumors of the dissafections of the Louisiana Delawares and Shawanoes, their chiefs lately addressed a letter to General Clark, expressive of the most acute mortification, in that their fidelity could be doubted and demanding that the subject should be brought before court, in order to confront and punish their calutinators. We are sorry that the vile, the vicious, and the talkative could not find some other topic to indulge their genius. The new company of rangers, now doing duty in the district of St. Charles, are, perhaps, as fine a body of hardy woodsmen as every took the field; they cover, by constant and rapid movements, that tract of country from Salt River, on the Mississippi, to the Missouri, near Loutre. The Cherokees, who were exploring that tract of country between the Arkansas and White River, have returned home, terrified by the repeated and violent shocks of earthquakes. We understand they intended to exchange with the U States, their country on the east of the Mississippi, for a like quantity on the Arkansas. The tremendous effects of earthquakes in this territory, has revived an almost obsolete Indian rite in the mode of imploring the Diety, and to avert the divine displeasure-Temples are erecting in the Indian villages, to make offerings to the Great Spirit. The Shawanoes of the Marimec, (10 miles from this place) have finished their religious devotions. The following authentic account of it may be interesting to our readers. The Indian mode of worship, as happened in consequence of the late Earthquake. This alarming phenomenon of nature struck with such consternation and dismay those tribes of Indians, that live within and contiguous to that tract of country, on the Mississippi, where the severity of the earthquake appears to have been greatest, that they were induced to convene together in order to consult upon the necessity of having recourse to some method of relief, from so alarming an incident; when it was resolved to fall upon the following expedient to excite the pity of the Great Spirit. After a general hunt had taken place to kill deer enough for the undertaking, a small hut was built to represent a temple, or place of offering sacrifice. The ceremony was introduced by a general cleansing of the body and face. The novelty of the occasion rendering it unusually awful and interesting. After nearly skinning their deer they suspended them by the fore-feet, so that their heads might be directed to the heavens, before the temple, as an offering to the Great Spirit. In this attitude they remained for three days; which interval was devoted to such penance, as consists in absolute fastings that night lying upon the back upon fresh deer skins, turning their thoughts exclusively upon the happy prospect of immediate protection; that they may conceive dreams to that effect the only vehicle of intercourse between them and the Great Spirit; the old and young men observing a most rigorous abstinance from a cohabitation with the women, under the solemn persuasion that, for a failure thereof, instant death and condemnation awaited; and lastly, gravely and with much apparent piety, imploring the attention of the Great Spirit to their helpless and distressed condition; acknowledging their absolute dependence on him; entreating his regard to their wives and children; declaring the fatal consequences that must inevitably ensue by withholding his notice; namely the loss of their wives and children; and their total disability to master their game, arising from their constant dread of his anger, and concluded in aserting their full assurance that their prayers are heard their object is accomplished by cessation of terrors, and game becoming again plenty and easily overcome. On the lapse of the three days, thus dedicated, believing themselves forgiven for every unwarrantable act of which they were sensible that the offering was accepted; they finally begin with a mutual relation of their respective dreams; the scene to changed to joy and congratulation, by proceeding ravenously to devour the sacrificed deer to allay their loss. We are informed from a respectable source that the old road to the post of Arkansas, by Spring River, is entirely destroyed, by the last violent shocks of earthquakes; chasms of great depth and considerable length cross the county in various directions, some swamps have become dry, others deep lakes, in some places hills have disappeared.

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