OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 33B ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 April 15, 2005 ************************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley Tid Bits -- part 33 B. notes by S.Kelly +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ part 33 B. Story Told by Judge Welsh The Wyandots Farewell by William Walker. " Farewell, ye tall oaks, in whose pleasant green shade. I've sported in childhood, in innocence played. My dog and my hatchet, my arrow and bow, Are still in remembrance, alas! I must go. Adieu, ye dear scenes which boun me like chains, As on my gay pony I pranced o'er the plains; The deer and the turkey I tracked in the snow, O'ver the great Missi-sippi, alas! I must go, Sandusky, Tyamochtee, and Broken Sword streams, No more shall I see you except in my dreams. Farewell to the marshes where cranberries grow, O'er the great Mississippi, alas! I must go. Let me go to the wildwood, my own native home, Where the wild deer and elk and buffalo roam. Where the tall cedars are and the bright waters flow, Far away from the pale face, oh there let me go." +++++++++++++ The tune seemed well adapted to the words, and become quite popular among the whites. Another poem he wrote while in college: " Oh, give me back my bended bow, My cap and feather give them back, To chase o'er hill the mountain roe, Or follow in the otter's track. You took me from my native wild, Where all was bright, and free and blest; You said the Indian hunter's child In classic halls and bowers should rest. Long have I dwelt within these walls And pored o'er ancient pages long. I hate these antiquated halls, I name the Grecean poet's song. +++++++++++ The Senecas and Mohawks had songs, but there was little meaning to them. They used to call deer with a sort of flute made of reed, blowing in the end as on the whistle. It had holes and was played with the fingers. They could not play a tune but made a harsh shrill noise. At dances an old Indian would beat a skin stretched on a stick, and kept time very correctly. I never saw the Potawatomies here. The latter were on the British side of the war in 1812. The Potawatomies at Wayne's battle called the swords knives komen, and the men big knives Chi-mo-komen. The Wyandot language was harder than the Mohawk and I never got it as well. The Otawa differed some from the Wyandot. If the Ottawas wished to express indignation they would call the object of it Tues-cos-new ( you are not good.) The Potawatomie Indians who sided with the British were utterly detested and pointed at as not being good. In 1817/18 two men, Wood and Bishop of Sandusky, and the Peninsula, went up the Portage River ( then called the Carmine ) trapping coon. They had guns, ponies and considerable fur and other property. There Indians, part Potawatomies and part Ottawas came to camp. The two elder killed the whites. A friendly Indian found the bodies and revealed the crime, giving a clue to the murderers. A Captain Burt, of Milan raised a squad of seventeen or eighteen men in Huron county, then just organized. Burt demanded the murderers, threatening that if they were not given up the Government would exterminate the tribe. The rogues were surrendered, taken to Norwalk and confined, handcuffed and chained to the floor in a hatter's shop. Sometime after, they were let out for a few moments. They slipped their hands out of the cuffs ( an Indian's hand is small like a women's ) caught up their chains and ran. The jailor shot one in the shoulder, but all got away. We then lived five miles south of Norwalk. All that could carry guns turned out and searched the woods around Monroeville, between Norwalk and the river. At night we formed a line just so we could perceive if any one passed, but we could not find them. Two got back to the Indian nation. The old one shot was found two weeks later after a man hunting cattle between Milan and Monroeville. He had lived on roots. His wound was very bad, and had worms in it, which was killed with spirits of terpentine. The other two had already been returned by the Nation, camped on the Maumee. All were tied together at Norwalk. The youngest ( about seventeen ) turned State's evidence. He said he was with them but took no part in the murder, but they compelled him to break the legs of the victim with a hatchet afterwards, so he would not inform. He was a fine looking boy. He was acquited. He sat on the floor and when so informed by an interpreter, he sprang to his feet and gave a terrible yell of rejoicing. The other two were found guilty and sentenced to be hung. Before they were hung there were so many more Indians than whites, there was much excitement, it being reported that a rescue was to be attempted. Burt gathered his company. Four, of whom I was one, were placed at the door to keep away the crowd. There were many whites from Cleveland, Mansfield, Sandusky and about the bay, men, women, and children. The Indians outside made motions to shoot or bayonet the criminals, also making mutters and shaking their heads at hanging. It is terribly against their nature to be hung like a dog. The captives were placed in a wagon and we opposite the wheels. When we got half way they gave a very savage yell, which made very great excitement, being supposed to be the signal for rescue, but no one came near. It has been reported that they were given liquor. It is a mistake I have desired to correct. The Sheriff ( first in the county, named Farwell, and I think Lyman.), told them that if they went out quietly and walked up to the gallows, he would give them something to drink; he did not say what. When they were seated they were handed a black junk bottle filled with water. One of them put it to his mouth, but at once pushed it away and shook his head. He wanted rum and was angry. When the circle was formed I was inside and within ten feet of the drop. The gallows had a trap door with a key which the Sherriff knocked away with an adze. They fell so that their feet were about two feet below the scaffold and not near the ground. One had his neck broken, I think. I saw no sign of life. The other did not break his neck and struggled for some time, drawng up his shoulders and writhing as it was awful distress. I can not tell how long, but I am sure as long as a man can live without breath. They were hung between 1 and 2 P.M. and after it was over the Indians got to drinking and fighting among themselves. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits continued in part 34.