Indiana Palladium, Volume 2, Number 8, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 25 February 1826 — Page 1

i EQUALITY OF RIGHTS IS NATURE'S -PLAN AND FOLLOWING NATURE IS THE MARCH OF MAN. Barlow. LAWRENCEBURGII, INDIAN A ; SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1326. Number 8. Volume II.

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FROM THE CINCINNATI GAZETTE. TECUMSEH. Every circumstance relating to this extraordinary man will be read with interest. About 30 years ago, as the writer re

ceived the narrative from Capt. Thomas Bryan, of Kentucky, the said Bryan was employed a a surveyor ot Virginia iViiu tarv lands N. W. of the Oiiio river. Whilst employed to complete a chain of surveys extending from the Head waters of Brush creek to those of Paint creek, (now the central part of the state of Ohio) his provisions became scant, and at length entirely exhausted. lie directed his r hunter (who had been unsucccsslul on a recent excursion) to make another at tempt to procure sustenance, and to meet himata particular point then designated, where after closing the labour of the day .he should encamp with his chain men ";fnd marker. The men towards evening hecame exhausted with hunger; they were in the heart of a solitary wilderness, and every circumstance was calculated to produce the greatest dejection af spirit; after making great exertions to reach the point designated, where they were to encamp, upon their arrival they met their hunter, who had been again unsuccessful. Feeling for himself and comrades, every emotion ofa noble heart, he was alarmed for their situation. He declared that he had used every exer tion in pursuit of game, but found every attempt fruitless; that the whole forest appeared to him to be entirely destitute of both birds and beasts! Under these awful apprehensions of starvation, he knew that it would be a vain attempt to reach the settlement he trembled and shed tears! Capt. Bryan at this critical juncture, felt his spirits roused at the reflection of their desperate situation, he thrustcd his Jacob-staffin the earth, and ordered his men to prepare a camp and to make a good tire, he seizes the gun and ammunition of the unsuccessful hunter and hurried off in pursuit of game. The weather had become exceedingly cold, for it was in the dead of winter; every rivulet was frozen, and he had not proceeded far, before he discovered three elks making in a direction towards him. He succeeded in killing two of them, and shortly, after a bear. He then called for his men, and ordered all his game to be carried to the camp. No one but those similarly situated can imagine the feelings experienced on such an occasion. Bat dreadful as the situation of the surveyor and his men might appear, there were others who were threatened with the same alarming distress. Three or four Indians, who had been out on a hunting excursion, hearing the report of capt. s gun, made immediately in that direction, and had arrived at the camp before capt. B. returned. On his return they informed him. as well as thr.v could. (Some of them could speak a little English,) of their wretched situation: they informed him that for three days the whole company had subsisted on one skunk, and that was exhausted. 1 hey described the absence of the came, in the language of the hunter, as if the verv woods were destitute of both birds and beasts They were informed by capt. B. that he had a plenty for himself, his men, and themselves. He requested them to fix their camp, make a good fire, and then to assist his men in skinning the bear and the two elks which were now "brought into camp, and then to cut, carve and cook for themselves. Their very looks indicated the joy that they now felt; nor did they spare the provisions; Their hunger was great, and as often as one round was served up. captain Bryan in sisted on their partaking of more, until they were fully satisfied; when they began to prepare for rest. A fine tali digliified Indian then approached capt. B's. camp: capt. B. states rather young in appearance than otherwise. He verv gracefully stepped up to capt. B. (who was now reposing in his camp on account of much allliction from the rheumatism in his knee from his recent exposure,) and informed him, that the old man in his camp was a chief; that he felt under such great-obligations, to the great and good spirit for so signal an interposition in their favor, that he was about to make a prayer, and address the good spirit, and thank him. That it was the custom on such occasions for the Indians to stand up in their camp; that his cruet requested the Captain and his men to conform in like maimer by standing up inthcircamp. The Captain replied, that his men would all conform, and order should be preserved; but as he was atilictcd he should be compelled to keep his seat but this was not to be misconstrued into disrespect. i he Captain remarked to mc, that he

himself was not a religious man, tho' aj

man of feeling. "The old chief raised himself upon his feet, as did those around him, and lifting his hands commenced his praver and thanksgiving, and such an address to Deity, on such an occasion, as far as 1 could understand him, I nev er heard before flow from mortal lips. The tone, modulation of his voice, and gestures, all corresponded to make a ve rv oeen imoressions unon us." "In the course of his thanksgiving, as I gathered from the Indians, he recapitulated the doleful situation in which they were so recently placed, the awful horrors of starvation with which they were threat ened, the vain attempts they had made to procure food, until He, the Great and Good Spirit, had sent that good white man, and had crowned his exertions with success, and so directed him and them to meet and to find plenty." Who can ful ly describe the abundant overflowings of a grateful heart! He continued in this vehement strains for about half an hour when, remarked capt. B. "my own men reflecting on their own recent situation, retrospecting w hat had taken place, and beholding the gratitude of a child of the forest, feeling the same sensations, they were melted down into tenderness, if not into tears." The person who so gracefully addressed Capt. B. in behalf of his chief, was Tecumseh. A WESTERN PIONEER. Newport, Ky. Jan. 182G. Tecumseh, the son of Black-fish. Mr. Kelly, of Ohio co. Ky. a Baptist preacher, and a man of integrity, informed the writer in 1821. was a sprightly boy, very dexterous with his bow and arrow, very active, and quite discriminating in his judgment. . Mr. Kelly was taken prisoner, when making ?alt at the Blue Licks, in 1770, with co!. Boon and about 39 others, and resided live years with the Indians. . Has with them when Boon made his escape, and was himself then not more than 16 years of age. He, if I remember correctly lived in Black-fish's family, and knew Tecumseh and his brother the prophet, when about 10 or 12 vears of age. He states that he was then called Tccumsekrh, (the shooting star.) Of course at the time ot" his death, in 1813, he could not have been much more than about 45 or 48 years of age. The writer heard Tecumseh speak in council in 1807, and then took down a short sketch ot his speech, which wrent the rounds of the newspapers. The writer then predicted (for he saw the workings of his mighty mind) what came to pass that the Indians were as capable of carrying on their intrigues as the wbites,and that Tecumseh would be the cause of trouble. Tecum seh was about six feet high, spare and slender made, a small head, high check, small but piercing eyes. v hen roused or animated in debate, the veins of his retreating forehead would swell to an unusual size. He was graceful in his address; but reserved in his manners- His whole deportment manifested a great. but an ambitious man. PIONEER. From the Christian Register. AFRICA. Few portions of the earth exhibit more striking moral and geographical features than northern Africa. That part of it stretching along the Mediterranean from the straits of Gib raltar almost across the continent, so famed in ancient times for arts and com merce, but in our t lav. celebrated on v for the barbarism and religious intoleranceof its inhabitant? is a narrow strip of land habitable no farther from the sea than its moisture and fertilizing influ ence extends. Upon the back of this, and almost par allel to it, is the great desert: extend ing east from the Atlantic, almost to the confines of Egypt; and south beyond the sixteenth degree of latitude; separating, by many a dreary days journey, this habitable Mediterranean region from the Negro kingdoms. The desert is not on a level with the adjacent countries, especially on its southern side but has what is called a dip in that direction Here it is common for travellers, in crossing it, to speak of going down from the desert to the cultivated country. Ever since the conquest of Barbary bv the Arabs, thev have not ceased to traverse this desert in different routs from their cities to the land of the negroes. This intercourse has produced a race called Moors, who generally dwell upon the borders of the desert, and find constant employment, in robbing and turning the negroes to the religion of Mahomet. On the other hand, the negroes of this

region who inhabit the countries upon

the waters of the Senegal and Joliba or Niger, arc like the Hindoos, an amiable race, inoffensive and hospitable to strangers: and although Pcgans, yet, so far as their usages and mental acquirements will permit, they are a moral race of men. But having the misfortune to Jive neighbors to the Moors, who amongst their other qualifications, possess an in vincible spirit of proselytism, they are subject to all the troubles and even hor rors that often attend the ill advised attempts of religionists to introduce their faith to a people not qualified to re ceive it. And in surrendering the homely reli gion of their fathers and embracing a new one, the negroes themselves often only acquire the vendictive and sccta rian spirit of their teachers, without im bibing the benignant influence of any re ligion. Of this the following storv will serve as an example: In the year 1795, Abdulkader, king ofi Foota Torra, a country bordering on the Senegal, having recently been converted to the religion of the Prophet, and wishing to signalize his zeal in the cause, resolved to redeem to the dominion of the faithful, a neighboring state, whose king was named Darnel. He.accordingly prepared him a solemn embassy, the head, of which represented the person of the great king of Foota Torra, acompanicd by two reverend and learned Bushrcens, each carrying in his luind a large knife, fixed at the top of a long pole. When this company were admitted into the presence of Darnel, the embassador ordered the Bushreens to produce the knives, the emblems of theirmission, and they were accordingly laid before the king. He then began his explanation, and taking up one of them he said, with this knife Abdulkader will condescend to shave the head of Darnel, if he will embrace the Mahomedan faith: and here are the Bushrcens, pointing to his followers, who will instruct him. But, continued he, if Darnel refuse with this other knife Abdulkader will cut your throat: take yur choice. To this Darnel coolly replied, that he had no choice to make, as he did not wish to have his head shaved, or his throat cut; and with this answer the ambassador and his train were civillv dismissed. When Abdulkader found that his missionaries had made no converts, he was very angry; and became bloody minded, as it is not uncommon in such cases, when power is at command; he prepar ed a great army, to invade the Jalofis, ior by that name were Darnel s people called. On the approach of the army, the terrified inhabitants of the towns and villages filled up their wells, destroyed their provisions, carryed oil their goods and little ones and scattered themselves in the woods and secret places. By this means the king of Foota Torra, was led on from place to place in search of sustenance for his armv, until he had advanccd three day's journey into Darnel's country. As yet Abdulkader had met with no opposition, but his army suffered severely from the want of water, so that a number of his men died by the way. This obliged him to turn aside to a watering place at some distance in the woods, where his men arrived at the cloR? of the day, exhausted with fatigue and thirst, and having drank to their satisfaction dispersed themselves among the bushes secretly, and carelessly to sleep for the night. But Dame!, although he had net as 1 , I ill vet onnoned l ie cnemv. was neveri ne ess attentive to his motions; and when he learned from his scouts that he had turned ofTto the woods, divined his situation, and took his measures according ly. With a choice band of men, of whom some were well mounted, he fell upon the men of Foota Torra at break of dnv, as the)' lay thus secure and asleep; trampling many of them to death, killing others as they attempted to escape, and taking still greater number prisoners. Among the latter was Abdulkader himself; and this foolish fanatic, who but one month before had sent the knives and the Bushreens to convert Darnel to the faith of the Prophet, was now bro't bound into his presence a miserable captive. But it is here that the story wears a fanciful appearance, and almost excludes belief, although the truth of it is well attested. For when the kingly prisoner w as thrown upon the ground in irons before Darnel, instead of placing his foot upon his neck and thrusting him through with his spear, according to the custom of the country in such cases, the

magnanimous Pagan addressed him as follows: "Abdulkader, answer me this

one question; if the chance of war had placed you in my situation, and liny ours, how would you have treated me?" "I would have thrust my spear into your heart," said the other with great firmness, "and I know that a similar fate awaits me." Not so, said Darnel, my spear is indeed red with the blocd of your subjects, and I could give it a deeper stain by dipping it in your own; but this would not dig my wells, build my towns, or bring back to life the thousands who fell in the woods. I will not therefore kill vou in cold blood, but retain you as my slave, until I perceive that your kingdom will be no longer dangerous to your neighbors, and then I will consider what shall be done with Au. And so it was, that Abdulkader was kept as a slave for three months, when al the earnest solicitation of the men of Foota Torra, Darnel restored them then king. The story is from Mungo Tark, and was told him by the iiegn.es in Africa, near the place. He had it also from the Europeans on the Gambia, which is also near; and when he left Africa he sailed for America in a slave ship bound for the West Indians, and nine of the slaves on board were of those w ho were taken at the watering place with Abdulkader and were thus doomed to a life of bondage, for the intemperate zeal of their master to make converts to his religion. From the Vagaries of Nature, Thomas Tcpham the strong man Topham was born in London, in the car 1711: and presented the most extraordinary instance of human strength recorded in modern times. The first proof he gave ofhis wonderful powers, was in pulling against a horse in Moorfields: he next Jilted a rolling stone of 800lbs. weight, with l.is hands only, standing in a frame above it, and taking hold ofa chain that was fastened to it. Dr. Hutton, in his "History of Derbyshire, gives this account ot him: When this second Sampon appeared at Darby as a performer in public at a shilling each, he surprised every one by his feat?. This wonderful man, in whom were united the strength of twelve, could roll up a pewtcrdish of seven pounds as a man rolls up a sheet of paper; hold a pewter quart, at arms length & squeeze the sides together like an eggshell, lift two hundred weight with his little finger and move it gently over his head. He broke a rope, of about two inches in circumference, which was in part wound round a cylender of o inches in diameter having fastened the other end of it to strans that went over the shoulder. Lifted an oak table G feet long, with his teeth, though halfa hundred weight was hung to the extremity, and held it in a horizontal position for a considerable length of time. It is true the feet of the table rested against his knees; but as the length of the table was much greater than its height, that performance required a great strength to be exerted by the muscles of his loines, neck, and jaws, besides a good set of teeth. He took Mr. Chambers, vicar of All Saints, who weighed twenty seven stone, and raised him with one hand. His head being laid on one chair, and his feet on another four people (fourteen stone each) sat upon his body, which he heaved at pleasure. He struck a round bar of iron, about a yard long, and three inches in diameter, against his naked arm and at one stroke, bent it like a bow. He lifted two hogsheads of water; heaved his horse over a turnpike gate, and carried the beam of a house as a soldier would his firelock. Having once thrust a bowl ofa strong tobacco-pipe under his garter, his legs be ing bent he broke it to pieces by the ten dons of his hams, He broke such another bowl between his first and second finger, by pressing them together sideways. What were holiows under the arms, and hams in others, were filled up with ligaments in him." Topham once finding a watchman asleep in his box, near Chiswell street. Moorfields, he took both, and earning the load with the greatest ease, at length dropping the watchman and his house overthe walls of Tindal'sburyingground. and while he was at Darby, he was insulted by the hostler at the Virgin's Inn. and he took one of the kitchen spits from the mantel piece, and bent it round the hostler's neck like a handkerchief; but as he did not choose to tuck the ends in the hostlers bosom, the cumbrous ornament excited the laugh of the company till he condescended to untie his iron cravat.

Topham was in height nearly five feet

ten, well made, but nothing singular; he walked with a small limp. He had fofT merly laid a wager, the usual decide! of disputes, that three horses could notdmr him IVcm a post, which he should cla?i3 with his feet; but the driver ghingtheni a sudden lash, turned Ihem aside, and the unexpected jerk broke his thigh, , At the time of his death, which happened on the 10th of August, 1749, he kept a public house in Hog lane, iShoieditch. Having had, two dajs before, jr quarrel with his wile, he stabbed her in the breast and immediately gave himself several wounds which proved fatal is him; but his wife rccocrcd. The greatest iLconvenicnce, and one which w e are astonished does not forcibly strike even the minds of boys of moderate penetration, is the crowding the back room or working department of a punting cfi.ee, w hen secrecy is is oftenessential, ai d when the hands are not" only verv much hii.dird in their business bv conversations; but in cold weather often crowded away from the stove or fire place by loungers w rapt in their cloaks; nor is the notice on the deers leading into these rooms, of "no admittance on any business zekattver" rcgaidcd by many of these unprofitable visitors. Ken. Gaz. From the FarnslaLIc (F.J.) Gazette. . PRINTING OFFICE. A place of this description, like tiv3 busy world in which it is situated, is n scene of toil, embarrassment, joy, distress, instruction and amusement, Sometimes the gilded coronent of hope dances before our eyes, at other?, the grirn vissagc of disappointment peeps at u-i from behind the dark curtain of adversity. If occupation add any quills to the wings of eld gaffar Time, truly h? galloj eth with the inmates ofa printing ofkee and like the w icked, they do not live cut half their days. This is h place most peculiarly liable to accidents, some of which are of a perplexing, others ofa laughable nature. The types which are set vp and placed upon what are termed galleys, have every appearance of solidity, yet in fact they are as tender as our consciences. The slightest touch will disarrange their order, and the temper ot the printers devil; the starting of one type will have an eliect upon its neighbor, and set the w hole of our d7s and q's together by the cars. One of the worst enemies we have to fear is a cloak, it marches in, conscious ol its importance, and with the sweep oi majesty, "Lets looce the dogs of war.'7 One whisk of this garment this car cent Rufus King under the table instead of to England, and capsized a gentleman and lady, whose marriage had just been put in type. At an other time more serious consequences have arisen; a wwr dcr has been upon our floor; and brother Buckingham sent neck and heels into a corner even our friend Jenks, with the whole Island of JVan'uekt, were up set in a galley. But next to a cloak, we dread a gentleman orator; though we are certainly men of letters, yet deliver us from all graceful declamation; one elegant flourish of an orators fist, knocked the President of the U. States, and our probate court to pieces, and at the same conclusion of the argument, we found that he had destroyed 63 bales of cotton from Charleston, and about 15 vessels, but the unkmdest cut of all was, that he took off our head, which of course annihilated Barnstable county. . We are always in favor of uprightness, and consequently dislike ca?icrs9 the sharp elbow of one of these characters, Jestoyed, the whole stock in trade of our valuable patrons, and overturned two duelling houses, a meeting house and a mil: pond m fact they make more confusion in the world in two minutes, than ever our industry can ratify in 6 months Another set of plagues are your shyers, who come to investigate the mysteries of the print shop. They resemble in a degree the old lady who cut open her bellows to discover the secret, why the wind should come out. A column of matter upon a galley, is a special article of astonishment, and of course they must look well to the atlair, and take up a word or two to examine. Little Gov Troup, the other day was hfu4 from his compaions in the column, w ho were standing around him like a body guard, and held up to admiring optics, by an amateur in curiosity; the consequence of the rash act resulted in a melancholy severance of his form of comliness, and his excellency came tumbling down, upon his astonished troop of soldiery, who, prostared themselves in despair at'tVe.