Kentuckiana Genealogy: Interesting Stories: The Fake Indian

By Board Administration (Admin) on Wednesday, June 28, 2000 - 03:39 pm:

Numerous anecdotes could be told, though there is space but for a few.
About sundown one evening at McKnights Fort a young woman went out to milk a
cow, and while thus engaged was terribly frightened to observe a big Indian
peering at her from behind a distant tree. She was not long in finishing
her work after that, and though very nervous, sauntered as if nothing had
crossed her mind toward the fort. She entered, closed the door, and told
what she had seen. Instantly preparations were mad to warmly receive the
red visitors. The port-holes were manned and arms and ammunition were
quickly prepared. It soon transpired that William Tokay had personated an
Indian to see what effect it would have on the fort. He was satisfied.
John Beck commanded a company of rangers in the battle of Tippecanoe in
November, 1811. Upon the return of the men a volley was fired at Beck's
Hill. This volley was heard a long distance and gave rise to the report
that the settlers there had been attacked by the Indians. About that time a
fire, which had been started in the woods, through up large volumes of
smoke, and the report also went out that the Indians were burning the cabins
and murdering the settlers. People hastily gathered in strong cabins and
forts and made the best preparations possible for defense, but soon the
delusion was dispelled. In early times there was quite an Indian village
near Zinks Quarry, west of Salem. It is asserted that an old Indian squaw,
possessed of much eccentricity, was condemned to death here for being a
witch or the like, and was burned at the stake.

Submitted by Dee