War of 1812 Bicentennial

Doomed Himself.

Chief Shavehead Boasted Once Too Often of His Deeds of Blood.

J. Seymour Currey in "The Story of Old Fort Dearborn" describes the massacre of the garrison of the old fort and tells of one instance of poetic justice for the Indians' butchery.

"Bloody retribution," says Mr. Currey, "overtook one of the savages, who on the day of the massacre showed no mercy to his victims. This was a chief known as a deadly enemy of the whites and who bore the expressive name of Shavehead because of his peculiar manner of tying up his scanty hair.

"Years afterward Chief Shavehead was in company with a band of hunters in the Michigan woods. In the party was a white man who had formerly been a soldier at Fort Dearborn and was one of the survivors of the battle on the lake shore. At one of the campfires the chief, being of a boastful disposition, related while under the influence of liquor to those sitting about the campfire the frightful tale concerning the events of that day, dwelling upon its horrors and boasting of his own deeds.

"He was not aware that one of the whites whom he had so fiercely assailed was at that moment listening to his braggart utterances. The old soldier as he heard the tale was maddened by the recall of the well remembered scene.

"Toward nightfall the old savage departed alone in the direction of the forest. Silently the soldier with loaded rifle followed upon his steps. Others observed them as they passed out of sight into the shades of the forest. The soldier returned after a time to his companions, but Shavehead was never seen again."