History of the Malleable Iron of Louisiana. 139 



of George Schamp, who had been with Captain Glass, and nine asso- 

 ciates ; the other at Nacodoches, consisting of John Davis, who also 

 had been with Captain Glass, and eight or ten associates. 



The Nacodoches party first arrived at the place of destination ; but 

 having, in their hurry to anticipate the rival party, made no preparations 

 for carrying away the metal, they laid it under a flat stone, and went 

 away for wheels and draft horses. 



The Natchitoches party arrived a few days afterwards; and after 

 searching several days, succeeded in finding their object. Being pro- 

 vided with tools, they made a truck waggon, to which they harnessed six 

 horses, and set off with their prize towards the Red River. They crossed 

 the Brasses without much difficulty ; but a straggling party of Indians 

 having one night stolen all their horses, they were detained until two of 

 their party could go to Natchitoches for more horses. On arriving at 

 the Red River, some of their party went down in a boat with the iron, 

 while others took the horses down by land. From Natchitoches the me- 

 tal was taken down the Red River and Mississippi to New Orleans, from 

 whence it was shipped to New York. 



In February 1812, John Maley, an erratic adventurer, went with a 

 few associates up the Red River, to explore the country, to trade with 

 the Indians, and to bring away the two remaining masses of metal. He 

 saw one or both of the masses ; but being unable to make the remunera- 

 tion for them demanded by the Indians, he continued his tour farther 

 west. Returning, he continued to barter for the pieces of metal, a cer- 

 tain quantity of merchandise, to procure which, he returned to Natchi- 

 toches, and proceeded to New Orleans. 



On his second expedition up the Red River in 1813, he and his asso- 

 ciates being robbed by a party of the Osages of the merchandise and 

 horses, were compelled to return on foot, relinquishing their object."— 

 JMahy's MS. Journal. 



As at least two masses, therefore, of this metal undoubt- 

 edly exist in this quarter, it becomes very interesting to de- 

 termine their probable locality, and any other circumstances 

 connected with them. These masses are said to be fifty or 

 6ixty miles south-west of Pawnee village, on the banks of the 

 Red River, some hundred miles above Natchitoches. Cap- 

 tain Glass makes the locality of the metal some days journey 

 to the south of the Pawnee village, on the River Brassos. 

 Dr. Sibley, who had conversed with Captain Glass, and others 

 of the parties who went in quest of the metal, states the dis- 

 tance from Natchitoches to the Pawnee village as nearly 400 

 miles by land, and the distance by water from the place of 

 embarkment to Natchitoches as nearly 1000 miles. The 

 account then proceeds :— ■ . 



