Studies in American History 
113 
Crooks, however, who denounced it as unconstitutional and 
planned resistance.®* 
The Ewings once more went into the neighborhood of De- 
troit and St. Louis, and in both places ran up the price of 
pelts and bought a great many. The fight was, however, 
most bitter in Indiana. George Hunt, as before, ranged over 
the whole territory. The Ewings themselves directed the 
buying in northern Indiana. In southern Indiana, George 
Sellars at Vincennes managed their trade. For the American 
Fur Company, Brewster directed the hght around Detroit 
and in northern Indiana. At Logansport, N. D. Grover 
watched every movement of the Ewings and ran furs to ex- 
travagant prices. Gabriel Franchere with headquarters at 
Evansville led the fight for southern Indiana and the adja- 
cent country. J. M. Spafford at Vincennes guarded Sellars, 
and before the middle of the season had spent $26,000 in high- 
priced furs.®® 
In the fight of 1839-1840 Brewster apparently wore out the 
Ewings. The European market was declining, and with hard 
times in America it was difficult to get capital.^®® On April 
3, 1840, G. W. Ewing wrote to Brewster suggesting forbear- 
ance. On the tenth he again wrote a long letter pointing out 
that the fight is “productive of mutual inconvenience’’, and 
blaming the company for beginning it. “We have the cap- 
ital, the talents & the ability to do a portion of this business”, 
wrote Ewing, “and will be satisfied with a portion of it.” He 
declared that “if our interests are consolidated the result 
would diminish the present injurious competition.” Without 
competition the “Detroit business would have brought $30,000 
greater profit”, he believed. He suggested “mutual forbear- 
ance until 1st July next, neither party to interfere with the 
other’s positive engagements nor make malicious bids.”^®^ 
Apparently the first reaction of the company was to push its 
advantage and put the Ewings out of business.^®^ 
Crooks to N. D. Grover, February 29, 1840, in American Fur Company Letters, 
No. 12. 
J. M. Spafford to Brewster, Vincennes, February 13, 1840, in American Fur Com- 
pany Letters. 
100 “Hollister is hitting them hard on the Wabash where Ewings are reported out 
of funds . . . Got skins on which Abbott had advanced $100 . . , This is the 
way business is done here.” Brewster to Crooks, January 3, 1840, in American Fur 
Company Letters. 
G. W. Ewing to Brewster, April 10, 1840, in American Fur Company Letters. 
R. Crooks to G. Franchere, April 16, in ibid. 
