PIQUA
As Told By Scott E. Power

One hundred years ago, there was a man named Jonathan who worked for the railroad. His job was to bargain with landowners, primarily Indians, about the acquisition of the land needed to expand the railroad further west. His job was difficult and probably not worth the money. It was dangerous since people didn't like to give up land they loved. In reality, the landowners had little choice. The rich railroad owners, with their friends in government, would simply take the land if the rightful owners wouldn't give it up. It was unfair and unjust, but that's how it was done.

Word had spread amongst the natives that this sort of evil was happening. Other tribes had been "relocated" or simply killed off by mercenaries hired by the rich railroad owners. It was a no-win situation for the Indians.

Well, a certain tribe of Indians in what is now called Piqua, Ohio, decided they would fight for their land, even die if necessary, but would not give up their land to the railroad.

Word had reached the tribe that Jonathan would be coming to their camp to "bargain" with them for the land. The Indians knew the white man named Jonathan would make any promise necessary to get the land. And after that land was given over, the white man's promises would be broken like every time before. So the Indians would not give in. They would die first.

The Indians regarded the white man as evil. The white man called Jonathan was their enemy and like any other enemy must be destroyed. So the Indians devised a plan to capture Jonathan and destroy him. They understood that truly evil people would only die if their spirit was burnt from their body on a stake. So the Indians arranged a traditional, ritualistic ceremony to burn Jonathan, their enemy, on a ten-foot stake placed on the sacred mound altar to the gods. When an enemy was killed at the stake like this, the ceremony ended after the spirit fled from the burning body to the abyss of the cosmos, never to return.

It was very easy for the Indians to capture Jonathan. He was traveling alone and wasn't expecting any trouble. He didn't know how despised he was amongst the natives. He didn't know they knew the truth. He didn't realize his very presence was a threat to their lives and culture. He didn't know he was so vulnerable. He didn't know it was a trap. He didn't realize he must be destroyed.

The Indians tied Jonathan's feet together and pulled him behind a horse, dragging him across the ground, through sticker bushes, against rocks and tree trunks. By the time they reached the ceremonial altar, Jonathan was covered with cuts and blood and bruises. His right arm was broken and he was screaming in pain and terror to stop. STOP!

It was no use. The Indians would not stop. Jonathan was an enemy, a white man, a paleface, a liar, a threat to the survival and culture of all Indians. He was to die an enemy's death. A death of terror, torture, pain, misery, and brutality.

By the time they had tied Jonathan to the stake he had lost consciousness. Once the fiery flames began to burn his flesh, Jonathan awoke to feel the pain. He screamed. AHHHHH!

Over the crackling of the flames, he could hear the drums pounding and the cries of the Indians as they danced and cheered the death of their enemy.

Jonathan could feel life leaving him, he no longer felt the pain. Things were turning black.

The Indians could see Jonathan dying. Burning black on the stake. They could see his spirit pulling from the body. They cheered louder and yelled louder. The drums were pounding at a frenzied pace. The death of their enemy was at hand!

Suddenly, there was a thunder and then all was silent. In the darkness, the Indians watched their enemy die as its spirit fled the cooked corpse. As the spirit left the body, the Indians heard it cry, "Otah-He-Wagh-PE-Qua" (Translated: He is risen from the ashes.) Even since then, the place where Jonathan died has been called Piqua.

He who works for evil eventually pays the price.


STORY OUTLINE

I. A tribe on Indians in Ohio hear that the railroad will send an agent to try talk them out of their land.

II. The Indians realize that these deals are always broken and are only a method of stealing their land

III. The railroad land grabber is captured by Indians and burned at the stake.

IV. Upon his death his spirit cries "Otah-he-wagh-pe-qua"-"He is risen from the ashes."

V. Ever since then this place has been called Piqua.