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662 insurrection to go into exile and to pardon the rest on condition that tlie former would sign a paper acknowledging their participation in the revolt. Girouard refused to sign the paper and made strenuous efforts to dissuade his companions. The result proved his wisdom, as the other leaders were exiled to the Bermudas, while he was released after the proclamation of amnesty without conditions. He then returned to St. Benoit, where he devoted himself successfully to his profession. He was offered a portfolio in the Baldwin-Lafontaine min- istry of 1842, but declined this and other public oflBces. The rest of his life was spent in the du- ties of his profession and in succoring families that suffered in the troubles of 1837. He also founded the hospital of Youville in St. Benoit.

GIRTY, Simon, soldier, b. in Pennsylvania in 1741; d. in Malden, Canada, 18 Feb., 1818. His father died, and his mother had married again, when in 1755 the whole family were taken captive by Indians, and the step-father was burned at the stake. Simon remained a prisoner till 1758, when he was released. In 1774 he was a soldier and spy under Lord Dunmore at Fort Pitt, and a friend and companion of Simon Kenton. Being an active loyalist, he left Pennsylvania at the beginning of the Revolution, became a leader of the savages, and was concerned in many atrocities. It is not known whether he was given a British commission. He had been held a prisoner by the Whigs at Pittsburg, but escaped, collected about 400 Indian warriors in the summer of 1777, and in September attacked Fort Henry (now Wheeling, W. Va.), which was garrisoned by about forty men. After defeating with great slaughter a reconnoitring party, and reducing the garrison to twelve men, he made a demand for its surrender, but was refused. The Indians now laid siege to the fort, but, as they had no artillery, the garrison held its own until it was relieved next day by forty mounted men. In 1778, with two other Tories, Girty went through the Indian country to Detroit, urging the savages to take up arms against the Americans. He was present at the torture and death of Col. William Crawford (q. v.) in 1782, and is charged with showing delight at his sufferings; but Girty averred that he did what he could to save Crawford's life. Subsequently, when his old associate, Simon Kenton, was captured by the Indians, Girty exerted himself to the utmost to save him from the torture, and succeeded in effecting his release. In August, 1782, Girty invaded Kentucky and with 600 savages made an attack on Bryant's station, near Lexington, which was garrisoned by about fifty men. After an unsuccessful ambuscade Girty laid siege to the fort till the approach of re-enforcements under Daniel Boone caused him to retreat. He was rapidly pursued, and the battle of the Blue Licks followed, in which many of the Kentucky leaders lost their lives. This was the last great Indian battle on Kentucky soil. In the same year Girty was active in the expulsion of the Moravian missionaries who had been laboring quietly among the Wyandottes. He lived for some time on Sandusky river, where he had established a trading-station, and planned and led many marauding excursions. He was present at Gen. Arthur St. Clair's defeat in 1791, and directed a savage to kill and scalp Gen. Richard Butler, who lay wounded on the field. Girty acted as interpreter to the commissioners that were appointed by the U. S. government to meet the Indians in 1793, and treated them with insolence, finally securing the failure of the negotiations. He also aided the British in the war of 1812, and is said by some authorities to

have been killed in the battle of the Thames in 1813, but his descendants assert that he died a natural death five years afterward.

GISBORNE, Frederic Newton, Canadian in- ventor, b. in Broughton, Lancashire, England, 8 March, 1824. He made a tour around the world in 1842-'5, came to Canada in July of the latter year, and, after spending two years in farming, became one of the operators of the Montreal telegraph company, and opened its first station at Quebec. He was then connected with various telegraphic enterprises, and successfully completed the line across Newfoundland in October, 1856. In 1862 he was acting commissioner for Newfoundland at the London exhibition, represented it at the Paris ex- hibition of 1865, and was appointed London agent for mines and minerals by the government of Nova Scotia. In 1879 he was made superintendent of the Dominion government telegraph and signal service, which oifice he now holds (1887). He has invented electric, pneumatic, and mechanical ship- signals, anti-corrosive and anti-fouling compositions for the bottoms of iron ships, an electric recording target, and improvements in gas-illumination. His semaphore was awarded a gold medal at the late fishery exhibition in London. He was one of the original members of the Royal society of Canada.

GIST, Christopher, scout. He was summoned from ills home on the Yadkin in North Carolina by the Ohio company, an association of English merchants and Virginia planters, to whom had been given a royal grant to examine the western country " as far as the falls of the Ohio," to mark the passes in the mountains, trace the course of rivers, and observe the strength and numbers of the Indian nations. On 31 Oct., 1750, he left the shores of the Potomac. He crossed the Allegha- nies and journeyed in February, 1751, to the Miami river, holding conferences with the vari- ous Indian tribes, but principally with the chief of the Miamis. During the latter meeting four ambassadors from the French were announced, but, after a deliberation, an alliance was formed with Gist, as the representative of the English. On 1 March, Gist continued his tour, descending the Miami to the Ohio ; thence ascending the valley of the Kentucky, he found a pass to the Bluestone, and returned by way of the Roanolve. In 1753 the Ohio company opened a road into the western valley, and Gist established a plantation near the Youghiogheny. In November of that year hostili- ties were threatened between the French and Eng- lish : and George Washington, then just twenty- one, but thoroughly familiar with the wilderness, was selected as an envoy from Gov. Dinwiddle, of Virginia, to make a winter journey to the streams of Lake Erie. With Christopher Gist as his guide he set out. In nine days they had reached the junction of the Alleghany and Monongahela riv- ers, and on 23 Nov., 1753, swam their horses across the Alleghany, and wrapped themselves in their blankets for the night. Their journey ended at Waterford, near the shores of Lake Erie, where they were not courteously received. They hastened their return, and the day after Christmas were fired upon by an Indian in ambush. " I would have killed him," wrote Gist, " but Washington forbade." They took him prisoner instead. Dismissing their captive at dusk, they travelled all night and next day, resting at dark under a huge tree. The de- spatches were delivered, and a fort was established at the junction of the rivers which Washington and Gist had crossed, where Pittsburg now stands. It was afterward, 17 April, seized by the French, and named Fort Duquesne. Washington hastened