Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-04-03

CAPTIVITY OF WILLIAM MOORE.
william MaaIe, Of Stratham, wa

william Moore, of S~tratham, was
one of Rogers Rangers. He with
ten others, was sent on a scouting
party; and while partaking of SOL
diers' fare, at a table spread in the
wilderness. we're surrounded by a
party of savsges. A desperate fight
ensued: seventeen of the Indians
were killed, and eight of the Ran
gers. Col. Hackett, III of the sur.
vivers, made his escape. Moore
was taken, but not till he had
wrenched the tomabawk from the Ia
dian Who first seized him, and buried
It in his brains, The other survivor
was murdered in cold blood on the
battle field; his heart was taken
from his body, and forced warm into
the mouth Of the prisoner, who had
been his companion and friend. The
Indians we're of tribe residing far
to the west, and returning to their
homes, they carried Moore with them
for torture. At Montreal, the French
understanding for what fate he was
reserved, endsavored to redeem him,
but in vain. His captors resolved to
exercise on him their cruelty, and
revenge the death Of the warrior
whom he slew. On their arrival at
their own country great preparations
were made for his lingering execu-
ton. When all was ready, and the
tribe assembled, the prisoner was
made fast to a tree. He was deli5e.
rately cut, and stabbed ali over his
body and limbs in more than two
hundred places, and splinters OF
pitch wood were put into every
wound. 10 these his tOrmentors
were about to apply the fire. when
the mother of the indian whom he
killed, declared that she would take
him as her son, instead Of the one
she had lost. Upon this, he was i'm
mediately uMeosed; the splinters
were extracted, and some medicinal
herbs applied, as soon as they could
be gathered. to his wounds. Such
was the efficacy of their applications,
that in three or four days he was
free from pain, and able to travel as
usual, though he retained the scars
to his death. He was now adopted
into the family ofthe squaw, by whom
he was treated as a son. He lived
with her about six years, and went
out with the tribe in their hunting,
fishing, and fighting expeditions
He was too remote from the civilized
settlements, too earnest to return to
his friends, not to make some at
tempts 70 visit them. He had gain
ed the affections of his Indian mother
and family, and hoped. by alarming
their fears. to obtain permission to
leave them. He accordingly ran a
stick down his throat SO violently as
to produce blood. His mother be-
lieYed him to be in great danger, and
told him, "Foa spit dood-You de !"
Moore said, yes, he must die, unless
he could see an English doctor, who
would easily cure him. The Indians
tried all their remedies In vain, for
the stick would still produce blood,
and he was obliged to apply it SO of
tea that he became pale and debili-
Despairins Of his recovery
without the aid of a white physician,
his mother and two Indians sat out
with him on a visit to the whites;
Moore assuring them that when tho
English doctor had cured him, and
he returned to the tribe again, he
should make q better hunter and 3
warrior than ever. They
won't to a French physician, to whom
made known his object, and
the Frenchnan directed them to an
English doctor, who, he said, would
better undertand the disease. The
Englishman was attached to the ar
ny; and on Moore's arrival, secur>
. 49, F4 u