The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1845-11-14

that he lad no rife, turned round to an
Indian, laughed outright, and showed by
all his actions that lie was pie ased with
the lor1id scene.
Girty then came TO me and told me TO
prepare myself for death. He said that
was not TO die there, but would be burned
e. death in the village OF the Shawnees
lie swore by the Almighty that could
ooeexpect 20 escape death, but should suf
fer the crueles, tortnres.
During lis tortnres Col. Crawford pray.
ed 10 tie Almighty = have mercy on his
soul. lie spoke in subdued tone, and
bore his sufferings with real fortitude,-
His excrucia,ing pains lasted a bout two
hours Al last, when his strength failed,
he prostrated himself on his belly; they
then scalped him, threw his scalp several
times in my face, and said, 'sthat was your
great captain" An old squaw, (who
closely resembled the idea most people
have of Satan, took board, heaped Goals
aud ashes on it, aud put them on the Colo
nel's back after lie was scaIped. HI once
more raised himself on his feet and walked
round the stake. They again applied the
burning pole to him, but his feelings
seemed TO have left him.
The Indian, in whose custody was
+ left, now took me 10 the house of Captain
Peip, about three quarters of mile from
the place where Col Crawford was execu.
ted. ! was kept tied all night and was
therefore unable to see the end of that
| scene of horror. The next morning, June
18th, the Indian united me, black ened me
all over, and went with me to the village
of the Shawnees, which, according to his
statement, was about forty miles distant.
We passed the spot where the Colonel was
burnt; it was on our road saw his bones
nearly burnt to ashes, among the remains
of the fire. They probably put his body
on the fire after he died.
The Indian told me that was my great
captain and gave the scalp.yell. He was
on horseback and drove me before him.
/ ! feigned not to know that ] was 10 be
killed in the village, tried TO be as cheer
fu as possible, and asked him if we might
not live as brothers in one housel This
seemed TO please him, and he said "Yes.'
He now asked me il could build wig
wan (Indisn hu,!) asserted that could
This pleased hi still NOR. We travel.
ed about twenty five miles this day, in a
somewhat southeIly direction. The In
dian told me we would reach the village
next day by the time the sun was south.
After lying down TO sleep at mig t,
tried several times TO free myself, but the
Indian was very watchful, an d seldom
closed his eyes. He got up at day break
united me, stirred the fire, and as the moss
quItoes were very troublesome, I asked
if might not make some smoke behind
us! which he assented 10. ! took the end
of dogwood fork, which as burned dow u
to the length of about eighteen inches -
This was the longest stick | could get,
though not quite long enough for my pur
puss: then took smaller piece of wood
put a coal between them, and going be-
hi nd him, turned quickly round and struck
him on the head with all my might, which
stunned him SO far, that he fell forward
into the fire with both his hands. But as
| saw him coming 10 again, seized his
rifle, when he ran off, giving a terrible
veil. followed him, intending TO shoot
him, but in cooking the rife, probably
broke the spring of The lock. pursued
him about thirty yards, trying in vain to
fire the rife. ] returned to the fire; took
his blanket, pair Of shoes, his hand bas-
ket, slot bag, and powder horn, and ran
off. About half an hour after sun.down,
/ reached plain which was about sixteen
miles wide. ] laid down 10 thicket M.
til dark, then rose and crossed the plain,
guided by he north star, and reached the
woods before daylight. travelled on all
next day, and at noon crossed the path OF
our troops. These trails run nearly east
and west. but in order not TO be seen by
the enemy, went north all that after
noon.
AT night felt very tired, which was
not 10 be wondered at. had been
prisoner six days, the first three or four
days ate but little, and the last two days
scarcely any thing at all. There was
certain weed growing abundantly about
this spot, and knew that the juice Of il
would refresh and strengthen me greatly.
| collected large bundle Of it, lay down
beneath large beach tree, sucked hear>
tily of the juice, and fell asleep. Next
day ! went east, and continue d this direc
tiou during the rest Of my journey.
crossed the Muskingum river about three
miles below Fort Lawrence, and thence
Iinclined moro towards the Ohio river
All this time lived on goosberries, prick