The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-08-10
CHAPTER V.
THE MASSACRE.

/ CHAPTER Y.
THE MASSACRE.
Ir was on the sixth of March, 1892. Be
tween this and the eighth of the scml
month, an event occurred that will long re.
main--ah, never be oblitcraled from the pa.
! ges of history.
At Gnadenhuttcn; little village abou
nine miles south of New Philadelphia, and
on the cast side Of the Iu5carawas river; a
party Of Moravian Indians had settled for
the purpose Of worshiping according to the
dictates of their own hearts and Escaping
the thrawIdom Of their less civilized brelhel
west, though bat little suspecting that &
storm was gathering among the white set.
tlers east, which was to bust over THEN
peaceful habitations with such direful con
sequences"
On the morning Of the sixth, the Indians
were ont in their corn,ields, on the wesr
side, when they discovered party of armed
men crossing the river towards them, two
at time in Il sap-trough or vessel, used for
for retaining su&ar-watcr" This company
was corps of volunteer militia raised on
the western frontiers of Pennsylvania and
Virginia, and placed under command ol
Colonel Williamson, to retalate for several
Indian depredaJions that had been commit
ted. Sixteen men had crossed, and on ap-
J proaching the Indians, found them more nu-
merous than they anticipated. They all
had their arms about them which
precautiOn they never overlooked, f0l
with them it was Il matter Of much uncer-
tainty when they might be attacked by those
OF thelrrace, no Stle TO their profession and
manner Of living. The whites made friend
y manirestions and through an interpret
er, told them that they had come to ''take
them to place where they would be in lu-
ture protected, and advised them to quit
work and return with them to the neighbor
hood Of Fort Pitt. Some OF the Indians
had been taken to that place in the proceed
ing year and were we'll treated bv the
American governor Of the folt and dismis-
missed with tokens Of warm friendship"
1t is not surprising then, that under such
circumstances, the Indians unsuspectngly
placed themselves in the treachcrous power
OF their murderers by delivering to them
their every weapon of Defence and suffer
ing themselves to be influenced by the de-
signing advice Of Williamson and his men.
On entering the village, one OF William
sons men informed him that they had dis
patched the only inhabitants Of the village
in his absence.
"By the Long Harry! you have exposed
our intentions to thGm." exclaimed William
son.
"No;" returned the other, "it is un-
known"
GLOW do you make that sir?"
"Why, there were only two in the town
u man and woman"
care you certain you were not scen?'
GLOW could it be, Colonel, when no 9th
ers We're here?"
"rhen by Jupiter! our boys will yet have
their sport" exclaimed Williamson raptu-
rously, "for we have completely snayed our
game, and even sent ruse in d very ia+4!ii-
ans mouth, telling them at Salem, Of their
new arrangements. They will soon be
here"
The Indians who were FIRST decoyed into
the hands Of Williamson, were shortly we j
secured, thrown into couple of houses ard
well guarded. This pFecaulion was thus
early taken, to prevent any difficulty that
might arse, from the possibility of their
hands being too full, on the arrival of the
victims from Salem. 1t was not long, till
the Salem party entered the town. when
they were Immediately seizcd bound rs the
others and thrown into the prison-ho tses--
the men being confined in the one, nd the
women Ill the other-there to await in hor-
ribIe suspense, to await the decision OF their
fate. The number thus im2rSone. accor-
ding to historical statistics, was fro m ninety
to ninety-six, including men, We men and
children. After having TINS g.iposcd OF
their victims, a "self-consttute d military
court" embracing both officers and privatcs
was held to decide npon the dis 5osure to be
made OF Indians. Colonel Williamson
presided and their business we $ hastily dis
cussed.
"Thon shall the Moravian Indians be ta-
ken prisoners to Fort Pitt or pat to deaid9"
"Death instantly return ID almost every
counsilman.
"Those," continued Williamson, "who
are in favor of saving their lives, step for
ward and form a second rf nk!" A silence
followed. Only eightee n of the hundred
soldiers were possessed of enough of COM
mon humanity to disapp rove OF sncb foul
Sin the Huron language i,s-Go away Dovi--l
hate you!
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