New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-11-25
KENToNs ADVENTURES.

The adventures of Simon Kenton, in the au-
tumn of l77S, afford us another glimpse of the
scene of Boone's captivity, and of other Shaw
anese villages. Col John Bowman was then
meditating an expedition against the Shawanese
villages, particularly Chillicothe; (Oldtown,
Green county.) and Kenton, accompanied by
Alexander Montgomery and George Clark, un-
dertouk TO explore the whole route to Chillcothe,
and the vicinity and position of the town. This
was effeetually done, and all risk would have
been avoided if the three spies had not yielded
to the temptation of running off drove of
horses which they found enclosed in pound.
1t was late at night, but the noise of the opera
tion alarmed the Indians in the adjacent vii
lage. Kenton and his companions were pursued,
and although they had reached the northern
bank of the Ohio River with the stolen animals,
yet, before its passage could be effected, they
were overtaken, Montgomery killed, and Ken
ton made prisoner, Clark escaping.
The Indians were greatly exasperated at their
captive, abusing him as a " tief, o hoss steal, a
rascal !" and he received no indulgence at their
hands, except that he was not struck dead with
a tomahaWk. With his hands tied behind him.
and his feet lashed under the. .horse's belly, he
was compelled to ride q restive colt through the
thickets of the forest, while at night the prisoner
was extended upon his back and closely bound
to the earth in painful posture. Arrived at
| Chillicothe, he ran the gauntlet, but as Kenton
| saw an Indian in the line with a drawn knife,
ready to plunge it into his breast, he broke
| through the lines ard ran towards the council
| house with crowd Of several hundred at his
| heels. just before reaching that refuge, he
was thrown down by an Indian who was in his
path, and terribly bruised by the blows of his
pursuers. Immediately council was held, and
| soon Kenton saw, from the manner of the speak
ers and auditors, that he was doomed to die.
! When the vote was taken, those who were for
his torture struck the war club, which was
passed from hand to hand, violently on the
i ground, their number far exceeding those who
simply passed the club to neighbor in token Of
mercy. Then arose adebate upon the time and
! place of the tragedy, and it was resolved that
he should be Immediately taken to Wapatomika,
| (now Zanesfeld, Logan county.) On his way
thither, he passed through the Indian towns Of
Piqua, (now Boston, seven miles west of Spring
field, Clark county,) and Machecheek, (nov
West Liberty, Logan county) running thu
gauntlet at each town, and baffied at Manche
cheek in an attempt to escape.
Soon after his arrival OF Wampatomika, 81
mon Girty came to see him, and soon discovered
that Kenton had been his companion and frient
at Fort Pitt and in Dunmore's expedition Nc
Donald thus describes the scene which ensued
sc Girty threw himself into Kenton's arms, EN-
braced and wept aloud over hina-calling hin
his dear and esteemed friend. This hardened
wretch, who had been the cause of the death 0
hundreds, had some of the sparks of humanit.
remaining in him, and wept like child at tn
tragical fate which hung over his friend
"Well," said he to Kenton, you are con
demned to die, but will use every means in m,
power to save your life" @
Girty Immediately had council convened
and made long speech to the Indians to saw
the life of the prisoner. As Girty was proceed
ing through his speech, he became very anima
ted and under his powerful eloquence, Kento
could plainly discover the grim yisages of hi
savage judges relent. When Girty concludes
his powerful and animated speech, the Indian
rose with one Simultaneous grunt Of approba
tion, saved the prisoners life, and placed hir
under the power and protection of his old com
panion, Girty. s#
The British had trading post at Wapatom
ika, from which Girty provided Kenton wit
clothing, and also furnished him with hors
, and gun The two friends were constantly to
gether, roaming the woods and passing from vii
lage to village. While they were at Solomon
! | town, short distance from Wapatomika,
party of warriors returned to the latter plac
: from an expedition against Wheeling, in whic
< they had been defeated by the whites, with cor
: siderable loss; and demanded the life Of Ker
y ton. Another council was summoned, and Kcr
ton was again sentenced to death, notWithstant
e ing all the efforts and eloquence Of Girty. tt
latter could only obtain a reprieve until tt
prisoner could be taken to Upper Sandusk,,
where the Indians were soon to assemble an
:. receive their annuities and presents from Il
British agents. As the Indians passed fro
Wanatomika to Upper Sandusky, they reache
a village upon the headwaters of Sciota, whel
: Kenton for the first time beheld the celebrat,
!. Mingo chief, Logan, who walked grayely up
the piaes where Ksnton stood, and the follcrin