The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-05-23

boya giving near masonic sign, ana grasp
ing his hand, gave himthe grip Of the mas
ter Mason, and claimed hh protection.-
Brandt, being Mason recognized both, and
claimed the two prisoners as his own, prom
fsing and assuring them that their lives
should be spared. And SO, indeed, would
they have been, had not Brandt been called
away from the camp, on duties Of impor-
tance requiring his attention. Whether
there was a ruse to draw him away, is not
and cannot be known for certainty; but ad-
vantage was taken of his absence, by
Colonel Buffers to endeavor to extort f. m
the prisoners, under threat Of torture, informG.
ton regarding Sullivan's army. 4, go,
Reader accompany me to the council-
house Of the village, where wss assembled
a group worthy the pencil of the most skill
full artist. ,.,'.,.,-r ,.r
Before table, on which was scattered
maps, papers, writing materials, ETC., was
seated short, feshy Informed man, whose
head (phrenolcgically considered) gave to-
ken Of all the animal passions, and but few
of the moral or Intellectual faculties, and
whose features were as expressive as his
head OF all the peculiarities of his nature,
which was cruel in the extreme. His dress
was the uniform of the Royal Greens, of
which regiment he was the Colonel. This
was Colorel Butler. Opposite to him sat
an aid-de-camp prepared to commit to paper
the statement of the prisoner. 20. r.,.e...
In front Of Butler, kneeling upon one
knee, was the light, active form of Lieut..
Boyd. His white hunting shirt brought him
out in bold relief from the dusky forms of
the savages, two Of whom held him in their
grasp, while behind him stood the stalwart
form Of Little Beard, the most vindictive
and dcruel of the allies of Britain. He was
distinguished for his diabolcal invention in
torturing prisoner, and whenever such
scenes were to be enacted, he was master of
ceremonies. With one hand twined in the
long hair of Boyd's head he welded in the
other tomahawk, which was raised to strike
the death blow, ON the signal from Butler Be-
hind him stood the other prisoner, Parker, in
the hands Of fourth savage. Several war
riors and soldiers completed this group of
fearful import.
Listen! Butler is intertogating the pris-
oner. lisa % e.,j-.s g.. ar.ar. .-.n.a.
@ "What is your name!" .t.l m"tu ID.
"Boyd." flo"
aynnr +n,4st,,, .F1,aa" T
too' iu"Ni s5 t- a.a- t.-
"Lieutenant" .,. ...s .s... .... ..,..,.f..
"What corps!" e.. ..-aH -..
"Morgan's rife corps" l n' ''"a.7rr .
"What is the number of Sullivans ar
myl" ....... ....a...,.., ..,......... ,,- ......
IL shall not answer the question:" 49,
"Boyd, lifeis sweet, and you are are yet
young man; there is no possibility of your
escape, and you have only one alternative;
either answer my questions or you must
"Colonel Butler" replies the intrepid
youth, 81 am in your hands; do with me as
you, see fit. know your power and your
will to put me to the severcst torture, but you
cannot shake my determination to refuse to
answer your questions,t
"Your death be upon your own head then.
Take him away" sa... .a..., s,.. j..
Parker was thereupon questioned in like
manner, and with equal spirit refused to an
swer. 81 He, too, was handed over to the
tender mercies of the barbarous savages, who
commenced at once their brutal and fearful
orgies Tying Boyd to tree, after strip
ping him of his clothing, they formed ring
about him and commenced their internal
dance over prisoner at the stake. Every
means which artful cunning could invent, or
hatred conceive, was brought in play to in
timidate the courageous Boyd, but without
effect. They pierced him with their knives;
struck their tomahawks in his face, stuck
sharp sticks into his flesh, and then com
menced to throw the hatchets as near to his
head and body as they could and not kill
him. Finding that their endeavors to fright
en- him were Of no effect, and fearing the re-
turn Of Brandt, they finally cut small hole
in his bowels, took out an intestine which
they fastened to the tree, and then unbind-
ing him, with scourges, drove him around
the tree until he was disemboWeled! He was
then beheaded, and his head stuck on
pole beneath dogs head which horrid
trophy was left when they sretired from the
town. '-''.s 7i-. t'' '.i"s 1'. d. '4
Parker, who had been compelled to wit
ness, this fearful scene, in ant icipation of
similar or worse fate, was, however, owing
to their haste, simply beheaded, and his body
with that. of Boyd, was left where they suff-
cred. They were found and buried the next
day BY the army III passing through the
town. l,,l.,s ,.,ecf -.
= This was Colonel John Butler, the Tory refugee,
and must not be confounded with Colonel Zebulon
Butler, the patriot, who commanded at Wyoming.
t ithas been supposed that Boyd hoped that Brandt
would yet be able TO save him from death, but such
could not be the case for the tomahawk was uplited
above his head, and he must have believed that inn
mediate death would follow his tefusai. Y a@12a
. ~