The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-09-22

| eiuhteen out of the whole numO step
ped forth as advocates of mercy. In
these, the feelings Of humanity we're not
extinct. In the majority, which was
large, no sympathy was manifested. =
! They resolved to murder (for no ether
word can express the act) the whole OF
the Christian Indians in their custody.
| Among these were several who had con
| tributed to aid the missionaries IN the
work of conversion and civilization
two of whom emigrated from N. Jersey
after the death of their spiritual pastor,
the Rev. David Brainard. One woman,
who could speak good English, knelt be-
fore the commander and begged his pro
lection. Her supplication was unavali
lug. They were ordered to prepare for
death. But the warning had been anti,
cipated Their firm belief i'll their new
creed was shown forth i'll the sad hour OF
their tribulator, by religious exercises
of preparation. The orisous OF these
devoted people were Already ascencing
TO tha throne of the Most High!-the
sound of the Christians hymn and the
Christians PRAYER found all echo in the
surrounding woods, but no responsive
feeling in the bosoms OF their execution
ers With gur, and spear, aud toma.
hawk, aud scalping knife, the work of
death progressed in these slaughter
houses, till not sigh or moan was heard
to proclaim the existence of human life
withiu-all. save two-two Indian boys
escaped, as if by u miracle, TO be wit
uesses iu after times of The savage cruel
ty the white man towards their unfor-
tunare race.
Thus were upwards of ninety human
beings hurried to an untinIely grave by
those who should have been their legitl-
nate protectors. After committing the
bal barous act, Williamson aud his men
set fire to the houses containing the
dead, and then marched off for Shoen-
brun, the upper Iudiau to"n. But here
the news of their atrocious deeds had
preceded tbem. The inhabitants had
all fed.
Those engaged in this camraign were
generally men of standing at home
When the expedition Was formed, it was
given out to the public that its sole OBJ
iect was to remove the Moravians to
Pittsburgh, and by destroying the viii
lagos, deprive the hostile Indians of
shelter. In their towns, various articles
plundered from the whites were discov-
cred. One man is said to have found
the bloody clothes of his wife aud chill
dren, who had recently been murdered.
These articles, doubtless. had been pur-
chased of the hostile savages. The
sight of these, it is sai2, bringing to
MUD the forms of murdered relations,
wrought them up to pitch Of uncon
tro.lable frenzy which noting but blood
could satisfy.
In the year 1899, when tie remnant.
of the Moravian Indians were recalled
by the. Uuired States to reside on the
same spot, au old Indian, in company
with oung muu by the name OF Carr,
walked over the dcsolate scene, aud
showed to the white man an excavation
which had formerly been cellar, and
in which were still me niouldering
bores Of the victims, though seventeen
years had passed sn.ce their tragic death
the tears, in the meantime, faliing
down the wrirkled face of this aged
child of the Tuscarawas.
About hundred yards east Of the
present town Of Gnadeuhut;en, is the
site of the ancient Indjau village, wi'L
the stone foundations Of their huls aud
marks of The CONFEDERATION that consum-
ed the bodies Of the slain in l782.-
Here and there, may be excavated burnt
corn and other relics of the fire. Apple
trees, planted by the missionaries, are
yet standing, surrounded by under brush
A row of Lombardy poplurs were plant
ed for ornament, one of which yet
towers aloft undecayed by time, natu-
raj monument to the memory of those
who are inferred beneath its shade.