Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-17

note g. DELL
We are much obliged to our pioneer friend
for his interesting "Reminiscences of old Tusca-
rawas, and the relics accompanying his letter.
Salt, now SO plenty end cheap, was a costly
luxury in the days he writes Of. and a man had
to work to 'earn the salt in his Porridge." We
wish more of the Pioneers would initiate the
example Of Mr.. DELL, and put on record early
incidents ofthe country.
The Indian massacre referred to by Mr.. d.,
was one of peculiar atrocity. As early as l76l
and '62 the Moravian Missionaries, Post and
Heckewelder, visited Ohio, and the Rev. David
Zeisberger labored among the Indians of the
Tuscarawas The Moravians established three
stations on the river at the Indian villages call
ed Shoenbren, Gnadenhutten, and Salem. They
were about midway between the white settle
ments near the Ohio and the warlike Wyan-
dots and Delawares on the Sandusky, who were
in the service of England. There was a British
station at Detroit, and an American at Fort
Pitt, now Pittsburgh, which were regarded as
the nucleus of Western operations by each of
thecoutending parties. The Moravian Indian
towns on the Tuscarawas, as neutrals, were not
molested seriously until the autumn of l7sl
troit attended by two Delaware chiefs and three
hundred warriors, visited Gnadenhutten. They
insisted upon the removal of the Christian Indi-
ans farther West, as measure of safety, and
forced them to leave their homes and crops and
winter in the country bordering on Sandusky.
The Missionaries were taken to Detroit as pris-
oners. Towards spring portion of the Mora
Wan Indians were permitted TO return to the
Tuscarawas, and about one hundred and fifty,
including women and children, divided into
three parties, so as to work at the three towns
in their yet unharvested cornfelds.
About this time Indian depredations were
committed on the frontier settlements of Penn
sylvania and Virginia, and the inhabitants de-
termined to retaliate A corps of one hundred
volunteer militia was raised and placed in
command of Col. Williamson. They arrived
near OtA3 lOulAA b1C Alut-
ans busy in their cornfeIds, and under pretence
of friendship advised them to quit work and re-
turn with them to the neighorhood of Fort Pitt,
where protection was promised The unsus-
pecting Moravian Indians consented. surrender
ed their arms, and sent messenger to Salem to
apprize their brethren ofthe new arrangement,
The Indians at Salem started for Gnadenhut-
ten, and on their arrival they were also seiz-
ed, fettered, and confined in two houses, the
males in one, the females in the other, IN COM
pany with their betrayed friends. The men,
numbered from ninety to ninety-six. The
atrocities which followed are thus related
A council was then held to determine how
the Moravian Indians should be disposed Of
The self constituted military court embraced
both officers and privates The late DR.. Dod-
ridge, in his published notes on Indian wars
&c, says: Colonel Williamson put the ques-
ton, whether the Morsvian Indians should be
taken prisoners to Fort Pitt, or put to death?''
requesting those who we're in favor of saving
their lives to step out and form second rank.
Only eighteen out of the whole number stepped
IOIJu dS duNOCdbcS VI Al LACSc, tile lttl-
ings of humanity were not extinct. In the ma
jority, which was large, no sympathy was man
ifested. They resolved to murder (for no other
word can express the act) the whole of the
Christian Indians in their custody. Among
these were several who had contributed to aid
the missionaries in the work of conversion and
civilization-two of whom emigrated from New
Jersey after the death of their spiritual pastor
the Rev. David Brainard One woman, who
could speak good English, knelt before the
commander and begged his protection. Her
supplication was unavailing. They were or
dered to prepare for death. But the warning
had been anticipated. Their firm belief in their
new creed was shown forth in the sad hour OF
their tribulation, by religious exercises of prep
aratiou The orisons of these devoted people
were already ascending the throne of the Most
High the sound of the Christians hymn and
the Christians prayer found an echo to the
surrounding woods, but no responsive feeling
In the bosoms of their executioners. With
gun and spear, and tomahawk, and 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
within-ali, save two-two Indian boys escap
ed, as if by miracle, to be witnesses in after
times of the savage cruelty of the white man to
wards their unfortunate race. /
Thus were upwards ofninety human beings
hurried to an untimely grave by those who
should have been their legitimate protectors.- |
After committing the barbarous act, Williamson
and his men set fire to the houses containing |
the dead, and then marched off for Shoenbrun, |
the upper Indian toYn. But here the news of |
their atroeious deeds had preceded them. The |
inhabitants had all fed, and with them fed for |
time the hopes of the missionaries to estab- |
lish settlement of Christian Indians on the |
Tuscarswas. The fruits of ten years labor in |
the cause of civilization, were apparently lost
The hospitable and friendly character of the |
Moravian Indians, had extended beyond their |
white brethren on the Ohio. The American |
people looked upon the act of Williamson and |
his men ss an outrage OH humanity. The |
American Congress felt the influence Of public |
sympathy for their fate, and on the Sd of Sep |
tembeT, I7SS, passed an ordinance for the en- /
couragement Of the Morayisn missionaries in
the work Of civilizing the Indians. A remnant |
of the scattered flock was brought back, and /
two friendly chiefs and their followers became
the recipients of public favor.
TOLEDO EovEL1Y WoRKs.-The Blade states !
that the proprietOrs of this extensive manufac.
turing establishment expect to be ready to make |
castings next week, and portion of the lathes
will also be ready for doing work by that time.
We congratulate our sister city on the success
Of the important enterprise.