Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-03-02


date without any malicious stabs at anoth- |
er's reputation, and we shall then, and moi
till then, have abolished the gauntlet.
After Wayne's treaty with the Indians
at Greenville, (Which l have alluded to-
and on the goth day of September, 1917, |
treaty was made at Maumee by Lewis
Cass and Duncan Macarthur on behalf of
the United States, and the sachems, chiefs,
&c. of the same tribes and nations have
mentioned, the Indians surrendered their
title TO this country. but in this treaty the
Indians reserved the right to many valua
BILE tracts. The Senecas had 10000 acres
in the south part of this and north part Of
Seneca county, aud east of the river. The
Wyaudots, a large tract 2 miles square, at
Upper Sandusky. On these reserves the
Wyandots and Scnecas respectively lived
till the Senecas sold out and moved away
in 1882, and the Wyandots did likewise in
1886.
Both these tribes traded at our town, the
Senecas almost exclusively, and the Wyan-
dots partially. A portion of the Ottowas
also did their trading here as late as the
year 1882.
The Senecas held an annual feast and
and dance, some time 10 the month Of
at which the whole nation, men, women
and children attended. This was their re-
ligious festival, n kind of customary thanks
giving to the Great Spirit, and time of gen
eral counsel amongst them, and for many
years was an occasion of visitation by the
white people, who, if they kept good order
and brought no whiskey, were admitted as
spectators. A peculiarly solemn ceremony
observed with unfailing punctuality at this
festival was the burning of two white dogs,
one of each sex, on the Sd day. This was
kind Of sacrifice, the reason and origin of
which, have not learned. The animals
both Of the same sze-were prepared
and put in good condition before the feast
commenced AT or before the commence
ment they we're killed in manner so as to
leave the body apparently perfect; (proba-
bly, strangled) decked with ribbons and
beads, and suspended together at the top
of single pole about II feet high, by cords
passing under their teeth; they were
thus neatly kept and scrupulously guarded
]
time for sacrifice arrived.
Those living here between the years
1917 and ls33-especially those engaged
in trade, observed and learned the habit.
and characteristics of the Indians Some
of my informants are of this class Of early
settlers.
: Wild. nnlearned. and in many things re
pulsive as the Indians were, still, amongst
them were found many noble specimens oi
men and women, who cherished and dis
played the cardinal virtues of humanity
modesty, chastity, truth, sincerity, honesty
) and courage. In that stole courage which
coolIy meets death without even the ap
, pearance of fear, the North American Indi
dian never bad a superior in any race o
men on the earth In illustration of thi.
! wonderful characteristic, two instances wei
: known TO my informants, may be given.
r Among the Ottawas who frequently Wis
tied our town to trade, was a warrior named
: Captain Punkin. He was by nature a:
(; well as practice, vicious, treacherous, crue
Indian; he was one of the company wht
captured the Snow family, on Cold Creek
individual who took away Mrs. Shows in
4 fant because it hindered her march. Il
spite of all her entreaties, cries and resist
!, ance, he seized it by the feet and dashec
:, its brains out against a tree, before th
: mothers eyes.
, Long years after this event, Punkin wa
0 found guilty of violating the laws of hi
t tribe, and sentenced to die 10y council
: This decision was communicated to hin
e and he was asked when and where he wouI
J. die, he informed them of the time an
G. place at which he would choose to die an
d be buried; he went unguarded and at libel
= ty for some time, alone in the forest. n
sr human eye watched him; he was at libert
to flee if he chose The time fixed cam
It and his executioncrs repaired to the spot
d had selected, and where his burial place ha
IS already been prepared. They found hir
p ready, sitting at the verge of his own gray,
rs Raising his bowed head as they approache
y he said: "You have come; am ready
a Strike surew Instantly the tomahawk d,
scribcd a gliltering circle and descende
c. deep into his brain. He expired without
N groan, and was buried there.
r. This spot was somewhere a few milt
le west Of this town. Judge Olmsted has 70
il gotten the place. The other instance
O. this:-
e. Seneca John was a man Of remarkab
of power of mind, and head chief Of the Sci
Of ecas When any difficult matter was pr
I'd sented in council, Seneca John was locke
O. to by all as the right man to solve and e
C. plain il; and as the Indians said, he alwa,
of made crooked things straight. At the az
ar of about As years, his remarkable min
ry with brave heart, fine person, and man
I'd demeanor, had given him unbounded inf
I'd ence over his tribe. He had two halfbrot
as ers one named Seneca Steele, and the OF
d. er, Coonstick, both younger than himself
ce They stood next to him, and in case Of
ly death would become joint possessors of Il
o. supreme authority over the tribe or natio
They were, wiihsl, proud, ambitious al
he cunning, and enviOus of their halfbrotheI
ak wonderful power, determined to suppla
er him. With all the arts and appliances
in consummate modern politicians they Ia
ed their scheme and commenced its exeeutio
We The woman and the weaker minds of 1
gh nation began 10 hear and report rumorsa a
ut whispered suspicious that Seneca John W