Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-06-20


little have is source of comfort to me aud
not of regret, as it would be had l come by
| it dishonesty.
We will now pass over a period of four
years, during which time serious difficulties
arose between the border settlers and the In
dians, in which many of tue former lost th cir
property as well as their lives. Nor did L es-
cape the common fury of the savages, but
with all my effects l was hurried away to the
hostile camp. Here l met my unfortunate
neIghbor, Flint, and Others who had fallen
victims to the common rage; poor fellows?
lying about upon the ground: closely fettered
hand and foot, and lashed fast to trees to keep
them still. Theirs was in deed most pittable
condition But was not left great while
TO pity the miseries of others. ere [ was fet-
TERED and left In the same uncomfortable con-
dition. All, too feeble is the pen of the wri-
ter to even attempt description of the tor
lures of such confinement The air re-
sounded with the cries of the poor wretcbes
AS for the comfort of my situation the reader
can imagine how he would feel with a rope
around his ancles. the other end of which
was tied to the branch of tree overhead in
such way as to elevate his feet far above
bis head. The fancy can hardly paint a
more uncomfortable situation than this, and
IN this predicament we were left for the night.
had nothing to cat for twenty four. hours
and the keen demands of appetite almost
rendered me frantic. The Indians then re-
tired to their camp, not however without hol-
ding grand pow WOW or conversation re-
specting the fate of the prisoners on the NOR
row. 1t was all quite incomprehensible TO
ME, for | did no: understand their language;
m with oil tha g..
as they were gone, one of them cried out
There comrades did you hear that?' L heard
it, said one, but could not understand it.
what does it all meant 1t mears,' continued
the first, that we are all to be burned at the
stake In the morning 'SureT asked the
other. Yes, | am quite sure that such is
the decision of the council. 1 understand
their Sioux as we'll as [ do che English, and
such is our inevitable duom' The groan
which my poor close-fsted neiyhbor Flint
gave was truly touching. Is that so?' he
asked excitedly. % my God. and is there
no escape? None but roast, replied the
other, unless you can break your fettcrs in
the night aud escape by that means But
that is impossible, continued poor Flint, hope
lessly. Then better reconcile yourself, to
it, my friend, said the other, and suffer your
self not to be excited, assistance may come
yet. / was once rearer than this to the
stake, and still escaped to meet this dagger,
and trus. to outlive it also
How vaiu such hopes. The night wore
away tediously, and not one, dare say of all
those prisoners. slept wink. at least 1 did
not, and cries and complaints were heard
from all round. But those complaints were
soon to be hushed, and those fears all Quilted
in the grave.
The inauspicious morning began to dawn
In the east, but no looked for friends, no as
sistance came. The cries of discontinue
among the captives became heart rending as
they began to despair. But as for NE had
enaured and was still enduring all that hu-
man nature could bear, aud | cared but little
how soon the tragedy was brought to close