Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-02-20

terrible vengeance. lie and Doctor
Knight were taken to n near encompment
where they found nine more of their
companions in misery. The next day
they were marched to the old Wyondotto
town, and the day following Colonel
Crawford was led ont to the stake, all
the other prisoners, with the exception of
Doctor Knight, being tomahawlied and
scalped by the women and children as a
species OF savage amusement.
1t was the ntep epton of the Indians to
make terrible public example of Craw.
ford, both because he was the leader of
the expedition and in revenge for the Mo-
ravian murders committed by Williamson
who had managed 10 effect his escape
and we feel we cayot do better than copy
the words of his Companion. Doctor
Knight, who was an eyewitness Of the
horrible affair.
"When we went to the fire." says the
Doctor, "the Colonel was stripped naked,
ordered to sit down by the fire, and then
they beat him with sticks and their fists.
Presently after | was treated in the same
manner. They then tied rope to the
foot of post about fifteen feet high,
bound the Colonel's hands behind his
back, and fastened the rope to a ligature
between his wrists, The rope was long
enough for him to sit down, or walk
around the post once or twice, and return
the same way. The Colonel then called
to Girty, (this was Simon Grty, the rem
egadc,) and asked him if they intended to
burn him. Girty answered yes. The
Colonel said he would take it patiently
Upon this, Captain Pipe, a Delaware
chief, made II speech to the In lians, viz I,
about thirty OF forty men, sixty or seven
ty squaws and boys.
"Whcn the speech was finished, they
all yelled hideous and hearty assent to
what had been said. The Indian men
then took up their guns and shot powder
into the Colonel's body, from his feet as
far up as his neck think not less than
seventy loads were discharged upon his
naked body. They then crowded about
him, and to the best of my observation,
cut off his ears. When the throng had
dispersed little | saw the blood running
from both sides Of his head in consc-
yucncc thereof.
"lhe fire was about six or seven yards
from the post to which the Colonel was
tied. twas made of small hickory poles,
burnt through the middle, each end Of the
pole remaining about six feet in length.
Three or four Indians, by turns, would
take up, individually one Of these burn
ing pieces Of wood, and apply it to his
naked body, already black with the pow
der. These to,mentors presented them
selves on every side of him with the burn
ing laggots and poles. Some of the
squaws took broad boards. upon which
they would carry quantity Of burning
Goals and hot cmbcrs and throw on him,
so that in short time he had nothing but
Goals and fire and hot ashes to walk upon.
:; 4 4 !; 4 =
Colonel Crawford, at this period of
suilcrings, besought the Almighty to have
mercy on his soul, spoke very low, and
bore his torments with the most manly
foHitude. He continued in all the eX-
tremities of pain for an hour and three
quarters or two hours Longer, as near as
! can judge, when at last being almost
exhausted, he lay down. They then
scalucl hi,A, aud rcpcatcoly threw the
scalp in my face, telling me that was
my great captain An old squaw got a
, board, took parcel of Goals and ashes.
and laid them on his back and head, attc,
he had been scalped. He then raised
himself upon his feet and began to walk
round the post. They next put a burning
stick to him, but he seemed more insen
siblo of pain than before"
Doctor knight was then removed and
: did not see him die, but subsequently saw
his bones. He was himself condemned
, TO die in the same manner, at distan
place, but escaped from his guard an,
made his way back to the settlement tC
tell the horid tale. Colonel Crawford
Q son and son-in-law were burned at TIN
; ShawneSe town.
G Thus the Indians obtained Il teryibl
$ retaliation for the uuprovohcd and wan
| ton murders of their innocent brethren
, And who shall blame them for cspous
: Ing the cause of those whose religious
{ scruples would not permit them to deIen,
| themselves ? We may perhaps blam
a them for their subsequent cruel deeds
+ but we arc Justly bound, at the sam
$ time, to take into consideration the fear
= iul proyocation, and remember that the
Il at least, were uncnlightencd savages, wh
T. only executed the savage laws by whic
y they were governed. When Christian
o turn savaGes, have they right to com
/, plain of being dealt with in n savag
;, manner?