Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-08-18

/ 10 COnCeal on Ine arrival OF WdlI6I. lHt
absence from him had been the means OF
manifesting to herself her attachment to
| him Time, since their parting, had de-
veloped innate feelings which convinced
her that the Indian character was not in
sympathy with hers, and that Walter was
| her real hero She, therefore, in her con-
fident simplicity told Walter that young
Indian, called Wild Cat, so named on ac-
count of his more than usual ferocious In
stincts, sought her hand in marriage; that
she despised him, and that her father, the
sachem, had forbade him the wigwam.
| And, furthermore, that Walters associa-
ton with her would arouse his jealousy |
and wrath, and Wild Cat would surely |
seek his life. The belt of wampum, de- |
signed as pass of safety, would be the |
mark for the bullet.
Fawn's apprehensions were well found |
ed. A deadly animosity was soon mani |
tested by Wild Cat toward Walter. Yet |
Walter took no pains to avoid him. His |
heroic nature spurned any betrayal OF
fear. Several weeks elapsed when the
two abruptly met in the forest. Instantly, |
the Indians gun was aimed at Walter; it
missed fire; and ere the Indian could re-
prime, he was in the tiger grasp of Wal
ter thrown, disarmed aud bound
A council of warriors was held, and
Wild Cat was condemned to death by the
hand of Walter. But at his intercessiOn,
the sentence was commuted to running
the gauntlet-a punishment of the deepest
disgrace, and equivalent, with us, to being
drummed out of the regiment.
The punishment was Immediately car
ried into effect On the banks of the
creek, near its mouth and junction with
Lake Erie, two rows of men and squaws
facing each other, numbering several hun
dred, were formed. AS Wild Cat passed
down between them, as he was obliged to
do to save instant death, each person, as
he or she felt disposed, gave him cuff, a
blow, or kick. Then running swiftly to
, his canoe, he darted across the foot of the
lake to the opposite side, six miles distant.
On the Canada side, where Wild Cat
landed, the remnants OF the Pawnuck
/ tribe of Indians were settled. Though
, their dialect was similar to that of the
Senecas, yet they possessed the least intelli-
! gence, and were the most barbarous Of any
tribe on the frontier. To this tribe Wild
, Cat Immediately attached himself, and re-
r lated TO them a glowing false account OF
his wrongs and insults.
e A short time subsequent to Wild Cats
!. punishment, the old sachem was taken
a seriously i'll, which delayed Walters re.
4 turn to the East, as he had intended. All
4 of Walters entreaties and peTsussions to
II | lut OAu CulCl W dlION nun W DldSC
q Fawn within the pale of civilization were
v unavailing. Only death should separate
r the warrior and his daughter.
AS Walter was attending the couch OF
, the sick chief one evening, during the
q temporary absence of Fawn, a band of six
: Indians, headed by Wild Cat, suddenly
a burst into the ROOM Walter was quickly
v bound, and, before the alarm could be
given, he was thrust into the bottom of a
- canoe; and the party with swift moving
q paddles, made their way rapidly and safely
y across the foot of the lake.
= Great was the eXultatlon of Wild Cat
= over the capture of his hated rival, who,
At when theparty landed, was unbound; and
while his enemy flourished a tomahawk
N around, and in close proximity to his
70 head, he was taunted with jeers, jibes, and
,f derisive laughter by the party. Walter
% was too well acquainted with the Indian
n nature to offer any remonstrance. He
" maintained in his looks stolid inditfer-
% ence to their proceedings. Wild Cat
81 would have ceaved his skull on the spot
q but his savage companions desired to share
IN together the pleasure of tormenting him
a to death.
1t was determined that the victim should
10 be burnt on the ensuing afternoon. An
ar opening, or cleared spot in the woods
n. near the shore, of several handred feet IN
h diameter, was fixed upon as the place oi
- execution In the center Of the opening
10 stood an enormous tree. To this tree
,e Walter was bound, and faggots of pitct
,g pine were placed high around him. The
lS torture commenced by throwing the
IN hatchet This was done in maunel
~ similar to that of impaling by the Chimes
ia the object of the savages being to leave
3 !. the hatchet sticking by the blade into the
er tree as near the head of the Hyictim al
IL possible. Having practiCed this sport
or with shouts of laughter, to their salts
70 faction, they prepared for the death.
A. A. After joining hands, with whoops anC
m wells, they danced the death dance afte
n. which, sitting in a semicircle few rod
ad from the tree, in front of the victim, the,
he united in the cultural death song. Thu
70, being ended, one of the party arose, ant
,ir with blazing torch advanced to fire tn
as pitch.
ng While he was STOPPING forward for tn
% purpose, and while Waiter was ejaculatin
nj a prayer, the sharp crack OF rifle wa
70. heard, and the savage fell dead upon an
od extinguished the torch. With unite
IN howls the savages sprang to their feet
nd each expected to drop next; hast
re- re- glance at the ambush, and panic stricke
ar. they fed precipitately up the beach.
70. "Thank heaven, my aim was trueW el
3D. clalIneu avn, as sHe CuI 'nS pohus
~ Walter. "We are alone-follow me-
ed uuick-quickI
10 They hastily ran to the lake shore jumI
ed into a canoe, and shot out into dee
ob water. Fawn quickly reloaded the riff
81 and placed it on the floor of the canot
M but ere long, as both were making vigo
,er Gus use of their paddles, they saw G
1er noe coming in a direction to intercel
1er them. 1t contained but one person-Wi
no. Cat
se He had caught sight of Walter an
Ict. Fawn, as they pushed out into the lax
To- having recovered from the shock of 50
tie prise, and frenzied by the escape of Wa
iad ter by the hands of Fawn, he determine
de. to overtake and destroy both, or perish
IN the attempt.
A. On flew the canoes with the speed
arrows. Wild Cat had the advantage
tho lightness of canoe and that deXteriJy
mt the use of the paddle which only gre
i'll strength, united with long practice, cou
ted impart. The course of Fawn's canoe
orn the American side was across the nigh
hin volume of the waters of Erie, just whe
~ it enters the mouth, and forms the maje
tic Niagara River. In the center OF d
obt course the current runs at the rate
'1ir' seven miles an hour, and increases in ra
red idity in its descent, until twenty miles |
,en. low the waters leap the world renown
led precipice.
and Wild Cats canoe gained rapidly on t
out pursued, and had reached within a ft
and rods of the latter, just beyond the create
l ir- strength of the current, when the sava
liam stood erect, and had just poised the U
,ose erring hatchet, when bullet pierced
on heart. He reeled and fell backwards a
way lengthways into his canoe; it swu
un- round and was quickly drawn in
AIRY the current, and was engulfed beneath
the cataract.
few JOY and satisfaction sparkled in I