The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-07-27

trial; and as he was being escorted from
the cOuncil>house to an unoccupied log
hut, which was to serve him as prison, he
was surrounded by herce mob of men,
women and children, who Wed with each
other in heaping upon him the most coarse
and vulgar abuse, and in striking, kick ing
and plnching him at every opportunity
all of which the poor fellow bore with a
/ stolclsm that would have done credit TO
an Indian brave. A number of the sava-
! ges, in their intercom Sc with American
and British traders, and agents, and rene>
gades, had picked up smattering of
English words, and these they now used
with all the venom of their nature
You poor sqnaw baby!" cried an old
bag, as she crowded up and struck him
across the face with a stick.
You much sqneal in fire, like small
Papoose J yelled another, giving him
blow with her fist.
"How him like eat fire !" screamed
third, as she pinched him with all her
might.
"White nigger eat fire!" shouted several
children in chorus, doing all they could to
hurt, annoy and irritate him.
Slower made no reply TO any, but bore
all with a meekness and firmress worthy
of martyr. On entering the hnt where
he was to pass the last night he ever ex~
pected to see in this world, the Indian
guards Of the condemned prisoner proco ed
ed to bind his hands tightly together be-
hind his back Then making him sit
down against a wall of the shanty, they
passed stout buffalo thong around bis
neck, and secured it to log in such II
manner that he had no power to change
his position. In this painful condition,
without anything to eat or drink, he passed
the long night of horror, his guards keep
ing wide awake and near him, occasion
ally making an examination TO see that he
was perfectly secure, and often tauntlng
him about his unfortunate condition, and
describi>g in tie best English at their COM
mand the cruelties that would be practiced
on him on the morrow.
The no ming rose clear and serene, and
to the excited savages gave promise OF
glorious day Of sport. AT an early hour
they began to pour in from the different
villages foT mi es around and 10y noon
an immense throng had collected, consist
ing of noted chiefs and warriors, aged
veterans, and women and children, for II
was intended to make the affair in the
highest degree imposing. A good, hearty
breakfast had been served TO The prisoner,
not from any feeling of compassion, but
merely to increase his strength and power
of endurance, SO that the torture mig hit
be prolonged.
As the time drew near for the intended
victim to be led forth to the stake, he was
stripped naked, and painted black from
head to foot and then, as his guards
conducted him to the elevated spot where
so many, both white and red, had already
suffered, the welken was rent With the
delighted screams and yells of the hum
dreds of both sexes and all ages assem~
bled around the base of The burning ground
At the very apex of the lille hill was set
stout stake, to which was attached
rope several feet in length, which was now
made fast to the prisoners hands behind
his back. This gave him a circuit OF
some ten or twelve feet in diameter to
move about in, and outside of which was
the circle Of faggots, intended for the pur-
roasting him from head to foot in a slow
and torturing manner.
Everything being now in readiness for
the horrid work, the torch was applied TO
the dry faggots, and another universal yell
of satisfaction rent the air but just as
the fame shot upwards, there came
heavy boom of thunder, as if heaven
were dispIeased at the cruel act; and the
superstitious Indians, suddenly hushed to
silence, looked up in surprise commingled
with awe. For the first time it was no.
ticed that black and angry cloud was
rolling up in the west, from which issued
fierce tongues of flames, each of which
was quickly followed by heavy reports,
that every moment grew louder and more
threatening. The attention of the saVages
was now divided between the approach>
ing storm and the prisoner at the stake;
and as they noted the heaving and whirl-
ing clouds pushing rapidly and angrily
forward, with the lightning flashing al
most necessarily, and each successive re-
port rolling over their heads with heavier
boom, their superstitious hearts began TO
fear that the Great Spirit was angry with
them for the deed they were about to do.
The progress of the storm was uncOm-
monty rapid Scarcely had the fame
completed its circuit, before the anxious
prisoner, standing at the stake in the CEN
tire, had begun to feel more than slight
! glow of heat, when fierce gust of wind
sent the faggots flying in every direction,
and the swiftly descending rain put out
the fire. Amid the roar of tempest
most fearfulIy sublime, the spectators
FASTENED to seek shelter in the village /;
and the reprieved captive. almost yentur-
ing to hope that kind Providence had in
terfered in his behalf, was returned to his
prison.
The storm ragged all the rest of the day