Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-05-15
HCEDENTs OF EARLY TIMES,
Israel DonaIsOn's Escape from the
..law&ncsc Indians.
BY George E. BLAKELEE.

The fourth white settlement made in
Ohio was located on The back OF me
Ohio river opposite the lowest o. the
three islands, very near where now
stands Manchester, in Adams county. |
israel DonalsoF, v'io was one OF the /
founders of this sea, nent, was a man |
Of great enterprise, courage and vital !
energy. lie had many ,Arlllilg ad-
ventures IN his pioneer iiie, encounters
with wild beasts and wild nIen, but
perhaps none " hich he related with q
greater degree Of interest than his
captivity among and escape from the
Shawanese Indians.
Early n The spring OF 119l Donaldson
with his other men went to make
survey some five miles east Of the set
tiemeat. in what is now Monroe town
ship, and while wholly absorbed IN
their work they were surprised by the
savagts coming suddenly upon them.
/ All took thei: heels, knowing it 10 be
useless to attempt to make defense.
Donaldson had not gone faF when he
caught his toe under a projecting root
and fell headlong. He was considefa-
( biz Injured by the fall, and when at
! tempting TO recover his tcet, saw sew
eialrfc pointed at him, and gave UP
! the effort to escape. The other two
+ beng feet-'ooted outran the indians,
and reached the garrison in safety.
The savages nurfied Their captive of,
! taking a Northwestern cour e, and did
rot halt uutii they reached Eagle
Creek, a distance of some twelve miles.
Here the night was spent. and early
next morning the tramp resumed,
/ which lasted two OF three days. DON
a son was made to carry heav.r bur-
Gen, d this not only weariea BIN
bat chafed his back. Whenever he
would lay the load down id refuse TO
take it Up again, the Indians would
:, ease his shoulders with bears oil,
and by brandishing war clubs and
tOmahaWks over his head, made him
understand that it was servitude or
death, and again he would tfudge on
under the burden. One Indian, how
ever, in the COMPANY, seemed to show
some compassion, and now gave Dom
Alison a respite by taking The load
himself.
At last tho encampmeDt of the
/ Shawanese was reached, which was
located on the little Miami, and here
The capiive was dressed according to
TIE custom of the tribe. His haii was
cut of o. pulled out, except lock at
the crown ard foret0p; his face was
besmeared with led stone pUlverized
ffi.e; his scalp lock inclosed in turkey
GuiiIs was led up; leaden ring PET
into his nose, and an Indian dress in
full puton.
: fter being transformed into red
man, a feast was offered, consisting ol
corn cake, Venison and bears oil. The
IDdians first taking a strip of meat
would chew the end and then dip il
with the oil-there being but one ket,
tie OF it,-and then chew it again
Donaldson, although very hungry, could
not appreciate the luxury, and refused
to eat. This seemed to give oifense
and while two of the savages held him:
The third forced meat and oil into his
mouth.
While Donaldson looked very mncl
Ike ShaWance, he did not feel a Bit
like one, and resolved 10 maize an at
tempt to escape the first opportunity
offered, i! it was not half 4 chance
The Indians appeared to realize this
a1t kept him closely guarded. Ill
night he was bound securely and made
to lie between two warriors. He was
t not allowed a knife, tomahawk, or gun
and had no other means to aid an es
cane than his legs, should there be {
chance, so he concluded to take adyan
tage of the darkness.
One night after some ten days o
captivity, when a gentle rain was fall
ing, and ;Il around weie sleeping, he
began gnawing at the thongs which
bound his hands. Hour after hour ht
lab0led with his teeth, aid severa
, times gave up the effort in despair, bu
/ the thought OF liberty would inspire
him 10 new action, and just as the frs
= g!immer of dawn began TO stea
; through the forest he accomplished ths
taslz, and found himself unfettered
Stealing silently out, moccdsins il
: hand, he made his way towards th'
west, but had not proceeded far ghen ;
j yen that startled everything around
. made him aware that his absence wa
noticed. Without stopping to dres
: his feet, Donaldson sped away with th'
agility of a frightened doe.
It was not light enough for the II
Giaus tOisee the fugitive, and Dona'sol
was soon convinced that he would no
he closely followed until his foes coult
take the trail, and determined TO pti
as many miles between himself ans
= them as. possible while he had the al
vantage. After Stacking his pace II
took great precaution to conceal III
!, tracks by walking logs and in stream
: of water. TO what extent he was fol
lowed lie never knew, as the red skin
did not overtake him.
Reaching the bank ofthe Big Miami
tired aud footsore, Donalson attempte'