The Richmond palladium., 1874-12-23
Escape Of David Menzfes.

Escape Of David Menzfes.
On the breaking out of the Chero-
kee war, prior to the American Rev
olution, Colonel Sinclair sent Mr..
David Menzies. surgeon, to visit a
gang OF negroes at a new settlement,
situated on the Oconie River, which
is stream of the Altamaha, and joins
branch of the Savannah, about
seventy miles from the town of Au-
gusta, in Georgia, and about one hun
dred miles distant from the nearest
town of the Indians. The following
account of the sufferings which Mr..
Menzies endured is from his own pen,
and has been confirmed by the cele-
brated Logan, who ruscued him.
'On the night | arrived at Colonel
SincLai<N plantations, we we're sur
rounded by party Of Cherokees; and,
as we made no resistance, were all
taken alive. We were then driven
away before them, laden with pillage,
into their own country, excepting two
negroes, who, being sick and unable
to keep pace with us, they scalped and
left on the path. In proceeding to
the Indian town, l understood (hav-
ing some knowledge of their language)
that these Cherokees had lost in the
expedition one of their head warriors,
in skirmish with some of our ran
gers, and that l was destined to be
presented to that chiefs mother and
family in his room; at which was
overjoyed, as knowing that I had there
by chance, not only of being secured
from death and torture, but even of
good usage and caresses. perceived,
however, that l had much overrated
my matter of consolation, as soon as l
was introduced to the mother of their
hero. She sat squat on the ground,
with bears cub in her lap, as nau-
seous figure as the accumulated in
firmities Of decrepitude, undisguised
by art, could make her; and instead of
courteously inviting her captive to
replace, by adoption, her slain child,
she fixed her bloodshot, haggard eyes
upon me; then, riveting them on the
ground, gurgled through her throat
my rejection and destruction.
The famous Logan, a chief of an
other territory, some of whose hun
ters were in the party who took US,
sent to interpose for my life, and Of
fered a great supply of gunpowder,
shot, fints, provisions and rum for
my ransom; but his offers were refused
the feast of revenge was too deli
cious for the old ferocious savage.
my head ran on nothing now but
stones. sticks, pitch.pine, scalping-
knives, tomahawks, and the other in
struments of savage cruelty; but was
mistaken in that, too, and reserved,
alas! for new and unheard of torments
These Indians, in one of their late ex-
cursions into South Carolina. had met
it seems, with some larded venison
which pleased their taste; in conse
quence of which, they had carried of
some larding pins, as we'll as quaint.
ty of bacon; and my cannibal mistress
had determined to make, by means oI
an Indian who had seen the operation
in Carolina, an application of this dis
covery to human flesh.
when it was evening, these har.
barians brought me, entirely naked
before large FIRE. kindled in the
midst of the diabolical heroine's hut
around which the three or foul
other families, who were also inmates
of this Indian house, with other saw
ages, were collected, with store of run
before them, and every other prepara
tion toward feast. Two young tor
turers, having first bound me to ;
stake, began to experiment on me tn,
culinary operation Of larding. Afte,
they had larded my left side, so as t.
exhibit complete hemiplegia of ba
con, they turned it close to the fire
and proceeded on the other. Thi
performance took up much time, OF
account of the inexperience of tn,
operators, as we'll as my struggling, il
which [ afforded infinite merrimen
to the old hag and her company--th,
pin not merely going through the in
sensible epidermis, but lacerating ais,
the pyramidal papila of the cuts
which anatomists agree to be the sea
of feeling; and as the savages all TIL
while piled their rum impatiently, th
whole assembly we're soon intoxicated
Fortunately at this moment al
alarm was given that Logan was ar
rived, and had set fire to the town
my executioners fed, leaving IN
roasting, and the old hag and som
others fast asleep. l did not let thi
{ providential opportunity slip me; bu
, instantly disengaged my right arm "a
the expense Of the palmaris brevi
museli, and with dislocation of tn
eighth bone of the carpus), and fell t
untying myself with expedition.
then escaped into the town, whence
, dashed into the woods, having onl
! staid just long enough TO place som
! of the firebrands in a position to fir
. the cabin, and not having forgotten t
r lay small one in the lap of my inhu
man she -tyrant.
, when / perceived that was nc
! pursued, l looked back, and saw wit
. great satisfaction the Indian town i
! flames. continued my flight throug
E the wilderness. chiefly by night, steer
: ing southeast.
II penetrated at last through a
| difficulties to Augusta. where l wa
: entertained with great humanity an
E civility by Justice Ray; and was cure
\ of my wounds, and the fever, the
: symptomatic consequence. And s
s far am [ from experiencing any ms
a terial detriment by this Indian trea
ment (for l am above accounting
= few scars on my cheek such), that
! have received, / imagine, momer
e tous benefit from it, as [ have got e,
. tirely rid OF paralytic complaint, wit
' which had been for years afflicted
v my left side, which was roasted"