Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-04-29

of the lake to the opposite side.
six miles distant.
On the Canada side, near 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 intelligence
and were the most barbarous of
any tribe on the frontier. To this
tribe, Wild Cat Immediately ut
tached himself, and related to
them growingly false account Of
the wrongs and insults.
A short time subsequent to Wild
Cats punishment, the old sachem
was taken seriously i'll, which delay
ed Walters return to the East, as
he intended. All of Walters en-
treaties and persuasions to induce
the old chef to allow him to place
Fawn within the pale of civiliza-
tion were unavailing. Only death
should seperate the warrior from
his daughter.
AS Walter was attending the
couch of the sick chief one evening
during the temporary absence of
Fawn, band of six Indians, head
ed by Wild Cat, suddenly burst in
to the room. Walter was quickly
bound, and, before the alarm could
be given, he was thrust into the
bottom of canoe /; and the
party with swift moving paddles,
made their way rapidly and safely
across the foot of the lake.
Great was the exultation of Wild
Cat over the capture of his hated
rival, who, when the party landed,
was unbound; and while his enemy
flourished tomahawk around, and
in close proximity to his head, he
was haunted with jeers, jibes, and
derisive laughter, by the party.
Walter was too well acquainted
with the Indians nature to offer
any remonstrance. He maintained
in his looks a solid indifference to
their proceedings. Wild Cat would
have cleaved his skull on the spot,
but his savage companions desired
to share together the pleasure Of
tormenting him to death.
1t was determined that the
victim should be burnt on the en-
suing afternoon. An opening, or
cleared spot in the woods, near the
shore, of several hundred feet in
diameter, was fixed upon as the
place of execution. In the center
of the opening stood an enormous
tree. To this tree Walter was
bound, and faggots of pitch pine
we're placed around him. The
torture commenced by throwing
the hatchet. This was done in o
manner similar to that of impal-
ing the Chinese-the object of the
savages being to leave the Ratchet
sticking by the blade into the tree
rs near the head of the victim as
possible. Having practiced this
sport, with shouts of laughter, to
heir satisfaction, they prepared
for death.
After joining hands, with whoops
Ind yells, they danced the death
lance, after which, sitting in q
iemicircle few rods from the tree
n front of the victim, they united
n the cultural death song. This
being ended, one of the party arose
and with blazing torch advanced
o fire the pitch.
While he was STOPPING forward
or the purpose, and while Walter
vas calculating prayer, the sharp
rack of rifle was heard and the
iavage fell dead upon and extin-
yuished the torch. With united
lowls the savages sprang to their
eet each expected to drop next;
! hasty glance at the ambush, and
,anic stricken they fed precipi-
ately up the beach.
"Thank heaven, my aim was
rue !" exclaimed Fawn, as she cut
he bonds of Walter. "We are
.lone-follow me-quick-quick !"
They hastily ran to the lake
hore, jumped into a canoe, and
hot out into deep water. Fawn
quickly reloaded the rife, and
placed il on the floor of the canoe,
,ut ere long, as both were making
igorous use Of the paddles, they
iscovered canoe coming in q
irection to intercept their pro-
ress. 1t contained but one per-
Cat.
He had caught sight of Walter
nd Fawn as they pushed out into