The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-11-11
CAPTURED BY INDIANS.
WHAT OCCURRED IN THE ALLIE
CHENEY VALLEY.

Mrs. HarblnsOn's Terrible Experience with Saw
age.
There are few residents in this city
who remember the name of Massey Har
binson, a woman who had terrible ex.
perienCe in the early days of Western
Pennsylvania with Indians. In the year
1892 she resided somewhere in Alleghe-
ny county, the exact spot not being
known. Her husband was spy under
Gen. ST. Clair, and was absent great
deal. On the night Of the 2lst of May
in that year while Mr.. Harbinson was
at rough fort, some distance away, his
home was attacked by the Indians
The savages plundered the house and
then destroyed what they could not take
with them. While engaged in this
work of destruction Mrs. harbinson
managed to get out ofthe house accom-
panied by her baby and littlN child
that had been disturbed in its slumbers
The other child, for she had three, would
not follow her. When she got outside
she observed some one going from the
Fort to The spring for water She gave
a terrible scream, which gave him the
alarm, and he retreated at once, but not
until he had received a bullet which
broke his arm. A fight eDsued between
the Indians and those at the Fer
While this was going on Mr.. Harbin
son meditated an escape and conceal
ment in cave near by, but when they
found the Fort was we'll defended they
at once determined to retreat, taking her
with them.
Her eldest boy was about five years of
age; the next was about three. They
had taken possession of the two boys,
but the younger one, through fear and
fright, was complaining and crying,
when one of the Indians, not willing to
leave him, took him by the heels and
dashed out his brains against the thresh.
old of the door. They then scaIped and
stabbed him. 1t was terrible tor the
mother to witness such a scene, and she
was nearly overcome by the slgnt,
when she was suddenly brought to con
sciousness by blow on the face. They
hurried from the place, and stopping LO
divide the plunder, she found there
we're thirty.two of her Captors, two of
them white men in disguise. Having
two horses, they set out for the
mouth of the Klskiminetas river, where
they intended to cross the Allegheny
Tney placed her on one of the horses
and the little boy on the other, but on
the preCipitUus bank OF
the river she threw herself of her horse. |
Her horse descended in safety, but the
one the little boy rode fell and rolled |
over repeatedly. The child tumbled off |
but was not seriously injured. Arriving
At the Allegheny river, where the In.
iiaDs had secured some canoes, they |
but were not able 10 get the bor.
3es to cross. When landed across the |
west bank the boy was lamenting the |
oss of his little brother, and the hurts |
he had received from the fall from the |
horse. Ifritated by the cries of the |
child, one of the savages tomahaWked |
lud sCalped him in the presence of his
mother, who tell insensible, the infant
being in her arms. She was brutally |
whipped, and in order to bring her to |
consciousness, was led into the river. |
the Big Buffalo river by the as
Instance OF her Captors, and wading to
Ter armpits, they pushed on to tie spot |
where the town OF Butler now stand.
They camped near the town of Como
luenessing, which was an Indian camp.
ng place much frequented. Here tuey
permitted her to sit down, having pin.
oned her arms back 80 that it was with
,reat difficulty that she took care of the |
.hild. In this place, without food or fire,
With savage on each side of her as a
,uard, she pa sed the first night of her
aptiVity. While one was gone, the
murderer of the last child produced the
bloody scalp and proceeded to stretch it
lpon hoop to dry. While thus en-
aged the mother tried to get his toma.
lawk to make an attack upon him, but
he wary Indian discovered the inten-
ion, and placed himself in a position
o avoid the danger.
On the morning of the 24th, when the
indian in charge Of her was sleeping.
he stole off unperceived, taking with
Ter such things as she could carry that
would be useful to her. The sun was
bout half an hour high when she stole
way. She reached the Connoquenes.
ing, and after travelling half day dis
overed that she was going in the wrong
direction. Waiting till night she took
,eariDg from the north star, and having
lade a bed of leaves, waited for the
Iext day, but with nothing for herself
n child to eat. The next morning he
proceeded upon her painful journey, suf
ering exceedingly from the thorns in
Ter feet, which were bare. Upon the
vening of the second day it began to
ain and the child began to cry. Fear.
ul of the consequences che folded the |
hild to her breast, and listening heard
ootsteps. Greatly alarmed sne Crept
nto the top of fallen tree, where she
Cmained concealed from the savage VINO
anne to the spot having heard the baby |
Fy. The Indian remained upon the |
pot for more tlan two hours in hopes |
hat the baby's cry would be repeated.
finally hearing signal from his com
Danions he uttered loud hoop and left |
he spot. She feared to remain longer,
nd although it was dark, moved on
With great difficulty several miles to the
DOT of large tree, where she remained
vet and cold till the morning of the
ifth day of her captivity. Starting hung.
y and wretched. she came to the head
Vaters of Pine creek, which falls into the
river almost opposite Law.
enceville. After many adventures and
scapes from Indians and raitlesnakes,
N the morning of the sixth day she was
discovered opposite the Fort at Six Mile
sland. 1t was with great difficulty that !
Ter friends who did not recognizes her,
Ould be induced to go over the river,
aarinO aha uyoa q daaov If tho Indiana