Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-07-21

4 ufuSu. luus dCCOutSltN anu Aa1tciASui
the horse was turned loose 70 the
woods. He reared and plunged, ran
I through the woods for some time,
TO the infinite amusement Of the Indi-
ans. After the horse had run about,
plunging, rearing and kicking for some
time. and found that he could not
shake of, or kick of his rider, lie very
quietly submitted himself TO his situa-
ton, and followed The cavalcade as
quiet and peaceable as his rider. The
Indians moved towards Chillicothe,
and in three days reached the town.
At night they confined the prisoner in
tho following manner He was laid
on his back, his legs extended, drawn
apart and fastened to two saplings or
stakes driven IN the ground. His arms
we're extended, a pole laid across his
breast, and his arms lashed to the pole
with cords. A rope was tied around
his neck, and stretched back just tight
enough to choke him, and fastened to a
tree or stake near his head. In this
painful and uncomfortable situation,
he spent three miserable nights ex-
posed to gnats and mosquitoes, and
weather. o, poor human nature, what
miserable wretches we are, thus to
punish and harrass each other. (The
frontier whites of that day, we're but
little behind the Indians, in wiles, in
cruelty and revenge.) When the Indi-
ans came within mile of the town of
Chillicothe, they halted and camped
for the night, and fastened the poor
unfortunate prisoner IN the usual un-
comfortable manner. The Indians,
young and old, came from the town to
welcome the return of their successful
warriors, and to visit their prisoner.
The Indian party, young and old, con-
sisting of about $50, commenced dan.
cling, singing and yelling around Ken
ton, stopping occasionally and kicking
and beating him for amusement. In
this manner they tormented him for
about three hours, when the cavalcade
returned to town, and he was left for
the rest of the night, exhausted and
forlorn, to the tender mercies of the
gnats and mosquitoes. AS soon as it
was light in the morning, the Indians
began to collect from the town, and
preparations were made for fun and
trolic at the expense of Kenton, as he
was now doomed to run the gauntlet
The Indians were formed in two lines,
about six feet apart, with each hick-
ory in his hands, and Kenton placed
between the two lines, so that each In
dian could beat him as much as he
thought proper, as he ran through the
lines He had not ran far before he
discovered an Indian with his knife
drawn to plunge it into him; as soon as
Kenton reached that part of the line
where the Indian stood who had the
knife drawn, he broke through the
lines and made with all speed for town.
Kenton had been previously informed
by negro named Caesar, who lived
with the Indians and knew their GUS
toms, that if he could break through
the Indians lines, and arrive at the
council house in the town before he
was overtaken, that they would not
force him second time to run the
gauntlet When he broke through
their lines, he ran at the top of his
speed for the council house, pursued
by two or three hundred Indians,
screaming like Internal furies. Just as
he had entered the town, he was met
by an Indian leisurely walking towards
the scene of amusement, wrapped in
blanket. The Indian threw off his
blanket, and as he was fresh, and Ken.
ton nearly exhausted, the Indian soon
caught him, threw him down. In a
moment the whole party who were in
pursuit came up, and fell to cutting and
kicking him az most fearful rate.
They tore off his clothes, and left him
naked and exhausted. After he had
laid till he had in some degree recov-
cred from his exhausted state, they
brought him some water and something
to eat. AS soon as his strength was
sufficiently recovered, they took him to
the council house, to determine upon
his fate. Their man ner of deciding his
fate was as follows Their warriors
were placed in circle in the council
house, an old chief was placed in the
center of the circle, with a knife and
piece of wood in his hands. A number
of speeches were made. Kenton. al
though he did not understand their
language, soon discovered by their ami
mated gestures, and fierce looks at him,
that minority Of their speakers were
for his destruction. He
could perceive that those who plead for
mercy, were received cody; but few
grunts of appreciation were uttered
when the orators closed their speeches.
After the orators ceased speaking, the
old chief who sat in the midst of the
circle, raised up and handed a war club
to the man who sat next the door.
They proceeded to take the decision of
their court. All who were for the
death Of the prisoner, struck the war
club with violence against the ground;
those who voted to save the prisoners
life passed the club to his next neigh
Dor without striking the ground. Ken
ton, from their expressive gestures,
could easily distinrnish tha object of