Morning journal and courier., 1882-06-23

The BurnIsg of Colonel Crawford. [sandusky Eohto3 Letter to Cincinnati conmsrcisLl
 The Pioneer associa ion of this county met few weeks ago to perfect arrangements for the observance of the one hundredth anniver- sary of the burning at the stake of Colonel William Crawford, which occurred on the 10th of June. The average reader is perfect ly acquainted with the facts surrounding the case of the cruel torture of a good and great man-Colonel William Crawford But at this proper time it is well enough to recall them.
 It was on the I1th day of Juns, and the afternoon was well spent, when Crawford, under escort of his tormentors, arrived at this ever-memorsble spot of ground. They here met many Wyandots from the Half Kings town, and men, squaws and children from Captain Pipe's village just below. A fire was brightly burning. Crawford was stripped naked and ordered to sit down near the fire The Indians now beat him with their fists and sticks. The falal stake-a post about fifteen feet high-had been set firmly in the ground, and piles of hickory poles rather thicker than a mans thumb, and from eight to twelve feet long, lay at the dis tance of four or five yards from the stake. Crawforfs hands were tied behind his back A strong rope was produced, one end of which was fastened to the hgsture between his wrists, and the other tied to the post near the ground The rope was long enough to permit him to walk around the stake several times and then return
 Crawford, observing these terrible prepar- ations called to Simon Girty, who sat on horseback at the distance of a few yards from the fire. and asked if the Indians were going to burn him. Girty very coolly reph- ed in the affirmative. Crawford heard the re- ply with irmness, merely observing that he would bear it with fortitude.
 When the poles had been burnt asunder in the middle, Captain Pipe arose and address ed the crowd in tone of great energy, and with animated gestures, pointing frequently to Crawford, who regarded him with ap- pearance of unruffied comp0sure. As soon as he had ended his harangue, a loud Whoop burst forth from the assembled throng and all made rush for the unfortunate prisoner. For several seconds the crowd was so great around Crawford that Knight, who was seIt- ed little distance away, could not see what they were doing, but in a short time they had sufficiently dispersed to give him Q view of the Colonel His ears had been cut of, and the blood was streaming down each side of his face.
 A terrible scene of torture now commenc- ed The warriors shot charges of powder into his naked body, commencing with the calves of his legs, and continuing to his neck It was the opinion of Knight that no less
  hIm. Three or four Indians by turns would take up one of the burning pieces of poles, and apply the burning end to his naked body, already burnt black with powder.
 These tormentors presented themselves on every side of him, so that, whichever way he ran round the post, they met him with the burning brands. Some of the squaws took broad pieces of bark, upon which they could carry aquautity of burning coals and aL f-. st- short time, he had nothing but coals of fire and hot ashes to walk upon
 In the midst of these extreme tortures Crawford called to Girty, and begged of him to shoot him through the heart. Don't you see I have no gun, Colonel" {" replied the white savage monster, bursting into a loud laugh, and then. turning to an Indian beside him. he uttered some brutal jests upon the naked and miserable appearance of the suf- fering prisoner, and seemed delighted at the horrid scene.
 The terrible scene had now lasted more than two hours, and Crawford had become very much exhausted He walked slowly around the stake upon his fiery pathway, and in low tone of voice earnestly besought God to pardon all his sins, and have mercy on his soul. His nerves had lost much of their sensibility, and be no longer shrank from the frebrands with which his tormen- tors necessarily touched him. At length he sank in fainting fit upon his face, and lay motionless. Instantly an Indiansprang upon his back, knelt lightly upon one knee, made a circular incision with his knife upon the crown of his head, and, clapping his knife between his teeth, tore the scalp of with both hands Scarcely had this been done when withered old hag approached with a piece of bark full of coals and burning em- bers, and poured them upon the crown of his head, now laid bare to the bone. The Colo nel groaned deeply, arose and again walked slowly around the stake. Nature at length could endure no more. and at 8 late hour in the evening he fell for the last time, and sweetly welcomed death at one stroke bore Colonel William Crawford beyond the reach of his vindictive tormentors, and gave Wyan. dot county martyr hero of whom she is justly proud.