Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-08-04
Horrible Fate.

The Pioneer Association of this county
observed the l0Oth anniversary of the burn.
ing at the stake of Coloue William Crawford
ON the 10th of June. The average reader is
perfectly acquainted with the facts sur.
rounding the case of the cruel torture ofa
good and great man-Colonel William Craw-,
ford. But at this proper time it is we'll
enough to recall them.
1t was on the llth day Of June, and the
afternoon was well spent, when Crawford.
under escort of his ,tormentors, arrived at,
this ever-lnemorable spot of ground. They,
here met many Wyandots from the Half
Kings town, aud men. squaws and children
from Captain Pipes village Just below. zAi
fire was brightly burning. Crawford was
stripped naked and ordered to sit doNa
near the fire. The Indians now beat him
with their fists and sticks. The fatal stake
"a post about fifteen feet high-had been
set firmly in the ground. and piles ofhickory
poles rather thicker than a mans thumb,
and from eight to twelve feet long, Law at
the distance of four or five yards from the
stake Cl1lwford's hands were tied behind
his back. A strong rope was produced, one
end OF which was fastened to the ligature
between his wrists, and the other tied to the
enough to permit him to walk around the
stake several times and then return .a.i
Crawford, observing these terrible prepa-
rations, called to Simon Girty, who sat on
horseback at the distance of a few wards
from the fire, and asked if the Indians were
going to burn him. Girty very coolly replied
i'll the affirmative. Crawford heard the. re-
ply with tirmness merely observing that he
would bear it with tortitude. -
When the poles had been burnt >astlnder
in the middle, Captain Pipe arose and ad.
dressed the crowd in Il tone of great enerp y.
and with animated gestures, pointing fre.
quently to Crawford, who regarded him with
an appearance of unruftled composure. AS
soon as he had ended his harangue, loud
whoop burst forth from the assembled throny.
and all made rush for the unfortunate
prisoner. For several seconds the crowd
was SO great around Crawford that Knight,
who was seated little distance away. could
not see what they were doing, but in q short
time they had suffic' emily dispersed to give
him view of the colonel. His ears had
been cut off, and the blood was streaming
down each side of his face. Z. ~, 80
A tel rible scene of torture now commen
ced. The warriorsshot charges of powder
into his naked body, commencing with the
calves of his legs, and continuing to hisneck.
1t was the opinion of Knight that no less
than seventy loads were discharged upon
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 souaws
took bi oad pieces of bark, upon which they
could carry quantity of burning Goals and
not emit RS and threw them on him, so that
IN short time he had nothing but Goals of
fire and hot ashes to walk upon!
In the midst of these extreme tortures. Craw-
him through the heart Don't YOU see 1 have mn
gun colonelT replied the white savage monster
bursting into loud laugh, and then, turl{1g 10
an Indian beside him, he uttered some brutal iests
upon the naked and miserable appearance ofythe
SSuhefihg prisoner, and seemed delighted at the
horrd scene The terrible scene had now lasted
more than two hours and Crawford had become
much exhausted. He walked slowly around the
stake unon his fiery pa ,hway, and in a low tone
OF voice earnestly besought God to pardon all hts
sins and have mercy on his soul. His nerves had
lost much of their sensibility and he no longer
shrank from the frebands with which his tor
mentors inceSs.ntly touched him. At length he
sank III .anting fit upon his face and lay mo.
tlonieSs Instantly an Indian sprang upon his
back, knelt liPltly upon one knee, made circu-
lar 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 approach.
ed with piece of bark full of Goals and burning
cmbers, aud poured them upon the crown Of his
head, now laid bare to the bone. The Colonel
groaned deeply, arose and again walked slowly
around the stake. Nature, at length, could en-
durc no more, and at a late hour in the evening
he fell for the last time, and sweetly welcomed
death which at ono stroke bore Colonel William
Crawford beyond the reach of his tormentors, and
gave Wyandot county martyr hero of whom she
IS Justly proud-Letter TO Cincinnati Commercial,
HEsT POCKET DYsPEPsIACURE