Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-07-20
death warrant to the unfortunate Craw.

death warrant TO the unfortunate Craw-
ford.
AS soon as the feet runner had re-
turned from the Half Kings village
with the now torttlre-empower belt
of wampum, Colonel Crawford was hur-
ried forth to his place of torture. 1t
was on the 18th day of June, AM the
afternoon was well spent when Craw-
ford, under escort of his tormentors,
arrived at this ever memorable spot of
ground. They here met many Wyan-
dots from the Half Kings town, and
men, squaws and children from the
Delaware village, over which Capt ain
Pipe ruled. A fire was brightly burn
ing. Crawford was stripped naked and
ordered to sit down upon 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 of hickory
poles, thicker than mans thumb and
from eight to twelve feet long, lay at
the distance of four or five yards from
the stake. Crawford's hands were tied
behind his back. A strong rope was
produced, one end OF which was fasten-
ed to the Ggature 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. Craw-
ford deserving these terri le prepare
tions, called to Simon Girty, who sat on
horseback at distance of few yards
from the fire, and asked If the Indians
were going to burn him. Girty very
coolly replied in the Affirmative. Craw-
fo.d heard the reply with frmness.
merely observing that he would bear it
with fortitude. When the poles had
been burned asunder in the middle
Captain Pipe arose and addresse the
crowd in tone Of great energy and
with animated gestures, pointing fire
quently to Crawford, who regarded him
with an appearance of u ,ruffled COM
posure. AS soon as he had ended his
harangue loud whoop burst from the
assembled throng and all made a rush
for the unfortunate prisoner. When
they left him his ears were gone and
blood was streaming from the c.uel
wounds.
A terrible scene of torture now began.
The warriors shot charges of powder
into his naked body, commencing with
the calves of his legs and continuing to
his neck. Three or four Indians by
turns would take up one of the burning
pieces Of pole aud apply the burning
end to his naked body, already burnt
black with powder. These tormenters
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 If bark, upon which
they could carry quantity of burning
Goals and hot embers, and threw on him
SO that in o hort time he had nothing
but Goals of fire and hot ashes to walk
upon ! In the midst of these extreme
tortGres, Crawford called to Girty and
begged of him to shoot him through
the heart. Don't you see have no
gun, Colonel" replied the white saw
age monster, bursting into laugh, and
then turning to the Indian beside him
he uttered some brutal jests upon the
naked and miserable appearance of the
suffering 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 arouu
the stake upon his fiery pathway, and
in low tone of voice earne .tly be
sought God to pardon all his sins and
have mercy on his soul. His nerves
had lost much of their sensibility and
he no longer shrank from the fire brands
with which his tormentors touched
HIM. At length he sank in fainting
fit upon his face ard lay motionless.
instantly an Indian sprang upon his
back, knelt lightly on his knee, made a
circular incision with his knife upon
the crown of his head and, clapping the
knife between his teeth, tore the scalp
off with both hands. Scarcely had
this been done than a withered old bag
approached with q piece Of bark full of
Goals and burning embers and 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 endure no more and at
late hour in the evening he fell for the
loct 4;p,a