Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-12-25

was born 25th March, l745, and
who of course was upwards of ten
years old when BraddOck was de
feated, related many interesting
occurrences to the author; among
others, that a family Of eighteen
persons, by the name Of Nichols,
who resided at the residence Of Mr..
Stone, little west of Maj. Isaac
llite's, were attacked, the greater
number killed, and several taken
off as prisoners one old woman
and her grandchild made their es-
cape to q fort. a short distance from
Middletown. This took place about
1856 or 1851, and it is probable by
the same party who killed Hayely
and others.
In theyear 1903, a party OF about
fifty Indians and four Frenchmen
penetrated into the neighborhood
of Mill creek, now in the county Of
Shenandoah, about Q miles south Of
Woodstock. This was pretty
thickly settled neighUorhood and
among other houses, George Pain
ter had erected a large log one,
with good sized cellar. On the
alarm being given, the neighboring
people took refuge in this house.
Late in the afternoon they were at
tackled. Mr.. Painter, attempting
to fly, had three balls shot through
his body, and fell dead, when the
others surrendered. The Indians
dragged the dead body back to
the house, threw it in, plundered
the house of what they chose, and
then set fire to it. While the house
was in flames, consuming the body
of Mr. Painter, they forced from
the arms of their mothers four in
fant children, hung them up IN
trees, shot them in savage sport,
and left them hanging. They then
set fire to stable in which were
enclosed a parcel of sheep and
calves, thus cruelty and wantonly
torturing to death the iDOffensive
dumb animals. After these atroci-
ties they moved of with fOrty-eight
prisoners; among whom were Mrs.
Painter, five of her daughters, and
one of her sons; a Mrs. Smith and
several Of her children; Mr.. Fish
Grand several Of his children, among
them a lad of twelve or thirteen
years old, fine well grown boy,
and remarkably heshly. This lit.
tie fellow, it will presently be seen,
was destined to be the victim of
savage cruelty.
Two OF Painters s0ns,and young
man by the name Of Jacob Myers
escaped being captured by conceal
ment. OneOf the Painters, with My
ers, ran over that night TO POwelPs
fort, distance OF at least fifteen
miles, and to l<eller's fort, IN quest
of aid. They had neither hat nor
shoes, nor any other clothing than
Il shirt and trOwsers. A small
party of men set ont early the next
morning, well mounted and armed,
to avenge the outrage. They reach
cd Mr.. Painters early in the day ;
but on learning their strength,
/ from the other young Painter,
who had remained concealed all
that evening and night, and ty
that means was enabled to count
the number Of the enemy,) they
declined pursuit, being too weak in
numbers to venture further. Thus
this savage band got or with their
prisoners and booty, without pur-
suit or interruption.
After six days travel they reach
ed their villages west Of the ALLIE
gany mountains, where they held a
council, and determined to sacri-
flee their helpless prisoner Jacob
Fisher. They first ordered him to
collect a aQuantity of dry wood. The
poor little fellow shuddered, burst
into tears, and told his father they
intended to burn him. His father
replied, 81 hope not )" and advised
him to obey. When he had col
lected a sufficient quantity of wood
to answer their purpose, they clear
F ed and smoothed ring around a
sapliDg, to which they tied him by
: one hand, then formed a trail OF
wood around the tree and set 1t on
/. fire. The poor boy was then com
pelled to run round in this ring
of fire until his rope wound
( him up to the sapling, and then
: back until he came IN contact with
q the flame, whilst his Internal tor
/. mentors were drinking, singing and
dancing around him, with " hOrrid
/, ioy.p This was continued for sew
y eral hours; during which time the
/. savage men became beastly drunk
t and as they fell prostrate to thu
y. ground, the sQuaws would keep III
the fire. With long sharp poles
+. prepared for the purpose, they
0 would pierce the body of their vic
Y tim whenever he Jagged, until the
. poor and helpless boy fell and ex
pired with the most excruciatinl
torments, whilst his father anC
D brothers were compelled to be wit
nesses of the heart.rending tragedy
Q After an absence of about three