The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-21
A ROMANCE OF PIONEERDAYS
Adventures of Three Settlers Among the
Indians of the Northwest Territory.
A Miraculous Rescue from Death of Two In
diana Pioneers Who We're Captives of
Simon Girty--Death at the Stake.

ton, but its authenticity, believe. is well estab
lished.
Early in the afternoon of day in February
1871, Irwin Hinton, young teamster, started
with a wagon from block house which was
located on the site where the city of Louisville
now stands, to Harrodsburg, Kentucky for tho
purpose of getting load of provisions for the
almost destitute families who had gathered at
the fort for protection from the Indians. The
teamster was accompanied by Richard Rue, q
youth of nineteen years, and George Holman,
aged sixteen years. Although but mere boys in
age there were none in the fort of greater intre-
pidity or skill in savage warfare. The Indians
were then quiet, but their movements had been
of character to arouse suspicion among the
settlers and with the arrival Of the spring season
an outbreak OF hostility was expected.
AN AMBUsCADE
Before they had travelled mile a heavy snow
began to fall. The earth was soon covered. The
atmosphere was still and damp, and the flakes
quickly melted away. Fearing that the powder
might become dampened, the travellers dis
charged the loads in their guns, supposing that
they were not likely to encounter any danger
while the snow continued. They had proceeded
road to Harrodsburg, when the darkness of the
early evening came upon them. AS they were
ascending hill, cry of 'halt!' was heard by the
driver of the wagon team.
''Was it you who spoke, Rue7' inquired the
driver. as he stopped his horses
mo" was the answer.
did you not hear a voice cry, half "
eyes"
"Well, where did it come fromr asked the
alarmed teamster
A noise in the bushes beside the road few
feet ahead of the horses was heard, and the mys-
terious voice said, 'It was Simon Gritty who
said" AS these words were uttered,
the speaker sprang from his place
of conceament and the wagon was instantly
surrounded by party of thirteen Indians. The
three Kentuckians were ordered to surrender
Rue impusively raised his rifle to shoot the
leader of the Indians, but recolleeting that it
contained no load he dropped the weapon, and
being powerless to defend themselves. the three
! men surrendered. The horses were unhitched
from the wagon, and the lines of the harness
were used to securely bind together the hands of
woods by three of the Indians, who mounted the
horses that had been captured. The remaining
horse Girty appropriated to his own use. Alter
nately he rode ahead Oft the party and behind it,
vigilantIy guarding against any surprise. Occa-
sionaly he wourd stop to speak to the captives,
aud to caution theu under the threat of death,
against making any noise. After three hours of
travel the party reached the Ohio river, and
| crossed in canoes, which had been secreted under
| a rock protrudiug from the banks over the water
After brief parley between Girty
and two of the Shawanee chiefs, over
| the route that should be travelled, the party
started n the direction of Vincennes, but after
| going few miles to mslead pursuers, turned
toward the northeast The night was half gone
before they halted. They encamped with out a
fire, and resumed their journey early in the
morning They continued to march with the
greatest speed for three days, when, finding that
they were not pursued, they proceeded more
| leisurely
THE CRUELTY OF SIMON GIRTY
Realizing that there was now little hope for
their rescue, the prisoners expected death of
excruciating torture. Simon Girty, the leader
Of the Indians, although white man and ma
tive Of Pennsylvania, was feared more by the
pioneers of the Northwest Territory than any of
the savage chiefs with whom he was associated
in his warfare upon the white people He was a
captive amoug the Indians when a boy. He af-
forwards adopted their mode of life, and led
them in several of their bloodiest mas
sacres. He treacherous and uuscrupu.
lous, and never showed mercy to captive
From the time of his treaeherous apostaey he
We'd with the the most cruel and relentless saw
ages that he could surround himself with in in
fiicting the most atrocious fortunes upon those
who fell into his hands He had burned Col.
Crawford at the stake, and had watched the suf-
fering of the gallant soldier with demon-like sat
isfaction. His name Was as familiar to the peo-
pie of the frontier as that of Daniel Boone and
he was feared as much as Boone was admired
The prisoners knew that in the hands of Girty
their lives were subject to the passion and
caprice of heartless and bloodthirsty man.
While the party was encamped in the vicinity of
where Fort Wayne now stands, Girty suspecting
that Rue from the expression of his face I'M
derstood something of the Delaware language,
inquired if he had ever taken part in any of the
border wars with the Indians admonishing him
that if he did not tell the truth death would
be the penalty. Rue answered the question
"How many wars have you been in7" inquired
Girty.
Were you with Clark at vincennes"
Were you with him when he destroyed the
Piqua towns and Loramie's storel"
YES"
'You played HI there!" angrily exclaimed
Girty, as he rushed toward Rue II have
mind to split your Internal skull" and he swung
his tomahawk over the head of the captive as If
he intended to execute the threat, but struck
him instead in the face with the handle
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
When the party arrived within few miles of
Wapaccunata, the Indian village toward which
thew had been iournepine runners were cant
ahead to announce their coming, in order that
preparations might be made for their reception.
They were met a mile from the village by sew
eral of the chiefs, and after short conference
Girty informed the prisoners that it had been
decided they should run the gauntlet immedi.
ately upon entering the town. They were told
that if they passed between the lines and reached
the council-house they would be free from
further assault, but they would be forced