Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-12-04

dUluOI ludO NhS ndh hNN"S''
heard her mother speak of a party
of Delaware Indians once stopping
at her fathers, where they stayed
all night. They had in custody a
young female Catawba prisoner,
who was one Of the most beautiful
females she had ever seen. Maj.
K. ID. Glass also informed the
author that his father, who resided
at the head of the Opequon, stated
the same fact. 1t was remarkable
to see with what resignation this
unfortunate young prisoner sub
mitted to her fate. Her unfeellDg
tormentors would tic her, and
compel her at night to lay on her
back, with the cords distended
from her hands and feet, and tied
TO branches or what else they could
get at to make her secure, while a
man laid on each side Of her with
the cords passing under their
bodies.
Mr.. John TomlinsOn also in
formed the author, that when about
seven or eight years of age, he saw
a party of Delawares pass his
fathers house, with a female
Catawba prisoner, who had an
| infant child in her arms; and that
it was said they intended to sacrl-
| flee her when they reached their
towns. (a)
Tradition also relates a very
remarkable instance of the sacrl-
fee of female Catawba prisoner
! by the Delawares. a party Of
| Delawares crossed the Potomac,
near Oldtown, in Maryland, a short
distance from which they cruelty
murdered their prisoner: they then
moved on. The next day several
of them returned, and cut off the
soles of her feet, in order to prevent
her from pursuing and haunting
them in their march. (b)
Capt. Glenn informed the author
that Mrs. Mary Friend, who re-
sided on or near the Potomac, stated
TO him that she once saw body of
four or five hundred Catawba In
dians on their march to invade the
| Delawares but from some cause
they became alarmed, and returned
without success.
The same gentleman stated to
the author that a Mr.. James Hen
bricks informed him that the last
sacrifice made by the Delawares, of
their Catawba prisoners, was at the
first run or stream of water on the
south side of Lancaster, Pennsyl-
vania. Here several prisoners were
tortured to death with all the won't
ed barbarity and cruelty peculiar to
the savage character. Mr.. Hen
dricks was an eye witness TO this
scene of horror. During tho pro-
tracted and cruel sullerings of these
unhappy victims, they tantalized
and used the most insulting Ian
guage to their tormentors, threat.
cning them with the terrible ven-
ccancc of their nation as long as
they could speak.
This bloody tragedy soon reached
the ears Of the Governor of Penn
sylyania, and he forthwith issued
his proclamation, commanding and
requiring all the authorities, both
civil and military, to interpose, and
prohibit a repetition of such acts
Of barbarity and cruelty.
The author will now conclude
this narrative OF the Indian wars,
with few general reflections.
r 1t is the opinion of some philoso-
pliers, that it is inherent in the
nature of man to fight. The cor
rectness Of this opinion Mr.. Jeffer-
son seems to doubt, and suggests
that ait grows out of the abusive
{ and not the natural state Of man."
But it really appears there are
strong reasons to believe that there
, does exist "a natural state OF
! hostility of man against man."
r Upon what other principle can we
account for the long and furious
J.. wars which have been carried on,
t at different periods, among the
| aboriginals of our country!
-, At an immense distance apart,
= (c) probably little less than six or
i seven hundred niles, without
= trade, commerce, or clashing OF
c interests without those causes OF
J., irritation common among civilized
y states.-we find these two nations
!" for long series Of years engaged
G in the most implacable and destruc
@ tive wars. Upon what otheI
principle to account for this state
/. of things, than that laid down, is
J. subject which the author cannot
II pretend to explain. 1t, however,
r affords matter of curious specula
n ton and interesting reflection tC
& the inquiring mind. That nations
n are frequently urged to war ant
o devastation by the restless and
e turbulent disposition so common
& to mankind, particularly among
IT their leaders, is a question o
a little doubt. The glory and re-
r, nown falsely so termed] of grea
d achievements in war, is probably
Ic Que principal cause of the war;
q frequently carried on by people II
III q state of nature.