Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-03-26


them almost to the banks Of the
Ohio. A man Of the name of Mill'
was killed, two miles TO the east
ward of the site Of st. Clairsville
| in the direction of Wheeling from
that place. The number killed in
this way must have been very
great: the precise amount, how
ever, was never fairly ascertalned
At the commencement Of the re-
treat, Col. Crawford placed himself
at the head of the army, and con-
tinued there until they had gone
about a quarter Of Il mile, when
missing his son John Crawford,
his son-in.law Maj. Harrison, and
his nephews Maj. Rose and Will
liam Crawford, ,he halted and called
for them as the line passed, but
without finding them. After the
army had passed him, he was M
able to overtake it, owing to the
WEAKNESS of his horse. Falling in
company with DR.. Knight and two
others, they travelled all the night,
first north, and then to the east, to
avoid the pursuit Of the Indians.
They directed their cOures during
the night by the north star.
On the next day they fell in with
Capt. John Biggs ana Lieut.. Ash
ley, the latter of whom was severe
ly wounded. There were two others
in company with Biggs and Ash
ley. They encamped together the
succeeding night. On the next
day, while on their march, they
were attacked by party of In
dians, who made Col. Crawford
and DR.. knight prisoners. The
other four made their escape but
Capt. Biggs and Lieutenant Ash
ley were killed the next day.
Col. Crawford and DR.. knight
were Immediately taken to an ln-
dian encampment, at q short dis
tance from the place where they
were captured. Here they found
nine fellow prisoners and seventeen
Indians. On the next day they
were marched to the old WyandOt
town, and on the next morning
were paraded, to set of, as they
we're told, to 90 to the new town.
But alas very different destina-
ton awaited these captives Nine
of the prisoners were marched of
some distance before the colonel
and the doctor, who were conduct
ed by Pipe and Wingomond, two
Delaware chiefs. Four Of the
prisoners were tOmahavked and
scalpel on the way, at different
places.
Preparations had been made for
the execution Of Col. Crawford, by
setting a post about fifteen feet
high in the ground, and making a
large fire Of hickory poles about
six yards from it, About half u
mile from the place of execution,
the remaining five Of the nine
prisoners were tOmahawked and
scalped by a number of squaws
and boys.
When arrived at the FIRE, the
colonel was stripped and ordered
to sit down. lie was then severely
beaten with sticks, and afterwards
tied to tho post, by a rope of such
length as to allow him to walk two
or three times round it, and then
back again. THIS done, they be-
gan the torture 10y discharging a
great number of loads of powder
upon him, from head to foot i; after
which they began to apply the
burning ends Of the hickory poles,
the squaws in the mean time
throwing Goals and hot ashes on
his body, so that IN a little time he
had nothing but Goals To walk on.
In the midst of his sulferings. he
begged of the noted Simon Girty
to take pity on him and shoot him.
Girty tauntingly answered, "You
see have no gun, | cannot shoot =
and laughed heartily at the scene
After suffering about three hours
he became faint and fell down on
his face. An Indian then sea &lped
him, and an old squaw threw a
quantity of burning Goals on the
place from which the scalp was
taken. After this he rose and
walked round the post little, but
did not live much longer. After
he expired, his body was thrown
into the fire and consumed to ashes,
| Col. Crawford's son and son.in-law
we're executed at the Shawnee
towns.
DR.. Knight was doomed to be
burned at a town about forty miles
distant from Sandusky, and COM
mitted to the care of young In
dian to be taken there. The first
day they travelled about twenty
nve miles, and encamped for the
night. In the morning, the gnats
being very troublesome, the doctor
requested tho Indian to unite him,
that he might help him to make a
fire to keep them Off. With this
request the Indian complied. While
the Indian was on his knees and
elbows, blowing the fire, the doctor
caught up piece OF tent pole
which had been burned in two,
about eighteen inches long, with
which he struck the Indian on the
head with all his might. so as to