Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-07-02


rows, mat, and tOmahawk, and a
deerskin was deposited with the
body at the time of its burial it
was about ten ieet below the sur
face.
Human skeletons have been fire.
Quently discovered on the margin
of the water courses. About thirty
years ago, Samuel Mcdonald dis
covered human skull in the bank
of the Cowpastnre river. 1t was
remarkable for its great size and
thickness-had a vlsable mark of a
tomahawk wound on it-supposed
to be the head of a glant-like war
rior. A walnut tree Of immense
size, which grew on the bank of the
Cowpasture river, was blown down
in violent gale of wind, and a
number Of human bones were dis
covered in the cavity. The author
was informed that the body Of this
tree was not less than six or seven
feet in diameter. If so, as it mnst
have grown over the bodies after
they were buried, it was probably
several hundred years old.
But to return from this digres.
sion. Mrs. Sarah Erskine, in her
eighty-fourth year, was first married
to John Pauly-they were remov-
ing to Kentucky, and on the Ord
of Sept. 1919, on the east branch of
New river, they were attacked by
a party of five Shawnee Indians
and n white man by the name Of
Morgan. Mr.. Pauly was killed,
and his little child, about two years
old, had its brains dashed out
against n tree and left a prey to
wild beasts. This venerable and
highly intelligent lady was once
while a prisoner threatened with
the most horrid destruction. An
old chief who had a favorite son
killed in a battle in Kentucky, had
determined to revenge his sons
death on her little son, who was
born a few months after her captiv.
ity, and two young prisoners, Cal
way and Hoy. The old savage
monster had determined to enclose
them all in Mrs. Erskine's house
and set fire to it. But Col. Mckee,
the British agent, successfully in
terposed he called on Mrs. Erskine
and told her not to be alarmed /;
that if he found that he could not
restrain the violence Of the old
monster, he would Immediately con-
vey her of to Detroit; but from the
friendly interposition of Mr.. Nc
Kce, a majority of the Indians be-
came opposed to the violent and
vindictive revenge Of the old say
age. She was upwards Of three
years a prisoner. Her son, young
Pauly, she brought home with her
he grew up, went TO the west, be
came secretary to the great Mis-
souri, Fur Company, and was killed
while engaged in that business
John Higgins came out to the
Shawnee towns and redeemed and
aided her IN getting home to her
friends.
There was brother of Mr.. John
Pauly, also u married mar, with
his wife and one child, on his way
to Kentucky. He was killed at the
same time, his infant killed and his
wife taken prisoner. She was taken
to the Shawnee town, was claimed
by two squaws, and taken to De
troit and sold, from whence she es-
capped, but never got home to her
friends.
Mrs. Erskine stated to the author
that she did work for the men, max
ing their garments-that on ono
particular occasion u warrior called
on her to make him a calico shirt ;
the fellow informed her that he had
lately returned from a trip to the
neighb0rhoOd Of the Sweet springs,
In quest of a box Of red paint.(a)
lie obtained his paint, and return
ing, he passed the house of a farm
er, who had left his shOt.pOuch and
powder horn hanging to the corner
of his corn house. The Indian took
of the pouch and horn, and left his
own buffalo horn, with little pow
der, in place of it. He observed tC
; Mrs. Erskine, that sit was an even
exchange, no robbery" But if the
. owner had happened to discover
| the exchange at the moment, it is
highly probable the fellow might
have haid for his even exchange
with life.
Mrs. Erskine said that the Shaw
nee women, from the number Of
white persons taken among them,
! had greatly improved in their do
mestic arrangements, and several
of them had become pretty good
hOusekeepers.
= Mrs. Erskine resides in Green
, brier county, near Lewisburg. The
author met with her at her sons in
Lewisburg, who is highly respecta
! ble merchant at that place.
Tradition relates that the Sweet
springs were discovered by mar
who was passing near the spring
A colt, which was following the
horse he was riding, was bitten by
a rattlesnake, when it Immediately
ran into the spring, where it con
tinued for some time, nor could If
be induced to come out until it had
n -