River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-08-09

with clubs. tOmahawkS. knives ana
long sticks, each placed far enough
from his neighbOr to have plenty of
room 10 use his weapon. The prisoner
was stripped aud made TO run between
the lines, each warrior aiming blow
at him as he passed. the punishment
inflicted being gagged by his speed in
running and the dexterity with which
lie lodged his tOrmentOrs. The terri
bic ordeal often proved fatal to the
hardest man. and even female prison
ers did not always escape the gauntlet.
As soon Is Kenton recovered from
his rough treatment. he was given
food aud then taken 10 the Council
House. where. in solemn silence, his
fate was decided by large majority OF
the assembled warriors voting for
death at the stake. By vote also the
place selected for his execution was
WapatOmica now GAINESVILLE, Ohio).
He was hurried away the next day and
en- route mad to pass through the In
dian towns Of Pickaway and Macka-
chack, in both OF which he was again
subjected TO the ordeal of running the
gauntlet He concluded that nothing
worse than death could follow. and at
Mackachaek he made bold dash for
liberty Being unconfned he broke
away from his captors and ran, and
soon distanced all his pursuers. But
some miles from town he encountered
a band Of mounted Indians, who drove
him back. He was removed TO Wapa-
tomica for execution. where his pres
ence excited considerable curiosity. for
aside from Boone. no white man
on the border was more widely
known among the Indians than Ken
ton. or more intensely hated by them.
Among Others who came to see him
was his earl boy hood friend Simon
Girty. bar with his face painted black.
denOting that sentence OF death rested
upon him. Girty AT first failed TO rec
Ognize him. When he did he gave every
demonstration Of Joy at meeting his old
frIe:sd. hut the deepest grief at the
situation in which he found him.
KentOn and Girty had served to-
gether in the .Dunmore war. and had
become much attached 10 each other
But Girty since that had made himself
Infamous by renouncing his race. turn
ing Indian and becoming one of the
most blood-thirsty savages and scOurges
known In all the time Of border war
fare. IN this one instance alone can
an act OF generosity b. recorded TO his
early friendship for kentOu, and amid
apparently insurmOuntable obstacles,
and by almost superhuman effort. at
the risk OF his own life, he secured
the remission OF the death sentence and
received keutOn into his own care and
custody. His friendship for Kenton
was not weak nor ephemeral. and in
some degree his treatment of him in
this case atOnes for some of his
cruelties 10 other white people, who
were so unfortunate as to fall into his
hands. He took Kenton TO the British
trading-post and provided him with a
complete suit of clothes. and horse
and saddle For a short time KentOn
led an easy life. But il was not long
before a war party. VINO had returned
from an unsuccessful raid. having lost
several of their members, demanded
Kenton's death in retaliation. Another
council was called at Wapatomica, and,
although Girty defended kenton most
zealOusIy. he was again doomed TO die.
Girty. however. did not give up the
fight. He persuaded the savages 10
convey kenton 10 Sandusky,
where the tribes assembled in
large number. 20 receive their pres
cnts from the British Government. that
the different tribes gathered there
might witness his death. The Indians
readily assented. and they left at once
for SanduSlly. passing through the viii
lage of the celebrated Mingo chief.
Logan. where Girty managed to have
them remain for day. Logan. learn
ing the circumstances, dispatched one
of his swiftest runners to put in a good
word for kentOn before the party ar
rived. Upon reaching Sandusky. Ken
ton was again made To run the gaunt-
let, and brought before fourth cOun-
Gil to be disposed Of Peter Druycr, a
captain in the English service. an in
terpreter. and a man of great consider
alton among the savages. asked per-
mission to address the council. His
adroitness IN touching the Indians
vanity. and promising them a
liberal allowance of rum and tobacco,
won their consent to Kenton's removal
10 Detroit. where, although confined as
a prisoner OF war, he felt secure
against any further Indian barbarities.
He finally. after a captivity of about
/ eight months. succeeded in making his
escape He reached Kentucky in
safety to the establishment of his
! friends. who had given him up foI
dead Few more thrilling experiences
are connected with the pioneer history
of the West. a section teeming with
wild and thrilling adventures, and
few more intrepid and daring spirits
than Simon Kenton could have sur
vived them. IL. H. PirriH. ~ Louis.
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