Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-17

Oh OOnOWdSa 1nuldns, lehu-
er of band of border guerrillas, who
plundered the Kings troops, and captured
British post by stratagem; Captain Of
provincial troops during the Indian wars; q
prisoner, charged with willful murder
held in irons and under guard;
a county officer; a soldier in the
Revolutionary War; a member of the
constitutional convention of Pennsylvania
in 1776 and afterward representative to
th General Assembly from Westmoreland
county; commander OF battalion OF rife
men and aterward o Colonel; pioneer
settler in Kentucky and, finally, a member
of the State Convention and of the Legisla-
ture nearly up to the time OF his death. He
was also the author OF book, now un-
fortunately exceedingly rare, written for
the purpose OF perpetuating the story Of his
many adventures and the strange incidents
of singular life history.
James Smith removed to Westmoreland,
coming from east Of the mountains. about
the time the act was passed erecting that
county Q773). Part of his remarkable ex-
ploits antedate his settlement in Western
Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1855, while
he was resident of Cumberland county, he
O
road from Fort Loudon toward Raystown
(now Bediord). One day in May The little
party was attacked by savages and Smith
was made prisoner. He was taken by the
Indians to Fort Duquesne, arriving there
just in time to witness the return of the vic
torious French and Indians after the defeat
Of Braddock.
HE IS MADE AN INDIAN.
He describes in graphic language the in
human barbarities which were practised
upon :he white prisoners at the fort, and of
which he received his lull share. Taken by
mis- captors in the Ohio wilderness, watch
ing for an opportunity to escape, but never
finding one, he at length began to conform
to the manners and customs of those about
him until the savages came to have high
regard for their pale-faced brother, and re-
solved to adopt him into their tribe. He
does not say whether his consent to this plan
was asked or not; but it is apparent from his
story that his wishes would have counted
for little, one way or the other. So the
Conowagas proceeded to make good In
dian out of Smith. They had highly
original method OF doing this, and the pro-
cess afforded no end OF amusement to all
save the luckless victim.
First brawny warrior seized the captive
and began yanking hand ul after handful
OF hair out of his head. "He plucked me
exactly as one would pluck turkey" says
Smith. "having a quantity of ashesat hand,
in which he rubbed his fingers every now |
and then to enable him to obtain firm |
hold" When the job had been completed |
to the satisfaction of the self-appointed bar !
Der all that remained of Smiths locks was |
a small tuft of hair on the top OF his head. |
The prisoner was then turned over to the |
young women of the tribe. who fell upon |
him unceremoniously, and despite all strug- |
giles on his part led him into the middle of |
a small stream and ducked him repeatedly |
under the water. When they had immersed |
him so many times that he was nearly |
drowned he was led out and given into the |
hands OF several braves, who removed his /
clothing and dressed him in full Indian
costume. painting his face and making him |
in appearance lull-Aedged warrior. Think
OF man in this guise afterward sitting in
the convention over which Benjamin Frank
lin presided to assist in making Constitu-
ton Tor Pennsylvania!
FRow sAvAGERY TO CIVILIZATION.
The ceremonies all completed, the chief
made a long speech to Smith, compliment
ing him upon the nerve and pluck he had
displayed, and informing him that he was
now son Of the Conowagas and a brave
Indian, all the white blood having been
washed out Of him during his involuntary
immersion in the stream. After that Smith
lived with the savages, hunted with them,
md was treated in all respects as one Of the
ribe. But he did not become savage and
,nly awaited an opportunity to escape and
'eturn to civilization. His freedom came at