The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-18
History OF the Girtys.

After all has been said that it Is possible
to say in behalf OF Simon Girty. the unmistak-
able sense remains that he was. from q civil
lied point OF view. an extremely Objectionable
person. In the History Of the Girtvs. by Con-
SUI WILTSHIRE BuTTEIFIELD tRobert Clarke
j. Co.. Cincinnati. contradiction is offered to
some things that have been alleged OF him. So
far as historical accuracy Is concerned, 1t Is
desirable OF course. that Simon Girty should
not be painted bit blacker than he deserved.
and nobody will find fault with Mr.. Butterfed
for the generous impulse which prompts him
to remove few smirches. In the general eye.
however, the hue of Simon will not be percop-
tibly altered under these friendly operations
The father OF Simon GIrty was an Irishman.
who emiGrated to this country In middle age.
He settled in Pennsylvania and engaged in the
Indian trade. In 1887. after his arrival. he
married an English girl named Mary Newton.
Simon his second son. was born in Pennsyl-
vania In l741. The family lived on the frontier,
not far from the present city OF Harrisburg.
The elder Girty was killed In q drunken frolic
by an Indian called " the FISH" John Turner,
who lived with Girty avenged his death. He
slew the FISH and married Girtys widow:
and later the Indians caught him and burned
him at the stake Simon and his three brothers
were held In captivity by tho Indians. Simon
learned their language with u boys facility.
For many years after mis- release he was an in
terpreter in tho service OF the English Govern
ment. He fought with Lord Dunmore and his
NirRinans against the people OF his native
State in l774. At that time he seemed TO have
hatred OF Indians He shot one. and eVinced
desire to kill great many. In the early part
OF the Revolution he was on the American
side. AT one time he held a Lieutenant's com
mission. In 1878 he turned renegade and be-
came an agent OF the British among the Indians.
Not long after his detection he did an act OF
Kindness. His oomrade. Simon Kenton. who
had fought with him in Lord Dunmore's war.
was captured by the savages. Girty embraced
him and saved him from torture. According
to kenton's own account tho renegade flung
his arms about him and cried like child. In
1871 Girty's jealousy WAS aroused By the
Boosting OF the famous Indian chief. Capt.
Brant, who was intoxicated The renegade
told the Captain that he lied, whereupon the
chief struck him over the head with sword,
all but killing him. Girty carried the scar OF
this wound as long as he lived.
All tho testimonials to the good character OF
Girty apply to him at this time or previously.
Capt. Bird, tender-hearted British officer
who profanely expressed TO his Indian allies
his adherence of tho practice OF torture AYERS
terested friends in his department that tho
British Government possessed; and Mr.. But
terrified ardenty defends the renegade against
the charge OF habitual Drunkenness. 1t was
not until later, Mr.. Butteraeld points out, that
Girty became common drunkard. At this
period ofnis career he was drunk only OCCASION
ally. But he had formed other Objectionable
habits. which developed rapidly from this time.
He became interested in torture and loved 10
see 1t going on. Tho lloravian missionary,
Heckewelder, testhes 10 n drunken outbreak
on the part of Girty. in which he appeared
like u host OF evil spirits" Never had the mis-
sionary or any OF those with him heard the
like OF the oaths and rawlings OF Girty on this
occasion. They endured for several hours
and terminated only when he fell asleep Col
William Crawford. the leader OF an unfortu-
nate expedition against sandusky In 1882, was
caught by the Indians and killed at tho stake
His torture, which was accomplished by slow
burning, lasted for hours. In tho course o! 1t
he called 10 Girty. begging tho renegade to
shoot him, Girty BY way oil derisiun, told
Crawford he had no gun: at the same time,
turning about TO an Indian who was behind
him. he laughed heartily, and. by all his Res-
TIRES, seemed delighted at the horrid scene"
This, which is Mr. Butterlelds own account.