The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-07
TERROR 70 RDQ|ND|S
Remarkable Exploits Of an
Ancient Adirondack
SET OUT TO ExTERMINATE
An Entire Tribe--HistOry Of
the Shawnees.
SET OUT TO ExTERMINATE

Cleveland, o., Feb. Especial CORE
| spondence TO the Leader says: Have yol
ever heard the story of Piskaret, the Ad.
! irondack Indian, who undertook, single
handed and alone. the determination OF
the great and powerful Five Nations, and
! who for years was one of the terrors Of
| the wilderness south of Lake Erie? It i:
a story worth hearing, and it is doubt
full If it can be duplicated even in the
annals of Indian warfare for cunning
daring, and inlplacable hatred.
The Adirondacks were one of the mos
warqike nations in the North. and sue
ceeded in driving the Iroquois from theiI
homes on the ST. Lawrence down 10 the
borders of the great lakes. The Irocu ns
had been an agricultural people up TO this
time, but necessity soon converted them
tice on another nation called the Satanas
and also living along the lakes. they start
ed back to revenge themselves upon the
Adriondacks. So wei did they succeed
that the Adirondacks were almost exter-
minated, while the Iroquois who had dub
bed themselves the Five Nations, grew TO
be the most powerful tribe of the whole
continent.
1t was at this time, to revenge the
wrongs of the Adirondacks, that Piskaret
swore to exterminatethe conquerors. At
first he had four companions, but these
were killed, and his most remarkable
dne51 oaT
Tradition tells how he and his four COM
panions set out against the Iroquois.
Each Of them had provided himself with
three muskets loaded with two bullets
connected by small chain ten inches in
length In Sorel River they met five ca
noes loaded with Iroouois, each canoe
containing ten men. AS the parties ap-
preached each other the Adirondacls pre-
tended to give themselves up for lost, and
began chanting their death song. The
Iroquois, completely deceived, padded up
to make the five men oaptives, when the
latter suddenly ceased singing, and,
snatching up their guns from the bottom
Of the canoe. fired simultaneously upon
the five canoes. The volley was repeat
ed, and the heavy bullets, connected by
chains, tore asunder the fra1l birch Ca
noes Of the Iroquois, and their occupants
were left struggling IN the water. Piska-
ret and his companions padded about
leisurely and knocked most OF them. on
the head and then took the remainder
prisoners, not one of the fiftv Indians es-
Gaping The prisoners were subsequently
marched back 10 the Adirondack town
and executed
There were many other eSre6itiors,
some of which did not result go fortu-
nately for Plskaret and his companions,
and finally he was left alone to carry out
the vendetta Nothing daunted he set
out alone for the country of the Five Ma
lions, about that period Of the Spring
when the snow Is beginning to melt. He
wore snow shoes, which he turned around
so that they pointed backward, so that If
the enemy should happen upon his foot
steps they would believe he was going the
other way. He reached the neighborhood
OF their principal village without being
detected and found a hollow tree in which
to conceal hismelf during the daytime.
At night he sailed forth and entered a
cabin whose inmates were fast asleep.
numbering all the family and carrying
their scalps back with him TO his tree.
The next morning there was a great
cutlery IN the Iroduois camp as soon as
the dead bodies were discovered. and a
party Of warriors was sent out at once.
but could find no trace Of the murderer.
Night came, and again Piskaret stole into
the village and repeated his deed Of the
u{v aNa1v1s
The second morning the camp was in a
state Of CONSERVATION over these fright
full visitations and a heavy guard was
placed around It and a watch was sta
toned in every house. But Piskaret did
not despair. He bundled up the scalps he
had already taken TO carry home with
him and stole cautiously from house 70
house until he found a sentry holding
He dispatched him with single blow Of
his tomahawk, but the blow aroused the
village and he was forced to fee for his
life with a large party Of warriors at his
heels, Piskatet, however, vas the heetest
Indian then alive-in fact, the stories tod
OF his speed IN running are 40 less re-
r1arkable than those OF his pro-ess--aITd
he was under no apprehension that he
would be captured. SO he logged along
IN front Of his pursuers. ard sometimes
almost within reach, hoping TO induce
some Of them 20 leave the main party
ard pursue him alohe. He did not sue
caAd IN This, hoveyes. ard wAsh evening
came the Trouuofs established q camp
and settled down Tor the night. They had
no fear OF Piskaret, as he Eas alone and
a fugitive and believed that he would
take advantage q the darkness 70 place
as great a distance ss possible between
himself and his pursuers. But they did
not know the man I1stead 81 running
away. Piskaret stole back % the camp n
the night, crspe into Il. and with his
hunting knife stabbei every man - he
lag asleep. He took their Scalps and 20
turned 20 the Adirondack village for
brief rest, taking nearly thiry soaps with
him.
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