Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-08-08
INDIAN CHI EXECUTION.
Leatherlips, a Noted Wyandot Chief,
Put to Death.

In 1910 a tragedy was enacted on
the banks of the Scioto. dozen milea
above Columbus, of very starting
and remarkable character. 1t vas the
executes, of an aged and honOTed In
dian Chieftain on the charge OF
witchcraft The victim of this deed
was no less noted warrior than the
Wyandot chief Leatherlips. His home
was on the banks of the Scioto,
short distance north of the site of the
present capital of Ohio. Here he
lived in quiet and unassuming state.
filling out the round of his declining
years in an honorable relation with
the white race. These traditional
foes of his people had warmed to him
in friendship. and 1t is strange that
death at last overlook him at the
hands OF his own race. Just prior to
the outbreak of the second war for
independence much plotting was
going on among the western Indians
against the whites. TecumSeh and
his brother, the Prophet. were laying
their great plans for an uprising, and
were doing all in their power to win
over to their confederacy the leading
warriors of their various tribes. All
their acts wore pied in vain on old
Leatherlips. who staunchly withstOod
the emissaries of the arch conspira-
tors. He realized that any further ef-
forts to push back the advancing
white civilization would result only in
futile waste of life. His position
angered Tecumseh and the Prophet
and his influence made them fear
him. The more fry spirit of the
Prophet conceived the idea that
Leatherlips must die as an enemy of
his race, so the word went forth Sc
cretly Six Wyandot chiefs set out
from Tippecanoe under the leadership
of the noted RounGhead. They found
the aged chief at his home on the
Scioto. On their arrival they an
nounced that he had been accused OF
witchcraft and proceeded to hold
council to try him on this serious
charge. Seated in true Indian coun-
Gil fashion, with Leatherlips in their
midst, these redskin judges poWwoW-
ed for three hours with great cere-
n:onial The accusers were vehement
and bitter in their speeches, raising
their voices 70 unusual pitch and u.s.
ing unwonted gesticulation. Leath'
erlips realized from the first that his
life was forfeited and that the coun-
Gil was merely a formality. His re-
plies were calm and dignified, the
real demeanor of the Indian stole
being his When the council ended
the Judgment of death was pro-
nounced in a dramatic manner, and
the victim was told to prepare for
execution There were some white
men present who interviewed in an Ell
fort to save the life of the aged chief.
but their pleadings were vain, for no
power could now save him other than
mere force Of arms Leatherlips went
quietly from the place of council to
his camp. where he ate a hearty meal
Of jerked venison, washed and ar
rayed himself in his finest clothing
and painted his face. A witness OF
the scene records that his dress was
very rich. His gray hair and digni-
fed demeanor made an impressive
sight The time of execution having
arrived, Leatherlips shook hands with
the spectators and set out from his
wigwam, singing in full and splen-
did voice his death chant. The six
councillors followed him with solemn
tread, all keeping time to the meas
ured chanting of the victim. Behind
them followed the awe-struck white
men. At a short distance in the
woods the procession came upon a
shallow grave ready dug. By this the
old man knelt and prayed to the Great
Spirit. Then the captain of the wy
andot party also knelt and prayed.
Then the doomed man prayed again
and remained kneeling in silence. All
this while the whites were wondering
what was to be done, for not Z
weapon was visible. Suddenly one Of