Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-31


Girty. having been sustained. lost no
time in doing all in his power for Kenton.
He took him TO his own wigwam. clothed
and fed him and dressed his wounds All
his savagery was gone. He could not do
enough for Kenton, for they mad been
spies together in the Lord Dunmore war
and Kenton had saved Girtys life at the
peril of his own. Bad as was Girty. the
most eXecrated of all creatures who de-
serted the whites, he was not without one
rtue-gratitude. For two weeks kenton
lived i'm tranquility. Girty was kind and
thoughtful. kenton was taken TO various
chiefs and treated with courtesy and con-
sideration. But suddenly there was
change. One day while walking with Girty
they heard the distress call from the
council chamber. Bad news had been re-
ceived. The braves were agitated. Some
thing had happened and a prisoner had
To be sacrificed.
Girty and Kenton went to the council
chamber kenton was received win
scowis. The braves began to demand
kentons life Girty pleaded once more.
arguing with all the force and passion
he had shown before. But there wer.
a lot of chiefs from distance. They had
brought the news OF disaster that
had stirred the chiefs TO desire sacri
fee. and they demanded that kenton be
slain.
Girty made another impa ssioned appeal,
and a vote was taken. AS the last chief
voted Girty turned to kenton. Wen. my
friend, you must die he exclaimed.
Instantly the chiefs from a distance
seized and pnioned kenton. rope was
put about his neck and he was driven
along. Apparently he was their prisoner
for them to dispose of as they pleased
AS they approached one Indian village an
Id, H,AI IA, Ia
and struck him through the shoulder.
breaking the bone and almost severing
the arm. He would have repeated the
blow had not Kenton's guardians inter
fered. They reprimsnded the Indian
sharply for attempting to rob them OF
the JOY of torturing the prisoner.
On the Scioto they entered a large viii
lase where Logan, the famous Mngo
chief, was installed. Logan. who spoke
English fluently, went to kenton and
chatted with him.
The young men very mad with
YOU" said Logan.
Yes; they certainly are" replied Ken
ton
Don't despair said Logan. They
plan TO burn you at Sandusky, but I'll
send two runners ahead and speak gooi
for YOU.
But Logan's intercession had little effect
in Sandusky. and all arrangements were
made to burn kenton the morning follow
ing his arrival there. He was at the stake
and the end seemed near when a British
Indian agent named Drewyer interposed.
He was eager to get information for Col.
Hamilton, the commandant at Detroit.
He begged for kenton to be delivered
over to him for a time. Later he would
be returned and then he could be burned.
Although Drewyer made this promise,
he had no intention of carrying it out.
Drewyer took him to Detroit, but Ken
ton had little information that was OF
value to the British. lis battered shout
der and arm mended rapidly and his
health. which had been shattered by his
wounds and his gantlet experiences, be-
gan TO improve Once he was well again
he began to plan to escape. With two
young Kentuckians he managed to get
away They had obtained muskets and
ammunition, but they had to traverse
more than go miles of hostile country
before they were safe. This they accom-
plished
Once back in Kentucky, Kenton prompt
ly volunteered for the George Rogers
Clark expedition. In the capture of Kas-
kaskia and Cahokia and the GROWING
success of that memorable campaign. the
capture OF Vincennes he had part, as
he had in various other affairs OF the
frontier later in the revolutionary war.
In the Indian wars that followed the
revolution he was in service again. He
was with ST. Clair when that genera went
to defeat. and he was with Mad An
thony Wayne when that general crushed
the Indians at the battle of Fallen Tim
bers. And again in the war of 1872 he
was on the warpath.
Into the life of Simon kenton lot Of
strife was crowded and some bitterness.
Probably the horrors of those three eN-
pcIiences at the stake and those eich'
trimmings of the gauntlet were not bad
as We're his terrorS when he thought h"
was nurderer-when he thought the
blood of Leitchmann was on his hands
Terror. not crime. drove him to the will
derness. for the lad he thought he killed
only was stunned
But it was many years before kenton
knew the truth.
Copyright. 1910. by Richard SPillane.D