along. Thus what I intended as the means of my escape was the means of
accelerating my departure in the hands of the savages. But it was no
doubt ordered by a kind Providence for the preservation of the fort and
the inhabitants in it; for when the savages gave up the attack and
retreated, some of the men in the fort had the last load of ammunition
in their guns, and there was no possibility of procuring more, for it
was all fastened up in the storehouse, which was inaccessible.
The Indians, when they had flogged me away with them, took my oldest
boy, a lad about five years of age, along with them, for he was still
at the door by my side. My middle little boy, who was about three years
of age, had by this time obtained a situation by the fire in the house,
and was crying bitterly to me not to go, and making sore complaints of
the depredations of the savages. But these monsters were not willing to
let the child remain behind them; they took him by the hand to drag him
along with them, but he was so very unwilling to go, and made such a
noise by crying, that they took him up by his feet and dashed his
brains out against the threshold of the door. They then scalped and
stabbed him, and left him for dead. When I witnessed this inhuman
butchery of my own child I gave a most indescribable and terrific
scream, and felt a dimness come over my eyes, next to blindness, and my
senses were nearly gone. The savages then gave me a blow across my head
and face and brought me to my sight and recollection again. During the
whole of this agonizing scene I kept my infant in my arms.
As soon as the murder was effected they marched me along to the top of
the bank, about forty or sixty rods, and there they stopped and divided
the plunder which they had taken from our house, and here I counted
their number and found them to be thirty-two, two of whom were white
men painted as Indians. Several of the Indians could speak English
well. I knew several of them well, having seen them going up and down
the Alleghany River. I knew two of them to be from the Seneca tribe of
Indians, and two of them Munsees; for they had called at the shop to
get their guns repaired, and I saw them there.
We went from this place about forty rods, and they then caught my uncle
John Currie's horses, and two of them, into whose custody I was put,
started with me on the horses towards the mouth of the Kiskiminetas,
and the rest of them went off towards Puckety. When they came to the
bank that descended towards the Alleghany it was so very steep, and
there appeared so much danger in descending it on horseback that I
threw myself off the horse, in opposition to the will and command of
the savages.
My horse descended without falling, but the one on which the Indian
rode who had my little boy, in descending, fell and rolled over
repeatedly; and my little boy fell back over the horse, but was not
materially injured; he was taken up by one of the Indians, and we got
to the bank of the river, where they had secreted some bark canoes
under the rocks, opposite the island that lies between the Kiskiminetas
and Buffalo. They attempted, in vain, to make the horses take the
river, and had to leave the horses behind them, and took us in one of
the canoes to the point of the island, and there left the canoe.
Here I beheld another hard scene, for as soon as we landed, my little
boy, who was still mourning and lamenting about his little brother, and
who complained that he was injured by the fall in descending the bank,
_was murdered_. One of the Indians ordered me along, probably that
I should not see the horrid deed about to be perpetrated. The other
then took his tomahawk from his side, and with this instrument of death
killed and scalped him. When I beheld this second scene of inhuman
butchery I fell to the ground senseless, with my infant in my arms, it
being under and its little hands in the hair of my head. How long I
remained in this state of insensibility I know not.
The first thing I remember was my raising my head from the ground and
feeling myself exceedingly overcome with sleep. I cast my eyes around
and saw the scalp of my dear little boy, fresh bleeding from his head,
in the hand of one of the savages, and sank down to the earth again
upon my infant child. The first thing I remember, after witnessing this
spectacle of woe, was the severe blows I was receiving from the hands
of the savages, though at that time I was unconscious of the injury I
was sustaining. After a severe castigation, they assisted me in getting
up, and supported me when up. The scalp of my little boy was hid from
my view, and in order to bring me to my senses again they took me back
to the river and led me in knee-deep; this had its intended effect.
But, "the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."
We now proceeded on our journey by crossing the island, and coming to a
shallow place where we could wade out, and so arrive at the Indian side
of the country. Here they pushed me in the river before them, and had
to conduct me through it. The water was up to my breast, but I
suspended my child above the water, and, with the assistance of the
savages, got safely out. Thence we rapidly proceeded forward, and came
to Big Buffalo; here the stream was very rapid and the Indians had
again to assist me. When we had crossed this creek, we made a straight
course to the Connoquenessing Creek, the very place where Butler, Pa.,
now stands; and thence we travelled five or six miles to Little
Buffalo, which we crossed.
I now felt weary of my life, and had a full determination to make the
savages kill me, thinking that death would be exceedingly welcome when
compared to the fatigue, cruelties, and miseries I had the prospect of
enduring. To have my purpose effected I stood still, one of the savages
being before me, and the other walking behind me, and I took from off
my shoulder a large powder-horn they made me carry, in addition to my
child, who was one year and four days old. I threw the horn on the
ground, closed my eyes, and expected every moment to feel the deadly
tomahawk. But to my surprise the Indian took it up, cursed me bitterly,
and put it on my shoulder again. I took it off the second time, and
threw it on the ground, and again closed my eyes, with the assurance I
should meet death; but instead of this, the Indian again took up the
horn, and with an indignant, frightful countenance, came and placed it
on again. I took it off the third time, and was determined to effect
it, and, therefore, threw it as far as I was able from me, over the
rocks. The savage immediately went after it, while the one who had
claimed me as his squaw, and who had stood and witnessed the
transaction, came up to me and said: "Well done; you did right and are
a good squaw, and the other is a lazy son-of-a-gun; he may carry it
himself."
The savages now changed their position, and the one who claimed me as
his squaw went behind. This movement, I believe, was to prevent the
other from doing me any injury; and we went on till we struck the
Connoquenessing at the Salt Lick, about two miles above Butler, where
was an Indian camp, where we arrived a little before dark, having no
refreshment during the day. The camp was made of stakes driven into the
ground, sloping, and covered with chestnut bark, and appeared
sufficiently long for fifty men. The camp appeared to have been
occupied for some time; it was very much trodden, and large beaten
paths went out from it in different directions.
That night they took me about three hundred yards from the camp, up a
run, into a large, dark bottom, where they cut the brush in a thicket
and placed a blanket on the ground and permitted me to sit down with my
child. They then pinioned my arms back, only with a little liberty, so
that it was with difficulty that I managed my child. Here, in this
dreary situation, without fire or refreshment, having an infant to take
care of, and my arms bound behind me, and having a savage on each side
of me who had killed two of my dear children that day, I had to pass
the first night of my captivity.
But the trials and tribulations of the day I had passed had so
completely exhausted nature that, notwithstanding my unpleasant
situation, and my determination to escape, if possible, I insensibly
fell asleep, and repeatedly dreamed of my escape and safe arrival in
Pittsburgh, and several things relating to the town, of which I knew
nothing at the time, but found to be true when I arrived there. The
first night passed away and I found no means of escape, for the savages
kept watch the whole of the night without any sleep.
In the morning one of them left us to watch the trail we had come, to
see if any white people were pursuing us. During the absence of the
Indian, the one that claimed and remained with me, and who was the
murderer of my last boy, took from his bosom his scalp, and prepared a
hoop and stretched the scalp upon it. Those mothers who have not seen
the like done to one of the scalps of their own children will be able
to form but faint ideas of the feelings which then harrowed up my soul.
I meditated revenge! While he was in the very act I attempted to take
his tomahawk, which hung by his side and rested on the ground, and had
nearly succeeded, and was, as I thought, about to give the fatal blow,
when, alas! I was detected.
The savage felt at his tomahawk handle, turned upon me, cursed me and
told me I was a Yankee; thus insinuating he understood my intention,
and to prevent me from doing so again, faced me. My excuse to him for
handling his tomahawk was, that my child wanted to play with the handle
of it. The savage who went upon the lookout in the morning came back
about twelve o'clock, and had discovered no pursuers. Then the one who
had been guarding me went out on the same errand. The savage who was
now my guard began to examine me about the white people, the strength
of the armies going against the Indians, etc., and boasted largely of
their achievements in the preceding fall, at the defeat of General St.
Clair.
He then examined the plunder which he had brought from our house the
day before. He found my pocket-book and money among his plunder. There
were ten dollars in silver and a half-guinea in gold in the book.
During this day they gave me a piece of dried venison, about the bulk
of an egg, and a piece about the same size the day we were marching,
for my support and that of my child; but, owing to the blows I had
received from them on the jaws, I was unable to eat a bit of it. I
broke it up and gave it to the child.
The savage on the lookout returned about dark. This evening (Monday,
the 23d) they moved me to another station in the same valley, and
secured me as they did the preceding night. Thus I found myself the
second night between two Indians, without fire and refreshment. During
this night I was frequently asleep, notwithstanding my unpleasant
situation, and as often dreamed of my arrival in Pittsburgh.
Early on the morning of the 24th a flock of mocking-birds and robins
hovered over us as we lay in our uncomfortable bed; and sang and said,
at least to my imagination, that I was to get up and go off. As soon as
day broke, one of the Indians went off again to watch the trail, as on
the preceding day, and he who was left to take care of me appeared to
be sleeping. When I perceived this I lay still and began to snore, as
though asleep, and he also fell asleep. Then I concluded it was time to
escape. I found it impossible to injure him for my child at the breast,
as I could not effect anything without putting the child down, and then
it would cry and give the alarm; so I contented myself with taking,
from a pillow-case of plunder stolen from our house, a short gown,
handkerchief, and child's frock, and so made my escape; the sun then
being about half an hour high.
I struck the Connoquenessing, and went down stream until about two
o'clock in the afternoon, over rocks, precipices, thorns, briers, etc.,
with my bare feet and legs. I then discovered I was on the wrong
course, and waited till the North Star appeared. Marking out the
direction for the next day, I collected a bed of leaves, laid down and
slept, though my feet, being full of thorns, began to be exceedingly
painful, and I had nothing for self or babe to eat. The next morning I
started early, nothing material occurring. Towards evening a gentle
rain came on, and I began to prepare my leaf bed, setting the child
down the while, who began to cry. Fearful of the consequences, I put
him to the breast and he became quiet. I then listened and distinctly
heard footsteps. The ground over which I had travelled was soft and my
foot traces had been followed.
Greatly alarmed, I looked about for a place of safety, and
providentially discovered a large tree which had fallen, into the top
of which I crept. The darkness greatly assisted me and prevented
detection. The savage who followed me had heard the cry of the child
and came to the very spot where it had cried, and there he halted, put
down his gun, and was at this time so near that I heard the wiping
stick strike against his gun distinctly. My getting in under the tree
and sheltering myself from the rain, and pressing my boy to my bosom,
got him warm, and, most providentially, he fell asleep, and lay very
still during that time of extreme danger. All was still and quiet; the
savage was listening to hear again the cry. My own heart was the only
thing I feared, and that beat so loud that I was apprehensive it would
betray me. It is almost impossible to conceive the wonderful effect my
situation produced upon my whole system.
After the savage had stood and listened with nearly the stillness of
death for two hours, the sound of a bell and a cry like that of a night
owl, signals which were given to him by his companions, induced him to
answer, and after he had given a most horrid yell, which was calculated
to harrow up my soul, he started and went off to join them. After his
retreat, I concluded it unsafe to remain there till morning.
But by this time nature was so nearly exhausted that I found some
difficulty in moving; yet, compelled by necessity, I threw my coat
about my child and placed the end between my teeth, and with one arm
and my teeth I carried him, and with the other groped my way between
the trees and travelled on, as I supposed, a mile or two, and there sat
down at the root of a tree till morning. The night was cold and wet,
and thus terminated the fourth day-and-night's difficulties, trials,
and dangers!
The fifth day, wet, exhausted, hungry, and wretched, I started from my
resting-place as soon as I could see my way, and on that morning struck
the head-waters of Pine Creek, which falls into the Alleghany about
four miles above Pittsburgh; though I knew not then what waters they
were; I crossed them, and on the opposite bank I found a path, and on
it two moccason tracks, fresh indented. This alarmed me; but as they
were before me, and travelling in the same direction as I was, I
concluded I could see them as soon as they could see me, and,
therefore, I pressed on in that path for about three miles, when I came
to where another branch emptied into the creek, where was a hunter's
camp, where the two men, whose tracks I had before discovered and
followed, had breakfasted and left the fire burning.
I became more alarmed, and determined to leave the path. I then crossed
a ridge towards Squaw Run, and came upon a trail. Here I stopped and
meditated what to do; and while I was thus musing I saw three deer
coming towards me at full speed; they turned to look at their pursuers;
I looked too, with all attention, and saw the flash and heard the
report of a gun. I saw some dogs start after them, and began to look
about for shelter, and immediately made for a large log to hide myself.
Providentially I did not go clear to the log; for as I put my hand to
the ground, to raise myself so that I might see who and where the
hunters were, I saw a large heap of rattlesnakes, the top one being
very large, and coiled up very near my face, and quite ready to bite
me.
I again left my course, bearing to the left, and came upon the
head-waters of Squaw Run, and kept down the run the remainder of that
day. It rained, and I was in a very deplorable situation; so cold and
shivering were my limbs, that frequently, in opposition to all my
struggles, I gave an involuntary groan. I suffered intensely from
hunger, though my jaws were so far recovered that, wherever I could, I
procured grape-vines, and chewed them for a little sustenance. In the
evening I came within one mile of the Alleghany River, though I was
ignorant of it at the time; and there, at the root of a tree, through a
most tremendous rain, I took up my fifth night's lodgings. In order to
shelter my infant as much as possible, I placed him in my lap, and then
leaned my head against the tree, and thus let the rain fall upon me.
On the sixth (that was the Sabbath) morning from my captivity, I found
myself unable, for a very considerable time, to raise myself from the
ground; and when I had once more, by hard struggling, got myself upon
my feet and started, nature was so nearly exhausted and my spirits were
so completely depressed that my progress was amazingly slow and
discouraging. In this almost helpless condition I had not gone far
before I came to a path where there had been cattle travelling; I took
it, under the impression that it would lead me to the abode of some
white people, and in about a mile I came to an uninhabited cabin, and
though I was in a river bottom, yet I knew not where I was nor yet on
what river bank I had come.
Here I was seized with feelings of despair, went to the threshold of
the cabin and concluded that I would enter and lie down and die, since
death would have been an angel of mercy to me in such a miserable
situation. Had it not been for the sufferings which my infant, who
would survive me some time, must endure, I would have carried my
determination into execution. Here I heard the sound of a cow-bell,
which imparted a gleam of hope to my desponding mind. I followed the
sound till I came opposite the fort at the Six Mile Island, where I saw
three men on the opposite bank of the river.
My feelings then can be better imagined than described. I called to
them, but they seemed unwilling to risk the danger of coming after me,
and asked who I was. I told them, and they requested me to walk up the
bank awhile that they might see if Indians were making a decoy of me;
but I replied my feet were so sore I could not walk. Then one of them,
James Closier, got into a canoe to fetch me over, while the other two
stood with cocked rifles ready to fire on the Indians, provided they
were using me as a decoy. When Mr. Closier came near and saw my haggard
and dejected appearance, he exclaimed, "Who in the name of God are
you?" This man was one of my nearest neighbors, yet in six days I was
so much altered that he did not know me, either by my voice or
countenance.
When I landed on the inhabited side of the river the people from the
fort came running out to see me. They took the child from me, and now
that I felt safe from all danger, I found myself unable to move or to
assist myself in any degree, whereupon the people took me and carried
me out of the boat to the house of Mr. Cortus.
Now that I felt secure from the cruelties of the barbarians, for the
first time since my captivity, my feelings returned in all their
poignancy and the tears flowed freely, imparting a happiness beyond
what I ever experienced. When I was taken into the house the heat of
the fire and the smell of victuals, of both of which I had so long been
deprived, caused me to faint. Some of the people attempted to restore
me and some to put clothes on me, but their kindness would have killed
me had it not been for the arrival of Major McCully, who then commanded
along the river. When he understood my situation, and saw the
provisions they were preparing for me, he was greatly alarmed; ordered
me out of the house, away from the heat and smell; prohibited me from
taking anything but a very little whey of buttermilk, which he
administered with his own hands. Through this judicious management I
was mercifully restored to my senses and gradually to health and
strength.
Two of the females, Sarah Carter and Mary Ann Crozier, then began to
take out the thorns from my feet and legs, which Mr. Felix Negley stood
by and counted to the number of one hundred and fifty, though they were
not all extracted at that time, for the next evening, at Pittsburgh,
there were many more taken out. The flesh was mangled dreadfully, and
the skin and flesh were hanging in pieces on my feet and legs. The
wounds were not healed for a considerable time. Some of the thorns went
through my feet and came out at the top. For two weeks I was unable to
put my feet to the ground to walk. The next morning a young man
employed by the magistrates of Pittsburgh came for me to go immediately
to town to give in my deposition, that it might be published to the
American people. Some of the men carried me into a canoe, and when I
arrived I gave my deposition. As the intelligence spread, Pittsburgh,
and the country for twenty miles around, was all in a state of
commotion. The same evening my husband came to see me, and soon after I
was taken back to Coe's Station. In the evening I gave an account of
the murder of my boy on the island, and the next morning a scout went
out and found the body and buried it, nine days after the murder.
THE END
OUTING ADVENTURE LIBRARY
_Edited by Horace Kephart_
¶ Here are brought together for the first time the great stories of
adventure of all ages and countries. These are the personal records of
the men who climbed the mountains and penetrated the jungles; who
explored the seas and crossed the deserts; who knew the chances and
took them, and lived to write their own tales of hardship and endurance
and achievement. The series will consist of an indeterminate number of
volumes--for the stories are myriad. The whole will be edited by Horace
Kephart. Each volume answers the test of these two questions: Is it
true? Is it interesting?
¶ The entire series is uniform in style and binding. Among the titles
now ready or in preparation are those described on the following pages.
PRICE $1.00 EACH, NET. POSTAGE 10 CENTS EXTRA
THE NUMBERS MAKE ORDERING CONVENIENT
1. IN THE OLD WEST, by George Frederick Ruxton. The men who blazed the
trail across the Rockies to the Pacific were the independent trappers
and hunters in the days before the Mexican war. They left no records of
their adventures and most of them linger now only as shadowy names. But
a young Englishman lived among them for a time, saw life from their
point of view, trapped with them and fought with them against the
Indians. That was George Frederick Ruxton. His story is our only
complete picture of the Old West in the days of the real Pioneers, of
Kit Carson, Jim Bridger, Bill Williams, the Sublettes, and all the rest
of that glorious company of the forgotten who opened the West.
2. CASTAWAYS AND CRUSOES. Since the beginnings of navigation men have
faced the dangers of shipwreck and starvation. Scattered through the
annals of the sea are the stories of those to whom disaster came and
the personal records of the way they met it. Some of them are given in
this volume, narratives of men who lived by their hands among savages
and on forlorn coasts, or drifted helpless in open boats. They range
from the South Seas to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, from the iron coast of
Patagonia to the shores of Cuba. They are echoes from the days when the
best that could be hoped by the man who went to sea was hardship and
man's-sized work.
3. CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS. First of all is the story of Captain
James Smith, who was captured by the Delawares at the time of
Braddock's defeat, was adopted into the tribe, and for four years lived
as an Indian, hunting with them, studying their habits, and learning
their point of view. Then there is the story of Father Bressani who
felt the tortures of the Iroquois, of Mary Rowlandson who was among the
human spoils of King Philip's war, and of Mercy Harbison who suffered
in the red flood that followed St. Clair's defeat. All are personal
records made by the actors themselves in those days when the Indian was
constantly at our forefathers's doors.