USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; the rise and progress of an American state, Volume Two > Part 15
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SIMON KENTON
Born, Fauquier County, Va., 1755. Famous Indian trader, and backwoodsman. Scout in armies of Dun- more, Clark and Wayne. Present at the battle of the Thames. Died and buried at Zanestown, Logan County, in 1836. Later his body was moved to the cemetery at Urbana, where a monument marks his grave. From a painting made near the close of his life.
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phajmeter . Acareer, and amociated in the beginni of Bocaesborowird aml Harrodsburg and in the stru of the Tratoo lania company. As scout, he was George Roger Clark w The party part of the IIG campaign and after the capture of Kaskaskia dispatched by his commander to the Kentucky sc ments with the news of Clark's success.
Kenton arrived at Harrodsburg from Kaskall shortly after Boone had reached his home in Boo borough, following his escupe from the Ohio Indi w related heretofore Restless and adventurous, tl Lwo backwoodsmen were ever made for a game & in the wild forest or a venture en the warpath. T a muce, in the summer of 1979, smeerted an expedit against a small town on Peux Creek, not far from Merciit site of Cletticothe With a party of ninet dieren from the Boomborough garrison, they crom the Ohio and proceeded part way to Paint Creek tu They were wirprised and attacked by a band of Ind Miperior id number. Further progress was useless Boone and Su followers, except Kenton and a come ion, retiirond valely to Boonesborough, arriving in tin take part In Chealegy of that post Kenton and his & rade remained in (1- Shawneecountry long enoughto .. turetwohorsesen h, with which, by a rapid night'stra they crossed the Olin and got beyond danger of purs
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Kenton now impatiently abided an opportunity for another sortie into the country of the Shawnees, who were the most restless and harassing enemies of the white settlers. The opportunity came early in September (1778), when Colonel John Bowman, of Harrodsburg, ordered him to take two trusty compan- ions and go on a secret embassy to Chillicothe (Old- town), an Indian center on the Little Miami, against which Colonel Bowman was contemplating an attack and the condition of which he desired to learn. Kenton accompanied by two aids, named George Clark and Alexander Montgomery, respectively, immediately set out and stealthily and successfully reached his desti- nation. In the night, the desired observations were made and the three were about to start on their return, when they stumbled upon a pound in which were a number of Indian horses. "The temptation was too great, and each mounted a horse and led off another." They dashed with all speed to the Ohio, which they reached after a ride of two days, at the mouth of Eagle Creek.
Meanwhile the redmen had sprung from their wig- wams and followed in hot pursuit. The purloined horses balked at the banks of the Ohio, the waters of which were high and boisterous. A day's delay in attempting to cross, proved the doom of the party. The Indian pursuers were upon them. Clark escaped; Montgomery was shot and scalped; Kenton was too great a prize to be killed, and after a desperate struggle vith several assailants, who beat him with their ram- ods, the intrepid scout was made prisoner. Night vas upon them and that Kenton might not get away
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the captors thus secured him: "They passed a stout stick at right angles across his breast, to each extremity of which his wrists were fastened by thongs made of buffalo hide. Stakes were then driven into the earth near his feet, to which they were fastened in a similar manner. A halter was then tied around his neck and fastened to a sapling which grew near and then a strong rope was passed under his body, lashed strongly to the pole which lay transversely on his breast, and finally wrapped around his arms at the elbows in such a manner as to pinion them to the pole with a painful violence, and render him literally incapable of moving hand, foot, or head in the slightest manner. During the whole of this operation neither their hands nor their tongues were by any means idle. They cuffed him from time to time with great heartiness, until his ears rang again, and abused him for a 'tief,' a hoss. steal, a rascal, and finally for a 'd-d white man.'
"Kenton remained in this painful attitude through- out the night, looking forward to certain death, and most probably, torture, as soon as he should reach their town. Their rage against him seemed to increase rather than abate, from indulgence, and in the morning it displayed itself in a form at once ludicrous and cruel."
When they were ready to set off the next morning. they selected the wildest horse in the company, ar unbroken colt, and lashed their prisoner, Mazeppa- like, thereon. Let the story be continued by McDon ald, who personally knew Kenton and from hin learned and "in his presence" wrote (1830)-Kenton died in 1836-the incident herewith repeated: "Th horse being very restive, it took several of them to hol
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im, whilst the others lashed the prisoner on the horse. 'hey first took a tug, or rope, and fastened his legs nd feet together under the horse. They took another nd fastened his arms. They took another and tied round his neck, and fastened one end of it around the orse's neck; the other end of this same rope was fas- ned to the horse's tail, to answer in place of a crupper. 'hey had a great deal of amusement to themselves, s they were preparing Kenton and his horse for fun nd frolic. They would yelp and scream around him, nd ask him if he wished to steal more horses. Another ope was fastened around his thighs, and lashed around he body of the horse; a pair of moccasins was drawn ver his hands, to prevent him from defending his ice from the brush. Thus accoutered and fastened, he horse was turned loose to the woods. He reared ad plunged, ran through the woods for some time, the infinite amusement of the Indians. The Indians loved towards Chillicothe, and in three days reached le town. At night they confined their prisoner in le following manner: He was laid on his back, his gs extended, drawn apart, and fastened to two plings or stakes driven in the ground. His arms ere extended, a pole laid across his breast, and his ms lashed to the pole with cords. A rope was tied found his neck, and stretched back just tight enough ot to choke him, and fastened to a tree or stake near s head. . In this painful and uncomfortable situation, spent three miserable nights, exposed to gnats, and osquitoes, and weather.
"On the third day they came within a few miles Chillicothe. Here the party halted and dispatched
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a messenger to inform the village of their arrival in order, I suppose, to give them time to prepare fo: his reception. In a short time, Blackfish, one of thei chiefs, arrived, and, regarding Kenton with a sterı countenance, thundered out, in very good English 'You have been stealing horses?' 'Yes, sir.' 'Diq Captain Boone tell you to steal our horses?' 'Nc sir; I did it of my own accord.' This frank confessio was too irritating to be borne. Blackfish made n reply; but, brandishing a hickory switch which he hel in his hand, he applied it so briskly to Kenton's nake back and shoulders as to bring the blood freely an occasion acute pain.
"When the Indians came within about a mile ( the Chillicothe town, they halted and camped for th night, and fastened the poor unfortunate prisoner i the usual uncomfortable manner. The Indians, your and old, came from the town to welcome the retur of their successful warriors, and to visit their prisone The Indian party, young and old, consisting of aboy one hundred and fifty, commenced dancing, singin and yelling around Kenton, stopping occasionally ar kicking and beating him for amusement. In th manner they tormented him for about three hour when the cavalcade returned to town, and he was le: for the rest of the night, exhausted and forlorn, to t. tender mercies of the gnats and mosquitoes. As son as it was light in the morning, the Indians began ) collect from the town, and preparations were mae for fun and frolic at the expense of Kenton, as he w3 now doomed to run the gauntlet. The Indians forml in two lines, about six feet apart, with each a stik
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1 his hands, and Kenton placed between the two nes, so that each Indian could beat him as much as e thought proper, as he ran through the lines. He ad not run far before he discovered an Indian with is knife drawn to plunge it into him; as soon as Kenton cached that part of the line where the Indian stood ho had the knife drawn, he broke through the lines, nd made with all speed for the town. Kenton had een previously informed by a negro named Caesar, ho lived with the Indians and knew their customs, hat if he could break through the Indians' lines, and rive at the council-house in the town before he was vertaken, that they would not force him a second me to run the gauntlet. When he broke through leir lines, he ran at the top of his speed for the council- puse, pursued by two or three hundred Indians, elling and screaming like infernal furies. Just as e had entered the town, he was met by an Indian isurely walking towards the scene of amusement, rapped in a blanket. The Indian threw off his blanket; he was fresh, and Kenton nearly exhausted, the dian soon caught him and threw him down. In a oment the whole party who were in pursuit came up, ad fell to cuffing and kicking him at a most fearful te. They tore off all his clothes, and left him naked id exhausted. After he had lain till he had in me degree recovered from his exhausted state, they ought him water and something to eat. As soon as s strength was sufficiently recovered, they took him the council-house, to determine upon his fate. Their anner of deciding his fate, was as follows: Their arriors were placed in a circle in the council-house;
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an old chief was placed in the center of the circle, with a knife and a piece of wood in his hands. A number of speeches were made. Kenton, although he did not understand their language, soon discovered by their animated gestures, and fierce looks at him, that a majority of their speakers were contending for hi destruction. He could perceive that those who plead for mercy were received coolly; but few grunts o approbation were uttered when the orators close their speeches. After the orators ceased speaking the old chief who sat in the midst of the circle, raise up and handed a war-club to the man who sat nex the door. They proceeded to take the decision c their court. All who were for the death of the prisone: struck the war-club with violence against the ground those who voted to save the prisoner's life, passed th club to their next neighbor without striking the ground Kenton, from their expressive gestures, could easil distinguish the object of their vote. The old chi stood to witness and record the number that vote for death or mercy; as one struck the ground wit the war-club, he made a mark on one side of his pie of wood; and when the club was passed without strikin he made a mark on the other. Kenton discover that a large majority were for death.
"Sentence of death being now passed upon t prisoner, they made the welkin ring with shouts joy. The sentence of death being passed, anoth question of considerable difficulty now present! itself to the consideration of the council; that w., the time and place, when and where, he should e burnt. The orators again made speeches on te
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ubject, less animated indeed than on the trial; but ome appeared to be quite vehement for instant xecution, whilst others appeared to wish to make tis death a solemn national sacrifice. After a long lebate, the vote was taken, when it was resolved that he place of his execution should be Wapatomika (now 'anesfield, Logan county). [This Wapatomika, also nown as Wakatomica, etc., should be distinguished rom the town of the same name situated on the Mus- ingum at the junction of the White Woman Creek r Walhonding.] The next morning he was hurried way to the place destined for his execution. From Chillicothe to Wapatomika, they had to pass through WO other Indian towns, to-wit: Pickaway and Machecheek. At both towns he was compelled to in the gauntlet; and severely was he whipped through ne course. While he lay at Machecheek, being care- ssly guarded, he made an attempt to escape. Noth- ig worse than death could follow, and here he made bold push for life and freedom. Being unconfined, e broke and ran, and soon cleared himself out of ght of his pursuers. Whilst he distanced his pursuers, d got about two miles from the town, he accidentally et some Indians on horseback. They instantly irsued, and soon came up with him, and drove him ick again to the town. He now, for the first time, tve up his case as hopeless. Nothing but death ared him in the face. Fate, it appeared to him, id sealed his doom; and in sullen despair, he deter- ined to await that doom, that it was impossible r him to shun.
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"When the Indians returned with Kenton to the town, there was a general rejoicing. He was pinioned, and given over to the young Indians, who dragged him into the creek, tumbled him in the water, and rolled him in the mud, till he was nearly suffocated with mud and water. In this way they amused them- selves with him till he was nearly drowned. He now thought himself forsaken by God. Shortly after thi! his tormentors moved with him to Wapatomika."
At this point we permit McClung to take up the narrative: "Here [Wapatomika] he was again com pelled to run the gauntlet, in which he was severely hurt; and, immediately after this ceremony, he wa taken to the council-house, and all the warriors onc more assembled to determine his fate.
"He sat silent and dejected upon the floor of th cabin, awaiting the moment which was to deliver hir to the stake, when the door of the council-house opened and Simon Girty, James Girty, John Ward and a Indian came in with a woman (Mrs. Mary Kennedy as a prisoner, together with seven children and seve scalps. Kenton was instantly removed from the cour cil-house, and the deliberations of the assembly we protracted to a very late hour, in consequence of tl arrival of the last named party with a fresh drove prisoners.
"At length he was again summoned to attend tl council-house, being informed that his fate was decide Regarding the mandate as a mere prelude to the sta and fire, which he knew was intended for him, obeyed it with the calm despair which had now su- ceeded the burning anxiety of the last few days. Upa
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ntering the council-house, he was greeted with a ivage scowl, which, if he had still cherished a spark f hope, would have completely extinguished it. Simon irty threw a blanket upon the floor, and harshly dered him to take a seat upon it. The order was ot immediately complied with, and Girty, impatiently izing his arm, jerked him roughly upon the blanket, d pulled him down upon it.
"In the same rough and menacing tone, Girty then terrogated him, asking, 'What is your name?' 'Simon utler!' replied Kenton. Never did the annunciation 1 a name produce a more powerful effect. Girty and enton (then bearing the name of Butler) had served spies, together, in Dunmore's expedition. The frmer had not then abandoned the society of the nites for that of savages, and had become warmly ¿tached to Kenton during the short period of their srvices together. As soon as he heard the name, became strongly agitated; and springing from his sat, he threw his arms around Kenton's neck, and embraced him with much emotion.
"Then turning to the assembled warriors, who r nained astonished spectators of this extraordinary of Sene, he addressed them in a short speech, which the ore cep earnestness of his tone, and the energy of his giture, rendered eloquent. He informed them that end t: prisoner, whom they had just condemned to the eciasike was his ancient comrade and bosom friend; that. ne st nim, OW ty had traveled the same war-path, slept upon the ne blanket, and dwelt in the same wigwam. He e reated them to have compassion upon his feelings; utespare him the agony of witnessing the tortures of
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an old friend by the hands of his adopted brothers; and not to refuse so trifling a favor, as the life of a white man, to the earnest intercession of one who hac proved, by three years' faithful service, that he was sincerely and zealously devoted to the cause of the Indians.
"The speech was listened to in unbroken silence As soon as he had finished, several chiefs expresse their approbation by a deep guttural interjection, whil others were equally as forward in making known the objections to the prospoal. They urged that his fat had already been determined in a large and solem council, and that they would be acting like squav to change their mind every hour. They insisted upc the flagrant misdemeanors of Kenton; that he ha not only stolen their horses, but had flashed his gun one of their younger men; that it was vain to suppc that so bad a man could ever become an Indian heart, like their brother Girty; that the Kentuckia were all alike, very bad people, and ought to be kill as fast as they were taken; and finally, they observe that many of their people had come from a distare solely to assist at the torture of the prisoner, al pathetically painted the disappointment and chag with which they would hear that all their troue had been for nothing.
"Girty listened, with obvious impatience, to young warriors who had so ably argued agains a reprieve, and starting to his feet as soon as the othrs had concluded, he urged his former request with giat earnestness. He briefly but strongly recapitulaec his own services, and the many and weighty instare
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f attachment which he had given. He asked if he ould be suspected of partiality to the whites? When ad he ever before interceded for any of that hated ace? Had he not brought seven scalps home with im from the last expedition? And had he not sub- mitted seven white prisoners that very evening to their escretion? Had he expressed a wish that a single ne of the captives should be saved? This was his rst and should be his last request: For if they re- ised to him what was never refused to the intercession one of their natural chiefs, he would look upon him- lf as disgraced in their eyes, and considered as un- orthy of confidence. Which of their own natural arriors had been more zealous than himself? From hat expedition had he ever shrunk? What white an had ever seen his back? Whose tomahawk had l:en bloodier than his? He would say no more. He ked it as a first and last favor-as an evidence that ley approved of his zeal and fidelity-that the life Lo his bosom friend might be spared. Fresh speakers e dose upon each side, and the debate was carried on, sfr an hour and a half, with great heat and energy. er, "During the whole time, Kenton's feelings may ch radily be imagined. He could not understand a tr s'llable of what was said. He saw that Girty spoke with cep earnestness, and that the eyes of the assembly to vre often turned upon himself, with various expres- gains ns. He felt satisfied that his friend was pleading eof his life, and that he was violently opposed by a ith lage part of the council. At length the war-club was pitu poduced, and the final vote taken. Kenton watched inst. 11 progress with thrilling emotion, which yielded to
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the most rapturous delight as he perceived that those who struck the floor of the council-house were decidedly inferior in number to those who passed it in silence Having thus succeeded in his benevolent purpose Girty lost no time in attending to the comfort of hi friend. He led him into his own wigwam, and fror his own store gave him a pair of moccasins and leggings a breech-cloth, a hat, a coat, a handkerchief for hi neck, and another for his head.
"For the space of three weeks, Kenton lived i perfect tranquillity. Girty's kindness was unifor and indefatigable. He introduced Kenton to his ow family, and accompanied him to the wigwams of th principal chiefs, who seemed all at once to have turne from the extremity of rage to the utmost kindne and cordiality. Fortune, however, seemed to ha selected him for her football, and to have snatch him from the frying-pan only to throw him into t fire. About twenty days after his most provident deliverance from the stake he was walking in compa with Girty and an Indian named Redpole, wh another Indian came from the village toward the uttering repeatedly a whoop of peculiar intonatic. Girty instantly told Kenton that it was the distr halloo, and that they must all go instantly to 16 council-house. Kenton's heart involuntarily flutte:d at the intelligence, for he dreaded all whoops, ad hated all council-houses, firmly believing that neiter boded him any good. Nothing, however, could ve done to avoid whatever fate awaited him, and sadly accompanied Girty and Redpole back to village.
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"The debate quickly commenced. Kenton looked agerly toward Girty, as his last and only hope. His iend looked anxious and distressed. The chiefs from distance arose one after another, and spoke in a rm and indignant tone, often looking at Kenton ith an eye of death. Girty did not desert him, but is eloquence appeared wasted upon the distant chiefs. fter a warm debate, he turned to Kenton and said, Vell, my friend, you must die!' One of the stranger niefs instantly seized him by the collar, and the others ırrounding him, he was strongly pinioned, committed b a guard, and instantly marched off.
"His guards were on horseback, while the prisoner as driven before them on foot, with a long rope round s neck, the other end of which was held by one of le guard. In this manner they had marched about vo and a half miles, when Girty passed them on horse- ack, informing Kenton that he had friends at the ext village, with whose aid he hoped to be able to something for him. Girty passed on to the town, it finding that nothing could be done, he would not e his friend again, but returned to Waughcotomoco Vapatomica] by a different route.
"They soon reached a large village upon the head- aters of the Scioto, where Kenton, for the first time, held the celebrated Mingo chief, Logan, so honorably entioned in Mr. Jefferson's 'Notes on Virginia.' ogan walked gravely up to the place where Kenton pod, and the following short conversation ensued: Vell, young man, these young men seem very mad you!' 'Yes, sir, they certainly are.' 'Well, don't disheartened, I am a great chief. You are to go
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to Sandusky; they speak of burning you there, but I will send two runners tomorrow to speak good for you.' Logan's form was striking and manly, his countenance calm and noble, and he spoke the English language with fluency and correctness. Kenton'? spirits instantly rose at the address of the benevolen; chief, and he once more looked upon himself as pro videntially rescued from the stake.
"On the following morning two runners were dis patched to Sandusky, as the chief had promised, and until their return Kenton was kindly treated, bein permitted to spend much of his time with Logan, wh conversed with him freely and in the most friendl manner. In the evening the two runners returned and were closeted with Logan. Kenton felt the mos burning anxiety to know what was the result of the mission, but Logan did not visit him until the nex morning. He then walked up to him, accompanie by Kenton's guards, and, giving him a piece of bread told him that he was instantly to be carried to Sar dusky; and, without uttering another word, turne upon his heel and left him.
"Again Kenton's spirit sank. From Logan's mann he supposed that his intercession had been unavailin and that Sandusky was destined to be the scene his final suffering. This appears to have been tl truth. But fortune, who, to use Lord Lovat's expre sion, had been playing at cat and mouse with hi for the last month, had selected Sandusky for t. display of her strange and capricious power."
The prisoner and his escort now continued the journey till they came in view of the Upper Sandus!
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wn. The Indians, young and old, came out to meet nd welcome the warriors and view their noted prisoner, ho at this place was spared the tortures of another untlet. But a grand council was immediately con- ned to determine the fate of Kenton. This was the urth council which was held to dispose of the life the prisoner, who, by this time, one would imagine, ould welcome death as the end of further tortures nd sufferings.
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