Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1885 — A ROMANCE OF EARLY DAYS. [ARTICLE]

A ROMANCE OF EARLY DAYS.

A Miraculous Rescue from Death of Two Indiana Pioneers—Death at the Stake. The romantic adventure which is the subject of this narrative occurred more than a hundred years ago. The story is known to me by tradition, but its authenticity, I believe, is well established. Early in the afternoon of a day in February, 1781, Irvin Hinton, a young teamster, started with a wagon from a block-house which was located on the site where the city of Louisville now stands, to Harrodsburg, Kentucky, for the purpose of getting a load of, provisions for the almost destitute families who had gathered at the fort for'-pro-tection from the Indians. The teamster was accompanied by Richard Hue, a youth of nineteen years, and George Holman, aged sixteen years. Although but mere boys in age. there were none in the Tort of greater intrepidity or skill in savage warfare. The Indians were then quiet, but their movements bad been of a character to arouse suspicion among the settlers, and with the arrival es the spring season an outbreak of hostility was expected. Before they had traveled a mile a heavy snow began to fall. The earth was soon covered. The atmosphere was still and damp, and the Bakes quickly melted away. Fearing that the powder might become dampened, the travelers discharged the loads in their guns, supposing that they were not likely to encounter any danger while the snow continued. They had proceeded slowly and had traveled only eight miles of the road to Harrodsburg, when the darkness of tho early evening came upon them. As they were ascending a hill, a cry of ■“halt!” was heard by the driven of the wagon team. “Was it you who spoke, Rue?” inquired tho driver, as he stopped his borses. - '■ “No,” was the answer. “Did yon not hear a voice crv, ‘•halt!’” “Yes.” “Well, where did it come from?” asked the alarmed teamster. A noise in the bushes beside the road a few feet ahead of the horses was heard, and the mysterious voice said, *Mt was Simon Girty who cried ‘halt!’ and he meant what he said.” As these words were uttered, the speaker sprang from his place of concealment, and the wagon was instantly surrounded by a party of thirteen Indians. Tliq three Kentuckians were ordered to surrender. Rue impulsively raised his riiie to shoot the leader of the Indians, but * recollecting that it contained no load he dropped the weapon, and, being powerless to defend themselves, tho three men surrendered. The horses were unhitched from the wagon, aud the lines «es the" harness were used to securely bind together the hands of the captives, who were then driven through the woods by three of the Indians, who mounted the horses that had been captured. The remaining horse Girty appropriated to his own use. Alternately he rode ahead of the party and behind it, vigilantly guarding against any surprise. Occasionally 'he would atop t 6 speak to the captives, and to caution them, under threat of death, against making any noise. After three hours of travel the party reached the Ohio river, and crossed in canoes, which had been secreted under a rock protruding from the banks over the water. After a brief parley between Girty and° two of the Bhawanee chiefs, over the route that should be traveled, the party started in the direction of Yincennes, but after going a few miles to mislead pursuers, turned toward the -northeast. The night was half gone before they halted. They encamped without a fire, and resumed their journey early in the morning. They continned to march with the greatest speed for three days, when, finding that they were not pursued, they proceeded more leisurely. - : Realizing that there was now little hope for their rescue, the prisoners expected a death of excruciating torture. Simon Girty, the leader of the Indians, although a white man and a native of Pennsylvania, was feared more by pioneers of the .Northwestern Territory than any of the savage chiefs with

F ,• ■ ’. •.. - * • f . • *■ . # whom he was associated in his warfare Upon the white people. He was a captive Among the Indians when a boy. He aftarward adopted tlieir mode o£ life, and led them in several of their bloodiest massacres. Ho was treacherous and unscrupulous, and never showed mercy to a captive. From the time of his treacherous apostacy he vied with the most cruel and relentless savages that he could surround liimeslf with, in inflicting the most atrocious tortures upon those who fell into his hands. He had burned Col. Crawford at and had watched the suffering of the gallant soldier with de-mon-like satisfaction. His name was as familiar to the people of the frontier as that of Daniel Boone, and he was feared as much as Boone was admired. The prisoners knew that in the hands of Girty their lives were subject to the passion and caprice of a heartless and bloodthirsty man. While the party was encamped in the vicinity of where Fort Wayne now stands, suspecting that Bue, from the expression of his face, understood something of the Delaware language, inquired if he had ever taken part in any of the border wars with the Indians, admonishing him that if he did not tell the truth death would be tbe penalty. Bue answered the question affirmatively. “How many wars have you been in ?’ inquired Girty. “Four.” “Were yon with Clark at Vincennes ?” “Y T es. M ——- “Were you with him when he destroyed the Piqua towns and Loramie’s store?” “Yes.” “You played h—l there!” angrily exclaimed Girty, as he rushed toward Bue. “I have a mind to split your infernal skull,” and he swung his tomahawk over the head of the captive as if he intended to execute the threat, but struck him instead in the face with the handle. When the party arrived within a few miles of Wapaccunnata, the Indian village toward which they had been journeying, runners were sent ahead to announce their coming, in order that preparations might be made for their reception. They wore met a mile from the village by several of the chiefs, and, after a short conference, Girty informed the prisoners that it had been decided they should run the gauntlet immediately upon entering the town. They were told that if they passed between the lines and reached the council-house they would be free from further assault, but they would be forced to run rapidly. When the prisoners came in view of the village they found that a line of savages, armed with clubs, had already been formed on each side of the path leading to the council lodge. Hinton the teamster, was first ordered to run. Ho received several blows over the head and shoulders, but succeeded in getting through the lines to the lodge. Bue was next started down between the lines, with an Indian running behind him with uplifted tomahawk. He reached the goal with less difficulty and with less injury than Hinton. Holman, tho boy, protested that it was impossible for him to pass through tho ordeal, as he was weak and sick frem the fatigue of tho march. The program was changed. The squaws and children of tho village armed themselves with switches and clubs and took the places of the warrors. Young Holman dashed down between the lines, and twice he was knocked down by tbe blows that fell upon his back before he finally succeeded in reaching the lodge. The running of the gauntlet was only the prelude to a more tragic ordeal through which they were to finally pass. A council of the chiefs was forthwith called to decide the fate of the prisoners. There wore a number of noisy speeches, jmnetuated with violent gastulations and angry looks. The council ended, however, without any conclusion being reached. The prisoners were told that their fate would not be decided until the arrival of other chiefs from the Scioto and Big Miami, who were expected within a few days. In the meantime Hinton determined to make his escape. He whispered his intentions to his companions. He knew, he said, that the chances were against him, and that if recaptured he would be immediately killed. Buejmd Holman remonstrated against bis making the attempt as hazardous in the extreme. The announcement ran through the village one, morning soon after? wards that Hinton had escaped, taking with hint the gun and accoutrements of one of the savages. The Indians were furious and the remaining captived were menaced with instant death by the exasperated savages. A party of warriors immediately started in pursuit of the fugitive. It was expected that he would be intercepted on the trail between Chillicotbe and Sandusky, and eight of the party started for that point. While stealthily creeping through the forest in the early evening frequently halting to listen for any voice indicating tho presence of his enemies, he ran into an ambush and was recaptured. He was told to prepair for immediate death, as he would be burned at the stake during the night. He pleaded piteously for his life—not for his own sake, but for the sake of his wife and children, for whom he had endeavored to escape from captivity. His captors, however, were inexorable. He was bound to a tree and burned fagots were piled about him. For three hours the savages danced about him, yelling and brandishing their weapons, before he died from the effects of the slow, intense heat. As he sank to the ground, the savage who had ffirst seen him in the evening, with a frightful, yell crushed the skull of the dead man with hi’s tomahawk and took his scalp as a trophy. When it was brought back to the village it was tauntingly thrust in the faces of Rue and Holman, and they were warned that if they attempted to escape they would be treated in the same way. It was, not long after that a general rendezvous of all the Indians in the Northwest Territory was ordered at Detroit, where .Girty proceeded with a large number of his warriors and the prisoners. After three days of marching the party i approached an Indian village on the Maumee river, and it was determined that the prisoners should here be compelled to again run the gauntlet for the amusement of the sav-

ages, after which it was decided to hold a council to decide the fate of Rue and Holman. Tho punishment which was inflicted upon them during the running of the gauntlet was ns severe as they could endurp, and it was only after being repeatedly knocked down that they finally succeeded in getting through tho lines, badly bruised and bleeding profusely. The usual feast was then spread, followed by a “scalp-danfee,” in which all the warriors participated,and the council on the lives of the prisoners began. After emitting in silence for several moments, and smoking their pipes, the oldest chief arose and addressed tho warriors in an animated stylo. He was fob owed one after another by the warriors until all had spoken. At times f the debate was stormy, and it was with difficulty that the presiding sachem could keep order. The vote was finally taken, and it was evident to the prisoners that a severe verdict had been ronderod against them. A half hour after Girty came to them and told them that they were to be burned at tbe stake that night. The preparations for their death were begun. Fagots were piled about two stakes, and the fades of the prisoners, in accordance with Ihe usual custom, were blackened. While the preparations were in progress there appeared to be great excitement about the coun-cil-house. It was evident from the loud words and angry gesticulations that there was not a unanimity of sentiment among the members of the council. At a pause in the wrangle an Indian approached the guards of" the prisoners and spoko a few words in tho Mingo language to them. The cords which bound Holman were then ctit and he was lifted to his feet. The Indian who had ordered his release said to him: “I adopt yon as my son, to.fill the place of one I have lately buried. You are now a kinsman of Logan, the white man’s friend.” Thq words were interpreted by Girty, with evident reliiclance. -- . ,-' The preparations for the burning of Bue continued. He was bound to tho stake, and the savages were about to light tbe fagots around .him when a young Shawnee appr'oached and released him from his perilous position, defying the angry savages, whb "pRF" tested against his lawless action. The action of the council and the threatened death of the captives are believed to have been in the nature of mock proceedings for terrifying the two young men before adopting them into the tribe. Bue and Holman were in captivity among the Indians more than two years before they found a favorable opportunity for escaping. The Indian warriors had again gathered at Detroit for a general conference, and the tribes were indulging in a drunken revelry. It afforded them a chance for flight, n,nd before daylight they were hurrying through the.wilderness in the direction of Louisville. They traveled all day and all night, encamping the following morning in a thicket surrounded almost entirely by swamp. At night they resumed tlieir journey, guided in their course by the stars and the moss on the north side of tlie trees. Thus they traveled for several days, not daring to shoot game, for fear that the report of tho gun would reveal their hiding place to the Indians whom they knew would be pursuing them. After three days of travel without any food but tbe little they succeeded in stealing before leaving the village, they began to grow weak from hunger, and the fear of starvation compelled ‘them to turn aside and hunt for game. A day, however, passed without finding any. Thoy were becoming desperate. They had become so exhausted from need of food and from fatigue that they could no longer proceed rapidly. It seemed that their death from starvation was enevitgble. On the fifth day a deer ran past tlieir hiding place, and it was shot by Holman. They were enabled to resume their journey with renewed energy and courage. The twentieth day of their travel brought them to the Ohio river, fifty miles above the falls. They built a raft, on which they floated dowD the stream, reaching Louisville in safety. Their friends had supposed that they were dead. The brother-in-law of Rue had administered his estate, and sold a four-acre lot belonging to him, which was located within a short distance of where the new court house now stands. Finding that his affairs had been settled ini' good faith-, although somewhat prematurely, Bue permitted the transaction to stand. Until 1805 Bue and Holman lived in, Woodford County, Kentucky, wdien they both removed to Indiana Territory, and located within two miles of where the city of Richmond now where they lived during the remainder of their lives. Bue died in 1845, but Holman lived until 1859 and at the time of liis death was 99 years old. His eldest son, Hon. Joseph Holman, was a member of the Indiana constitutional convention, in 181fi, and represented Wayne County in the Legislature several years, afterwards holding an offiefe in the Land Department under the administration of General Jackson. Many years after peaceful relations were restored between the Indians and the settlers, annual visits were paid Bue and Holman by the Indians among whom they had lived, and they were shown- the greatest hospitality, always receiving, upon tlieir departure, generous gifts of tobacco and corn. —lndianapolis Journal.