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river, the oldest child, a boy about five years of age, began to mourn for his mother, when one of the Indians tomahawked and scalped him. That they traveled all day very hard, and at night arrived at a large camp, covered with bark, which by appearance might hold fifty men; that the camp appeared to have been occupied some time; it was very much beaten, and large beaten paths went out in different directions from it; that night they took her about three hundred yards from the camp, into a large dark bottom, bound her arms, gave her some bed clothes, and laid down one on each side of her. That the next morning they took her into a thicket on the hill side, and one remained with her till the middle of the day, while the other went to watch the path, lest some white people should follow them. They then exchanged places during the remainder of the day; she got a piece of dry venison, about the bulk of an egg, that day, and a piece about the same size the day they were marching; that evening (Wednesday the 23d), they moved her to a new place, and secured her as the night before. During the day of the 23d she made several attempts to get the Indian's gun or tomahawk that was guarding her, and could she have got either, she would have put him to death. She was nearly detected in trying to get the tomahawk from his belt.

The next morning (Thursday), one of the Indians went out as on the day before to watch the path. The other lay down and fell asleep. When she found he was sleeping, she stole her short-gown, handkerchief and a child's frock, and then made her escape, the sun being about an hour high. That she took her course from the Allegany, in order to deceive the Indians, as they would naturally pursue her that way; that day she traveled along Conequesing creek. The next day she altered her course, and, as she believes, fell upon the waters of Pine creek, which empties into the Allegany. Thinking this not her best course, she took over some divided ridges, and fell in on the heads of

Squaw run, lay on a dividing ridge on Friday night, and on Saturday came to Squaw run; continued down the run until an Indian or some other person shot at a deer; she saw the person about one hundred and fifty yards from her, the deer running and the dog pursuing it, which, from its appearance, she supposed to be an Indian dog.

She then altered her course, but again came to the same run, and continued down it until she got so tired that she was obliged to lie down, it having rained on her all that day and the night before; she lay there that night, it raining constantly. On Sunday morning she proceeded down the run until she came to the Allegany river, and continued down the river until she came opposite to Carter's house, on the inhabited side, where she made a noise, and James Closier brought her over the river to Carter's house.

This deponent further says, that in conversation with one of the Indians, that could talk English very well, which she suspects to be George Jelloway, he asked her if she knew the prisoner that was taken by Jeffers and his Senecas, and in jail in Pittsburg? She answered no. He said, you lic. She again said she knew nothing about him; he said she lied, that he was a spy, and a great captain; that he took Butler's scalp, and that they would have him or twenty scalps; he again said, that they would exchange for him; that he and two more were sent out to see what the Americans were doing; that they came round from Detroit to Venango; the Indian took paper, and shewed her that he, at Fort Pitt; could write and draw on it; he also asked her if a campaign was going out against the Indians this summer; she said no; he called her a liar, and said they were going out, and the Indians would serve them as they did last year; he also said the English had guns, ammunition, &c. to give them to go to war, and that they had given them plenty last year. This deponent also says, that she saw one of the Indians have Capt. Crab's sword, which she well knew; that one of the

Indians asked her if she knew Thomas Girty; she said she did; he then said that Girty lived near Fort Pitt; that he was a good man, but not as good as his brother at Detroit, but that his wife was a bad woman; she tells lies on the Indians, and is a friend to America. Sworn before me the day and year first above written, JOHN WILKINS.

Sufferings of Peter Williamson, one of the settlers in the back parts of Pennsylvania.— Written by himself.

I was born within ten miles of the town of Aberdeen, in the north of Scotland, of reputable parents. At eight years of age, being a sturdy boy, I was taken notice of by two fellows belonging to a vessel, employed (as the trade then was) by some of the worthy merchants of Aberdeen, in that villainous and execrable practice of stealing young children from their parents, and selling them as slaves in the plantations abroad, and easily enticed on board the ship by them, where I was conducted between decks to some others they had kidnapped in the same manner, and in about a month's time set sail for America. When we arrived at Philadelphia, the captain sold us at about sixteen pounds per head. What became of my unhappy companions I never knew; but it was my lot to be sold for seven years to one of my countrymen, who had in his youth been kidnapped like myself, but from another town.

Having no children of his own, and commiserating my condition, he took care of me, indulged me in going to school, where I went every winter for five years, and made a tolerable proficiency. With this good master I continued till he died, and, as a reward for my faithful service, he left me two hundred pounds currency, which was then about an hundred and twenty pounds sterling, his best horse, saddle, and all his wearing apparel.

Being now seventeen years old, and my own master, having money in my pocket and all other necessaries, I einployed myself in jobbing for near seven years;

when I resolved to settle, and married the daughter of a substantial planter. My father-in-law made me a deed of gift of a tract of land that lay (unhappily for me, as it has since proved,) on the frontiers of the province of Pennsylvania, near the forks of the Delaware, containing about two hundred acres, thirty of which were well cleared and fit for immediate use, on which were a good house and barn. The place pleasing me well I settled on it. My money I expended in buying stock, household furniture, and implements for out-ofdoor work; and being happy in a good wife my felicity was complete: but in 1754, the Indians, who had for a long time before ravaged and destroyed other parts of America unmolested, began now to be very troublesome on the frontiers of our province, where they generally appeared in small skulking parties, committing great devastations.

Terrible and shocking to human nature were the barbarities daily committed by these savages! Scarce did they pass but some unhappy family or other fell victims to their cruelty. Terrible, indeed, it proved to me, as well as to many others. I that was now happy in an easy state of life, blessed with an affectionate and tender wife, became on a sudden one of the most unhappy of mankind. Scarce can I sustain the shock which forever recurs on recollecting the fatal second of October, 1754.

My wife that day went from home, to visit some of her relations. As I stayed up later than usual, expecting her return, none being in the house besides myself, how great was my surprise and terror, when about eleven o'clock at night, I heard a dismal war-whoop of the savages, and found that my house was beset by them. I flew to my chamber window, and perceived them to be twelve in number. Having my gun loaded, I threatened them with death, if they did not retire. But how vain and fruitless are the efforts of one man against the united force of so many blood-thirsty monsters! One of them that could speak English, threatened me in re

turn, "that if I did not come out, they would burn me alive," adding, however, "that if I would come out and surrender myself prisoner, they would not kill me." In such deplorable circumstances, I chose to rely on their promises, rather than meet death by rejecting them, and accordingly went out of the house, with my gun in hand, not knowing that I had it. Immediately on my approach they rushed on me like tigers, and instantly disarmed me. Having me thus in their power they bound me to a tree, went into the house, plundered it of every thing they could carry off, and then set fire to it, and consumed what was left before my eyes. Not satisfied with this, they set fire to my barn, stable, and out-houses, wherein were about 200 bushels of wheat, six cows, four horses and five sheep, all which were consumed to ashes,

Having thus finished the execrable business about which they came, one of the monsters came to me with a tomahawk, and threatened me with the worst of deaths, if I would not go with them. This I agreed to, and then they untied me, and gave me a load to carry, under which I traveled all that night, full of the most terrible apprehensions, lest my unhappy wife should likewise have fallen into their cruel power. At daybreak, my infernal masters ordered me to lay down my load, when tying my hands again round a tree, they forced the blood out at my finger ends; and then kindling a fire near the tree to which I was bound, the most dreadful agonies seized me, concluding I was going to be made a sacrifice to their barbarity. The fire being made, they for some time danced round me after their manner, whooping, hollowing, and shrieking in a frightful manner. Being satisfied with this sort of mirth, they proceeded in another manner, taking the burning coals, and sticks flaming with fire at the ends, holding them to my face, head, hands and feet, and at the same time threatening to burn me entirely if I cried out. Thus tortured as I was, almost to death, I suffered their brutalities, without being allowed to vent my anguish oth

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