A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary JemisonSeaver, James E. (James Everett)
History
A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison
Seaver, James E. (James Everett)
Jemison, Mary, 1743-1833; Seneca Indians
The Col. was then bound, stripped naked and tied by his wrists to the
arm, which extended horizontally from the post, in such a manner that
his arms were extended over his head, with his feet just standing upon
the ground. This being done, the savages placed the wood in a circle
around him at the distance of a few feet, in order that his misery might
be protracted to the greatest length, and then kindled it in a number of
places at the same time. The flames arose and the scorching heat became
almost insupportable. Again he prayed to Gurty in all the anguish of his
torment, to rescue him from the fire, or shoot him dead upon the spot.
A demoniac smile suffused the countenance of Gurty, while he calmly
replied to the dying suppliant, that he had no pity for his sufferings;
but that he was then satisfying that spirit of revenge, which for a long
time he had hoped to have an opportunity to wreak upon him. Nature
now almost exhausted from the intensity of the heat, he settled down a
little, when a squaw threw coals of fire and embers upon him, which made
him groan most piteously, while the whole camp rung with exultation.
During the execution they manifested all the exstacy of a complete
triumph. Poor Crawford soon died and was entirely consumed.
Thus ended the life of a patriot and hero, who had been an intimate with
Gen. Washington, and who shared in an eminent degree the confidence of
that great, good man, to whom, in the time of revolutionary perils, the
sons of legitimate freedom looked with a degree of faith in his mental
resources, unequalled in the history of the world.
That tragedy being ended, Doct. Night was informed that on the next
day he should be burnt in the same manner that his comrade Crawford had
been, at Lower Sandusky. Hiokatoo, who out had been a leading chief in
the battle with, and in the execution of Crawford, painted Doct. Night's
face black, and then bound and gave him up to two able bodied Indians to
conduct to the place of execution.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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