Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. The cover of this ebook was created by the transcriber and is hereby placed in the public domain. OUTING ADVENTURE LIBRARY CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS First-hand Narratives of Indian Wars, Customs, Tortures, and Habits of Life in Colonial Times EDITED BY HORACE KEPHART NUMBER 3 NEW YORK OUTING PUBLISHING COMPANY MCMXV COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY OUTING PUBLISHING COMPANY All rights reserved CONTENTS I COLONEL JAMES SMITH'S LIFE AMONG THE DELAWARES, 1755-1759 9 II FATHER BRESSANI'S CAPTIVITY AMONG THE IROQUOIS, 1644 117 III CAPTIVITY OF MRS. MARY ROWLANDSON AMONG THE INDIANS OF MASSACHUSETTS, 1676 143 IV CAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF MERCY HARBISON, 1792 210 CAPTIVES AMONG THE INDIANS I COL. JAMES SMITH'S LIFE AMONG THE DELAWARES, 1755-1759 James Smith, pioneer, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1737. When he was eighteen years of age he was captured by the Indians, was adopted into one of their tribes, and lived with them as one of themselves until his escape in 1759. He became a lieutenant under General Bouquet during the expedition against the Ohio Indians in 1764, and was captain of a company of rangers in Lord Dunmore's War. In 1775 he was promoted to major of militia. He served in the Pennsylvania convention in 1776, and in the assembly in 1776-77. In the latter year he was commissioned colonel in command on the frontiers, and performed distinguished services. Smith moved to Kentucky in 1788. He was a member of the Danville convention, and represented Bourbon county for many years in the legislature. He died in Washington county, Kentucky, in 1812. The following narrative of his experience as member of an Indian tribe is from his own book entitled "Remarkable Adventures in the Life and Travels of Colonel James Smith," printed at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1799. It affords a striking contrast to the terrible experiences of the other captives whose stories are republished in this book; for he was well treated, and stayed so long with his red captors that he acquired expert knowledge of their arts and customs, and deep insight into their character. (_Editor._) In May, 1755, the province of Pennsylvania agreed to send out three hundred men, in order to cut a wagon-road from Fort Loudon, to join Braddock's road, near the Turkey Foot, or three forks of Youghiogheny. My brother-in-law, William Smith, Esq., of Conococheague, was appointed commissioner, to have the oversight of these road-cutters.