The Captivity of Jonathan Alder (1773-1849)
and his life with the Indians
Chapter XII
A New Expedition to Kentucky-Death of Succopanus-Meets Barshaw, Sister of Big Turtle-Hunting on Darby-Fire Hunting-General Harmar
"About one year after the death of my Indian mother, the Shawnees made up another company to go to Kentucky to steal horses from the settlements. In making up the company we took into it the same Indian who had tried to kill me when a boy, and whom I had whipped so severely. He had now grown to be a man and was an active, daring and shrewd fellow. The Indians proposed to make him leader. I did not like the idea because we had had so much difficulty, when young, that I feared we would have more; but I made no opposition to his selection and permitted him to lead us. His Indian name was Shammack. All things being ready we started and in two or three days we saw we would have trouble with him. He was lazy and over bearing, and always trying to get out of doing duty. About the fifth day two others and myself talked the matter over and finally concluded that we would have to separate on account of his being so ill and mean; yet, as we had got along so far, we concluded to try it a few days longer. One evening we stopped before night, roasted our venison, and ate a hearty supper. After supper he remarked to us 'that he supposed we would all like to know what kind of luck we were going to have on the trip.' We said we would. He said: 'Well if you will all do as I say I will tell you in the morning.' We consented to do so. About sunset he retired about four rods from the camp and stuck up a stake, about ten feet high, then cleared away all the leaves and trash for two or three yards around it, and placed his blanket where he intended to sleep, at the fire. About dusk he told us he was going out to the stake to talk to the Great Spirit and that he did not want any of us to speak to him after he came back until he first spoke in the morning, and that he did not want much talking in the camp between ourselves during that time. He then walked out to the stake in a very solemn manner and, when he got there he turned his face up and sang for perhaps fifteen minutes after which he knelt down and prayed very devoutly to the Great Spirit for ten or fifteen minutes. He asked for protection and information. When he finished he got up and walked to his blanket, laid down and wrapped himself in it and went to sleep. After he went to the stake there was not another word said to him, nor did we speak between ourselves until the next morning. We were awakened by Shammack to hear his report. He told us to get up and seat ourselves around the fire. He said 'We will separate; we will not all remain in the same company - that there has been some talk of that already, and our trip will be for nothing.' He further said, 'the party he was with would take a prize but they will lose it again and he could not tell precisely what kind of a prize it would be. The other party which would be the largest, will get nothing, but we will all get back safely - none of us will be killed but we will get nothing for our trouble.' We got ready and started; soon after which we commenced to talk about the separation and finally came to the conclusion not to separate, come what would; so as to make Shammack out a liar. We did not think he knew anything about it but we soon found that he was so mean we could not stand him. When we started out in the morning, we generally separated, two or three being together, in order to kill game, and designated a place at which we might meet at night. So, one evening we all came to the appointed place, one after another arid none of us had killed any game. Shammack was the last to come in and he had a fresh deer skin. I said to him; 'You killed a deer;' and he replied; 'yes.' I then asked him why he did not bring it into camp; as we had killed nothing. He said: 'It was poor and not fit to eat.' I picked up the hide and saw that there was fat on it. I told him he had lied, that there was fat on the skin and that it was nothing but mean laziness that prevented him from bringing in some of the meat. He got very angry but attempted no violence. We ate our jerk, which we intended to use after we got into the country where it would be dangerous to be shooting or separating into small parties for the purpose of hunting. There were a few of us who talked it over that night and agreed to separate from him the next day, that is that we would not meet him at the place designated to camp. He heard of our resolution some way or other and; in the morning when we were ready to start; he turned toward us and said: 'I suppose it is all arranged for you to leave me today?' Now I do not know who is going with me but I will start first and if any one wishes to go with me he can follow.' He turned to go and, as he did so, I saw the tears start in his eyes and stream down his face. There was but one to follow him, all of the rest remained until he and his friend were out of sight.
"Our party consisted of five persons and when Shammack had been gone about five minutes we started in a different direction and struck the river a little further down than we intended - crossed over and made our way out into the settlements. After which we sulked around a part of two days and nights, but found no loose horses. All appeared to be kept closely; so we gave it up and started to go back. We crossed on a raft made of dry logs. Neither of us got a horse or prize of any kind. Thus far Shammacks prophecy had come true and it looked a little as if he had notified the people or given some alarm to make it result so. We made our way back very leisurely, after we crossed the river. Deer were very fat and we killed a great number, stretched and dried the skins, stopped at the towns and trading points to sell them, as we had no horses to pack them for us. We got back to our town late in the fall without any serious trouble. In ten or fifteen days after our arrival, Shammack and his man came in. As usual a meeting was called and the trip narrated. They had crossed the river and made for the settlement but could find no horses as all of the stables were locked. After waiting three or four days they got discouraged and started back, passing a new settlement they found by the noise; they were raising a log cabin. The men were chopping and hallowing, all around. It was about noon, so they concluded to wait and see if they could capture a Negro. A Negro is quite a prize among the Indians. Shammack said that when they would go to dinner the whites would go before and the Negroes come on after, and 'Then,' said he, 'we can catch one.' They found the trail that the men would use and secreted themselves and soon heard a woman away up the valley call 'Ho-e-ho,' that being the way the white people called to dinner. After all the white men passed up the path two Negroes came after them. Shammack and his man ran in and caught one but he was a very stout fellow and fought desperately. So they had to let him go. As they were now discovered they made a hasty retreat to the river and crossed as soon as possible and returned to our town. Shammack was killed in battle a few years after. Of course we never learned how he and his man were instruments in making his prophecy true; for; come true it did in every particular.
"My Indian father was now quite old and in feeble health. He thought he would like to take a trip down to the Salt Springs, in the hope of improving his health. He said he would not live long a year or so perhaps not more than a few moons. We got ready the next summer after I returned from my unsuccessful horse-stealing trip, which was just three years before Wayne's victory. We traveled very slowly, sometimes stopping six or eight days at a place. We were in company with others who had pack-horses to carry the camp equipage, kettles, tents, etc. At Big Springs below what is now London, Madison County, we remained half a moon, killed a large number of deer; dried the jerk, and stretched the skins We traveled on the usual trail to the Springs. We commenced to boil salt water, and had been so engaged about two moons when I saw my Indian father was becoming very feeble and helpless. His limbs were very much swollen and his whole body very much bloated. One morning he told me that he had no tobacco and I would have to go to Upper Sandusky and get some as he could not live without it. The Indians never chew tobacco but are great smokers. I started immediately that morning though I was satisfied he would live but a short time. I took my gun, tomahawk, butcher-knife and blanket and traveled on foot. It took me about fifteen days to make the trip. When I returned I found he was dead and buried. He died of dropsy. I was now left alone, no one to care for me and I for no one. I had lost a kind father and mother and, man as I was I assure you I missed them both very much. They had taken good care of me and did all they could for my welfare and comfort and, consequently, their memories have always been very sacred to me. I remained at the Spring until the crowd got ready to go back, and returned with the company.
"I now wandered far and wide, much more so than before, as I had no one to care for. I attended all the feasts and dances I could hear of and continued a great favorite among the young people, as well as the old. I became acquainted with an interesting young squaw, Barshaw by name. She was the sister of Big Turtle, and some what older than myself. She made and sold a great number of moccasins that were handsomely covered with beads and porcupine quills of different colors marked into birds, squirrels, deer, bear, and other animals. For these she found a ready market among the French and British, at high prices. I began to pay my respects to her when I came to the village of Upper Sandusky. But as her occupation required her in the village, and mine in the forest, we did not see each other very often.
"I began to think of selecting a location for hunting operations in the fall and Darby Plains appeared to be the best for all kinds of game and I passed down the trail alone to Darby. I started about the time acorns were getting ripe. I had traveled to what is now Union County, following the Indian traces from Upper Sandusky to Salt Springs. One day, about noon, I saw a large bear in the top of a big white oak tree, picking off and eating acorns. I sat down on the ground about one hundred yards off to watch his motions for some time. It was really funny to see it set about in the very top branches while the whole tree shook with its enormous weight at every motion. All at once it ceased to gather in the branches, slid down and commenced picking the acorns that had fallen upon the ground. In a few moments, without the least warning, it started in my direction as rapidly as it could pace. I had my gun resting on my lap, and saw it would run right over me. I had no time to get up and out of its way so I raised my gun fired as soon as possible as it was within a few yards of me. I shot it through the brain and it fell across my lap! I was badly scared for I did not know that I had killed it. I kicked and struggled to get from beneath it, but it was so heavy that it took some time before I could get out. I had shot it so dead that it never kicked, and laid like a log upon me, all of which, had I not been so frightened, I might have observed. When I finally got out I was so much exhausted from the fright and effort, I could scarcely stand! I camped at the nearest water, skinned my bear and feasted upon its flesh, which was excellent, for two or three days. So I was partially paid for my scare and trouble after all. I then passed down into what is now Madison County and pitched my tent near where Plain City now stands, a little above the town, at a spring. I remained there during the fall and found it to be the best kind of a hunting ground. Deer was plenty and very fat. There was a fine beech mast down between Darby and Scioto, and bear was also plenty. I took my skins to the Indian village where Columbus now stands, and soon found a trader to buy them. Late in the fall I returned to Upper Sandusky, having made a fine hunt. I was then able to dress myself in the best of Indian style. I remained at Sandusky during the winter and Joined in all the sports dances and feasts and occasionally spent an evening with Barshaw.
"The next spring I bought a pack horse and started quite early while furs were still good. I packed my tent and beaver-traps, as I had discovered that beaver were very plenty on Paint Creek. I passed down on the Creek below the present site of London, to a fine spring, pitched my tent, and began to trap beaver. I did a fine business in trapping beaver and otter and hunting deer which were also plenty. I remained here during the trip over to the Indian village on the Scioto to sell my peltry.
"When the summer season came I moved up near Darby to fire-hunt in the creek. There was a kind of moss that grew in the bed of the stream, under water. Deer ate this moss and were very fond of it. The usual way to fire-hunt is to take a bark canoe and fix what we called a shade-board in the front end of the canoe, so as to keep the light off you; then light a candle and put it on the bow of the canoe, in front of the shade. The hunter occupied the back end of the canoe with his gun, and shoved it right up to the deer as it gazed at the light. This is the easiest way to take deer for, as you move toward them they become blinded by the light - not infrequently they rush right towards it. I have had them jump into the canoe and sink it. While fire-hunting, the first thing I knew, a snake would crawl over my person. It saw the light and made for it - crawled into the canoe and out on the other side. I have killed many with my pushing pole when I saw them coming. I spent the summer killing deer in this manner and came to the conclusion to remain on Darby all winter, as coon were plenty between there and Scioto; and for the reason that I would then be there early to begin spring trapping.
"I moved my tent down near the creek. On the east side there was a very good spring near the margin of the stream, a little below what is now Foster's Chapel, and the graveyard, and on the opposite side of the creek, on the farm now owned by Knowlton Bailey. My tent was pitched on the present site of Baileys house. Some time in the winter there came a light snow. It was very clear and the moon was up, which made it almost as light as day. I had pulled off my moccasins to go to bed; when I saw an otter swimming down the creek. I reached for my gun to shoot it, which I thought I could do sitting in my door. I saw him dive into the water as soon as I moved. I knew about the distance it would swim which was about one hundred yards. I had no time to put on my moccasins, so I ran out and down the stream where it would come up to breathe. But when it came up it was too quick for me and went under again, so I ran further down the stream, but it was the same thing over again. I pursued it about a quarter of a mile, to a high bank and missed it. I was not aware, until I returned to my tent, that my feet were cold, then I found that they were almost frozen. I ran to the camp as fast as I could, but when I got back my feet were very numb. A few days after, I stepped upon the thorn of a honey locust and ran it into my foot. It became so painful I was unable to walk on that foot for fifteen days, and about the same time it commenced to snow and continued until it was eighteen inches deep. It was with great difficulty I could get water from the spring for my use. After it quit snowing it rained some and turned very cold and froze a thick crust on the snow. About the same time two Indian boys dropped into my camp. In preparing my tent and getting ready for winter I had neglected hunting, consequently my stock of provisions was quite low. The boys were not more than fifteen years old, but were experienced hunters for that age. The crust was just hard enough to break through, when stepped upon, and made such a raise that it was impossible to get near enough to game to kill anything. They hunted every day for ten or fifteen days without killing a single deer and our provisions ran out. In the last three days we had nothing to eat, and had been on short allowance for five or six days. On the third day of our fast the boys came in, about the middle of the afternoon, very tired, hungry and discouraged. I told them I had killed a wolf that came along the creek a day or two before, while I was sitting in the door, but that it was on the other side of the creek. They passed over and skinned the hind quarters, and brought them over. They sliced and hung them up before the fire to roast. I roasted my piece thoroughly, but it was so strong that I could not swallow it. I hung it up again; intending to roast it to a crisp, in the hope of taking the strong taste from it, but before I got ready to try it again I heard a deer bleat up the creek. In a moment the two boys picked up their guns to go but I told them to stop, that a wolf was after the deer and it would soon kill it - that if they appeared in the vicinity of the deer they would frighten the wolf away and not get the deer. They waited and, shortly after, the deer began to bleat weaker and weaker until it finally stopped I then said they could go, and in fifteen or twenty minutes they came back with a fine buck. The wolf had just killed it, and torn a hole in its back, as they came up, and when the wolf saw them coming it ran off a short distance, and looked at them a few moments, and disappeared. This occurred on a large pond, east of what is now Thomas Timmons, in the bottom between the creek and the hill, and after the snow had frozen over and the ice had become smooth, the deer in its flight from the wolf, had attempted to cross the port and slipped and fell, and the wolf had overtaken and seized it.
"My foot got well, and we had no more trouble about meat. The boys stayed until spring. I then commenced preparing my traps, so as to be ready as soon as there might be a general thaw out. We made all kinds of dead-falls along the small streams, and around ponds, where the coons resort for the purpose of catching frogs and crawfish. The Indians calculate, in trapping for coon, to set about one hundred traps each, by the first of March, and continue through March and April. They average about one coon to each trap. I got my traps all ready, and in good order, early. I used my beaver traps also for otter, of which I caught a large number. I also did a fine business catching coon, and found a ready market for all my furs and skins at the Indian village on the Scioto River.
"Big Darby was so named by the U.S. Surveyors when on its waters. They found an old Indian, living near the mouth of that stream, by the name of Darby, with whom they frequently stopped, and gave his name to the stream and when they made entries at the mouth of the Little Darby, they so called it, in honor of the old Indian.
"I continued to hunt on the waters of the Scioto and the Darby, until fall when there came runners along who brought the news that there was a large army about to march against the Indians and it was necessary for all their forces to unite and contest its approach. As soon as the news reached us, all the forces, in this part of the country, began to move towards the scene of action, which it was supposed would be somewhere on the Miami or Maumee."
e-mail comments? 
To GeoCities Broadway