{"id":247,"date":"2013-10-13T17:36:10","date_gmt":"2013-10-13T17:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sksar.org\/?page_id=247"},"modified":"2013-10-13T19:02:59","modified_gmt":"2013-10-13T19:02:59","slug":"simon-kenton-his-captivity-and-escape-by-ray-g-hughes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sksar.org\/?page_id=247","title":{"rendered":"Simon Kenton, His Captivity and Escape"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i><\/b>Simon Kenton, Namesake of the Simon Kenton Chapter<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

by Raymond\u00a0 G.Hughes<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0 Kenton\u2019s<\/i><\/b> Captivity and Escape<\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1778-1779<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\u201cBowman got me and two more to go to Chillicothe and make discovery- Alexander Montgomery got killed, I got taken, and George Clark escaped who piloted Bowman there next Spring, 1779.\u00a0 I did not return anymore to Clark\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 till the summer of 1779.\u201d\u00a0 This is how Simon Kenton described what has been stated to be the most momentous succession of perils, transitions, and hairbreath escapes in all our border history. (Kenton ran the Gauntlet nine times and was slated to be burned at the stake three times during his life)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

For two months there was literally no moment when his life was not threatened nor a moment where he was not \u201cmiraculously\u201d saved.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Kenton was sent to obtain information which he got and as a part of \u201cfrontier morality\u201d he set about to retrieve\u00a0 horses that had been stolen by the Indians.\u00a0 While in the process of catching\u00a0 seven of the best horses they were heard by the Indians.\u00a0 Escaping thru Logan\u2019s Gap which is 4 \u00bd miles below Aberdeen and about 3 \u00bd miles above Ripley, they tried to cross the Ohio River but the weather was stormy and the river was rough and they couldn\u2019t get the horses into the water, the horses were frightened and refused to enter the water.\u00a0 Kenton said they had acted foolishly and should have cut the horses loose and escaped.\u00a0 At this time Kenton saw the Indians coming and fired at the leader but only had a \u201cflash in the pan.\u201d Kenton was run down by the Indians and captured.\u00a0 They tied him to a tree and went\u00a0 after Montgomery who thy overtook and killed.\u00a0 They scalped him and returned with the bloody scalp and slapped Kenton in the face with the scalp.\u00a0 The third man, Clark escaped.<\/b> <\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

The Shawanees were in a bitter mood, they had just lost Boone who was giving them trouble, but they were aware\u00a0\u00a0 of Kenton\u2019s reputation for courage and daring.\u00a0 They delighted in having a \u201cbrave man\u201d for their captive and Kenton\u2019s courage prolonged the ritual of his torture.\u00a0 The first night he was whipped and \u201cstretched out\u201d laid flat on his back with arms extended full length and wrists tied to a pole across his chest.\u00a0 A rope was passed under his body and around the pole and his elbows tied likewise.\u00a0 A halter was placed around his neck and tied to a tree and a stake driven in the ground\u00a0\u00a0 to which his ankles were tied.\u00a0 He was unable to move and in terrible pain from the bonds and injuries inflicted by the Indians.\u00a0 Their only concern was that no blow should be fatal; they had a prize and he was not to die too quickly.<\/b> <\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\u201cMazeppa Ride\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

Kenton had been captured\u00a0 on September 13, 1778.\u00a0 Early the next morning while starting to Chillocothe the Indians bound Kenton to an unbroken 3 year old colt, they fastened his hands behind him and his feet under the colt\u2019s belly,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a halter was passed around his neck and its ends fastened to the colts neck and rump.\u00a0 They gave the colt a smart slap.\u00a0 The colt pitched, reared and rolled to rid itself of Kenton.\u00a0 Tree limbs tore his body and face, every leap of the colt\u00a0\u00a0 was danger for if he lost his balance the halter would hang him.<\/b> <\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On the fourth morning they approached the village and the Indians had arranged\u00a0 a \u201cwelcoming committee\u201d for\u00a0\u00a0 him was as\u00a0 follows.\u00a0 For a quarter of a mile from the Council House stretched two parallel lines of Indians- men, women, boys- standing 5 or 6 feet apart and armed with poles, sticks, thorn bushes, hoes and the like.\u00a0 He was to run the Gauntlet.\u00a0 If he was knocked down during the race it must be run again!\u00a0 If he could enter the council house\u00a0 without being struck by the squaw standing guard there with a hand spike he should go free.\u00a0 Kenton doubled and dodged and made it to the council house where he was struck by the squaw and felled! The race had to be run again!\u00a0 This time halfway down the line he made a leap got outside and was near the house when again he was knock down\u00a0\u00a0 by a club, at which time all the Indians rushed and beat\u00a0 and kicked him until he was nearly dead.\u00a0 Another race was\u00a0 out of the question! That evening the warriors deliberated over his fate and it was decided that Kenton was to die by \u201cburning at the stake.\u201d<\/b> <\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>Kenton was taken to the village of Wappatomika, which was the strong hold of the Shawnee.\u00a0 Inside a large meeting house he was tied to a stake and his face painted black in preparation to being burned at the stake.\u00a0 Then suddenly he saw his good friend Simon Girty who was with the Indians.\u00a0 Girty convinced the Indians to spare his life, and for the next 20 days he recovered from his injuries and was adopted by the Indians.\u00a0 Then a group of defeated Indians returned to\u00a0 camp and demanded Kenton be put to death so the ruling was reversed\u00a0\u00a0 Girty then convinced the Indians to take Kenton to Sandusky\u00a0 and make the\u00a0 event a national affair instead of a local event. <\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>While on the way to Sandusky they passed thru present day Kenton, Ohio where Logan, the Mingo Chief lived. Logan who respected Kenton said he would send two runners ahead to Sandusky to speak \u201cgood of him\u201d and try to save him.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When he arrived at Sandusky\u00a0 Kenton was tied to a stake in preparation to being burned at the stake.\u00a0 THIS WAS A CLEAR CLOUDLESS DAY AND SUDDENLY CAME THE HEAVIEST RAINSTORM KENTON HAD EVER SEEN.\u00a0 The Indians were in awe of him and thought the Great Spirit was angry with them.\u00a0 Never the less after talking they concluded that the sentence must be carried out.\u00a0 At this THIRD DATE for his burning there appeared Pierre Druillard.\u00a0 (It was to him that Logan had sent the two runners)\u00a0 Druillard was an agent for General Hamilton at Fort Detroit, he convinced the Indians to allow him to take Kenton to General Hamilton for questioning.\u00a0 This they agreed too and eventually Kenton escaped and returned to Kentucky.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Simon Kenton, Namesake of the Simon Kenton Chapter by Raymond\u00a0 G.Hughes \u00a0 \u00a0 Kenton\u2019s Captivity and Escape \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1778-1779 \u00a0\u00a0\u201cBowman got me and two more to go to Chillicothe and make discovery- Alexander Montgomery got killed, I got taken, and George Clark escaped who piloted Bowman there next Spring, 1779.\u00a0 I did not return … <\/p>\n

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