he same way.
Apprehensive that he was doomed to be burned to death, he asked Girty
if it were possible that he had been spared from the milder
instruments of the tomahawk and scalping knife, only to suffer the
more cruel death by fire. "_Yes, said Girty, composedly, you must be
burned Colonel._" "It is dreadful, replied Crawford, but I will
endeavor to bear it patiently." Captain Pipe then addressed the
savages in an animated speech, at the close of which, they rent the
air with hideous yells, and immediately discharged a number of loads
of powder at the naked body of their victim. His ears were then cut
off, and while the men would apply the burning ends of the poles to
his flesh, the squaws threw coals and hot embers upon him, so that in
a little time he had too, to walk on fire. In the midst of these
sufferings, he begged of the infamous Girty to shoot him. That worse
than savage monster, tauntingly replied, "how can I? you see I have no
gun," and laughed heartily at the scene.

For three hours Colonel Crawford endured the most excruciating agonies
with the utmost fortitude, when faint and almost exhausted, he
commended his soul to God, and laid down on his face. He was then
scalped, and burning coals being laid on his head and back, by one of
the squaws, he again arose and attempted to walk; but strength failed
him and he sank into the welcome arms of death. His body was then
thrown into the fire and consumed to ashes.[12]

Of the whole of this shocking scene, Doctor Knight was [245] an
unwilling spectator; and in the midst of it was told by Girty, that it
should be his fate too, when he arrived at the Shawanee towns. These
were about forty miles distant; and he was committed to the care of a
young warrior to be taken there. On the first day they travelled about
twenty-five miles, and when they stopped for the night, the Doctor was
securely fastened. In vain did he anxiously watch for an opportunity
to endeavor to [244] release himself from the cords which bound him.
The Indian was vigilant and slept none. About day light they arose,
and while the Indian was kindling a fire, the gnats were so
troublesome that he untied his prisoner, and set him likewise to
making a fire to relieve them from the annoyance. The doctor took a
burning coal between two sticks, and going behind the Indian towards
the spot at which he was directed to excite a smoke, turned suddenly
around, and struck the savage with all his force. The In