s
clothes and painted black, was most severely beaten, mangled, and
killed, and his body cut in pieces and placed on poles outside the
town. Here too, Slover saw the dead bodies of Col. McClelland, Major
Harrison and John Crawford; and learned that they had all been put to
death but a little while before his arrival there; and although he was
spared for some time, yet every thing which he saw acted towards other
prisoners, led him to fear that he was reserved for a more cruel fate,
whenever the whim of the instant should suggest its consummation. At
length an express arrived from Detroit with a speech for the warriors,
which decided his doom. Being decyphered from the belt of wampum which
contained it, the speech began by enquiring why they continued to take
prisoners, and said, "Provisions are scarce and when you send in [247]
prisoners, we have them to feed, and still some of them are getting
off, and carrying tidings of our affairs. When any of your people are
taken by the rebels, they shew no mercy. Why then should you? My
children take no more prisoners of any sort, men, women, or children."
Two days after the arrival of the express with this speech, a council
of the different tribes of Indians near, was held, and it was
determined to act in conformity with the advice of the Governor of
Detroit. Slover was then the only white prisoner at this town; and on
the morning after the council was dissolved, about forty warriors came
to the house where he was, and tying a rope around his neck, led him
off to another village, five miles distant. Here again he was severely
beaten with clubs & the pipe end of the tomahawk, & then tied to a
post, around which were piles of wood. These were soon kindled, but a
violent rain falling unexpectedly, extinguished the flames, before
they had effected him. It was then agreed to postpone his execution,
until the next day, and being again beaten and much wounded by their
blows, he was taken to a block house, his hands tied, the rope about
his neck fastened to a beam of the building, and three warriors left
to guard him for the night.

If the feelings of Slover would have permitted him to enjoy sleep, the
conduct of the guard would have prevented it. They delighted in
keeping alive in his mind the shocking idea of the suffering which he
would have to endure, & frequently asking him "how he would like to
eat fire," tormented him nearly all night. Awhile before day however,
they fell asleep