Legends of the Shawangunk2 JR.pdf - Friends of the Sabbath ...

98 Legends of the Shawangunk.
On Thursday evening they arrived at an Indian village some fifty miles beyond the
Delaware river. Their journey over mountains, and through the trackless woods was
terminated, but not so their sufferings. After the customary rejoicing at the success and
safe return of the warriors, a large fire was kindled, and the people of the village
assembled. The captive white children were stripped naked, and then compelled to run
around the fire, the savages following them with whips, which they applied to their naked
bodies without mercy. When the children screamed with pain and affright, their
tormentors would exhibit the greatest satisfaction, and yell and laugh until the woods
rang with hideous mirth. In this cruel amusement the Indian boys participated with
evident relish.
While this was going on it seemed to Mrs. Coleman that her heart would break. She
was unable longer to endure the agonizing screams of her own children, as they were
pursued and lashed about the fire. She knew she was powerless to do them any good, so
she resolved to flee to some secluded spot, where, out of reach of the Indians, she could
quietly lie down and die. Stealing away softly and quietly until out of their sight, she ran
as fast as her limbs would carry her. Presently she discovered a light in the distance, and
by an unaccountable impulse, she resolved to go to it, not caring whether she lived or
died. Here she found an old squaw who occupied a wigwam by herself. This squaw had
lived among the white people, could speak their language tolerably well, and was known
as Peter Nell—a name probably a corruption of Petronella, given her in baptism by the
Moravians. To her Mrs. Coleman applied in her extremity. The womanly heart of the
squaw was touched. She received her white sister kindly; assured her that the Indians
should do her no further harm; and making her a bed of leaves and bear-skins, bade her
rest until she could prepare some proper nourishment.
This kind-hearted daughter of the forest presently came with a dish of venison soup
prepared after the manner of the white people, which proved very refreshing to the sick
and exhausted captive. The latter remained with her benefactor until her health was
completely restored, when the squaw rendered her still further service by assisting her to
return to her friends in Orange county.
The fate of the other captives is unknown. It was many years afterwards reported
that two of them escaped, but of this there is no certainty.