Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
June 23, 1787
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A North American Indian escapes fiery tortures, outruns pursuers, ambushes and kills five enemies, scalps them, arms himself, retrieves scalps from prior victims, and returns home triumphantly, instilling fear in remaining foes who deem him a wizard.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the LONDON MAGAZINE.
INSTANCES of the Constancy, Fortitude, and Presence of Mind of the North American Indians, when suffering the fiery Tortures.
[concluded.]
He continued his speed so as to run, by about midnight of the same day, as far as his eager pursuers were two days in reaching. There he rested, till he happily discovered five of those Indians who had pursued him; he lay hid a little way off their camp, till they were found asleep. Every circumstance of his situation occurred to him, and inspired him with heroism. He was naked, torn, and hungry, and his enraged enemies were come up with him. But there was now every thing to relieve his wants, and a fair opportunity to save his life, and get great honor, and sweet revenge, by cutting them off. Resolution, a convenient spot, and sudden surprise, would effect the main object of all his wishes and hopes. He accordingly crept towards them, took one of their tomahawks, and killed them all on the spot. He then chopped them to pieces, in as horrid a manner as savage fury could excite, both through national and personal resentment. He stripped off their scalps, clothed himself, took a choice gun, and as much ammunition and provisions as he could well carry in a running march. He set off afresh with a light heart, and did not sleep for several successive nights, only when he sat as usual a little before day, with his back to a tree. As it was by instinct, when he found he was free from the pursuing enemy, he made directly to the place where he had killed seven of his enemies, and was taken by them for the fiery tortures. He digged them up, scalped them, burned their bodies to ashes, and went home in safety with singular triumph. Others of his pursuing enemies came on the evening of the second day to the camp of their dead people, when the sight gave them a greater shock than they had ever known before. In their chilled war council, they concluded, that, as he had done such surprising things in his defence before he was captivated, and since that, in his naked condition, and was now well armed, if they continued the pursuit, he would spoil them all, for he surely was an enemy wizard, and therefore they returned home.
INSTANCES of the Constancy, Fortitude, and Presence of Mind of the North American Indians, when suffering the fiery Tortures.
[concluded.]
He continued his speed so as to run, by about midnight of the same day, as far as his eager pursuers were two days in reaching. There he rested, till he happily discovered five of those Indians who had pursued him; he lay hid a little way off their camp, till they were found asleep. Every circumstance of his situation occurred to him, and inspired him with heroism. He was naked, torn, and hungry, and his enraged enemies were come up with him. But there was now every thing to relieve his wants, and a fair opportunity to save his life, and get great honor, and sweet revenge, by cutting them off. Resolution, a convenient spot, and sudden surprise, would effect the main object of all his wishes and hopes. He accordingly crept towards them, took one of their tomahawks, and killed them all on the spot. He then chopped them to pieces, in as horrid a manner as savage fury could excite, both through national and personal resentment. He stripped off their scalps, clothed himself, took a choice gun, and as much ammunition and provisions as he could well carry in a running march. He set off afresh with a light heart, and did not sleep for several successive nights, only when he sat as usual a little before day, with his back to a tree. As it was by instinct, when he found he was free from the pursuing enemy, he made directly to the place where he had killed seven of his enemies, and was taken by them for the fiery tortures. He digged them up, scalped them, burned their bodies to ashes, and went home in safety with singular triumph. Others of his pursuing enemies came on the evening of the second day to the camp of their dead people, when the sight gave them a greater shock than they had ever known before. In their chilled war council, they concluded, that, as he had done such surprising things in his defence before he was captivated, and since that, in his naked condition, and was now well armed, if they continued the pursuit, he would spoil them all, for he surely was an enemy wizard, and therefore they returned home.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
War Peace
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
North American Indians
Fiery Tortures
Escape
Revenge
Scalping
Fortitude
Presence Of Mind
Literary Details
Title
Instances Of The Constancy, Fortitude, And Presence Of Mind Of The North American Indians, When Suffering The Fiery Tortures.
Subject
Concluded
Form / Style
Narrative Account Of Escape And Revenge
Key Lines
He Accordingly Crept Towards Them, Took One Of Their Tomahawks, And Killed Them All On The Spot.
He Then Chopped Them To Pieces, In As Horrid A Manner As Savage Fury Could Excite, Both Through National And Personal Resentment.
He Digged Them Up, Scalped Them, Burned Their Bodies To Ashes, And Went Home In Safety With Singular Triumph.
In Their Chilled War Council, They Concluded, That, As He Had Done Such Surprising Things In His Defence Before He Was Captivated, And Since That, In His Naked Condition, And Was Now Well Armed, If They Continued The Pursuit, He Would Spoil Them All, For He Surely Was An Enemy Wizard, And Therefore They Returned Home.