April ts, 1905.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
291 
Adventures of CoL J. Smith. 
BY CLARENCE VANDIVEER. 
In an article relating to the early pathfinders and trav- 
elers of the West, printed in the Forest and Stream 
some months ago, Mr. Orin Belknap makes mention of a 
book, which he had read in his boyhood days, contain- 
ing ithfe personal narrative of one Col. James Smith, m 
which was related the story of his captivity and expe- 
riences among the Indians of the Ohio Valley, from May 
1755 to April 1759. The book referred to was no doubt 
James W. Taylor's "History of Ohio," published at San- 
duskv in the early fifties, in which the narrative appears 
under the caption of "A Pilgrim of Ohio One Hundred 
Years Ago." The story is one of absorbing interest, 
being a faithful picture of the wilderness and its savage 
inhabitants previous to the coming of the first white 
'settlers. For the benefit of those who are fond of read- 
ing frontier adventures and who may have never heard 
of James Smith we will herewith present a short sketch 
of tlie remarkable adventures of this brave man. 
Jaipes Smith, the hero of this romantic tale, was a 
native' of Western Pennsylvania. At the age of eigh- 
teen he was captured by a war party of Delaware In- 
dians near the town of Bedford and was carried by 
then ■ to old Fort Duquesne (on the present site of 
Pittsburg) where he was compelled to run the gauntlet. 
, So severe was the punishment inflicted upon him that 
he fell unconscious and was carried into the fort where 
he was placed under the care of a French physician. 
From Duquesne the Indians took Smith up the Alle- 
ghany to an Indian town, thence overland to another 
village in the valley of the Muskingum. Here he was 
compelled to undergo the painful ceremony of adop- 
tion ijtito the tribe. A number of Indians gathered about 
him and after dipping their fingers in ashes, began pul- 
ling out his hair by the roots, until only a small spot 
about- three or four inches square remained on the 
crown. This they decked up in the most fantastic manner 
imaginable, then fell to boring his ears and nose and 
supplying him with earrings and nose jewels. Then they 
stripi^d off his clothes and painted his body in various 
colors^ after which they put bands of wampum on his 
neck rand silver bracelets on his wrists. All this time 
the captive was ignorant of the meaning of these pro- 
ceedings and thought they were preparing him for some 
cruel torture. His fears were not relieved when several 
Indiaiv girls lay hold of him and pulled him down the 
river bank and into the water. They did not drown him, 
as he ' expected, but they gave him a terrible scrubbing, 
after which he was taken to the council house where he 
was given a shirt, a pair of leggings, a pipe, some tobacco 
and a flint and steel. Then, after a short smoke, the 
chief addressed the captive as follows : 
"My- son, you are now flesh of our flesh and bone of 
our bone. By the ceremony which was performed this 
day, every drop of white blood was washed out of your 
veins; you are taken into the Caughnewago nation and 
initiated into a warlike tribe ; you are adopted into a 
great family, and now received with great seriousness 
and solemnity in the room and place of a great man. 
After ^hat has passed this day, you are now one of us, 
by an old strong law and custom. My son, you have now 
nothing' to fear — we are now under the same obliga- 
tion to love, support and defend you, that we are to love 
and defend one another; therefore you are to consider 
yourself as one of our people." 
Smith says that these obligations were carried out to 
the letter by the Indians. A grand feast of boiled ven- 
ison and green corn was now served, one of the chiefs 
acting as toast master. 
Soon after the ceremony of adoption, it was decided 
to begin a war upon the Virginia frontier and Smith 
now witnessed his first war-dance and thus described 
it : "At the war-dance they had both vocal andr instru- 
mental music; they had a short, hollow gum, closed at 
one end, with water in it, and parchment stretched oyer 
the open end thereof, which they beat with one stick, 
and made a sound nearly like that of a muffled drum. 
All of those who were going on this expedition collected 
together and formed. An old Indian then began to sing, 
and timed the music by beating on this drum, as the 
ancients formerly timed their music by beating the ta- 
bor. On this the warriors began to advance or move 
forward in concert, as well disciplined troops would 
march to the fife and drum. Each warrior had a toma- 
hawk, spear or war-mallet in his hand and they all moved 
regularly toward the east, or the way they intended to 
go to war. At length they all stretched their tomahawks 
toward the Potomac, and giving a hideous shout or yell, 
they wheeled quickly about and danced in the same man- 
ner back. The next was a war-song._ In performing 
this only one sung at a time, in a moving posture, with 
a tomahawk in his hand, while all the other warriors 
were engaged in calling alond 'He uh, he uh,' which 
they constantly repeated while the war-song was going 
on. When the warrior who was singing had ended his 
song, he struck a war post with his tomahawk and with 
a loud voice told what warlike exploits he had done and 
what he now intended to do, which were answered by 
the other warriors with loud shouts of applause. Some 
who had not before intended to go to war at this time 
were so animated by this performance that they took 
up the tomahawk and sung the war-song, which was 
answered with shouts of joy, as they were intiated into 
the present marching company." 
The next morning the warriors_ set forth on their mis- 
sion of death, while Smith remained to make his debut 
into society; in other words he was invited to a court- 
ing dance that evening, and he was no doubt afraid 
to decline the invitation, he honored the bronze- faced 
damsels and their savage suitors with his presence. He 
does not mention whether the invitation was by card 
or merely verbal, but that does not matter. The dance 
itself was interesting, although to Smith at first appeared 
"irrrational and insipid." Two lines, one composed of 
young men and one of girls, was formed, about one rod 
apart, facing each other. Then some one struck up a 
song, keeping time with a rattle, and the two lines ad- 
vanced in a stooping position until their heads touched 
together, when they retreated with loud shouts. Smith 
says that the young Indians improved the opportunity, 
when their heads were together in the dance, to whis- 
per words of love into the ear of the one opposite. If 
our red brothers were anything like us, what a scramble 
there must have been for place on the line. 
Smith mentions the killing of several buffalo while the 
Indians were engaged in making salt in the Hocking 
Valley. This is one of the few records of buffalo in 
Ohio. 
In company with an adopted brother, named Tonti- 
leango, the lonely captive now set out for Lake Erie. 
Proceeding up the Muskingum to its source, they struck 
overland to the Black River, which stream they followed 
to its mouth. On this excursion Smith carried with 
him a few books, which the Indians had brought back 
from their raids on the settlers as spoils of war, some 
dried meat and a blanket. Tontileango carried a rifle 
and kept them supplied with fresh meat. Deer, bear and 
raccoons were very plentiful. They saved the skins of 
the game they procured and were soon laden so heavily 
with them that it was impossible to march more than 
ten miles a day. 
Upon reaching the lake they proceeded along the 
shore, and on the way saw many large fish, which the 
waves had thrown high upon the sand, being devoured 
by hordes of bald and gray eagles. There were no buf- 
falo in this region and very few elks. 
A camp of Wyandots was found near the mouth of 
the Black river and Smith and his companion_ were well 
received by them. Here they were given a kind of po- 
tato, resembling our sweet potato, and some hominy, 
consisting of dried green corn and beans. After tarrying 
with the Wyandots for some time, they procured a ca- 
noe and started up the Black river on a hunt. Their 
canoe was very strong and was well adapted to carry 
large loads. It could also be taken ashore and converted 
into a sort of house in case of necessity. The canoe 
was finally buried and the hunters started overland to 
the Cayahaga. When midway between the two rivers 
they decided to go into winter quarters. A strong, 
warm hut was built and hunting, trapping and sugar 
making were the order of the day. 
The method pursued in sugar making was as follows : 
The Indian would select a large sugar tree, cut a long 
notch in it and then, drive in a chip to carry the_ water 
out from the tree. To catch the drops from off this chip, 
a wooden vessel was placed beneath. When the vessels 
were full they were emptied into a bark vessel, which 
held about four gallons, and carried to camp, where it was 
boiled in two fifteen gallon brass kettles. The sugar was 
put in bear's fat, and into this mixture the Indians 
dipped their roasted venison. 
Raccoons were caught by means of deadfalls placed 
along the water courses. This seems to explode the 
theory maintained by some sportsmen as to the impos- 
sibility of catching raccoons in traps. Deadfalls were 
also placed at the ends of hollow logs to catch foxes. 
In winter the squaws were kept busy trying out bear's 
fat, which they put into skin vessels and carried with 
them wherever they went. Smith thus describes the 
method employed in making these skin vessels : "The 
vessels were made of deerskins, which were skinned by 
pulling the skin . off the neck without ripping. After 
they had taken off the hair, they gathered it into small 
plaits around the neck and with a string drew it to- 
gether like a purse, in the center a pin was put, below 
which they tied a string and while it was wet they blew 
it up like a bladder, and let it remain in this manner 
until it was dry, when it appeared nearly in the shape 
of a sugar loaf, but more rounding at the lower end. 
One of these vessels would hold about four or five gal- 
lons. In these vessels it was that they carried their bear 
oil." 
Smith, whose name had been changed to Scoouwa 
by the Indians, now went with Tontileango to a Wyandot 
town on the Sandusky, where they disposed of their furs 
to some French traders. Here also a carnival of feast- 
ing and rejoicing was held. Mention is here is made 
of the narrative of a dice game, in which plum stones, 
one side of which was painted white and the other black, 
are put into a bowl, shaken and thrown up, and the 
blacks and whites counted. All the while the game is 
being played the band, consisting of a drum, a sort of 
fife and several jews harps, renders its choice selections, 
dear to the hearts of the Indians but utterly unbeara- 
ble to the more sensitive ears of the white man, al- 
though it would no doubt compare favorably with some 
of our now popular rag time airs. 
In 1756 great preparations were made to drive the 
Virginians back across the sea. All the braves, from the 
old, infirm warriors of the sixties down to the boys of 
twelve, marched away to perform their bloody work. 
Everyone, with the exception of a few old men of ex- 
perience, was confident of victory, and Smith was asked 
for his opinion. He told them frankly that their at- 
tempt would be useless as the settlers were brave and 
determined and would prove more than a match , for 
them. The Indians did not get angry at Smith for so 
freely expressing his views, for as their tribal govern- 
ment was one of pure democracy, they probably thought 
that he had a right to his own opinions. In fact the 
Indians all the while treated him as one of their own 
people and many acts of kindness were shown him. 
The departure of the warriors left the remainder of 
the tribe in a precarious condition, as the supply of food 
which had been collected the previous winter had been 
wasted. An Indian never appears to have a thought of 
the morrow and no doubt believes in living up to the 
Scriptural passage which says, "Eat, drink and be merry, 
for to-morrow we die." Accompanied by several old 
and infirm men, who had not joined the war party, Smith 
set out to procure some meat for the hungry camp. Fire 
hunting was practiced, and several deer were procured. 
Finally the warriors began to arrive from the settle- 
ments of Virginia, heavily laden with scalps and stolen 
plunder. They also brought with them some prisoners, 
with whom Smith held many pleasant interviews. Some 
of the captives were made to run the gauntlet, but were 
not otherwise seriously mistreated. Smith participated 
in some of these barbaric .performances and mentions 
hitting one man with a piece of pumpkin, and says the 
act "pleased the Indians very much but hurt my feel- 
ings." 
In their domestic life these savages appear to have 
lived on terms of perfect peace and harmony, putting to 
shame some "palefaces" who prefer to represent the high- 
est type of civilization. Even at this early date Chris- 
tianity had penetrated the wilds and found its way into 
this wandering band. French missionaries had gained 
a few converts, but the majority of the Indians con- 
sidered the teachings of the Bible as foolish and ab- 
surd and persisted in clinging to the old faith. 
In company with another adopted brother, Tecaugh- 
retanego. Smith now visited the Cayahaga, and there 
hunted with considerable success. While here an in- 
cident occurred which is well worthy of mention. One 
day when Tecaughretanego was angry he began using 
the name of God in a most horrible manner. Smith 
then asked him if he knew the meaning of the expres- 
sions he had used. The Indian replied that he supposed 
the meaning to be similar to a degrading expression 
common to his tribe. Upon being told that he was mis- 
taken and having the true meaning explained to him, 
he was horrified and said that men who would know- 
ingly use the name of the Great Spirit so abusively were 
no better than devils. 
From the Cayahaga the hunters skirted the south 
shore of Lake Erie to the Maumee and from thence 
they moved northward to Fort Detroit. A visit was 
also made to the East Sister, Middle Sister and West 
Sister islands, afterwards rendered historic by Perry's 
famous naval victory. A curious belief existed among 
the Indians in regard tO' the rattlesnakes and raccoons 
inhabiting these islands. The raccoons lodged in holes 
in the rocks and during the winter the Indians would 
catch many of them in traps, but, with the coming of 
spring the raccoons disappeared and the traps would often 
be filled with rattlesnakes. This caused the Indians to 
believe that the snakes became raccoons in winter and 
the raccoons turned to snakes in the spring. 
At Cedar Point, at the entrance to Maumee Bay, they 
held a driving hunt and secured thirty deer. Soon after 
they proceeded to the upper waters of the Scioto, where 
they spent the winter, but returned to the region of the 
Sandusky in the following summer. Fishing in the 
northern streams was good, and a captive Virginian 
named Thompson surprised the Indians by catch- 
ing fish with a dip net made of bark. His catch was 
enormous and far exceeded the needs of the Indians. 
The fish that were not used lay on the banks in heaps 
and attracted large numbers of eagles and buzzards. 
For a number of years Smith continued his travels 
and spent four months of captivity in Montreal. In 
1759, he was restored to his friends, and some time later 
he was placed in command of a body of riflemen to 
protect the. Pennsylvania frontier. He served with credit 
in the war of independence. His later years were spent 
in Kentucky, where he was elected to the Legislature. 
His death occurred in 1812. 
Smith's picture of northern Ohio prior to settlement 
is interesting and throws much light on the social life, 
manners and customs of the Indians of the Great Lake 
region. 
Boone and Crockett Club Dinner. 
The Boone and Crockett Club gave a dinner on Wed- 
nesday, April 5, at the University Club, New York City. 
President W. Austin Wadsworth presided. Among the 
members and guests present were the following: Mad- 
ison Grant, James H. Kidder, Archibald Rogers, Henry 
L. Stimson, W. B. Devereux, George Bird Grinnell, Dr. 
John Rogers, Jr., J. K. Mitchell, Lewis R. Morris, Walter 
B. James, J. E. Roosevelt, John L. Cadwallader, James 
T. Gardiner, H. Casimir de Rham, Frank Lyman, John 
J. Pierrepont, Dr. John L. Seward, H. Clay Pierce, 
Benj. W. Richards, John H. Prentice, Wm. Lord Smith, 
Charles T. Barney, Robert T. Varnum, Clias. A. Moore, 
Jr., Robert C. Heaton, Col. J. S. Crosby, James P. Lee, 
Gerald L. Hoyt, Francis R. Appleton, Cortland Palmer, 
Dr. J. H. Kenyon, Dr. F"red Kammerer, G. Franklyn 
Lawrence, Chas G. Peters, Eric B. Dahlgren, Edwin 
C. Kent, Warren Delano, Robt. L. Pierrepont, John S. 
De Hart, Jr., Dr. John E. Wilson, Arthur Perry, E. 
H. Harriman, Jas. A. Stillman, Wm. Woodward, Henry 
G. Barbey, H. O. Havemeyer, Jr., George D. Pratt, E. 
N. Potter, A. O. Choate, E. T. Irwin, G. H. Kinnicutt, 
Henry Whitehouse, Wm. F. Whitehouse. The dinner 
committee were Messrs. J. H. Prentice, H. L. Stimson 
and L. S. Thompson. 
After the dinner was over Mr. Wm. Fitzhugh White- 
house, the guest of the club, exhibited his large collec- 
tion of lantern slides made from photographs which he 
had taken during two trips through East Africa south 
from the Gulf of Aden, and then returning north, and 
later going west in the endeavor to reach the Nile; an 
effort which was not successful owing to the absence 
of water, which obliged the explorers to turn back. 
The pictures shown by Mr. Whitehouse were beauti- 
ful and interesting and dealt with a country and a fauna 
absolutelv strange to most of his hearers. He showed 
pictures of Abyssinia, its people and its game, and among 
these photographs of King Menelik, his people, his 
horses, cities, temples and fortresses. Perhaps most in- 
teresting were the pictures of game, many of them from 
living specimens. Where the photographs were of dead 
animals, an effort was always made to^ bring out the 
characteristic features of the species.. 
Mr. Whitehouse told his story with singular modesty, 
and confined himself to describing his pictures. Of the 
hunting adventures that he had had, and the dangers 
and sufferings that he had undergone he said nothing, 
nor was it possible to extract from him any personal 
details. One of his friends gave in conversation an 
example of the explorer's quickness in emergency, telling 
of an occasion when the hunter had startled a herd of 
forty elephants in a narrow ravine. The herd ran off 
up the ravine with the hunter after them. The banks 
were so high, and steep, however, that the elephants 
could not climb out of the ravine, and in their fright 
turned about and charged back toward the hunter. There 
seemed every prospect that they would run over and 
trample him to death, but just before they reached 
him, he selected a large animal in the middle of the 
herd, killed it by the difficult forehead shot, and when 
it fell it split the herd, which streamed by on either side 
of him. 
Among the interesting photographs shown were those 
of a number of species of antelopes, two of zebras, ele- 
phants, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, and the five-horned 
giraffe. The dinner was one of the most interesting that 
the club has had. 
