SENECA COUNTY OHIO - HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO
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Historical Collections of Ohio By Henry Howe, LL.D.

SENECA COUNTY - PART 2

INDIAN EXECUTION FOR WITCHCRAFT.
At this time their principal chiefs were Coonstick, Small Cloud
Spicer, Seneca Steel, Hard Hickory, Tall Chief and Good Hunter, the last
two of whom were their principal orators. The old chief Good Hunter told
Mr. Henry C. Brish, their sub-agent, that this band, which numbered about
four hundred souls, were in fact the remnant of Logan's tribe (see Pickaway
county), and says Mr. Brish in a communication to us: "I cannot to this day
surmise why they were called Senecas. I never found a Seneca among them.
They were Cayugas -who were Mingoes -among whom were a few Oneidas,
Mohawks, Onondagoes, Tuscarawas and Wyandots." From Mr. Brish, we have
received an interesting narrative, of the execution for witchcraft of one
of these Indians, names Seneca John, who was one of the best men of his tribe.
About the year 1825, Coonstick, Steel and Cracked Hoof left the
reservation for the double purpose of a three years hunting and trapping
excursion, and to seek a location for a new home for the tribe in the far West.
At the time of their starting, Comstock, the brother of the first two, was
the principal chief of the tribe. On their return in 1828, richly laden
with furs and horses, they found Seneca John, their fourth brother, chief,
in place of Comstock, who had died during their absence.
Comstock was the favorite brother of the two, and they at once charged
Seneca John with producing his death by witchcraft. John denied the charge
in a strain of eloquence rarely equalled. Said he, "I loved my brother
Comstock more than I love the green earth I stand upon. I would give
myself, limb by limb, piecemeal by peacemeal -I would shed my blood, drop
by drop, to restore him to life." But all his protestations of innocence
and affecting for his brother Comstock were of no avail. His two other
brothers pronounced him guilty and declared their determination to be his
executioners.
John replied that he was willing to die and only wished to live until the
next morning, request being granted, John told them that he should sleep
that night on Hard Hickory's porch, which fronted the east, where they
would find him at sunrise. He chose that place because he did not wish to
be killed in the presence of his wife, and desired that the chief, Hard
Hickory, should witness that he died like a brave man.
Coonstick and Steel retired for the night to an old cabin near by. In the
morning, in company with Shane, another Indian, they preceded to the house
of Hard Hickory, who was my informant of what there happened.
He said, a little after sunrise he heard their footsteps upon the porch,
and opened the door just enough to peep out. He saw John asleep upon his
blanket, while they stood around him. At length one of them awoke him. He
arose upon his feet and took off a large handkerchief which was around his
head, letting his unusually long hair fall upon his shoulders. This being
done, he looked around upon the landscape and at the rising sun, to take a
farewell look of a scene that he was never again to behold and then told
them he was ready to die.
Shane and Coonstick each took him by the arm, and Steel walked behind. In
this way they led him about ten steps from the porch, when steel struck him
with a tomahawk on the back of his head, and he fell to the ground,
bleeding freely. Supposing this blow sufficient to kill him, they dragged
him under a peach tree near by. In a short time, however, he revived; the
blow having been broken by his great mass of hair. Knowing that it was
Steel who stuck the blow, John, as he lay, turned his head towards
Coonstick and said, "Now brother, do you take your revenge." This so
operated upon the feelings of Coonstick, that he interposed to save him;
but it enraged Steel to such a degree, that he drew his knife and cut
John's throat from ear to ear, and the next day he was buried with the
usual Indian ceremonies, not more than twenty feet from where he fell.
Steel was arrested and tried for the murder in Sandusky county, and acquaitted.
The grave of Seneca John was surrounded by a small picket enclosure. Three
years after when I was preparing to move them to the far West, I saw
Coonstick and Steel remove the picket-fence and level the ground, so that
no vestige of the grave remained.
SACRIFICING DOGS TOT HE GREAT SPIRIT.
A writer in the Sidney Aurora, gave a narrative of some of the religious
rites of this tribe, just prior to their departure for their new homes. We
extract his description of their sacrificing two dogs to the Great Spirit.
This writer was probably Mr. Brish.
We rose early and proceeded directly to the council house, and though we
supposed we were early, the Indians were already in advance of us.
The first object which arrested our attention, was a pair of the canine
species, one of each gender suspended on a cross! one on either side
therof. These animals had been recently strangled -not a bone was broken,
nor could a distorted hair be seen! They were of beautiful cream color,
except a few dark spots on one, naturally, which same spots were put on the
other, artificially, by the devotees. The Indians are very partial in the
selection of dogs entirely white for this occasion; and for such they will
give almost any price. Now for part of the decorations to which I have
already alluded; a description of one will suffice for both.
First -A scarlet ribbon was tastefully tied just above the nose; and near
the eyes another; next round the neck was a white ribbon, to which was
attached some bulbous, concealed in another white ribbon; this was placed
directly under the right ear, and I suppose it was intended as an amulet or
charm. Then ribbons were bound round the forelegs, at the knees and near
the feet -these were red and white alternately. Round the body was a
profuse decoration -then the hind legs were decorated as the fore ones.
Thus were the victims prepared and thus ornamented for burnt offering.
While minutely making this examination, I was almost unconscious of the
collection of a large number of Indians who were there assembled to offer
their sacrifices.
Adjacent to the cross was a large fire built on a few logs; and though the
snow was several inches deep, they had prepared a sufficient quantity of
combustible material, removed the snow from the logs and placed thereon
their fire. I have often regretted that i did not see them light this pile.
My own opinion is, they did not use the fire from their council house;
because I think they would have considered that as common, and as this was
intended to be a holy service, they, no doubt, for this purpose struck fire
from a flint, this being deemed sacred.
It was clear, beautiful morning, and just as the first rays of the sun
were seen in the tops of the towering forest and its reflections from the
snowy surface, the Indians simultaneously formed a semicircle enclosing the
cross, each flank resting on the aforesaid pile of logs.
Good Hunter, who officiated as High Priest, now appeared, and approached
the cross; arrayed in his pontifical robes, he looked quite respectable.
The Indians being all assembled -I say Indians, for there was not a squaw
present during all this ceremony -at a private signal given by the High
Priest, two young chiefs sprang upon the cross and each taking off one of
the victims, brought it down and presented it on his arms to the High
Priest, who receiving it with great reverence, in like manner advanced to
the fire, and with a very grave and solemn air, laid it thereon -and this
he did with the other -but to which, whether male or female, he gave the
preference I did not learn. This done, he retired to the cross.
In a devout manner he now commenced an oration. the tone of his voice was
audible and somewhat chanting. At every pause in his discourse, he took
from a white cloth he held in his left hand, a portion of dried,
odoriferous herb, which he threw on the fire; this was intended as incense.
In the meanwhile his auditory, their eyes on the ground, with grave aspect
and solemn silence, stood motionless, listening attentively to every word
he uttered.
Thus he proceeded until the victims were entirely consumed and the incense
exhausted, when he concluded his service; the oblation now made and the
wrath of the Great Spirit, as they believed, appeased, they again assembled
in the council-house, for the purpose of performing a part in their
festival, different from any I yet had witnessed. Each Indian as he
entered, seated himself on the floor, thus forming a large circle; when one
of the old chiefs rose and with that native dignity which some Indians
possess in a great degree, recounted his exploits as a warrior; told in how
many fights he had been the victor; the number of scalps he had taken from
his enemies; and what at the head of his braves, he yet intended to do at
the "Rocky Mountains;" accompanying his narration with energy, warmth and
strong gesticulation; when he ended, he received the unanimous applause of
the assembled tribe.
This meed of praise was awarded to the chief by "three times three"
articulations, which were properly neither nasal, oral nor guttural, but
rather abdominal. Thus many others in the circle, old and young, rose in
order, and proforma, delivered themselves of a speech. Among those was Good
Hunter; but he
"Had laid his robes away
His mitre and his vest."
His remarks were not filled with such bombast as some others; but brief,
modest and appropriate; in fine, they were such as became a priest of one
of the lost ten tribes of Israel.
After all had spoken who wished to speak, the floor was cleared and the
dance renewed, in which Indian and squaw united, with their wonted hilarity
and zeal.
Just as this dance ended, an Indian boy ran to me and with fear strongly
depicted in his countenance, caught me by the arm and drew me to the door,
pointing with his other hand towards something he wished me to observe.
I looked in that direction, and saw the appearance of an Indian running at
full speed to the council-house; in an instant he was in the house and
literally in the fire, which he took in his hands and threw fire, coals and
hot ashes in various directions through the house and apparently all over
himself. At his entrance, the young Indians much alarmed, had all fled to
the further end of the house, where they remained crowded, in great dread
of this personification of the Evil Spirit. After diverting himself with
the fire a few moments at the expense of the young ones, to their no small
joy he disappeared. This was an Indian disguised with a hideous false face,
having horns on his head, and his hands and feet protected from the effects
of the fire. And though not a professed "Fire King," he certainly performed
his part to admiration.
During the continuance of this festival, the hospitality of the Senecas
was unbounded. In the council-house and at the residence of Tall Chief,
were a number of large fat bucks and hogs hanging up and neatly dressed.
Bread, also, of both corn and wheat, in great abundance.
Large kettles of soup ready prepared, in which maple sugar, profusely
added, made a prominent ingredient thus forming a very agreeable saccharine
coalescence. All were invited and made welcome; indeed, a refusal to
partake of their bounty, was deemed disrespectful, if not unfriendly.
I left them in the afternoon enjoying themselves to the fullest extent,
and so far as I could perceive, their pleasure was without alloy. They were
eating and drinking, but on this occasion, no ardent spirits were permitted
-dancing and rejoicing -caring and probably thinking not of to-morrow.

-continued in part 3