80 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF years later Baubin and Lorimer. two French­ most horrible torture. In time no, Indian could men, appeared at at the head of some equal them in barbarity. fourscore Shawanee Indians and a large number Three years later as a result of the treaty of of captives. They had made a raid through the Easton in 1756, they came together again and Miami slaughter house up the River made their headquarters at Pittsburg. By reason and had come upon and twenty-sIx of their knowledge of the Indian dialect and their others making salt at the salt licks. They cap­ acquaintance with the different tribes they were tured them without the loss of a man and after much used as interpreters. was one a long trip through the Indian country had of Lord Dunmore's scouts and afterwards re­ brought them to the English commandant. ceived a commission in the Virginia militia. At Boone, at that time forty-four years of age, the outbreak of the Revolutionary War he first and the leader· of the pioneers in the Kentu~ky attached himself to the Americans, but his loyalty country, made a marked impression both upon was soon suspected and after a short time he the Indians and Hamilton. According to his became associated with Sir William Johnson and own account he was treat~d by the latter with Alexander l\IcKee, whose position as crown great humanity. "During our travels the Indi­ deputy had also placed him under suspicion. At ans entertained me well; and their affection for the end of March, 1778, these two, together with me was so great that they utterly refused to Matthew Elliott, another Irish trader, escaped leave me there with the others, although the gov­ to Detroit and cast their lot with the British. ernor offered them 1100 sterling for me on From this time the names of Girty, McKee and purpose to give me a parole to go home. Several Elliott were associated in the minds of the set­ English gentlemen there, being sensible of my tlers with the most terrible cruelties practiced by adverse fortune and touched with human sym­ the savages along the border. pathy, generously offered me a friendly supply The council of Indians at Detroit, which has for my wants, which I refused, with many thanks been just referred to, opened with prayer, after for their kindness, adding that I never expected which Hamilton congratulated the Indians on it would be in my power to recompense such un­ the number of their prisoners and the far greater merited generosity." (Filson'S Boone.) number of scalps they had taken. Every artifice After five months' captivity, Boone, having was used to arouse the passion of these savages heard that the Indians were about to attack against the whites who were in revolt and the Boonsborough, succeded in making his escape. party separated after a riotous feast. Despite He traveled one hundred and sixty miles in five the congratulations of Hamilton and his feeling days with but one meal during the whole trip of security he was to hear in a few days of Clark's and succeeded in warning his friends. wonderful expedition against Kaskaskia, which In the summer of this year, June 17, 1778, a he entered at the head of a handful of troops on great council of Indians, including every im­ the evening of July 4, 1778. portant tribe of the Northern Indians, met at Detroit. With them were the Indian agents, . Hay and Alexander McKee, and the notorious After Dunmore's War, Clark had cast his lot Simon Girty. with Kentucky. Early in 1778 he had been able Girty and his two brothers, James and George, to obtain authority from Governor Patrick Henry were the sons of an Irishman who formerly made to make an attempt to gain the Northwest for the his home on the banks of the Susquehanna and Americans. Gathering together such volunteers engaged in Indian trade. The father was killed as he could, about one hundred and seventy-five in a drunken spell by an Indian named "The in all, he started on his campaign to extend the Fish" and the Indian was then killed by one John limits of the American Colonies far beyond any Turner. who thereupon married Girty's widow. point claimed by them before that time. Kas­ The entire family were taken prisoners in 1756 kaskia was completely surpris~d while the Brit­ and Turner was tortured to death in the presence ish were, engaged at a ball when Clark entered of his family. The three sons were separate? the place. His treatment of the people was so among the Indians, Simon being adopted by tne tactful that they volunteered to go with his party Senecas, James by the Shawanees and George to Cahokia. It surrendered immediately upon by the Delawares. During their Indian life they the approach of his force under Major Bowman. became accustomed to witnessing scenes of the Vincennes, too, yielded immediately, largely as