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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
��Reaching the middle of the stream, he took observations to determine the course of safet}', and conckided to strike the shore several rods below where the large boat was grounded ; but, on approaching the shore, he again encountered the bullets of the Indians, and again made for the middle of the river. Some distance below, he discovered a horse-boat belonging to his party, and at once resolved to reach and board it. Just as he had succeeded in getting aboard, the Captain received a wound in the arm, and waved his hand to the Indians in token of sur- render. The boat was immediately boarded by the Indians, and the whites taken prisoners.
" An old Indian took charge of Fast, by whom he was taken to Upper Sandusky. The prison- ers were divested of their clothing, and. as their march led through a rank growth of nettle- weeds, it was indescribably painful. Fast, becoming maddened with pain, at length refused to go forward, and, baring his head to his captor, demanded that he would tomahawk him, and thus put an end to his sufferings. The Indian took compassion on him and restored his clothing. During the remainder of the journey, he was treated with marked kindness. At Upper Sandusk}', he was adopted into a dis- tinguished family of the tribe. He visited the lamented Col. Crawford after the failure of the expedition and during his imprisonment, and was within hearing of his cries during the horrid cruelties he suffered at the stake.
" About eighteen months after Fast's capture, an expedition left Upper Sandusky for the pur- pose of attacking the white settlements and fortifications at Wheeling. Connected with this expedition was the notorious James Girty. Fast, who now possessed the full confidence of the Indians, was also of the party. The expedition reached its destination, and had besieged the fort at Wheeling three daj's and two nights. On the third night Fast determined upon an attempt to effect his escape. Approaching his adopted brother at a late hour of the night, he awoke
��him, complaining of thirst, and urged his brother to accompany him to a place where they could procure a drink of water. The Indian pleaded weariness, and urged his brother to go alone, insisting that no harm would befall him. Thereupon, Fast, taking his camp-kettle, steered dii-ectly for his father's house in Fayette County, Penn., about thirty miles distant. The night being excessivel}- dark, he made slow progress, and at daylight was yet within hearing of the guns of the besiegers and besieged. As soon as daylight appeared, he pushed forward, and soon discovered, liy a fresh trail, that about tliirty In- dians were in advance of him, making for the white settlements in Washington County, Penn. On reaching the spur of a ridge, he discovered that the trails separated, and that the Indians had formed two parties, each pursuing parallel lines through the valleys. He hoped, by vigor- ously pursuing the middle and straighter course, to get in advance of the Indians, and in this effort he was successful. Before night he reached the margin of the settlement in Washington County, the Indians l)eing but a short distance in his rear. A few rods in advance of him and advancing on his own trail, he discovered a white man. with a couple of bridles on his arm, evidently in search of horses. Placing himself behind a tree. Fast waited until the white man was within a few feet of him, when he suddenly- placed himself in his path, and gave a hurried explanation of his name, object, and the imme- diate danger that threatened the white settle- ment. The man was paralyzed with fear ; he could not believe that the savage-looking man before him, with his painted face, his ears and nose filled with brooches, his hair (all except a tuft in front, which was passed through a silver tube) nearly plucked from his skull, was any- thing else than a veritable Indian. Mechanic- all}-, however, the man obeyed his directions, and each, seizing and mounting horses, which were near at hand, made for the settlements with all practicable speed. They gave the alarm to
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