Catawba Native American History!
Extracted from: "A History of the Upper Country of
South Carolina, Vol. II"
By John H. Logan. orig. Pub. 1910, and p14-17:
Joseph Habersham. Historical Collections.
(Pg17)A tragedy deeper than ever described followed. In the
Catawba council the six captives were sentenced to death by
whipping. As all work but hunting and war was assigned to the
women, so he women on this dreadful occasion were appointed the
executioners. One after another the captives were pinioned by
one hand to a stake. The victim was furnished with a small
(-----?) containing pebbles. So soon as the lash was applied, he
commenced rattling his gourd, and chanting his death song. Life
lasted under this flagellation from sun-rise to sun-set. When
the sixth
were about to commence their infernal operation, a beautiful
Catawba girl named Bettie rushed in to his rescue. She said she
loved him, and claimed him for her husband. The occurrence
struck all present forcibly. A council was immediately called to
determine on what was proper to be done on an occasion so novel -
and interesting. The council said that in an ordinary case the
claim of Betty would have all its effect, but the crime charged
on the prisoner, the killing of the King, was altogether
unpardonable. They decided the sentence of death should be
forthwith executed. The executioners were about addressing
themselves to the work of death. Betty rushed in a second time,
and with a hatchet clove his skull, and he fell dead instantly.
She declared aloud that if she could not have him for her
husband, the nation should not have the satisfaction of seeing
his bleeding body torn by the scourge. Betty afterwards married
an Indian of the name of
when her beloved
feeling that she "loved him too much." Such is the inexhaustible
wealth of the genuine female heart
South Carolina USGENWEB archives
