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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper June 2018 Page 35

1758

by James Rada, Jr.

Richar d Bar d Makes Good His Escape

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of columns about Richard Bard’s escape from captivity and the rescue of his wife.

Richard Bard had made his and Catherine’s children, wrote in Meanwhile, Catherine’s
getaway from the Delaware Indians, Incidents of Border Life. Instead, ordeals went from being
who had captured his family at their the Indians traveled to another physically abused to being
mill near present-day Fairfield on village called, Cususkey. Catherine adopted as a sister by
April 13, 1758. He was one of the and the others were beaten in two Delaware Indians.
lucky ones. Two others had been this town as well. One man was Catherine was to replace
killed by the Indians for no apparent even killed. “The Indians formed their actual sister, who had
reason. Six other people were still themselves into a circle round the died. Over the next few
being held prisoner, including his wife. prisoner and commenced by beating months, Catherine’s new Courtesy Photo
When the Indians discovered his him some with sticks and some with family traveled so much
escape, they searched for Bard, but tomahawks. He was then tied to a that she became ill and
he hid in a hollow log. Once the post near a large fire and after being nearly died.
Indians had passed him by and were tortured sometimes with burning When she did recover,
out of hearing range, Bard climbed coals they scalped him and put the she got a glimpse of what
out and ran off in the other direction. scalp on a pole to bleed before his the future might hold
“He traveled [across] the face. A gun barrel was then heated for her when she met a
mountain pick[ing] berries and red hot and passed over his body and woman she knew. “This
herbs to survive. His feet and legs with a red hot bayonet they pierced woman had been in The cover of The Ballad of Richard Bard, a long poem about
were swollen, and his body was in his body with many repetitions. In captivity some years and Bard’s escape from the Indians who captured his family.
a weak condition. The snow on the this manner they continued torturing had an Indian husband by whom
brush and leaves of the laurel made him singing and shouting until he she had one child,” Archibald wrote. Once recovered from his ordeal,
it impossible to walk, and he was expired,” Archibald wrote. “My mother reproved her for this Richard set out to free his family.
[compelled] to creep on his hands Meanwhile, Richard was but received for answer that before He began seeking information about
and knees under the thick brush,” undergoing his own trials to stay she had consented they had tied her his wife and the Delawares, making
according to L. Dean Calimer in alive. The fifth day after his escape, to a stake in order to burn her.” many trips from Franklin County to
Franklin County Archives VII. he got some protein in his diet when The woman also told her that western Pennsylvania, as he followed
The Indians and their captives he killed and ate a rattlesnake. once captive women learned the up on leads. As the weeks turned
remained in the area for a day and Eight days after his escape, he Indian language, they either married into years, he despaired at what had
night before making their way another found himself in a stream that he one of the Delawares or were killed. happened to his family, but he did
twenty miles until they reached an would have to wade. On the other Knowing this, Catherine played dumb not give up.
Indian village. There, Catherine Bard, side of the river, he found a path and did not learn the language. She This determination was what
Richard’s wife, was severely beaten by that led him to a settlement. He remained as the sister of the braves would finally lead to his family being
the squaws in the village. found himself facing three Indians. and was treated kindly. reunited.
“Now almost exhausted with Instead of being the Delaware
fatigue she requested leave to Indians who had captured him,
remain at this place but was they were friendly Cherokee
told she might if she preferred Indians. They escorted Bard to Fort
being scalped to proceeding,” Lyttletown, where he recovered from
Archibald Bard, one of Richard his experience.