The Hochstetler Massacre - Jacob Hochstetler Begins His Escape

John Specht
There was another captive in the village, a German named John Specht whom he desired to take with him, and the evening before the planned escape he took him into his confidence. In so doing he had to be guarded, as the Indians were suspicious when they, or for that matter, any prisoners conversed in German with none of their people present who understood it.

The Escape
The morning followed the night, and Jacob Hochstetler was sent out as usual with his outfit; this day the butcher knife was given him. Specht starting under some pretense in another direction, the two met at an appointed place, the ammunition in the hollow tree was secured, and as much distance as possible put between them and the Indians they left behind who were old men, squaws and children, by whom there was not much danger of being pursued. The great danger to them lay in meeting hostile Indians who might return from their marauding, or might otherwise be scouring the woods.

Taken from p. 38 of Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, by Rev. Harvey Hostetler, D.D., 1912. This portion was prepared by William F. Hochstetler.