The PrisonersTaken from p. 31 of Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, by Rev. Harvey Hostetler, D.D. This portion was prepared by William F. Hochstetler.
It is a tradition that when an Indian had raised his tomahawk over the head of Christian, he looked up, and as the Indian beheld his beautiful blue eyes, took a liking to him and spared him. The disturbance had also attracted the family of Jacob Kreutzer, residing to the west. They came running through the woods to the edge of the meadow, but on beholding what was going on they stopped, not being prepared to enter into a conflict with the savage foe. The bloody work being finished, they took Jacob Hochstetler and son Christian prisoners, left again in the direction they had started before, surrounding the place where Joseph was concealed and easily captured him. Had he known he could easily have made his escape, but he feared he might encounter Indians on ahead and so thought best to remain in his hiding-place. The barn and all out-buildings, including a distillery, were destroyed by fire before the Indians left. The father picked up some ripe peaches and advised his sons to do likewise. He also advised them to submit gracefully to their fate as far as possible. At this late date only a meager account of all their experience can be given, and to understand such a narrative, one ought to be familiar with the environments and the manners and customs of the Indians at that time.
I am struck by the wisdom of the father in this story. Perhaps the idea came from seeing Tom Lions scarf up the peaches. But here he and his sons walk into captivity bearing gifts, with an attitude of submission. We'll see later that he plans his escape, probably from the start. But his concern is clear. He and his sons will not be a thorn in the flesh of their captors.
Did you notice they had a distillery? Anyone familiar with customs at that time to explain this? Did the Amish drink alcoholic beverages in earlier times?
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