TORTURE IN THE OLD WEST MYTHS LEGENDS AND LIES J.SCHRECK

LOST HIGHWAY WITH J. SCHRECK

If there’s one thing that few of us like to consider, it’s torture. I know that when I watch THE LAST OF THE MOHIGANS, I fast forward through those scenes that are full of abuse and torture. And if this is the case, you might wonder why in the world I am posting about it. Well, in doing research for my next book, like it or not, I have had to take a deep breath and confront what others have written about Native Americans in those pages that I’m reading.

If you’ve watched 50’s movies about the West, you might have noticed that thdemonstate torture now and again. Hero’s are tested by it — heroines are nauseated to the point of grief over it. And the Indians themselves test their enemies by it. It goes without saying that torture is a human rights violation (non-fair treatment of prisoners) and one could say — if they look closely at world history — that a culture which indulges in torture is a culture on its way out. Look at Rome, the Druids, the Eastern Indians, the Mayans and Aztecs, Egypt, Spain and the Middle Ages when the robber barons owned castles that came complete with dungeons and the “very best” torture equipment. In truth, history shows us — if you really care to study it — that times of enlightenment are noted not by outrage and war against one’s fellows, but rather by a people’s kindness and indulgence toward one another.This was not the case for the southern Indians, however. There is ample record of the torture of prisoners amongst the southern tribes, the Apache and Comanche and the Pawnee specifically. But why torture? Why torment another living soul? In reading over the book, THE DEATH AND REBIRTH OF THE SENECA by Anthony F.C. Wallace, we learn that Mary Jennison — who was a captive of the Seneca, described her husband at one time in these terms, “During the term of nearly fifty years that I lived with him, I received, according to Indian customs, all the kindness and attention that was my due as his wife. — Although war was his trade from his youth till old age and decrepitude stopt his career, he uniformly treated me with tenderness, and never offered an inslt… He was a man of tender feelings to his friends, ready and willing to assist them in distress, yet, as a warrior, his cruelties to his enemies perhaps were unparalleled… In early life, Hiokatoo showed signs for thirst for blood, by attending only to the art of war, in the use of the tomahawk and scalping knife, and in practising cruelties upon every thing that chanced to fall into his hands, which was susceptible of pain. In that way, he learned to use his implements of war effectually, and at the same time blunted all those fine feelings and tender sympathies that are naturally excited by hearing or seeing, a fellow being in distress. He could inflict the most excruciating tortures uhis enemies, and prided himself upon his fortitude , in having performed the most barbarous ceremonies and tortures, with the least degree of pity or remorse.

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