According to historian Sutton, the Indians were fascinated by white babies. Mrs. David
Hendershott temporarily lost her infant son, George
Hendershott, in this way. A squaw who saw and admired the white babe, offered to
exchange her own papoose for him. Mrs. Hendershott gently refused, and the squaw went
away, biding her time. Returning another day, she found the infant Hendershott asleep in a
cradle on the Hendershott porch; made a quiet exchange of the babes, and started for home
with her prize. There was no evil intent in the act; the squaw believed it a fair
exchange. A hastily organized search party followed her and recovered little George
unarmed. The squaw was admonished of the unlawfulness of her proceeding, but otherwise the
incident was merely casual.
[Back] [Next]
[Up] [New Search]
'Indian' segment written in
December, 1997 by David Lodge
|