The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

TORTURE TREE.

THIS IS LOCATED IN A SMALL PARK OUTSIDE OF PERRY, NEW YORK.
WILLIAM BOYD AND THOMAS PARKER, MEMBERS OF SULLIVAN'S EXPEDITION
WERE CAPTURED BY THE SENECA INDIANS IN 1779. THE INDIANS CUT OPEN
THE TWO MEN, PULLED OUT THEIR INTESTINES, AND ATTACHED THEM TO A
LARGE TREE. THEY THEN FORCED THE MEN TO RUN AROUND THE TREE UNTIL
ALL THEIR INTESTINES WERE OUT, THEN LET THEM BLEED TO DEATH.
THE PARK CONTAINS THE TORTURE TREE, WITH A STONE PATH IN A CIRCLE
AROUND IT, THE GRAVES OF BOYD AND PARKER AND A PLAQUE
COMMEMORATING THIS TORTURE.

Where learned: NOT LISTED

Keyword(s): TORTURE