The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-11-02


We make the following extract from sec
tion 9TH of Notes on Kentucky, now publish
ing in the Lexington Gazette.
In the month of October 1879, as two
keel boats were ascending the OHIO river
some small distance above the mouth OF
Licking, the men on board discovered In
dans standing on a sand bar on the south
side of the river, and Il canoe coming ACROSS
to them with or A in it. Capt. Rodgers,
who commanded the boats, ordered the
men to land and make their boats fast to the
same shore near which they were, which
was Immediately done, when the party con-
sisting of about 20 marched through the
woods up until opposite to the sand bar
where they had seen the Indians, with the
expectation of killing Or taking the whole;
or driving them into the river, believing
they were undiscovered by the indians, and
that their number did not exceed - or IS.
When Rodgers and his party turned to-
wards the river, the Indians, who were fully
apprised of their motions and from which
they Judged Of their intentions, had SO secret
ed themselves in the bushes, that Rodgers
party were within few PAGES OF them be-
fore they discovered them, upon which the
Indians to the amount of several hundreds
who were not killed or disabled by this tre-
mendous fire, made a precipitate retreat
and aimed to get to their boats, but the lndi-
ans pressed them so close, that nfany Of
them were at the boats as soon as the whites
and several whites were tomahawked in the
attempt to get on board. Before the Indi-
ans got so close as to prevent il, one of the
boats with FIVE men ON board cut loose and
pushed off into the river, and soon fioated
out of reach of the Indians, (who were bust
iy engaged with the other, and thereby es-
caped.) Rogers was himself killed, and the
whole of his party consisting of 60 or 70 Ell
ther killed or taken, except seven. Among
those who were taken prisoners were Col.
John Campbell, and Maj. Abr. Chaplin.
The following most singular circumstance
attended this defeat. A man whose name
was Robert Benham was wounded through
che hips, in such manner as to render him
unable to walk; he crawled into the brush
of a fallen tree, taking his rifle with him,
and so secreted himself that the Indians
passed him unnoticed He lay concealed
two days without mouthful Of sustenance,
when Raccoon came near him, and he shot
il: Immediately after his gun fired he heard
somebody call, but suspectng it was Indians,
he reloaded his gun, determined to sell his
he heard the voice again very near, and
calling in plain English, Whoever you are
beg you will answer me, for am in the ut
most Distress" Upon this, Benjamin an
swered him and Immediately appeared John
Watson one of his unfortunate companions
with both his arms broken; mutual congrat-
ulations were exchanged. when Benham
pointed to the Raccoon where it lay. and di-
rected Watson to kick it to him with his
feet which he accordingly did Having good
use Of both his hands, Benham was able to
skin and prepare the Raccoon for the spit
as well as to procure fire, whilst John Wat
son having the full use of his feet, could with
them kick and drag pieces of broken wood
to Benham who could make the fire and
cook the meat. Before the Raccoon was
eaten up, flock of wild turkeys came in
view; Benham directed John Watson to go
ronnd them and iuduce them to come near
him which was done, by which means he
killed large turkey. Happily the weather
was mild, and the man with broken arms
could wade into Licking river (near which
they lay) so deep into the water as to stoop
down and drink; but Benham unable to
move from the spot where he lay was likely
to die of thirst, when this project occurred.
to John Watson, he desired Benham to put
his nat Into MS itlOutH III SuCu ndOneF as
that the hollow part of the crown should be
upwards which was done, and he went into
she river and filled it by STOPPING down. and
by that means furnished his friend with wa
ter. Benham dressed and splintered up the
broken arms of John Watson, as we'll a:
dressed his own wounds; to enable him tt
do which he tore up both their shirts. The.
remained in this situation fifteen days, willis
their wounds healed very fast, insomuch thai
with the use of crutch Benham began to bt
able 20 move little during which time he
killed plenty Of game to support them Wills
John Watson was able to bring wood witt
his feet and water with the aid Of the hat
About four weeks after they were wounded
Benham and his companion went to the Ohio
river on the mouth Of kicking, and about
mile from where they were wounded, ant
from whence they we're taken by a boat de
scending the river which they hailed, ane
were taken on board.
Longevity Of trout.-Fifty-three years
ago, Mr.. William Mossop, of Board hall
near Boughton- in Fairness, when. boy
Z