Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-09-29

~ wiz NaSahf Ahai
as he had a good rifle, and was an ex-
cellenl marksman, they required him to
shoot deer, buffalo, &c. for Them. Al,
night, however, they used the precau-
ton OF having hun tightly bound by each
arm, and the rope attached thereto care.
fully passed under their bodies as they
lay on each side oil him. For some time
he quietly submitted to this treatment,
bul al length ventured to complain that
he was bound too tight, and to beg that
the chords might be tied about him
somewhat more loosely. The confidence
OF The savages increasing, and their ap-
prehenslon oil his escape diminishing,
they yielded TO his request, but still con-
ilnued 10 bind him at night in the same
manner, though not SO closely as a, first.
One night, when the party had reach
ed the banks OF the Ohio, and when he
thought 1t necessary, II possible, to make
his escape, he observed knife lying
near his feet, and he was fixed in his pc.
silion for the night. With considerable
difficulty, and al the imminent hazard
oi awakening the savages, who were
snoring around him, and who were con-
nected 10 the rope by which he was
bound, he at length succeeded in draw
ing the knife with his feet unul be could
reach IL with his hand, when he cut the
chord that confined him, and was ena.
bled to rise. HIS first though, then was
10 turn off, leaving he Indians asleep !;
but upon reflection he concluded that it
would be impossible for him to escape
IN this way, as they would probably soon
awake and rapidly pursue him. He
came therefore to the heroic and almost
desperate resolution, to endeavor 10 kill
the five Indians, or as many OF them as
he could. With the utmosl GOODNESS he
proceeded to examine their guns, which
he perceived lying together, primed
them and put them in good order for
service. He then disguised himself by
putting on Goa, belonging 10 one oil
he Indians, and fixing tomahawk and
scalping knife in his belt; and placed
his own rife a, little distance of, where
he savages would not be lively to OBJ
serve it, but where he himself could in
slantly find it. Al these preparations
we're deliberately made at moment
when five Indians were sleeping by him,
md when The waking OF either OF them
would have been TO him lnstan, death.
Allthlngs being ready, he proceeded 10
4 Ia a,
IN each hand, and placing their mozzies
at the breasts oil two Indians who were
lying on each side OF The spot where he
mad been, shot them both a, once. The
others, as he expected, being suddenly
awakened by the noise, sprang up and
started in amazement. With third gun
he Instantly shot at Two OF them who
were close together, killed one, as he
afterwards had reason to believe, and
nortally wounded the other. The fifth
Indian, seing his com panions lying dead
about him, not knowing where to find
his arms, and probably, in the confusion
OF the scene, uncertain BY how many BIT
was assailed, precipitately fed. MIR.
M'Connell, therefore, was left in quiet
possession of the field. No, feeling in
clined, however, TO fight any more such
battles, he took hts rifle and proceeded
expecitiously towards home, where, al
ter a tedious and painful journey, he
safely arrived, to the great joy OF his
friends, who had begun TO despair Of
ever seeing him again.
Some little time afterwards, Mrs.
Dunlap, lady Of responsibility, who
mad been taken by the Indians, and re-
tanned prisoner among them on Mad
river, in the state Of Ohio, made her es-
cape and returned home to the neigh
borhood Of Lexington. Mcconnell had
made his successful assault and depart
urc, one Indian, out of FIVE who had
made o journey towards Lexington, re-
turned, with an account that they had
taken a white man prisoner, and hac
brought him as far as the Ohio river,
when in the night, while they were
asleep, they were suddenly attacked by
parry of whites, who killed all lis com
panions, and probably likewise the poor
defenselcss prisoner, who was lying on
his back, tightly bound with cords.
This story we have from respecta-
BILE gentleman, now living in this neigh
borhood, who was an intimate friend OF
Mr.. Mcconnell, and who has repeatedly
heard it related, with the utmost minute
ness, by himself Jefersonirn.
aurora BoreaHs.-A writer in a late
number OF the London Mechanic Ma
Igazine, has published a new theory OF
the Aurora Borealis, which has so long
puzzled the philosophers. After speak