The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-12-13

quietly SUBMITTED 10 ms treatment, but
: at length he ventured to complain that
he was bound too tight, and TO beg that
The cords might be tied about him more
loosely. The confidence Of the savages
increasing, and their apprehension of
his escape diminishing, they yielded TO
his request, but still continued 10 bind
him al night in the same manner, though
lot SO closely as al first.
One night when the party had
reached the banks of tie Ohio, and
when he thought ii necessary, if posi-
BILE, TO make his escape, he observed a
knife lying near his feet as he was fixed
IN bis position for the night. With cen
siderable difficulty, and at the imminent
hazard of awakening the savages who
were snoring around him, and who were
connected TO The rope by which he was
bound, he at length succeeded in draw
ing the knife with his feet until he
could reach ii with his hand, when he
cut the cord that confined him, and was
enabled TO rise. His first thought then
was TO run off, leaving the Indians a.
sleep; but upon reflection he concluded
that il would be impossible Cor him TO
escape in this way, as they would prob
ably soon awake and rapidly pursue him.
He came therefore 70 the heroic and al
most desperate resolution, TO eBdeavor
to kill the five indians, or as many of
them as he could. With the utmost
cooIness he proceeded 10 examine their
guns, which he perceived lying togeth-
er, primed them and put them in good
order for service.-He then disguised
himself by putting Oh coat belonging
to the Indians, and fixing tomahawk
and scalping knife in his belt; and
placed his own rifle at a little distance
of, where the savages would not be
likely TO observe it, bet where he him
self could instantly fnd it. All these
preparations were made at a moment
when five Indians were sleeping by him,
and when the waking OF either of them
would have been 10 him instant death.
"All things ready, he proceeded TO
make the assault. He took two guns,
one 10 each hand, and placing their muz-
zles at the breasts Of two Indians, who
were lying on each side Of the spot
where he had been, shot them both at
once. The others, as he expected, be-
ing awakened by the noise, splang up
and started in amaze ment. With ii
third gun, he instantly shot at two Of
them who were close together, killed
one, as he afterwards had reason 10 be-
IieVe, and morlally wounded the other.
The fifth Indian. seeing his companions
lying dead about him, and not knowing
where TO fad his arms, and probably in
the confusion of the scene, uncertain by
how many be was assailed. precipitately
fled. Mr.. Mcconnell, therefore, was
left in quiet possession CT the field
Not feeling inclined, however, TO fight
any more such battles, he took bis rife
and proceeded expeGitiously towards
home, where, after TEDIOUS and pain
full journey, he safely arrived, to the
great joy Of his friends. who had began
TO despair Of ever seeing him again
"Some little time afterwards, Mrs.
Dunlap, lady of responsibility. who
had been taken by the Indians, and re-
tanned prisoner amupg them on Mad
river, in the Stale of Ohio, made her
escape and returned home TO the neigh
borhood Of Lexington. She stated that
shortly after the time when Mr.. M'Con-
neil made bis desperate and successful
assault, one Indian out of five who had
made journey towards Lexington, re-
turned with an account that they had
taken white man prisoner, and had
brought him as far as the Ohio river,
when in the night. while they were a.
sleep, they were suddenly attacked by a
party of whites, who killed all his com
panions, and probably likewise the poor
defeDceless prisoner, who was lying on
his back, tightly bound With cords"