Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-06-07

tue suUhLcES AOSOt Auc duto FeAtFTcd W
above, to go out of the fort every day,
to cluster of hickory trees, several
hundred yards distant, for the purpose
OF shooting squirrels, which at that place
were very numerous. Near his path,
(as he afterwards discstered) fifteen
Indians lay concealed for three days,
behind large log, where they had pla-
ced number of bushes to serve as a
blind, there waiting for favorable op.
portunity to kill some one or more men,
and obtain plunder. The two first days
he passed as usual to the hickory grove
and back again without molestation, tho
Indians probably aware that little, il
any thing, could be obtained from him,
and fearing that an attack upon him
would lead to immediate detection and
pursuit. Ga tie third day he observed
the bushes around the log were appar-
emily dying aud being unable to con.
lecture the cause, was attracted by Gu
riosity towards the spot, and had al
vanced TO within about ten feet, for the
purpose of ascertaining wha. was the
matter, when his attention was caught
by the fiuttering of beautiful bird, en-
tangled in sorhs burs just behind him.
lie instantly turned and caught the bird,
which drew of his curiosity about the
dying bushes, and he returned to the
fort. and spent tie remainder of the day
In making cage for his bird. Had be
not been interrupted, he would have
inevitably been taken by the Indians
without the firing of single gun. So
completely were his thoughts occupied
with bis little bird, that he forgot to
mention the circumstance of the dying
Bushes. The next morning early, a
pack-horse driver and his SOP went out
TO see after their horses, when the con-
cealed Indians shot them both, scalped
and stript them before the people of the
fort who heard the guns, could gel to tha
place. They having previously stolen
and secdred number of horses, instant
" made of.
On Sunday morning shrea men, one
by the name of Poor, another named
Wade, the name of the third not recol-
lected, who had been ia the habit Of re-
connoiterlng the county in the capacity
of spies, proposed to Mr Downing to
go with them to Mud Lick, now the q.
lympain Springs. seven miles distant
from the fort. They accordingly setout
together on foot, aud travelled unmo-
Tested until they came in sight Of the
lick. Ashley assembled h;il. they dis
covered several hundred huffaloes, ard
elks, and deer. which they considered
an indication that there were no savag-
es in the immediate neighbourhood;
when Poor and Wade, VIII, were some
distance in advance of Downing and
his companion, suddenly turned and
gave notice that there were ten or fifteen
lsdiaas sitting and endavouring to
conceal themselves in the drain that pro-
c eeded from the lick, and that it was ne.
cessary they should fly for their lives.
They Immediately started and ran with
all possible speed, but soon heard the
Indians behind them. Tie pursued took
one path and the pursuers took another,
but after a short distance the too paths
NohiC tcSr'hcN tHc sWuitco uoNcFSE
reached the point of junction before the
Indians, although the latter had gained
by the choice of paths Young Down
ming being small, and not like has other
companions accustomed to running, was
unable to keep up with them, and was
advised "a the only chance of his es-
cape to embrace the first opportunity,
when the situation Of the road should
throw them out of sight of the Indians,
to stop behind a log and lie concealed
whilst the rest OF the party ran on. Re-
luctsnt as he felt to be left in the woods
surrounded by savages, he considered
it the oaly alternative, and followed the
advice. Accordingly, the first oppor-
tunity that presented itself, he jumped
aside from the path, and lay close be-
hind log The Indians soon came a.
long, and eager to overtake those whom
they still saw before them, passed by
Downing who lay trembling by the way
side. About ten minutes after they pass
&c, he ventured to rise and leave bis
place of conceaiment--for some time,
however, he was at loss what course
to pursue. To go back towards the
lick was his FIRST thought, but it was a
bandoned almost as soon as conceived.
La this state of uncertainty, he slowly
walked along the path 10 the direction
the Indians had taken. A little ref,ec-
tioa, however, convinced him of the
danger of this course, as it was very
probable they world soon turn and