Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-10-06

take the numbering Indians. They
expected 10 do 90 II the next house |
(Mr. Lewdsr's, Z miles ahead. Ga
arriving there they found the house
BY the two females and
their children who lived there, but un-
visited by the Indians. The inmates
had evidently fed in alarm, as the din
ner they were preparing was still st
the FIRE and warm, Of which our party
partook-and then. doubtful Of the
trail they were on. set out for Mr..
Sparkman's. -four miles distant. II was
after night when they reached Mr..
Sparkman's. nor was IL possible for
them TO determine whether they were
on trail or not. Great distress filed
the house Of Mr. Sparkman. There
was Mrs. Johns-her arm laid open
with ride buliet-a bali shot through
her neck--and her scalp, 90 far rs The
hair extended over head, most horri.
bly, and manglingly taken off-and she
still alice, Good Godl who can hear
the recital Of such deed. and not
feel horror stricken at the cold.biooded
barbariiy Who can hear and not
feel thirst TO revenge such ootrsgei
She was able 10 state the circum-
stances Of the attack upon herself and
her husband. They were about twen-
~ yards from the house, between 10
and III o'clock. Thursday morning.
when the Indians showed themselves
by the corner of fence close 10 them.
The Indians fired and wounded Mr..
Johns IN The lett breast. Both ran for
the house, entered and closed the
door. The Indians came up and fred
on the house. They called out in
English, and told them il they would
come out they should not be hurt
The Indians looked in through the
cracks (the house was made OF iogs)
and told Mr.. Johns and his wife TO
come out; but they did not consent TO
do so, but begged for their lives. The
order was given IN English to charge
the house.
The Indians burst in-shot Mr..
Johns through the head-he fell, and
his wife fell upon his body. An In
dian dragged her 20 the door. and said
to 'hi'e-rus-cha." "go." She asked
where, and he pointed toward the head
OF Black Creek. At that moment she
saw another Indian level his rifle
she threw up her arm-the Indian
fired-and the ball passing lengthwise
through the flesh Of her arm, passed
through her neck.
She fell. The Indian came up-
dragged her into the hall Of the house
(the house 10 what is called n double
log house, and then taking out her
comb and tearing the string from her
hair. scalped her. He did not tear The
scalp of, but cut IL as butchers take
the skin from beef. During this op-
GRAFTON Mrs. Johns was sensible of
what was doing. She saw the Indians
scaiPing-knife, and says il was round
pointed common butcher-knife-she
lay as ifdead. The Indians plundered
The house, taking q pair Of portman-
teaus containing s 100, and every thing
OF value-set fire TO the house, and
one Indian applied the torch TO her
clothes-leftthe house-eave whoop,
and hurried of in the direction, she
thought from their noise, of the head
OF Black Creek. She felt the FIRE Of
her clothes upon one leg, and as soon
as she dared 20 move so much. grabbed
IN her hand 4 quantity Of her own
ciotted blood, with which she put out
her burning clothes. And then when
the Indians were out OF hearing. she
got up--saw her murdered husband $
body unscslped and unmoyed from the
position IN which he at first had fallen
except that the Indians had nut one
foot upon the edge OF table. :
The house was on fire-she made
her way out of it. fainiing every few
minutes. She reached the edge OF a
swamP-got some water and there Law
down unable TO get farther. There she
remained till 10 o'clock, p. NJ, when
three men, Mr.. Johns. the father of
her husband. Mr.. Lowder, and Nc
Kinney came along. They saw the
burning house all fallen in, except the
corners Of the logs. the body therein
ourped--and discovered her, whom
they took 20 be an Indian at first. then
squav. On advancing 10 her, what
must have been the feelings Of her
ia'her-in-law. to recognize in the
butchered, bloody, almost lifeless wo-
man, his daughter in. iaw-and to know
that the buroed human frame in the
house. was that Of his son !-Tbese
three men carried her to Mr.. Lowder's.
and giving the inmates Of the house
The alarm, and ,aking them, the two
females and their children, went on 10
Mr.. Sparkman's-where our party IN
pursuit Of the Indians, found them as
above stated.
II was the trail Of these men that
was mistaken for that Of the Indians
The Indians were all mounted. and
the trail was therefore easily mistaken.
That these cursed butchers. 80 bold
as % come within seven miles 60 com.
INST their depredaiions, should escape
from 30 ready. rapid. and no, pursni.
and that too, from men Of knoHn bra.
very and perseverance, and deierrnin.
ed at every hazard TO oyeriake and
ehastise them, gives IA great mortifca.