The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-21
A TRAGEDY OF THE AMERICAN WOODS,
Ffom he London Mefroyoiifan for Ociober.

A TRAGEDY OF THE AMERICAN WOODS,
From tis London Metropolitan for October.
Just as the shades Of evening were begin
ming to unshroud the deep valley that reposes
at the foot Of the wild and lofty Pochono
mountains, approached a lone cottage which
was marked out on my travelling chart as the
place for me to pass the night in. Although
had never been in that part of the country,
yet the building Of squared logs or blocks
that now presented itself, was in some mea-
sure an old acquaintance, since poor. and lone
ly, aud cheeress as il seemed it had acquired
name in the history Of that part of the coun-
try with which it was connected. It's wooden
walls were blackened with the tcmpests OF
half century, and the traditionary tales con.
nected with it were familiar to every child in
the distant settlement. Aperson Of the name
of Lamer had been induced to settle here
before any of the valleys in the Southern dis
trict Of country (now full Of people) contained
one white inhabiiant. What induced this
hardy man 10 bury himself and young family
ces, as the Indians called the white people in
those days, is difficult to conceive.
On his way to this secluded dell he must
have passed through many valley which
presented fertile soil and more serene CHI
mate; but induced by some feeling which
must now forever remain a secret, Larner,
with wife and four or five children, accom-
panied by younger brother, took possession
of the extreme head Of mountain valley, and
there built the sombre-looking building now
before me. 1t has been surlnised by manv
that the contiguity to the adjoining mountain
was his chief inducement to settle here, for
he was remarkably keen hunter. There
certainly were more wolves and panthers in
that vicinity than in any other part Of the state,
besides an abundance of elk and deer, with
great variety of game of smaller note. They
did not devote their time exclusively to hunt
ing for when they had resided here some
half score years, they had managed to clear
away the forest trees from few acres of land,
sufficient to grow more grain than the family
would consume. About this period they were
waited on by two Indian warriors of the Six
Indians, who informed the Larners, that. if
they valued their own safety, they must imme-
diately fly from the abode they had SO long
inhabited. This piece of Intelligence which
was delivered with apparent sincerity, was at
the time but little needed, for although they
had never before been actually threatened by
the Indians who had occasionally visited them
they had sometimes used a little caution
when they suspected party of Indians were
any where in the vicinity.
One day, shortly after the visit of the two
warriors, the younger Of the brothers returned
from an excursion on the mountain, with the
somewhat startling intelligence that he had
crossed, in his way down the trail of an Indian
party and he should Judge from its appear
ance that the number was something conside-
rable. He farther stated, that he had, from
the summit of the adjoining hill, carefully sur
veyed the forests all around but no curling
smoke rose above the green foliage ior it was
summary TO denote their hunting fires, neither
had he heard the report of fire arms during
the whole day. To those acquainted with the
subtlety of the Indian character, this report
was somewhat alarming, and the lone family
determined to be circumspect in all their
Their arms consisted OF three
rifles, one used by each of the brothers, and
the remaining one by the eldest son, stout
youth Of nineteen. 1t was agreed that they
should keep watch during the nigbt-the bro
theirs and the son taking il by turns-and the
fire was extlnguished before 1t became quite
dark
Some hours after midnight, and while the
father of the family was keeping watch, he
thought he perceived a bright spark Of fire
advancing slowly across the small piece OF
meadow in the direction of the house, and as
it came nearer he distinctly saw part of the
BODY Of a naked Indian There was no mis-
taking the intention Of the incendiary and as
all was parched and dry with the scorching
suns of July, a fire once kindled against the
time seasoned log walls Of their dwelling, the
whole dwelling would be in blaze in few
minutes. Larner was in the upper story IN
an opening in one end of the building but as
the Indian came nearer he changed his course
little as if he intended to make his fire in
the rear Of the house. 1t was moment OF
extreme anxiety with Larner. If he permitted
the villain to pass the rear of the building,
they were all in a short time to be burnt, and
most probably massacred by the merclless
beings, no doubt in ambush close by Ii ne
fired and shot him, retribution would certainly
await them all, and in either case he consider
ed them doomed family. But he did fire !;
and long before the reverberations were silent
in the adjoining mountains, the Indian had
given one lofty bound and shrieked the shrek
Of DEATH The report Of the rifle brought the
whole family to his side, and he related to
them all that had taken place; and it seemed
matter of doubt whether the Indians would
attack them under cover of the yet remaining
darkness, or postpone their onset until the re-
turn Of day. 1t seems they did wait for day
light, and when it returned they commenced
firing at the different windows or openings,