Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-06-29

N0NDERFuL EsUAPR FnOS1 an.
Diana.
a HlSTOklCAL NARRAIIl y

ton, IN the wilds Of kentucky. Like |
most pioneers Of the West, be had cut
down tie cane. built cabin. deadened
toe timber. enclosed field with a
worm ience. and planted some coru.
1t was on the 10Th day of August.
l7Sas lilo suR had descended; pleasant
breeze was playing through tho sarfoundhg
wood the cane bowed under ia influence,
a9d tho broad srveb leaves Of the eorn waved
In tbs air; Ml0,gan bud seated himself IN the
door of his cabin, with his infan: on his knee
he yoang and happy wife had laid aside her
spinsins wheel and -was busily engaged in
preparing the frugal meal. That afternoon
no had accidentally found a bundle Of leiters,
Which BIO had finished readns . bis Wilo be-
fore he had taken has seat la the door Itwas
n correspondence IN which they had scknow-
lodged an early aud ardent attachment Tor
each other, aud the pcruSAl lcn evideEt traces
OF JOY on tho couhtenance OF both the little
infant, TOO, seemed 10 pSrtake " il parents
feelings, by lis cheerful snlilts, 2l. ful hui
NOR, and hfAatils carsssos. While thus agree
ably employed. the report Of raic vas heard
an ther aud another follo~ cd 10 qsiek success
sioa Morgan sPeang 10 his feet, his wife ran
10 the door, anl they simultaneously exclaIm-
ed, ''Indians,p
The door was Immediately barred, ard the
noAt moment their fears were realized by a
bud apl spirited attack Of a SNAIL party Of In-
dtans The cabin could not be successfully
defended, and time was precious Morgan.
cool, brave, and prompt soon decided Wilde
he was in the act Of coneealins his wife under
the door, a mothers feelings oyeteame her
she arose-seiked her intact. but was afraid
that its cries would belray her place Of con
cealmenL She acknowledgement silently upon
ia morieutery struggle between affection
aud duty took place. She once more pres,ed
-. 4
again kissed Il with iinp1s>iobed tenderness.
The iafaai alsrHed al Ihe prufu,ioa of tsNF.
that fell upon its cheek, looked up Ia II. mo-
theirs face, threw its little arm, around her
neck, and Wept aloud. " Ia the name of ilea-
ven, Eliza, release tho child oT We shall he
lost" sail the distracted husband, IN a soft
implorinS voice, a. he forced the iBfaUI froal
his wife, hastily took up his gun, knife, and
Ratchet, ran up lLe ladder that LED TO the gar
ret. aud drew u aflor him. In a moment the
door was burst open and the .syases entered
By this time Morgan had secured his ehid
IA bag, and lashed II 10 has back then,
throwing OF some claphoar,s from the roof
OF ID, cabin. resolutrly leapel TO the ground
lie was instantly assaulted BY two indians. A
the hrAt approached, he knocked hian down
with the butt end of his gun. The uther ID
vanred with upliiled toDahawk Morgan let
fall his gun and closed IN. ThN savage made
blow, missed aim, bat severed the cord that
bound the intact To his back, an1 u fell. The
cOntCst over tie child nov became warm aud
fierce, aud was carried On with k'dves only
The robust and athletic Morgan AZ lent GOT
the ascendlacy. Both were badly cut And bled
freely, but the stabs Of tie wllGs man were
better aiIded Aoi deeper, and tie sava-- SON
sunk 10 the earth an death. Morgan hastily
took up his child aud hurried oil.
The Indians in the house, busiiy engaged in
drinking aud plundering, WsTe aOI apprised Of
the coolest an the yard, until the one THAI bad
been knocked down case BiSLs IL returning
l.fe. and called them Co thc scene OF action.
Morgan WAS discovered immedisiSly pursued, !
and dog pat on h.G tr4il. Operated upon by
all the feelings Of a husband and a father, he |
moved with all the speed Of a hunted stag. /
and soon outsiripped the indians, bat tho dog
Kept 81 close pursuit Finding IL imPOs.ibie |
60 outrun or elude the cunning animal, trained |
20 hunts Of this kind, he halted and waited un-
I'll u camc within fev yards Of him fired
and brought him down --Tsloaded has gun, aud
pushed forward. 10 shor' time he reached
the house Of has brother who resided between |
Bryant's Station aud Lexington, where be lcfi !
the chiid, and The two brothers set out for In /,
dwelling A they approached, light broke |
upon his vie --hIs speed qWekencd, his fears I
Increased, and the most agonZing apprehen-
sions crowded pPDn his mind. SIC emerged \
from the cansbrake, bsheld his house IN I
haines. and almost burnt 20 the grOuad "My |
wife - he exclaimed a. he pressed ono hand |
To his forehead, and grasped the fence with 1
other. 10 support hIs tOtterins frame. lie 4
giEed ior some time OF the ruin and desolation 4
before him, advanced few PAGES, and sunk /
exhausted 20 the earth.
Morning came the bright iumin1ry OF iIea-
ven arose and still found hiGl seated near the /
almost expiring embers. Ia hi, right hand he /
held small .ttek, with which he was tracing |
the name Of "Eiiza" on the ground his lefl \
hand was thrown on his f1vorits do., that Law /
by his side, looking firsi on the ruiz aud then /
on his master, with evident signs Of grief.
Morgan arose The two brothers nov made
a search, and found some bonss burbI 10
ashes, which they carefully gathered, and 81.
lsntiy consigBed 20 their mother earth. beneath
the widespread branches Of venerable OAK
eon'eerated by the Puresl and hottest rceol-
lections.
Several days after this. Morgan vas engaged
In desperate battle al the lover Blue Licks
The Indians came OF vietors, and the surviv-
ing whites TetFeated across tie Licking, but
were pursued By the enemy Tor distance Of
SIX aud thirty miles.
James Morgan was amongst lhe last that
crossed the river, and was IN the rear until the
hall vas descended. AZ soon a. no boheld the
Indians Fe-aPpssr on the ridge, be felt anew
bis wrongs, and resoilected the lovely object
" NV NeAfg aitaftfetAa nc uFMtu on MS morse.
and pressed 20 the front While IN the act or
leaping from his saddle, be received Filio ball
% his thigh, and fell az Iodian sprang upon
him, seized him by tho hair. and spilled the
acsiping knife. AZ this moment Morgan cast
up bis eyes and recognised the handkerchief
that bound the head u the savage, and which
nc knew ~ be has wifu's. This added renew
oil strength 70 his body, and increased activity
O. bis fury. lie quickly threw his lsn arm
around the Indian, and, with o death-ike
grasp, Rugged hia 10 his bosom. piungod hi,
kniis intO bis side. and he expired IL bis srnis
Releasing himself from ibc savage, Morgan
CRASHED under a small oak on 90 elevated
piece u grOund, short distance from BIN 49,
The scene 81 acti'h shifted. alI BIO remained
undiscovered and unscaipsl, an aaxi1us spec
tailor u the battle
u was nov midnight The savage band.
nleF iakinE I'D ile tcalps they could 6Hd. irfi
me battle ground Morgan vus seated II the
foot 81 the oak ~ trunk supported his head
The ruggcd ani uneven gr0ltd that surround