Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-09-16
WONDERFUL ESCAPE FROM iNDiAa5.---A HisToRi-
CAL NARRATIVE.


had cut down the cane, built a cabin, daaden.
ed the timber, enclosed d field Win worm
fence, and planted some corn.
1t was on the 18th day of August, 1882; the
sun descended; a pleasant breeze was playing
through the surrounding wood; lie cane bow
ed under it's influence, and the broad green
leaves of the corn waved in the air: Morgan
had seated himself in the door OF his cabin
viii, his infant or his knee, his young and hap.
py wife had laid aside he. spinning wheel
and was busily engaged in preparing the tru.
gal meal. That afternoon he had accidentally
found bundle of letters, witch he had finish
ed reading to his wife before ne had taken his
scat In the door. l. was correspondent in
which they had acknowledged an attachmen,
for each other, and the pe,usal left evden. ira
ces Of Joy on the CONTINGENCIES o! botn; the lit
tie infant, too, seemed 70 panake fits parents
feelings, by its cheerful smiles, playful humor.
and infantine carcsses. While thus agreeably
employed, the report Of rifle was heard; ano-
lher and another followed in quick succession.
Morgan sprang to his feet, his wife ran to the
door, and they simultaneously exclaimed, s.In
diaDs!''
The door was Immediately barred, and the
next moment their fears were realized by bold
The cabin could not be successfully defended.
and time was precious. Morgan, cool. brage'
and prompt, soon decided. While he vas.in
the act Of concealing his wife under The floor.
a mother feelings ovcrcame :,er---ste arose
seized her infant, bu, was a;taiI hat its cries
would betray her place of coacealment. She
hesitated---gazed silently upon TIA momcata-
~ struggle between affection and duty took
vlapo Nho onco y,aro al I,a, .,,:'d IN l,o,
agiiated bosom. and again and again kissed it
with impassioned tenderness. Tae infant. alar-
med at the profusion OF tears that fell upoB his
cheek, looked up in its mothers face, threw
its little arms around her nees. and wcP: aloud.
ssIn the name Of Heaven. Eliza, release the
child, OF we shall be lost" said the distracted
husband. in soft imp'oriag voice. as he for
ced the infant from his wife, hastily took up
his gun, knife, and hateiiei, ran M the ladder
that led 10 the garrett. and drew il after him.
10 moment the doc, was burst open, and the
savages entered.
By this time Morgan had scared his child
in a bag, and dashed it ON his back, then.
throwing off some clapboa-ds from The roof Of
his babin, resoluiely leaped 10 the ground.
He was instantly asssiled by TWO Indians. As
The first approached. he knocked him down
with the butt end Of his gun. The other adj
vanced with uplifted tomahawk; Morgan let
fall his gun ard closed in. The savage made
blow, missed aim, but severed the cord that
bound the infant TO his back, and il fell. The
contest over the child now beeamc warm and
fierce, and was carried on with knives ONLY.
The robust and athletic Morgan at length got
the asccndcncy. Both were badly cut and
bled freely, but the stabs Of the white man
were better aimed and deeper, and the savage
soon sunk 10 the earth in death. Morgan has
lily took up his child and hurried of.
The Indians in the house, busily ENGAGED in
drinking and piundering, were not apprized Of
the contest in the yard, until the one that had
been Knocked down gave signs of returning
life and called them TO the scene of action.
Morgan was discovered. Immediately pursued,
and dog put on his trail. Operated upon by
oil the feelings Of a husband and father, he
Isoved with all the speed ola hunted, and soon
ontstripped the Indians, but the dog kept in
close pursuit. Finding il impossible TO oulfun
or elude the cunning ANIMAL; trained 10 hunts
Of this kind, he halted and waited until i! came
within few yards Of him, fred, and brought
him down---reloadcd his gun, and pushed for
ward. In short time he reached the house
of his brother, who resided between Bryanl's
Station and Lexington where he left the child,
and the two brothers set out for his dwelling.
As they approached, light broke upon his
yiew---his speed quickened, his fears increased,
tsRd the most agonizing apprehensions crowded
upon his mind. lie emerged from the cane
brake, beheld his house in flames, and almost
burnt to the ground. ---..My wife!" he exclaim-
ed, as he, psesscd ono hand TO his forehead, and
Rssspe MA fence with the other, 10 support
6iN&stsying fame. He gazed for some time
% aac Iain and desolation before him, advau-
.cesiaa few PAGES, and sunk exhausted to the
Garth.
Morning came; the bright luminary Of IIca-
ven arose, and still found him seated near tho
almost expiring embers. In tho right hand he
held . small stick, with which he was tracing
the name Of sEliza" on the ground;s his left
hand was thrown on his fayorite dog, that Law
by his side, looking first on the ruin and then
on his master, with evident signs Of grief.
Morgan arose. The two brothers now made
search, and found some bones, burnt TO ashes,
which they carefully gathered, and silently
consigned to their mother earth, beneath the
widespread branches OF venerable oak, con-
scented by the purest and liolest recollections.
Several days after this, Morgan was cnga-
Hed In desperate battle at the lower Blue
Llcks. The Indians came of yictors, and the
surviving whites retreated across the Licking,
but were pursued by the enemy for distance
ofsix and thirty miles.
James Morgan was amongst the last that
crossed the river, and was in tie rear until the
hijlw1s descended. As soon as lie beheId the
lndians re-appear on the ridge, lie felt anew
11g wrongs, and recollectcd the lovely object
81 his early affections. He urged on his horse.
md pressed to tho front. While in the act Of
leaping from his saddle, he received rifle
bail in his thigh, and foil; an Indian spranr
upon him, seized him by the hair, and appl.
ID The scalpiag knife. Az this moment, Nor