Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-09-06
F'Ss Ia Hs-pssisa
MRS TACKETT, THE CAPTIVE
MOTHER AMONG THE INDIANS.


OF description. These have always beer
greatly multiplied by an en- croachment up
on the rights and possessions Of The abori.
sines. In reference to THE country her,
We have long been eonsideIed IA unwel.
come iniruders, this has been peculiarly
the case. The settlement Of no par, OF
the world has been more fruitful %: Incl.
dent than tina, Of our own. Although many
pens have been employed from time 10
Time, m detaiSng our wars with the la
dians. still many interesting occurrences
have escaped the historian notice. Some
OF these have appeared in the form of
newspaper paragraphs, while Others OF
ef"al importance have escaped this ephe
neral kind OF repository.
The wrIier OF this article has several
times travelled the road which lies on the
banks oil the kanawha. Although "a.
iound mountains whose tops pierced the
clouds, and 4 beautiful river whose mar
gins smoked With salt furnaces, TO amuse
him by day, has. entertainment was not
diminished by the approach Of darkness.
lie has usually sough; lodgings with some
oil the most ancient inhabitants, many Of
whom accommodate their guests with
great hospitality. Like the early ad,en-
lures TO new settlements. they are social
and delight ia the recital OF their danger
Gus enteTPnscrs and their hair breadth
escapes. MIR. NJ. at whose comfortable
manson % was the writer. goo,i fortune
to iarry one night, the last time he passed
through Western Virginia. gave hlm the
following narrative.
Just below the mouth OF Cole river. ON
the farm owned by the heirs of Tays. TO
ensure safety the early settlers construct.
ed fortress. -l,-was formed exclusively
oil timber, without much hbour. vet IN
such manner a. TO be deemed adequate 20
'heir defence against Indian aggression.
On the apprehension of danger. the gate
was closed, and every one p.e pared for
resistance. When the demand for food
became impcriouS, few of the most skill
ful hunters would leave this retreat be fore
day. 60 few miles distant. and return the
succeeding night. loaded with game. I'M
noticed by tie skulk,rg savage. These
measures of safety were considered indis-
Pehssoic. A lew weeks OF repose, how
ever seemed TO render them announcement
and unnecessary. Exemption from n
morning attack Vas thought sufficient
Pledge of peace through the day Fami-
harity with danger, as IL always does. re-
Taxed their vigilance and dimini, bed their
prrcaution. Even the women and chil-
dTcn. who at first had been frightened by
the falling OF tree, or the hooiina Of an
owl. lost their tImidity. Indeed the strife
seemed TO be, who should be boldcst. and
the least apprehensive of peril On
beautiful morning in the month OF June.
IN the year lIIs. as well as is Iecollected,
.he gate was thrown open. Confinement
had become painful, nay, insupportable
IL was considered rather as a voluntary
punishment than a Condition Of security.
Three OF the fearless inhabitants SCI out
IN a hunting expedition. Some sought
amusement IN shooting at a mark; the
young men engaged in PLAYING ball. while
the women and chiidIen were delighted
spectators Ofthe recreation. Scarcely had
an hour elapsed IN these cheerful relaxa.
ions. before some twenty or thirty Indians
suddenly assembled the river bank which
had concealed their approach. fred upon
The whites, and instantly took possession
OF the fort. Amidst The conformation
which ensued. the savagrs put 10 death
every white man on whom they could Law
their hands, reseTvIng the women and
children for more trying occasions.
The wounded. who were unable to ira
vel, without regard Co age or sex, we've
'butchered ~ the most shocking manner
OF which description was James Tackett.
The opportunities aud tears Of his int
resting VIE we're wholly uuavailing. She
wa left With two fine boys the ono seven
years old and the other five AupTchen-
eve Of pursuit by the whites. the Indians.
alter Ill" destruction OF every article
which they could not remove, betook
themselves 10 flight When a prisoner
became too feeble, a. was the case with
-cNeral small children all eniresties TO
avert the stroke 81 the toruahaWk were
tTuitless. Although Mr.. Tacket afford.
cd 20 her children al the aid which their
situation and maternal tenderness could
dictate, at the distance Of about FIVE miles
tie youngest became exhausted. Her
extreme snxiciy Tor hfs safety induced
her Co take him on her back. bot alas
tbs oct Of kindness vas bot tie signal Tor
his despatch Two hours alters ards hcr
only child began 10 fail lie graspcd his
mother hand and said. Il must Keep up
With you or III De killed a. poor Jane.
was. The cxer'lons which he made
Tor her child we're beyond wha, she could
sustain. for time he inspired him
18th The hope oi relief which The 30.
preaching night would bring Nature.
however became overpow cfed and a s,n-
gle blow sunk ham 90 rest. The distract.
ed parent would chcetlully have submit.
ted 90 ihc same fate but even thi. barba.
rous relief vas denied her About dark
she Jagged behind regardless q conse
quences 10 charge OF a Warrior no could
speak a little Enalish lie informed her
that "a the course Of sn hour they would
reach a large eBcampment. where the
prisoners must be divided that sometime
Gu1rrels ensucd on such occasions. and
the capityes were pot 10 death. lie ask
cd her Il she coJld write An Affirmative
answer seemed 20 please hin much. lie
sata he would take her 10 hff otn rrtirtrt