The native American., 1838-05-26
WONDERFUL ESCAPE FROM INDIANS.
~ A HISTORICAL NARRATIVE.

most pioneers Oi Inc VesI, Hc iidu Cut uoWH rtHt
cane, built cabin, deadened the timber, enclosed
a field with a worm fence, and planted some
corn.
It was on the 18th of August, 1882; the sun
had descended; a pleasant breeze was playing
through the surrounding wood; the cane bowed
under its influence, and the broad green leaves
OF the corn waved in the air; Morgan had seated
himself in the door of his cabin, with his infant
on his knee; his young and happy wife had laid
aside her spinning wheel, and was busily enga-
ged in preparing the. frugal meal. That after
noon he had accidentally found bundle Of let
ters, which he had finished reading to his wife be-
fore he had taken his seat in the door. twas a
correspondence in which they had acknowledged
an early and ardent attachment for each other, and
the perusal left evident traces Of Joy on the coun-
tenance Of both; the little infant too seemed to
partake Of its parents feelings, by its cheerful
smiles, playful humor, and infantile caresses.
While thus agreeably employed, the report of a
rifle was heard; another and another was heard in
quick succession. Morgan sprang to his feet, his
wife ran to the door, and they simultaneously ex-
claimed, Indians!'
The door was Immediately barred, and the next
moment their fears were realized by a bold and
spirited attack of small party ofIndians. The
cabin could not be successfully. defended, and
time was precious. Morgan, cool, brave, and
prompt. soon decided. While he was in the act
Of concealing his wife under the floor, mothers
feelings overcome her; she arose, seized her in
fan but afraid that its cries would betray her
place Of conceallnent. She hesitated, gazed si-
lenty upon it, momentary struggle between af-
fection and duty took place. She once more press
ed her child to her agitated bosom, again and
again kissed it with impassioned tenderness. The
infant alarmed at the profusion of tears that fell
upon its cheek, looked up in its mothers face,
threw its little arms around her neck, and wept
aloud. In the name Of heaven, Eliza, release the
child or we shall be lost said the distracted hus-
band, in soft imploring voice, as he forced the
infant from his wife, hastily took up his gun,
knife and hachet run up the ladder that led to the
garret, and drew it afler him. In moment the
door was burst open, and the savages entered.
By this time Morgan had secured his child in
bag and lashed it to his back; then, throwing
off some clap-boards from the roof of his cabin,
resolutely leaped to the ground. He was assailed
by two Indians. . AS the first approached, he
Knocked him down with the butt Of his gun. The
other advanced with uplifted tomahawk; Morgan
let fall his gun and closed in. The savage made
blow, missed, but severed the cord that bound
the infant to his back, and it fell. The contest
over the child now became warm and fierce, and
was carried on with knives only The robust
and athletic Morgan at length got the ascendency.
Both were badly cut and bled freely, but the stabs
Of the white man were better aimed and deeper,
and the savage soon sunk to the earth in, death.
Morgan took up his child and hurried off.
fa The Indians in the house, busily engaged in
drinking and plundering, were not apprized of
the contest in the yard until the 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
Z: :.t tod upO hxra all tho fooiurc Ofo
husband and father, he moved with all the
speed Of hunted stag, and soon outstripped the
Indians, but the dog kept in close pursuit Find
ing it impossible to outrun or elude the cunning
animal, trained to hunts of this kind, he halted
and waited until it came within few yards of
him, fred and brought him down; reloaded his
gun and pushed forward. In short time he
reached the house of his brother, who resided be-
tween Bryant'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 view---his speed quickened, his fears in
creased, and the most agonizing apprehensions
crowded upon his mind. He emerged from the
canebreak, beheld his house in flames, and almost
burnt to the ground. My wifep he exclaimed,
as he pressed one hand to his forehead and
grasped the fence with the other, to support his
tottering frame. He gazed sometime on the ruin
and desolation before him, advanced few PAGES,
and sunk exhausted to the earth.
~ Morning came; the bright luminary of heaven
arose, and found him still seated near the almost
expiring embers. In his right hand he held a
small stick with which he was tracing the name
ofisEliza' on the ground his left hand was thrown
on his favorite dog, that lay by his side, looking
first on the ruin and then on his MASTER with evi-
dent signs of grief. Morgan arose. The two
brothers now made search, and found some
bones, burnt to ashes, which they carefully gath.
cred, and silently consigned to their mother earth
beneath the widespread branches Of a venerable
oak, consecrated by the purest and hottest recol-
lections.
4 Several days after this, Morgan was engaged in
a desperate battle at the lower Blue Licks. The
Indians came off victors, and the surviving whites
retreated across the Licking, but were pursued
by the enemy for thirty six miles.
Jlmes Morgan was amongst the last that cross
ed the river, and was in the rear until the hill
was descended. AS soon as he saw the Indians
reappear on the ridge, he felt anew his wrongs