Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-11-20
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SCENE ON THE OHIO.
NY REV. J, TODD.

WCu ~ u uOW ucdTIy IUIty yedTS SinCe l
first saw the glorious Ohio. 1 shouted when
| first saw il; have loved ii ever since, and
when | die hope shall be buried on
its banks. On certain day I engaged to
go down the river to Kentucky, with Capt.
Ward, as he was removing his family from
the east. was as kind Of pilot, for was
well acquainted with the river, and all points
Of danger. Tho country was full of Indians,
and no settlement Of any note had been made
in OHIO. The whites and the Indians too,
were constantly making war upon each other.
do not know who vas the most to blame;
the whites killed the most, and the Indians
were most cruel. We purchased an old,
crazy, square built boat, between forty and
fifty feet in length, and about eight or ten
wide. We con,rivcd to spike on single
pine plank on each gunncl, and this was the
only thing we had to defend us. We had a
heavy load, furniture, baggage, horses, pigs,
fowls, ploughs, besides nearly dozen people.
These consisted of the captain, his wife, and
their young children, widowed sister and
son, besides several men to manage tho boat.
When we left, we were fearful lest the In
dams should attack US from the shore, but
we knew that by keeping in the middle of
the river we should be beyond the reach of
their rifles, or could be in a few moments.
Thus we passed on for several days, till we
supposed we were beyond the haunts of the
Indians. One day, Just at sunset, after we
had become tired with rowing, we let our
boat drift lazily and carclcssly along the cur
rent. We were just getting ready to put up
for the night. The mother was promising
tho children a good run on shore. The
widow was getting out provisions, andmaking
preparations for our supper. The captain
and his nephew had hold of the oars, and
moved them just enough to allow me to steer
the boat.
Rogers said the captain, suppose we
put in this side of that point, and tie our boat
to one of those big trees, and there encanp
for the night
1T Is right good place, captain, and !
like it. Besides, few moments ago,
thought | heard wild turkeys over the hill,
and hould like to have one for our supper.
SO we put in towards the shore, and had
got within fifty yards of that point around
which the steamboat has just passed, when
heard a stick crack as if broken by the foot.
"A deer said the captain.
nc, no. shouted, row, row for life, or
we are all dead
AT that instant, down rushed scores Of In
dams 10 the shore, with shout that made the
hills across the river echo it back again.
The murdcrous creatures rushed down to
to the waters edge, and presented their guns
aud opened a heavy fire upon us. In an id
slant the young man snatchcd his rife, and
rising up his full length, fired at the nearest
Indian, who had a shabby head-drcss. The
Indian fell, and SO did the young man at the
same instant. AS he fell, the captain brought
the boat round still nearer. The Indians
yelled, the women screamed, the horses were
falling and plnngng, and bullets were flying
thick around us. Yet above all, the voice OF
Cnpt. Ward rose cool-'Rogcrs, take my oar.
ltook it, and he at the same instant seized
e piece of plank, and rowcd to such good
purpose that in few minutes VIC were out
in the river, beyond the rcacl, of their rifles.
We knew they had no canoes, being on a
hunting excursion, and that we were SAFE
But oh! what Il sight the horses were all
dead or dying, one child badly wounded, the
boat half filled with water, and the young
man in his blood at the bottom of the boat.
BY this time, the GOODNESS of the captain was
all gone. lie lay down by the side of his
nephew, whom he loved as his son, and en-
clamed, 20 John, John! o Lord have mcr-
cy! have brought the dear boy to his death.
But the widowed mother! She was pale as
a sheet but she came to her son, raised his
head in her lap, and opened his bosom, where
the blood was still coming. lie was yet
alive.
'John,' said she in sweet voice, as il
speaking to babe, John do you know me =
My MOTHER said he in whisper.
Can you swallow, JoIn!' said she, put
ting her hand over and dipping up some water
from the river.
lie tried, but could not.
My son, do you know that you arc dying
yes, mother, but are you hurt!'
no, no; but doa't think Of me. Can YOU
pray with the heart now, my dear SOM
Sod be mcrciful to me a sinner, for the
Jesus Christ said the mother, for he was
gone. She bent over HIM few minutes, as
if in silent prayer, then kissed his lips, and
for the first time tears filled her eyes. Till
that moment you would have thought she had
been talking to child just going to sleep, her
voice was SO calm and so mild. She was a
widow, and he was her only child, and a
noble fellow he was. But she was a rcl-
gious woman, never saw religion 1.-The that
before or since. We lay Off the river till
dark, and then silently came to the shore on
this side for the night. We dared not light
candle, lest the Indians should see it. We
then brought the body Of the young man up
the bank, and when the moon arose, we dug
that grave which you see yonder. We had
TO be careful not to make noise, nor even
to weep aloud. But after we had opened
the grave and were ready to put the corpse
in II, the widowed mother spoke:
is there no one here that can offer a
prayer as we bury my only chid!'
There was no answer. We could all sob
but we had never prayed for ourselves. She
then knclt down, and laying her hand on the
bosom Of the dear boy, she in a subdued voice
uttered such prayer as few ever made