The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-07
S CE NE IN OHIO.
BY REV. i rom

saw the glorious Ohio | shouted at the sight
| have loved 1t ever since, and when die,
hope shall be buried on its banks. On a certain
day ! engaged TO go down the river to Kentucky,
with Captain Ward, as he was removing his
family fiom the east. was kind of pilot, for
was well acquainted with the river, and all
points OF danger. The country was full of In
dians, AID 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 was the most to blame the
whites Led the most, and the Indians were
most cruel We purchased an old, crazy, square
built boat between forty and fifty feet in length,
and abou eight and ten wide. contrived TO
spike on single pine plank on each gunnel, and
this was he only thing we had to defend US
We had aheavy load, furniture, baggage, horses,
pigs, fowls, plows, besides several men to ma
mage the boat When we left, we were fearful
lest the Indians 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 puld be in few moments. Thus we
passed onfor several days, till we supposed we
were beyond the haunts of the Indians. One
day, just It sunset, after we had become tired
with rowing, we let our boat drift lazlly and
carelessly dong the current. We were just get
ting ready TO put up for the night. The mother
was promising the children good run on shore.
The widoy was getting out provisions, and
making preparation for our supper. The cap
tain 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 to that point, and tie our boat to
one of thos, big trees, and there encamp for the
night.
1t is right good place, captain, and like it.
Besides, a few moments and, thought heard
wild turkeys over the hill, and should like TO
have one fol my supper
So we put in towards the shore, and had got
within fifty rards of that point around which the
steamboat had Just passed. when heard stick
crack as if broken by the foot.
"A DEER said the captain.
mo, no. shouted, row, row for life, or we
are all dead
AT that instant. down rushed scores of indians
| to the shore, with shout that made the mus
across the river echo it back again. me muir
deroSs crea lures rushed down TO the wafer
edge, anu presented their guns and opened
heavy fire upon US. In an instant the young
man snatched his rifle, and rising up his iull
length. fred al the nearest Indian who had
shabby head dress. The Indian fell, and SO did
the Young man at the same instant AS ne leii,
the captain brought the boat around sun heaier'
The Indians Yelled the women screamed, the
horses were falling and plunging, and bullets
were hying thick around US. Yet above all, the
voice Of Capt. Ward rose COOL Rogers take
my oar
piece of plank, and rowed to such good purpose,
that in few minutes we were out In the river,
beyond the reach of their rifles. We know they
had no canoes, being on hunting excursion and
that we were safe. But oh what sight the
horses were all dead or dying, one child badly
wounded, the boat half filled with water, and the
vouno man in his blood at the bottom OF the boat.
Nv this time the GOODNESS of the captain was all
pone. He lay down and exclaimed, O John,
John! o Lord have mercy have brought
the dear boy to his DEATH But the widowed
mother She was pale as sheet but she came
RI her son, raised his head 10 her lap, and open
ed his bosom where the blood was still coming.
He was vet alive.
John said she in a sweet voice, as II speak
mo 10 a babe John do you know me r
INV mother said he in whisper.
Can you swallow, John 2 said she, putting
her hand over and dipping up some water from
the river.
He tried, but could not.
INV son, do you know that you are dying
sYes, mother, but are you hurtP
mo, no but don't think of me. Can you
prav with the heart now, my dear son =
God be merclul to me sinner, for the sake
Of
Jesus Christi said the mother, for he was
gone She bent over him few minutes, as II IN
Silent PRAYER, then kissing his lips, and for the
first time tears filed her eyes. TIL 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 widow, and he was her
only child, and noble fellow he was. But she
was a religious woman. | never saw religion
like that before or since We lay oil the nver
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 il. We then
brought the body Of the young man up the bank,
and when the moon arose, dug that grave
which you see yonder. We had to be careful
not to make noise, nor even 10 weep aloud.
But after we had opened the grave and were rea-
dy TO put the corrse in II, the widowed mother
spoke:
is there no one here that can offer prayer
as we bury my only child
There was no answer. We could all sob, hut
we had never prayed for ourselves. She then
knelt down, and laying her hand on the bosom
of the dear boy, she in subdued voice uttered
such prayer as few ever made. And when she
came TO pray for the whole of us-for the poor In
dams who had murdered her boy; when she gave
thanks to God that he had so long comfored her
heart with her SON and when she gave thanks
that God had given her such a son TO give back
10 him il was awful we could but sob aloud
You preachers, talk about submity, but II this
was not it, ] do not know whatit is. Well, there
we buried him, and there he sleeps yet. In the
morning got up at daylight and came up here
to place the stone at the head Of the grave. II
was bloody, for his head had rested upon IT, l
| found the mother was here before me perhaps
| she had been here all night She was trying to
| do the very thing; and so, without saying a