The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-07-23
THRILLING INCIDENTS.
The Rangers Adventure.

A correspondent Of the Knckerbocker, after
describing visit to the residence of very old
gentleman, DR.. Blank, in the western part o
Massachusetts, relates the following details oI
an adventure, during the old French war
"At nineteen years of age, he joined the ar.
my of the provinces, that in ITS essayed to take
Crown Point from the French. He marched to
the lakes with Colonel Ephraim Williams, than
whom more gallant man never breahed the
air of New England The doctor fought at his
command at Lake George, on the memorable
eighth Of September; saw, imagined he saw
the fall Of his brave leader; and is quite sure
that he put bullet into the French officer, M.
ST. Pierre. The next year he joined Rogers
company OF Rangers, and was stationed with a
party Of them at Fort Ann, not far from where
Whitehall now stands But at that day 1t was a
Fsdark and bloody ground;'' frontier station in
the forests, which we're filled with rival savages
attached to France or England
One day, in mid-winter, eight rangers with a
sergeant we're ordered out on some service; the
doctor did not know what but probably to seize
some Struggling Frenchman about Ticondcroga
or Crown Point, and bring him to the fort, for
The sake of obtaining intelligence. He was
himself of the party. A narrow road, or rather
path, led northward toward Canada, and they
followed it for several hours. There had just
been heavy fall of snow all the pines and hem
locks in the forest we're loaded thick with it: and
as the afternoon was still and clear, only occa-
sional fakes of light masses dropped from the
burdencd boughs like feathers. These crcum-
stances were stamped on the old mans mind,
seeming like constantly recurring dream. The
rangers waded in Indian file through the snow,
and as danger was apprehended, man was pla-
ced some rods in advance, one on each flank,
and another behind. This last was the doctor
himself, sand this was the gun carried" said
he, taking short heavy piece from Il conOr.--
They saw no signs of the enemy; there was no
sounds but the note of the little "chick-a-dee-
dee," so familiar to the pine woods in winter.
AT length they descended into a hollow; the
frozen sheet of ST. George lay not far TO the
left. and steep hill on to the right The ground
a short distance before them was low and swan
by, and little brook had spread itself out on
the path, making frozen space, free from trees,
across which their advanced man was slowly
trampling, crushing his boots into the ice and
water at every STEP He paused suddenly, turn
ed sharply around, and gave the low whistle ap.
pointed as the signal of alarm. He had seen
the tracks of many fresh moccasincd feet III the
fresh snow beyond. There was not time to
think; the loud report Of a gun broke the still
ness. The ranger gave a shril scream, leaped
foul feet into the air and fel! flat. Instantly the
Indian veil burst from the woods on outright and
left, followed by the stunning rattle gilmore than
fifty guns, and but one man of the rangers ever
moved alive from the spot where he stood unfx-
ed with surprise at the sudden death of his com
rades.
That man was our hero, whose position far be-
hind the rest, saved him. He remembered the
panic felt at the fierce burst of yells and mus.
kerry, and the sudden rush of the savage swarm
from their ambush, upon his fallen comrades;
and in the next instant, that his memory could
recall, he was flying back towards theIfort. He
heard sharp, sudden yelps behind him, and CLAN
cling back, saw two Indians bounding on his
track. He ran mile, he should think, without
turning OF hearing a single sound then turning
his head, saw an Indian leaping silent as spec
tire, within few rods Of him. With admirable
GOODNESS, he turned quickly round, and raising
his gun with steady hand, fred with such good
effect that the Abenaki pitched forward to the
ground, and his shaven head ploughed up the
snow, for yards, by the impulse Of his headlong
pursuit. The yolng soldier tnrncd and fled
again, and as he did so he heard the report Of
the other Indians gun, followed by the loud hum
ming the ball. So alert and attentive were
his faculties, that he observed where the bullet
struck upon loaded bough in front Of him, scat
tering the glittering PARTICLES of snow.
The path now led downward with steep de-
scent; at tho bottom an ancient pine tree had fall