Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-02-27

the midst of danger, and every moment liable to
an attack from their savage enemies. Late in the
autumn the marriage of Edith and Hervey was to
be celebrated The appointed day rolled round,
the company assembled, and the blazing of the
huge maple and hickory wood fire, as it reflected
its light upon the rude ceiling impaired an air of
comfort to the well-flled BUILDING The bride az
rayed in virgin white, leaning upon the arm of the
groom, made her appearance--silenee prevailed
the aged minister, his hair silvered by the frosts
OF many winters, approached and began the cere
mony which was TO unite the young and happy
couple in bonds TO be severed only by deatl--when
yelis fierce and terrific were heard without A
moment more, and score of disguised demons
forced the door; bet the sstonishment and awe in
to which those within the house were thrown gave
way, and their assaults were met at the Threshold
with determination not anticipated by tre swar-
thy band. The females retired to an inner room
for protection, while the men defended the doors
AS the entrance to the house was narrow, the
whites had the advantage, although ia point of
number they were less than the Indians Warr-
or after warrior fell back dead upon those in the
rear until the Indian force was much weakened.
For hours the strife continued with unabated fury;
hope on the part of the whites had almost fed,
when suddenly the Indians retired from the con-
test, and left them in possession of the house.
The whole party (now weakened by the loss of
three of the stoueat hearts that ever beaD again
assembled to finish the ceremony which was in
terrupted before its conclusion, and consulted as
to the future Having determined to abandon the
place and retire to the fort they were upon the
eve of doing so, when their foes returned to the
assault with renewed energy, and with more sue
cess.
In the thickest Of the fight appeared tall war
rior, towering above the rest he seemed to be the
leader of the band. Brandshing his hatchet, he
made his way into the midst of the whites and
seizing the almost iHanimate form of Edith, bore
her in his arms to the door in safety A scream
of misery burst from the lips of the groom and his
friends when it was perceived that he had gained
the open space, as they knew it would be madness
to fire upon the savage protected as he was by his
senseless burden. Followed by the rest of his
band, the warrior disappeared in the recesses of
the forest.
Pursuit was determined upon. Reinforced by
party from the fort, the younger Cameron and
Hervey, within half an hour after the retreat of
the savages, were upon their trail. For nearly
twenty four hours the Indians did not venture to
delay moment, knowing that instant pursuit
would be made. Upon the evening after the bat
tie, the pursuers caught glimpse OF their foes as
they We're ascending hill half mile distant from
them. They wisely determined not to risk an en-
gagement until night, when by stratagem they
might be able to succeed with less danger to them
selves.
The Indians halted at dark, but as if antcipa-
ting an attack, their fires were extinguished IN the
gloom The night was dark and stormy-the
moon failed to shed its rich and genial influence
over the scene and the wind whistled through the
forest fearfully. No bird of omen warbled Its
mournful notes in token of its oneliness-not even
the muru,ur Of the distant waterfall as 1t feii from
rock to rock, from the mountains top was hedru
the wind alone broke the stiffness OF nature
The darkness prevented them from making an at
tempt (as it was first agreed on) to rescue 'he
nrisoner--it was determined to wait the first dawn
of dav. and make the onset while they were yet
Sleeping. Hc HlItCS "S'S h~ - '
while the Indian force amounted to fourteen.
The Indians did not take the precaution to bind
closely their prisoner so that upon the 1irst dis
charge of the rifles Of the pursuers she was ena-
bled TO disengage herselffrom the cords with which
she was bound but before she had gained her ieet,
her captor stood over her, brandishing his war
club which he had snatched from the hand OF ano-
ther as he was rising from the ground. Instantly
the keen eye Of Hervey recognised the savage,
and levelngshs gun he fired. The ball pierced
the Indian's forehead, who leaped from the ground
and fell dead. In quick and rapid succession the
rest of the party fired again and again until the
Indians, perceiving their diminishing number
made aIas,y retreat, leaving behind their guns
and other Instruments of death. lniuriated al tpe
cruelty of the savages, the whites pursued 'hem
for miles two fell from fatigue and were despatch
ed bv the hatchet, while the third desperate from
the numerous wounds received, coming to the
Licking where the banks were high and abrupt,
determined to sacrifice himself rather than to fall
under the knife of the white man, and preciptaied
himself into tie bounding stream and perished be-