The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-06-28
Vol. H..

| tHcu tilOWHiS Oll SOME Ol the cup
boards from the cabins roof he reso-
lutey leaped 10 the ground. He was
instantly assailed by two Indians; as
the first approached, he knocked HIM
down with the but end of his gun.-
The other advanced with uplfted TOM
ahawk; Morgan let fall his gun and clo-
sed in. The savage made blow, mis-
sed, but severed the cord that bound
the infant to his lack, and it fell. The
contest over the child now became
warm and fierce, ,andwas carried on with
knives only. The robust and athletic
Morgan at length got the ascendencv ;
both were badly cut and bled freely, but
the stabs ofthe white man were better
and deeper, and the savage soon sunk
to the earth in death. Morgan hastily
took up his child and hurried off.
The Indians in the house, busily ell
gagged in drinking and plundering, were
not apprised Of the contest in the yard
until the one that had been knocked
down gave signs of rturning life and
called them to the scene of action, was
discovered, Immediately pursued, and ID
dog put upon his trail. Operated upon
by all the feelings of husband and a
father, he moved with all the speed of
a hunted stag, and soon outstripped the
Indians, but the dog kept in close pur-
suit. Finding it impossible to outrun
or elude the cunning animal, trained
to hunts Of this kind. he halted, land wait
ed 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 between Byrant'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 steps quick
ened, his fears increased and the most
agonized apprehensiuns crowded upon
his mind. Emerging from the cane
break, he beheld his house in flames
and almost burned to the ground. "My
wife!' he exclaimed, as he pressed one
hand to his forehead and grasped the
fence with the other, to support his tot
tering frame. He gazed some time on
the ruin and desolation before HIM, ad-
vanced 4 few PAGES and su:.k exhaust
ed 10 the earth.
Morning came; the luminary of hea-
ven arose, and sti. found him seated
near the almost expiring embers. In his
right hand he held small stick, with
which he was tracing the name of"Eli-
"a" on the ground, his left hand was
thrown on his favorlte dog that lay by
his side, looking first on the ruins and
then on his master with evident sings
of grief. Morgan arose. The two
brothers now made search and found
some bones burnt TO ashes, which they
carefully consigned to their mother
earth, beneath the wide spread branch.
es of venerable oak.
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 re-
turned across the Licking, pursued by
the enemy for distance ofsix and thir-
ty miles.
James Morgan was amongst the last
who crossed the river; and was in the
rear until tn. hill was descended. As
soon as he beheld the Indians re-appear
on the ridge, he felt anew his wrongs
and recolIected the object of his afec-
lions. He urged his horse, and passed
to the front. While in the act of lea
ping from his saddle, he received rifle
ball in the thigh, and fell; an Indian
sprang upon him, seized him by the
hair and applied scalping knife. At
this moment, Morgan cast up his eyes
and recognized the handkerchief that
bound the head of the savage, as the
one which he know to be his wifes.-.
This added renewed strength to his
body, and increased his fury. He
quickly drew his left hand around the
Indian. and with death like grasp hug
ged him to his bosom, plunged his knife
into his side, and he expired in his arms.
Releasing himself from the savage, Nor
gan crawled under small oak, and on
an elevated piece of ground short
distance from him. The scene of ac-
ton shifted, and he remained undiscov-
cred and unscalped, an anxious spec
tator of the battle.
twas cloudy night. The savage
band had, after taking all the scalps
they could find left the ground. Nor
gan was seated at the foot of the oak,
its trunk supported his head; the rug
ged and uneven ground that surrounded
him was covered with the slain; the
once white projecting rocks bleached
with the rain and sun of centuries were l