Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-09-03
STAUNT0N, VIRGINIA, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER g. l849.

ney. The savages made an effort to scramble up
again, but the pungent effluva of the feathers O.
vercame him, and he fell heavily on the hearth
stone. In the meantime Miriam had again clasp
ed the rifle and held it dubbed ready for his re-
ception. Scarcely had he touched the floor, when
the iron bound point of the hreech crashed thro'
his skull. The other Indian who bad caught a
Whit Of the vapor in time to avoid like fate, pre-
cipitately descended from the roof.
Fonr ofthe thirteen Indians were now killed or
disabled, the casualties only added to the fury Of
the remainder. They were all well aware that
the cabin was occupied by women only, and no.
thing could be more degrading in the eyes of these
swarthy warriors than to be baffled by parcel Of
sqaaws. They now furously assailed the door
with their tomahawks. To this proceeding the
inmates Of the house could offer no resistance
lns,rikipg the savage who had fallen down the
chimney. Miriam Cook had broken the lock Of hel
husbands rifle, the only one they had ; and now,
handing the weapon to her sister-in- law, she arm
ed herself with the axe Of the cabin, and pre-
pared toy the last extremity. Alice betook her
self to very formidable weapon-the slaughter
ing-knife Of the establishment; and thus armed
the three women ranged themselves on either side
the door determined to sell their lives as dearly as
possible.
! In about an hour the Indians had nearly cut out
two planks of the door beneath the bar-a space
Just sufficient for man to force his body through
in stooling posture. They now brought heavy
piece Of timber from the adjacent pile, and using
II as a batterng-ram, soon beat in the weakened
portion Of the door, at the same time driving the
articles which had been pill against it into the
middle OF the cabin. Taught caution by the loss
rs they had already sustained, they did not i'm
medlately attempt to enter through the breech hut
thrusting in and crossing the muzzes Of their rifles
discharged them into the house. In this they had
a double d-sign-that Of killing or manning some
Of the occupants, ad getting under cover Of the
smoke.
Before the sound Of The desfening broadsde had
died away, the feather crested head Of Wyan.
dot warrior parted the smoke which ohscured the
Inferior; but as he rose from stopping posture in
entering, Aliriam's axe descended With trelnen
dous force, cutting through shoulder and collar
bone sheer into his chest. He dropped with q
wild cry, halt Of defiance and half of agony. A
mother savage followed, and another, and another
! each sinking in turn under the axe of the courage
GUS maEon. The fifth she missed but Instantly
graphing with him she held him powerless in
her arms while Alice plunged the knife into his
body. OF the next two who entered, one was
disabled by blow on the head from the butt OF
Hopes rifle, and another nearly decaptated by q
sweep Of Miriam's axe.
| OF the thirteen warriors who had left their tribe
~. VIC wa pau, lew Gays peiole ohiy Two were
unwounded and capable Of service, and they seiz-
ed with panic at the havoc made among theil
companions by the long knife squaws,' abandoned
the siege and fled back to the village. To the
wounded that was left behind them no quarter
was given. To have spared their lives would
have been treason to the dead. Nlriam's axe and
the knife Of Alice made short work Of them, and
this duty fulfilled, the family lost no time in pro-
ceeding to Frankfort. The next day a hundred
mounted frontiersmen assembled, and after bring
ing in the bodies of the Cooks and McAndre start
ed for the nearest Wyandot village to take whole
some revenge.