Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1849-04-12

Of the sterile plain. Tie cmigrants were
/ ignorant Of the singular fact, that the prairie
Indians frequently assuGEs the skins and
shapes Of the various animals, and this
strange metamorphosis take the unwary ira
weller BY surprise.
As twilight gradually deepened over the
earth and sky, the youth and maiden de-
scended to their camp. Supper was soon
despatched, and all prepared for the nuptial
ceremony. Emma's father, a Baptist minis
ter, ofieiated as chaplain 1t may readily
be conceived that few luxuries had BEEN pro-
vided for the occasion. S..kh occasions are
common among pioueer parties. Some deli
cious buffalo marrow was handed round, and
supplied the place Of sugar-coated Cakes
There were no torches4or torch bearers
But the rising moon made an excellent lamp
aud the stars respondent candles The
scene had intense national significance. 1t
was symbol worthy of the profoundest stu
dy; for, il emigration is the pivot Of Amer
lean progress, holy matrimony is the main
spring Of emigration. Hence wedding
among emigrants, in the Gate Of the Rocky
Mountains, and on the Fourth Of july, was
in itself sublime
The congratulations Of friends we're scarce
ly over, when a dozen Indians entered the
encampment. Their appearance excited no
alarm, as they were nearly naked, and desti-
tute of weapons They said they were Utahs,
and offered for barter peculiar kind of bread,
composed of dry seeds Of wild sur. flower
and grass-hoppers, in about equal quantities,
pounded, mixed and parched together. Such
an article of food would, of course, find no
civilized purchasers Presently these hidcous
sayages were joined by still greater num-
Der, all in the same unwarlikc condition, with
the exception of one This was a huge. gi-
ant-limbed barbarian, in aspect very different
from his comrades A p.ofusion Of matted
hair hung around his broad shoulders, and a
bristling beard covered the lower part of his
flce. His body was clothed in dcer-skin,
and his ferocious countenanee seemed abso-
iutely frigLtful, from the obliquity Of his lit
tie grey eyes. He was obviously white
man turned savage The wretch looked on
the cmigrants with sinister expression, boz
ding evil fortune, till his glance fell on the
new bride, when his features contracted in a
diabolical smile. At the moment, Emma
recognized him, and screamed, 1T is Bill
Moorc-thc murderer Of my brother p
Immediatelythe outlaw gave loud whoop
the preconcerted signal-and the whole
band Of Indians sprang like SO many mad
panthers, and graHled with the emigrants
The latter, both m9n and women. resisted
with the bravery of desperation. The odds,
however, were too great and in brief space
they we're all oyerpowered, tied with cords of
bark, and lay helpless on the ground, at the
mercy Of their captors Then, at the CON-
mand of their renegade chief, the UtaRs
broke into pieces all the rifles they could
find, and prepared to depart, leaving all the
males fast bound, and carrying with them
the females The shrieks of the poor women,
as they struggled in vain with the naked
arms which dragged them away, were most
piteous TO hear; while the horrors Of the
hour were increased by the cries Of children
clinging conyulsively to the bosoms of their
mothers.
The case seemed hopeless, when a third
party arrived on the mournful theatre Tke
large company of Indians ON horseback,
dashing rapidly towards the camp, They
we're headed BY beautiful young female,
dressed in buckskin shirt, pantaloons and
uloceasins, adorned with many tasteful gold
en- ornaments, whose graceful figure sat upon
her stced with fairy-likc ease and elegance.
'.Soshonesl Soshones !" Shouted the Utahs,
giving way to panic of ungovernable terror,
and flying off in all directions, leaving their
prisoners astonished at so strange deliver
ance. But there was one whosdid not let go
his victim. The. refugee, Bill Moore seized
the fainting form of Emma and scaling, with
incredible velocity. a neighboring eminence,
disappeared with his living burden beyond
its tall summit
The minute after, the friendly Soshoncs
reached the scene of recent outrage, and cut
loose the cords with which the captives had
been tied, hand and foot The lovely lead
er Of the Snakes explained by signs, and
some few words Of broken English, that tho
commander Of the Utahs was her husband,
and had that morning gone out under the
pretenee Of hunting, when she was informed
by eomrade, of her false lords intention to
carry off white woman during the night,
from the South Pass-a woman whom he
had seen the previous day, on the Sweet Wa
ter river, and recognised as one he had loved
before his exile among the indians. This
intelligence drove Henry almost distracted
and as well as he was able, by gestures, he<
told the other that her husband had borne
away his wife-pointed out the course they
had taken, andentrcated her to pursue them,
and suffer him to attend the company
The dark eyes Of the female Soshone light
ened with the fires of jealousy and revenge
She instantly provided Henry with feet
horse. He found bis rife, which, BY good
luck, had escaped the general mutilation,
and having mounted the hardy steed Of the
prairies, the whole band Of Snakes dashed
UPWARDS. Making a short circuit around
the hill, over which Bill Moore had passed,
they soon reached the level plain, and obtain
ed sight Of the fugitive, who was galloping
of ON a strong horse, that doubtless bad been
concealed for the present purpose, and the
hutter Of the white garments on the wind
proved that the victim was borne in the abb
horned riders lap.
The Soshohe woman uttered piercing
yell, and the pursuers augmented their speed
to rate which rapid u Diminished the dis
tance betWixt them and their object Tie
chase extended south, 10 the direction Of the
spiral shaped baiie, now known as jacobs
Tower and as the troop nearcd It; the fel-
Ion was not more than one hundred yards
ahead His escape seemed impossible, for
the rocky structure was Of considerable
height, and its irregular sides looked steep
AZ the walls Of house Hence even the "a
wages we're astonished when they beheld
III 6ore leap from his steed and still support
Ing the weight Of his burden, began to as
end the extraordinary 6nffs He had dis
covered = narrow and difieult crevicc that
SSshied him to climb to:the TOD Of the preci-