The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-11-24
4 Thrilling Narrative.

Bryans station 10 the wilds OF hentucky. LRe I
most pioneers of the west, he had cut down the
cane, deadened the timber, enclosed field with /
worm fence, and planted some corn.
II was on the 9TH of August, 1882. The sun /
had descended; pleasant breeze was playing |
through the surrounding wood; the cane bowed
under it's influence, and the broad leaves Of corn
waved in the air.
Morgan had settled himself in tho door of his !
cabin, with his infant on his knee. His young
and happy wife had laid aside her spinning wheel
and was busily engaged in preparing her frugni
meal. That afternoon he accidentally found .
bundle of letters which he had flashed reading to
his wife before taking his seat in the door, 1t was
a correspondence in which they acknowledged au
early and ardent attachment for each pther, and
the perusal left evident traces of joy in The faces
OF both; the infant too, seemed to partaks of its
kind parents feelings, by its cheerful smiles, play
full humor, and infantile caresses. While thus
agreeably employed, the report of a rife was
heard, another followed in quick succession.-
Morgan sprang to his feet, his wife went 20 the
door, and they simultaneously exclaimed-"In
dians!"
The door was immediately shut and barred,
and tho next instant their fears were realized by
bold and spirited attack Of small party of Indi-
ans.
The cabin could not be successfully defended
and time was precious. Morgan, cool. brave and
prompt soon decided. While he was in the act of
conceang his wife under the floor. mothers fell
ings overcame her-she arose, seized the nfant,
but afraid that its cries would betray her place
of ofconcealment She hesitated gazed silently up
on it-a momentary struggle between duty and af-
4ection took place.. She once more pressed her
child TO her agtated bosom, aud agan and again
kissed it with impassionate tenderness. The in
FAINT, alarmed at the prouson of tears that fell up
on its cheek, looked up in its mothers face
threw its little arms around her neck, and mept
aloud.
:. In the name of Heaven, Eliza, release the |
child, or be lost" and the distracted husband, in
soft imploring tone, as he forced the infant from
his wife, hastily took up his gun knife and hatchet,
ran up the ladder that led to the chamber and
drew it up after him. In moment the door was
burst open, and the savages eutered.
By this time Morgan had secured.his child in
bag and Iashed it to his back then throwing off
some clapboards from the abin's roof he resolute-
" leaped to the ground. He was assaIed by two
Indians. As the first approached he knocked him
down with the butt end of his gun. The other
advanced with upifted tomahawk Morgan let fall
bis gun and closed in.
The savage made blow, missed, but severed |
che chord that bound the infant to his back, and it
1eH. The contest over the child now became
warm and fierce, and was carried on with knives T
only. The robust and athletic Morgan at length |
got the ascendency; both were badly cut and bled
freely, but the stabs of the white man were bet
ter and deeper, and the savage soon fell to the
earth in death. Morgan hastily took up his child
and hurried off.
The Indians in the house busly engaged in
drinking and plundering, were not apprised of the
contest in the yard until the that had been
knocked down gave signs of returning life and call
ed them to the scene of action.
Morgan was discovered, Immediately pursued,
:and a. dog put upon his trail. Operated upon by
all the feelings of husband and father he moved
with all the speed of hunted stag and soon out
stripped 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 and waited till it came within a few
yards of him, he then fired and brought him to the
ground.
In short time he reached the house of his
brother, who resided near Bryan's station, of Lex
ington, where he left the child, and the two BROTH
ers SET out for James dwelling. AS they approach
ed light broke upon his view-his steps quickened
his fears increased, and the most agonzing appre
hensons crowded upon his mind. AS he emerged
from the cane brake, he beheld his house in flames
and almost burnt to the ground-"My wife ~ he
exclaimed, as he pressed one hand to his forehead,
and with the other he grasped the fence to support
his tottering Frame. He gazed on the ruin and
desolation before him, advanced a few PAGES and
fell to the earth.
The morning came, and the luminary of heav-
en- arose, and still found him seated nenr the al
most expiring embers. In his right hand he held
stick. with which he was tracing the name of
Eliza upon the ground, and his left hand lay on
his fayorite dog that lay by his side looking first on
shs ruins aud then on his master with evident signs
of e-ief. Morgan arose. The two brothers now
made search, and found some bones burnt to ash
es: which they carefully gathered, and silently
consigned them to the mother earth; beneath the
high spreading branches Of venerable oak, conse-
Grated by the purest and holiest recolections.
Several days after this, Morgan was engaged in
adesparate battle at the Lower Blue Licks. The
Indians came off VIGOROUSLY, and the surviving
whites returned across Licking, pursued by the
enemy for distance of six and thirty miles.
James Morgan was among the last to cross the
river, and was in the until the hill was des
eended. As he beheld the Indians reappear on
the ridge, he felt and saw his wrongs, and reco-
lseted the lovely object of his dear affections. He
urged his horse and pressed to the trout.
While in the act of leaping from his saddle, he
EeesiFsd rifie ball in his thigh, and fell; an In
dian sprsng upon hims seized him by the hair, and
applied the scalping- knife.
kt this moment Morgan cast up his eyes and
secognizsd the handkerchief that bound the head
Of fiae savage and knew ittebe his wifa's. This
adlsd repswsd strsngsh to his body, and ncreas-
cd activity to his fury. He Quickly tIfeyy his left