Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-04-01
IEGt&GGJgIMD.
THE HoTlERS DEFENCE OF HER HONE.


l.
lngly incredible feat Cfor woman especially of
biting in two nusket ball is there vouched for.
This narrative was written for the Sunday Times
more beautiful and quiet scene then the clear
ing on the Elkhorn which smiled and sparbled in
the light of a cloudless sunrise on the 9th Of
April 1898. could not have been found between
the Kentucky river and the mountains. A rude
but strongly built log cabin half dwelling. half
fortress, was the most conspicuous object in the
foreground. A stream. the Elkhoru. too large 10
be called creek yet scarcely broad enough excen.
during the tre.het- 70 be considered river. its
sloping banks clothed in the verdure Of early
spring, spread with rapid current within halt
rife shot Of the front Of the cabin
The entire clearing consisted of about forty
acres, girdled on every side by the dense forest.
excepting on the east, where broad opening an
peared, and the blazed outline of a road was visi
bic for rod or two, leading apparently TO some
adjacent settlement The location was only three
miles from Frankfort then a small village about
two miles from the nearest point on the Kentucky
river, OF which the Elkhorn is tributary. With
in the cleared arena. labor had done much. The
axe which had let the sunlight into the heart Of
the wilderness, had been promptly followed BY
the plow. The barns and corncrIbs were filed 10
overlooking, and the green blades gIistening with
dew. that covered the southern slopes gave prom
ise ofanother abundant harvest
The cabin was OF double size, for it contained
two families. It's occupants were two brothers
Hosea and Jesse Cook, their wives and children.
and youth Of seventeen named John NcAndre.
who assisted in their farm work The two broth
ers were originally from Connecticut bat had
emigrated 10 Kentucky some years before The time
ournarraGye opens. Nearly four years had elapsed
since they had removed and settled on the Elk
horn, and during the whole Of thar time they had
seen but one Indian.
Hoseas household consisted of his wife Miriam.
like himself native Of New England woman
Of commanding stature and personal strength.
and their daughter Alice golden haired beauty,
and face that smiled all over, then in her seven
teenth year. Hope, the wife ofJcsse Cook was a
rosy, comely daughter Of Virginia younger than
her sister-in-law, with two boys Of zix and three
years old at her apron string. Young AIcAndre.
was a fine handsome young huntsman, whose
father had been killed in reucotu-er with party
of Wyandots. near the Blue LcSs, ia tha, me
morable era OF the frontier OF the West, in the
wear 1892.
Just IS tie suns red dis, became visible above
a@ upper Lne Of the forest to the east the door Of
the cabin opened and The brothers pa-- out. The
scene spread before them was one OF pelect repese
The morning mist had already lifted from the
stream and vas slowly sailing upwards While not
a breath stirred To shake tie leaves or ripple the
surface Of The swiftly gliding water But the
+ Cooks were not the men 10 look upon the land
scape With simple obser, alton that it was fine
growing morning. The cider, Hosea. shouldered
his axe. and followed by his brother walked to a
pile Of chesnu, timber few rods west of the
house, where they had been engaged the previous
day in splitting out fence rails.
They were both unarmcd and would have
laughed At the idea Of carrying weapons to protect
themselves against the Indians. 80 confident had
their long exemption from the attack or mojes;a-
zion redered them But ihelr dream Of security
was destined TO be suddenly and aw'ully broken.
They had not struck twenty blows with their axes,
when dozen rifles
To nearly, deadly aimed, to err
cracked from cIump of naples about forty yards
in advance Of the nearest point OF the woods, and
I Hosea Cook, who in the act OF chooping,
sprang in the air and straigateuingas he descend
ed, fell with his face upwards, quite dead
Jesse. although struck by three bullets ard NOR
tally wounded, started in a staggering run or The
cabin, and fell few feet from the door at the
+ very moment that thirteen Wyando's painted and
p.umed for war leaPed over the cover with a
whoop Of demoniac eNuliatiou. For one moment
the inmates Of the cabin were panic stricken, but
in the next the youth rushed out for ;he purpose
Ct bringing in the wounded man. lie scaed him by
the shoulders and was in the act Of dragging him
toward the threshold when an old Indian. VINO had
. reserved his discharge when the voiley was fired,
took deliberate ann at the young man and shot
HIM through the brain. He fell dead across the
body Of Jesse Cook
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