Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-08
THE ESCAPE,

SOON Killed large DUCK, and returned
home for horse, in order to bring it in.
During his absence party of five Indians
on one of their skulking expeditions, ac-
cidentally stumbled on the body of the
deer, and perceiving that it had been very
recently killed, they naturally supposed
the hunter would return to secure the
flesh. Three of them, therefore, took
their stations within close rife shot of the
deer, while the other two followed the
trail of the hunter, and waylaid the path
by which he was expected to return.
Mcdonnell, thinking not of danger, rode
carelessly along the path which the scouts
were watching, until he came within view
of the deer, when he was fired upon by
the whole party, and his horse killed
While laboring to extricate himself from
the dying animal, he was seized by his en-
emies, overpowered, and borne off a pris-
oner. His captors, however, seemed a
merry good set of fellows, and permitted
him to accompany them unbound-and
what was rather extraordinary, allowed
him to retain his gun and hunting accou-
trements. He accompanied them with
great apparent cheerfulness through the
day, and displayed his dexterity by shoot
ing for the use of the company, until they
began to regard him with great partiality.
Having travelled with them in this manner
for several days, they at length reached
the banks of the Ohio river.
Heretofore the Indians had taken the
precaution to bind him at night, although
not very securely but on that evening
he demonstrated with them on the subject,
and complained so strongly of the pain
which the cord gavehim, that they merely
wrapped the buffalo tug about his waist,
and having tied it in an easy knot, and to
their own bodies, in order to prevent his
moving without awakening them, they
very composedly went to sleep, leaving
the prisoner to follow their example or
not. as he pleased.
MIR. Mcconnell determined to effect Fis
escape that night, if possible, as, on the
following morning, they would cross the
river, which would render it more diff
cult. He therefore lay quietly until near
midnight, anXiously ruminating on the
best means of efecting his object. Acct
dentally casting his eyes in the direction
of his feet, they fell upon the glittering
blade of knife which had escaped from
its sheath, and was now lying near the
feet of one of the Indians.
To reach it with his hands without dis
turbing the Indians to whom he was tied
was impossible, and also very hazardous
to attempt to draw it up with his feet.
This, however, he attempted. With much
difficulty he grasped the blade between
his toes, and after repeated and long con-
tlnued efforts, he succeeded at length in
bringing it within reach of his hands.
10 cut the cords was then but the work
OF a moment, and gradually and silently
eXtrlcating his person, he walked to the
fire and sat down. He saw that his work
was half done. That if he should attempt
to return home without DESTROYING his
enemies, he would assuredly be pursued
and probably be overtahen, when his fate
would be certain. On the other hand, it
seemed almost impossible for single in
dividual to succeed in conflict with five
Indians, even though unarmed and asleep.
He could not hope to deal blow with a
knife so silently and fatally, as to destroy
each one of his enemies in turn, without
awakening the rest. Their slumbers were
proverbially light and restless-and if he
failed with a single one, he must inevita-
bly, be overpowered by the survivors. The
knife was therefore out of the question.
After anxious reflection of few moments
he formed his plan.
The guns of the Indians were stacked
near the fire-their knives and tomahawks
were sheathed by their sides. The latter
he dared not touch for fear of arousing the
owners-but the former he noiselessly re-
moved, with the exception of two, and
carefully hid them in the woods, where
he knew the Indians would not readily
find them. He then returned to the spot
where the Indians We're still sleeping,
perfectlyignorant of the fate preparing for
them, and taking gun in each hand, he
rested the muzzles upon log, within six
feet OF his victims, and having taken de-
liberate aim at the head of one and the
heart of another, he pulled both triggers
at the same instant. Both shots were
fatal.
AT the report of their guns, the others
sprang to their feet and glared wildly
about them. Mcconnell, who had run to
the spot where the other. rifles were hid,
hastily seized one of them, and fired at
two Of his enemies who happened to be 1
in line with each other. The
nearest fell dead, being shot through-the
centre of the body : the second fell also,
believing loudly, but Soon recovering,
limped off into the woods as fast as'pessi- |
BILE. The fifth, the only one that remained
darted off like deer, with yell