Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-12-29

the river, and turning bold point @
the hill, he found a beautiful sprin,
within a few feet of the river, nov
known by the name of Cold Spring
on the kam of D. Tallmadge, ESQ.,
He filed his canteens and returned il
safety to his watchful companion. l
was now determined to have a fresl
supply of water every day, and thi.
duty was performed alternately.
On one of these occasions, after
White had filed his canteens, he sat a
( few minutes watching the liquid element
as it came gurgling out of the bosom oi
the earth, when the light sound of foot
steps caught his practiced ear, and upon
turning round he saw two squaws within
few feet of him. Upon turning the
jot of the hill, the eldest squaw gave
one of those far-reaching whoops pecu-
liar to Indians. White at once COM
pretended his perilous situation. II
the alarm should reach the camps OF
town, he and his companion must inevi-
tably perish. Self-preservation com
PEELED him to inflict noiseless death on
the squaws, in such a manner, as, il
possible, to leave no trace behind
Ever rapid in thought, and prompt in
action, he sprang upon his victims with
the rapidity and power of lion, and
grasping the throat of each, sprang
into-the river. He thrust the head Of
the eldest under water. While making
strong efforts to submerge the younger,
who, however, powerfully resisted him,
and during the short struggle with this
young athletic, to his astonishment she
addressed him in his own language,
though in almost inarticulate sounds
Releasing his hold, she informed him
that she had been a prisoner for ten
years, and was taken from below Wheel
ing, and that the Indians had killed all
the family, and that her brother and
herself were taken prisoners, but he
succeeded, on the second night, in
his escape. Durign this narra-
tive, White had drowned the elder
squaw, and had let her float off with
the current, where it would not proba-
bly, be found out soon. He pow di-
rected the girl to follow him, and with
his usual speed and energy, pushed for
the mount. They had scarcely gone
half way when they heard the alarm
cry some quarter of a mile down the
stream. 1t was supposed some party
of Indians, returning from hunting,
struck the river Just as the body of the
squaw foated past. White and the
girl succeeded in reaching the mount,
where M'Cleland had been no indiffer-
ent spectator to the sudden commotion
among the Indians. The prairie par
ties of warriors were seen Immediately
TO strike off in every direction, and
White and the girl had scarcely arrived,
before party of some twenty warriors
had reached the eastern acclivity of the |
and were cautiously and care
fully keeping under cover. Soon the
spies saw their swarthy foes as they !
ylided from tree to tree, and rock to |
rock, till their position was surrounded,
except on the west perpendicular side,
md all hope of escape was cut off. In
his perilous condition, nothing was left |
,ut to sell their lives as dearly as posi-
Die, and this they resolved TO do, and
advised the girl to escape to the Indi-
ms, and tell them she had been taken
prisoner. She said, ''No; death to me
n the presence of my own people, is
thousand times sweeter than captivity
md slavery. Furnish me with a gun,
md Twill show you can fight as well
Is die. This place l leave not. Here
ny bones shall lie, bleaching with
vours, and should either of you escape,
Tou will carry the tidings of my death
o my few relations" Remonstrance
proved fruitless. The two spies quickly
natured their plan of defence, and Wig
,rously commenced the attack from the
ront, where, from the very narrow
backbone of the mount, the savages
lad to advance in single file, and with
,ut any covert. Beyond this neck, the
warriors availed themselves of the
'ocks and trees in advancing, but in
passing from one to another, they must
,e exposed for a short time, and mo
nent's exposure of their swarthy forms
vas enough for the unerring rifles of
he spies. The Indians being entirely
gnorant of how many were in ambus-
,ade, were the more cautious how they
advanced. moo f II
After bravely maintaining the fight in
ront, and keeping the enemy in check,
hey discovered a new danger threaten
ng them. The arch foe now made
evident preparations to attack them on
he flank, which could be most success
'uIly done by reaching an isolated rock
ying in one of the ravines on the south
,rn hillside. This rock once gained by
he Indians, they could bring the spies
1nder point blank shot of the rifle with
,ut the possibility of escape. Our
brave spies saw the utter hopelessness
IF their situation, which nothing could
avert but a brave companion and an
1nerring shot. These they had not;
put the brave never despair. With
his impending fate resting upon them,
hey continued calm and calculating,
and as unwearied as the strongest de-
sire of life and the resistance Of nu-
merous foe could produce. Soon
NJ Cleland saw tall and swarthy figure
to spring from a covert sol