The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-01-27

4 Ivy, hS aiS"SiSu, AOhS5eh, sIAo 10 liS IA
anniversary of slly sorrow; that which made
me the outcast, wandering hunter you see me
now. Never before have L sought for human
sympathy. But love you as son, and some
thing seers forcing me to speak. Five sum
mers ago. this very hour, that same sun looked
down upon happy home in West Virginia. 1t
was humble log house, it is true, situated in
o lonely spot, amid hills and woods, but it was
full of comfort and happiness. That home
was mine. For years, all went well with me-
My crops, my cattle were unsurpassed. But
above all, l had a wife who was an angle upon
earth, and two babies, a boy and girl, who
would have made a desert happy with their
sweet laughter and their childish sports.
Though remote from any human habitation,
| and though the Indians were occasionally seen
| and heard of in the neighborhood of my dwell
| ling yet felt no fear | had never wronged
them, but on the contrary, had often fed and
clothed half starved struggles from the tribe,
| who would wander to my door, and blndly
trusted to their magnanimity for the safety of
all l held dear.
sWell, a little later in the day than this, just
five years ago, was seated by my hearth with
my children my knee, while my wife was bu-
sled in the preparation of our evening meal
The sun went down. and darkness came on, but
the air so pleasant that left the door open
to enjoy the fresh breeze that seemed making
music among the branches of the great oaks be-
fore the door. had lent my dogs to neigh
Dor for hnnt, and there was nothing to give
warning of danger save the melancholy hooting
of owl in the neighboring forest. More than
once my wife spoke of the dismal effects that
sound had upon her feelings, but laughed at
her fears. Suddenly as she was crossing the
room, 1 heard her utter a scream of terror,
l turned, and beheld dozen duslly forms crowd
ing into the doorway. Even now l can see their
white teeth shining as the FIRE light flashed up
on them. Springing from my seat, was snatch
ing down Ids rife which always hung-over the
fire place, when l received blow from q toma-
hawk, which made that scar upon my forehead.
thousand lights cleaned in my eyes, and hor-
rid sounds echoed in. my ears as l fell insensi-
bic. Severe as was the blow, L soon returned
to consciousness, owing, no doubt, to the exces-
sive flow of blood. How awful the sight which
I beheld My wife standing bound in one cor
ner of the room, the little children sobbing and
10 neI hHSSS aS II 4OI piOtSSNlOii5 NAAAS
the fends were heaping all my little furniture
into the centre of the room, evidently with the
intention of firing the house. Making a des-
perate effort to rise, gained my feet, and stag
gered forward a step or two, when the blood
gushed over my eyes, and fell helpless and
blinded upon the floor. The shrieking and sob
bing of my wife and children at this pitable
sight were mingled with laugh of derision
from the savages, who supposed that was dead
at last. At this moment one of their sentinels
rushed in, exclaiming in their own language,
Ely! fyi the whites are coming
i heard a few words Of consultation. Then
command was given in tones shall never for
get Then came blows and shrieks. They
were numbering my children Oh, God how
writhed and struggled, in vain, to rise! In
moment their infant cries were stilled in
death Then came a crashin blow, fall, groan,
and all was over! They had murdered my
wife Yes, they were all gone !-alt--aH! not
one left -
The big tear drops fell like rain through the
old mans clasped hands, and his strong frame
shook with agony. The young man said moth
ing. but wept. At length the hunter Gained
himself, and proceeded
81 became again insensible. \ party of hun
ters who happened to be in the neighborhood
came in time to snatch my body from the burn
ing dwelling, but not soon enough to take ven
geance on the murderers. No, thank God, that
task was left for me
s'I taken to station. was nursed and
tended most kindly, but for weeks fingered
upon the brink of the grave. L wished to die,
1 was delirious not only with pain and fever,
but with grief and rage But, at length, good
treatment and my own iron constitution proved
victorious. 1 recovered my health and strength
of body, but there was fever at my heart which
no time, no medicine, could cure. came forth
twenty years older in feelings and appearance.
My hair was grey and my face wrinkled, as you
seem them now.
But my change in body was nothing to my
change in soul. T. who before was too kind
hearted to have harmed worm, was now IL
ger, thirsting for human blood. l thought of
nothing, prayed for nothing, but revenge! L
sold my land and swore never to rest until the
last of that band had fallen beneath my hand.
have nearly fulfilled my VOW Though 1 saw
them but once each of their features was burn
ed into my brain, and could not mistake them.
Day and night, summer and winter, alone and
with bands Of men, over rivers and mountains,
through forests and 1norasses, in all shapes and
in all lisguises, / have tracked and followed