Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-02-28


tho las, struggle Of life, with a scream,
wild and uneorthly; tho Sioux bent ov.
crit with his slittenng knife. ] invol.
unfairly closed my eyes, and when ]
looked again, saw tho CORY scalp Of
the Chippewny dripping with the still
warm blood, fastened to the girdle OF
the Sioux. Raising the war whoop,thst
echoed from shore to shore, like the yell
Of some demon, he hurried on after the
others. al,.
The two remaining Chippsways we're
fast dis,encing their pursusfs; and we
could SEQ them for miles along the prai.
rie, running in line from the shore, the
Sioux still in hot pursuit. like wolves
after their prey. The captain command.
ed that added steam should be put 10 the
boat; there was bluff where the river
made bend, short distance ahead;
and he thought he might yet save the lu.
gi'ives by getting them on board the Ot'
TO.
And steam was put on. The raging
and crackin. Of the fire, os II roarcd a.
midst its fraiI barriers, the surging and
mad speed of the boat, as she churned
the waters into foam, the groans and dis.
sonant noises Of the vast machinery,
sounding like the cries Of q soul in as'
ony-all were unheard or forgotten in
our breathIess intensity Of vision. The
chase was for human life-for human
life that a lew moments before had llv'
ed and breathed amongst US.
In a short space we came to the bend
of the river; here the shore was thlckly
covered with scrub pine and wild creep.
ers, and our view intercepted. AS we
rounded the point, however, we could
see far across the prairie: and in the dis
tance could trace ore Chippeway, like
a deer flying from the huntsman, still
pursued by the maddened Sioux. A
crash was heard among the branches
and his companion came leaping from
the high bluff that overhung the river
The poor fellow had outrun his imPlaca'
BILE foes, and seeing the boat had
made an attempt to reach it as his only
chance Of life. But instead Of lallins
into The water, he came heavily upon !h'
ground and broke his leg. Before his
enemies found his trail he was safely
landed on board the steamer. A physl
clan being on board, his limb was set
and he finally reached his village.
1t was afterwards disc overed that, &C
cording to the assertion made by thu
Chippeways, their village had been at
tackled by this Sioux party. A boy, sta
toned upon the bluffs that SURROUNDED
their dwellings, seeing their apploach
hal given instant alarm, so that by th'
time the Sioux had reache'! the village
it was deserted and bare. They set fir
to il, md were returning when seen b,
the three Indians on board the steamer
The Chippeway that fled across thu
prairie was sorely beset by his enemies
for days and nights he had neither res
nor sleep. Once only he stopped Il
breathe amongst some bushes; but the.
had tracked his course. and he sfoun
himself surrounded by burning circle
Of fire. But his courage and perscver
ance did not rorsakc him even amids
such deadly peril. With a bounl h
cleared the flaming brushwood, and tho
thrice wounded by chance shots. he ha
eludcd their direful vengeance, an
while his body was weakened and G
maciated by such severe harlships AM
fatigue, his resoue spirit sustained hi
exsrlions until retreat was practicable
and he also returned TO his people i
safety.
This sketch is no vision OF fancy
there are persons still living who wit
messed ",he Prairie Fight"