Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-08-24


For food they depended on jerked ven
i. OIL aud corn bread. with which their
knapsacks were we'll stored. They dare
not kimdIe "a Fl r.. and The report Of one
o. their rifles would have brought upon
them the entire force Of the Indians.
For drink. they depended on some
rain water which stood in the hOliOws of
the rock; but i'll short time this store
was exhausted ana M'Cleland and White
must abandon their enterprise or find
new supply.
To accomplish this most hazardous
enterprise. M'Cleland being the Oldest
resolved 10 make the attempts; and with
his trustv rifle in his band, and their
two cdntecns strung across their shout
ders. he descended by u circuitous route
to the prairie; shirting tie hill on the
north, aud under cover OF the hazel brush,
he reached the river and turning TO ID
bold point Of the hill he found beau
river, now known by the name of Cold
Spring ON the farm OF ID. Talmadge Esq.
lie filed his canteenS, and returned
i'll safety TO his watchful companion.
1t was now Determined to have fresh
supply of water every day, and this was
Performed alternately.
On one of these occasions. after w hte
had filled lis canteens. he sat a few mo
menis watching the limpid element as it
came gurgling out Of the bosom
Of the earth. when the light sound
of footsteps caught his practiced ear.
and upon turning round he saw two
squaws IN few feet OF him. Upon en-
tcring the jut of the hill. the eldest
squaw gave one of those far reaching
whoops peculiar to the Indians
White at once comprehe nled his fear
fui situation. IL the alarm should reach
the camp or town. he and his compam-
ion must inevitably perish. Self pre-
servation compelled him TO inilict
noiseless death OIL the squaws aud in such
Il manner as, il possible to leave no
trace behind. Ever rapid III thought
aud prompt in action. he sprans upon
his victims with the rapidity and power
of lion, ond grasping the throat of
each. sprang into the river.
J lie thrust the head of the eldest un-
der water. While making strong efforts
to submerse the younger. who however
| powerfully res: sted him. and during the
| short struggle with this Young athletic.
To his astonishm"nt she addressed him
III his own language though III almost
| inarticulaie sounds.
Releasing his hold. she informed hial
that she had been prisoner for ten years
and was taken from below Wheeling aud
that the Indians had killed ali the family
and that her brother and herself were
taken prisoner; but that he succeeded
on the second night in making his es-
cape.
During this narrative White had
drowned the elder sqnaw. and had let
her float on with the current. where il
would not probably he found out soon.
| lie now directed the girl to- follow
/ him. and with his usual speed pushed
for the mouth. They had scarcely gone
half way when they heard the alarm cry
some quarter of "a mile down stream.
1t was thought that some party of In
dians returning from hunting. had struck
the river just as the body of the squaw
floatcd past. White aud the girl succeed
ed in reaching the mouth, where nj Ciel.
and had been no Indifferent spectator tu
the sudden commotiou among the ln
diaus.
seen Immediately to strike off i'm every
direction, and White and the girl had
scarcely arrived. before party Of some
twenty warriors, had reached TIE eastern
activity TO the mouth and were cautious
ly ana carefully keeping under cover.
Soon the spies saw their swarthy foes
/ as they glided from tree TO tree aud from
rock to rock till their position was sur
rounded. except on the western perpen
dicular side, and all hopes of escape wa.
cut off.
In this perilous condition nothing re
mained but TO sell their lives ms dearl,
as possible and this they resolved TO do
and advised the girl TO escape to h
Indians and tell them she had been takel
prisoner. She said:
No death to me. in the presence o
my countrymen is sweeter than captivit,
and slavery. Furnish me with a gun
and | will show yon that caI fight a
well as die. This place | leave not
Here my bones shall lie bleaching will
yoars. and should either of you escape
will carry the tidings o! my death TO m
few relations.
Remonstrance proved fruitless. Th,
two spies quickly matured their plans o
defence, and vigorously commenced tn,
attack from the front. where from tn
very smal, backbone Of the mount. tn,
savages had 70 advance in a single file
and without any cover.
Beyond this neck the warriors availe,
, themselves Of tie rocks and trees in adj
vancing. but III passing from one to tn
other. they must be exposed for a shor
time. aud a moments exposure of thei
swarthy forms was enough for the uncr
ring rifles OF the spies. The Indians be
+ ing entirely ignofant Of how many wer,
in ambuscode were more cautions hoy
they advanced.
After bravely maintaining the fight i,
front. and keeping the enemy in check
:hey discovered new danger thre a,nin,