Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-07-13
THE ESCAPE.
a ru.nIrss nIsrcalo.l s.anArrrr.

Alexander Mcdonnell, OF Lexington,
KY, went into the woods on foot to hunt
deer He soon killed large buck, and
returned home for horse in order to
bring it. During his absense a party of
FIVE Indians, in one of their skulking ex-
petitions. accidentally stumbled on the
body of the deer, that it had been re-
Gently killed, they naturally supposed
that the hunter would soon return to Sc
cure the flesh. Three of them, there
fore, took their stations within close rife
shot of the deer, while the other two fol-
lowed the trail of the hunter, and way
laid the path by which he was expected
to return. Mcconnell thinking not Of
danger, rode carelessly along the path,
which the scouts were watching, until
he had come within view oil the deer,
when he was fred on by the whole
party, and his horse killed. While
laboring to extricate himself from the
dying animal, he was seized by his enc
mics, overpowered and borne off pris-
oner. His captors, however, seemed a
merry, good natured sortof fellows, and
permitted him to accompany them un-
bound-and what was rather extraordi-
nary, allowed him to retain his gun and
hunting accoutrements. He accom-
panied them with great apparent cheer
fulness through the day. and displayed
his dexterity by shooting deer for the
use of the company, until they began to
regard him with partially. Having
travelled with him in this manner for
several days, they at length reached the
bank of the Ohio river.
Heretofore the Indians had taken the
precaution to bind him at night, al
though pot very securely, but on that
evening he demonstrated with them on
the subject and complained so strongly
of the pain which the cord gave him,
that they merely wrapped the buffalo
rug about his wrists. and having tied it
in an easy knot and then attached the
extremities of the rope to their 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.
Mcconnell determined to effect his
escape that night if possible, as on the
following morning they would cross the
river, which would render it more diff
fcult. He therefore lay quietly until
midnight, anxiously ruminaing on the
best means of effecting his escape. Ac-
cidently casting his eyes in the direction
of his feet, they fell on the glittering
blade of a 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
disturbing the two Indians to whom he
was fastened was impossible, and it was
very hazardous attempt to draw it up
with his feet This however he at
tempted. With much difficulty he
grasped the blade between his toes. and
after repeated and long continued efforts,
succeeded in bringing it within reach Of
his hands. To cut the cord was but the
work of a moment, and gradually and
silently extricating himself, he walked to
the fire and sat down. He felt that his
work was but half done. That if he
should attempt to return home without
destroying his enemies, he would be
pursued and probably overtaken, when
his fate would be certain. On the other
hand, it seemed almost impossible for a
single individual to succeed in a conflict
with FIVE Indians even though unarmed
and asleep. He could not hope to deal
a blow with knife so silently and fatal
ly as to destroy each 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 inevitably be oyer
powered by the survivors. The knife
was therefore out of the question:
After anxious reflections for few mo-
ments he formed his plan.
The guns of the Indians were stacked
near the fire. Their knives and toma-
hawks were sheathed by their Sides
The latter he dared not touch for fear of
arousing the owners, but the former he
carefully removed with the exception of
two, and hid them in the woods, where
he knew the Indians were still sleeping,
perfectly ignorant of the fate preparing
for them, and taking one in each hand
and resting the muzzle on a'log, within
six feet of his victims, and having taken
deliberate aim at the head of one and
the heart of another, he pulled both
triggers at the same moment. Both
shots were fatal
At the report of the guns the others
sprang to their feet glancing wildly
about them. Mcconnell, who had run
to the spot where the other rifles were
hid, hastily seized one of them and fred
at two of his enemies who happened to
be standing in line with each other,
the nearest fell dead, being shot through
the centre of the body; the second fell
also, believing loudly, but soen recover
ing limped off as fast as possible. The
fifth, the only one that remained unhurt,
darted off like a deer, with yell that
announced equal terror and astonish-
ment. Mcconnell not wishing to fight
any more such battles, selected his own
rifle from the stock. and made the best
of his way to Lexington, where he ar
rived in two days.
A short time afterwards, Mrs. Dunlap.
of Favatfa uha had hao-, s,.-<.-.l