The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-03-13

depended on rain water which stood in the
hollows of some of the rocks but in a
short time this store was exhausted, and
McCleland and White must abandon their
enterprise or find a new supply. To &C
complish this most hazardous enterprise,
M'Celand, being the oldest, resolved to
make the attempt; and, with his trustyI
rifle in his hand, and their two can
teens strung across his shoulders, he descend
ed by circutOus route to the prairie skirt
ing the hill on the north, and under cover of
the hazel thickets he reached the river, turn
ing bold point of the hill, he found beau
titul spring within few feet of the river,
now known by the name of Cold spring, on
the farm of d. Talmage, Esq He filled his
canteens, and returned III safety to his
watchful companion. 1t was now deter
mined to have fresh supply of water every
day, and this duty was performed alternate
ly.
On one of these occasions, after White
had filled his canteens, he sat a few mo-
nents watching the limpid element as it
came gurgling out of the bosom of the earth,
when the light sound of footsteps caught his
praCticcd ear, and upon turning around he
saw two squaws few feet from him. On
turning upon the foot of the hill, the eldest
squaw gave one of those tar-reaching whoops
peculiar To Indians. White al once COM
pretended his perilous situation. If the
alarm should reach the camp or town, he and
his companion must inevitably perish Self
preservation compelled him TO inflict noise
less death on the SquawS, and III such man
ner as, if possible, to leave no trace behind.
Ever rapid in thought and prompt in action,
he Sprang upon his victims, with the rapid
nf tbp
throat of each sprang into the river. He
thrust the head of the eldest under the 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 ad-
dressed him in his own language, though in
almost inarticulate sounds.
/ Releasing his hold, she informed him that
she had been prisoner for ten years, and
was taken from below Wheeling; and that
the Indians had killed all the family, and
that her brother and herself were taken pris-
oners, but, he succeeded on the second
night in making his escape. During this
narrative, White had drowned the elder
squaw; and had let her float off with the
current, where it probably would not be
found out soon. He now directed the girl
to follow him, and, with his usual speed,
and energy, pushed for the mount. They
had scrcely gone half way when they heard
the alarm-cry some quarter of mile down
the stream. 1t was supposed some party of
Indians, returning from hunting, struck the
rive: just as the body of the squaw foated
past White and the girl succeeded in
reaching the mount, where MCleland had
been no Indifferent spectator TO the sudden
commotion among the Indians.
The prairie-parties 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 declivity of the mount,
and were cautiously and carefully keeping
under cover. Soon the spies saw the swar-
thy foes as they glided from tree to tree and
from rock to rock, till their position was
surrounded, except on the west perpendicu-
lar side, and all hope of escape was cut off.
In this perilouS condition, nothing was left
but to sell their lives as dearly ds possible,
and this they resolved to do, and advised the
girl to escape to the Indians and tell them
she had been taken prisoner. She said -
mo; death to me, in the presence of my
own people, is a thousand times sweeter
than captivity and slavery. Furnish me
with gun, and will show you how can