Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-12-19

family, (except the married daughter,
together with two other families from
the same neighborhood, took up the line
of their journey for the 'land of prom
ise." After tedious tour, marked with
the usual vicisitudeS and adventures of
such journey, they arrived in safety at
the forks of the Delaware, where they
remained short time, and ultimately
settled on the Lackawaxen creek, in
Wayne county, about twelve miles below
the site of the present town of Bethany.
They advanced about fifteen miles be-
yond any other white settlement, clear
ed a small spot near the bank of the
stream. and erected building of logs,
in which the three families resided
Here they passed few months in appar-
enL security, engaged in various employ
ments to improve the safety and COM
fort OF their new residence. The tall
trees Immediately before their dwelling
they had in part cleared away, some
grain and garden vegetables were grow
ing hard by, while around the doorway
few flowers, transplanted from their
dear native New England, were budding
blossoming-adding variety ard beauty
to the scenes of their wilderness home.
While some were laboring, others car
ried the muskets and ammunition, act
ing like sentinels, that they might sea-
sOnably be surprised of any approaching
darger. Every day seemed more prom
ising of future happiness and security,
and added something to their little stock
of comforts. The wild scenery had be-
come familiar to their view, and an
agreeable interest had associated itself
with most of the objects which 'were en-
braced by the little horizon, formed by
the tall and unbroken forest which
stretched away to an almost intermina-
able breadth around them.
One day in the latter part of Septem-
Der, when the inmates of this little settle
ment were occupied in their usual pur-
suits, Mr.. Carter, with his eldest son,
and one or two others, being engaged in
building house short distance in the
woods, and the man whose business it
was to act as sentinel having gone few
rods out of sight of the house TO exam
inc some traps, the Indians, who had
been secretly watching for their prey,
uttered their savage warwhoop, and rush
ed upon these defenseless women and
children. At this moment, Mrs. Carter
and her daughter Elizabeth were few
yards from the door, engaged in picking
green corn for dinner. Elizabeth, see-
ing them before the warwhoop was Civ
en-, and knowing from their pecu-
liar appearance that they were banded
for war, turned to her mother and gave
the alarm, but her words were scarcely
uttered, before she saw that beloved par
ent turn deadly pale, and the next mo-
ment she beheld the tomahawk buried
deep in her skull. The Indians, twelve
in number, then rushed into the house,
where were The elder females, one of
whom was confined to the bed with ILL.,
ness; daughter Of the same woman
aged sixteen, who was also i'll the in
fant daughter of Mr.. Carter, and FIVE
other children. One OF the Indians
seized the infant and dashed its brains
out against the logs of the house; and
the two sick females were Instantly put
to death with the tomahawk The man
who had gone to examine the traps,
hearing the shfieks of the sufferers, has
tened 10 their defence, but had only time
to discharge his gun once before he re-
ceived a death blow from the hands of
the assailants.
The Indians having selected such of
their caplives as they supposed could
best endure the hardships of savage life.
and taken the scalps from those they
had killed, and also having taken the
clo;hin and utensils which they thought
would best serve their convenience, they
set fire to the house, and then hurried
off to their encampment, short distance
from thence, on the opposite side of the
creek. The captives we're three child
ren OF Mr.. Garter, Sarah, Elizabeth and
Nathaniel,) Mrs. Duncan, and three
children belonging TO the other family.
At the encampment they found about
two hundred Indians, principally war
riors. Several large fires wele burning
around which the Indians began TO re-
gale themselves with roasting corn and
other refreshments. which they had
brought from the white settlement. Af-
ter having freely indulged themselves in
exultations al their recent success, and
night approaching, tbey secured their
capdves with cords, and stretched them
selves on the ground around the fires
Sarah, the eldest of the three children of
Mr.. Garter, appeared perfectly distracted
by the circumstances of her siluation.-
She continued crying and calling for her
father to come and rescue her. The In
dians several times appeared determined
tosilence her screams with the tomahawk
At length when they had become buried
in sleep. Sarah obtained & small brand