Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-31
EVENING STAR.
A THRILLING SKETCH.

In 1919, or ABOUT twenty years after BOone's
hrst exploration OF the country and while Ken
tucky was yet knocking for admission into the
Union, the red men resolved to make vet an
other effort to exterminate their foe. A block
house, which served the double purpose Of a
fort and dwelling, was the habitation of Boone
and his companions. Fearing a descent Of the
| savages, from various premOnitions of danger
understood only by the experienced hunter,
he sent two trusty scouts, named McLellsni
and White, to learn if possible the destination
of the savages. After proceeding some dis
tance they ascended a bluff, precipitousiy
steep on the one side, and fenced by jutting
rocks on another, whence they had broad
and extended prospect and on another side
broad and rapid river, on which side they
| found themselves in dangerous proximity to
| their enemy. Beneath them they beheld q
| large number of squaws and wigwams, the
| usual indication Of an Indian village, and
| in the open space they observed the warriors,
painted in their war pattern, evidently show
| ing that their mission was one of blood
They determined to remain and watch the
movements Of their enemy, and for this pur-
pose concealed themselves from observation.
| till forced from the hiding place by their
water being exhausted, of which they had
but scanty supply. McLelland went in
search of some with two canteenS, and hal
not proceeded far when he discovered beau
tiful fountain gushing from a rock near the
base Of the bluff.
Having procured the much needed element.
| he returned to his companion, and they deter
mined to get a supply daily, and continued to
do so for several days. One day White went
to the spring, and after filling bis vessel and
refreshing himself with a cOpious draught, he
laid down his rifle and sat down on it. and
childlikc. amused himself by looking at the
| workings of nature, beautifully exempIifed by
the babbling fountain. This man. educated
| IN the midst of Indian cunning, whose every
sense was shaTpened to the utmost acutepess.
was thus amusing himself when he heard foot.
steps, and he sprang to his feet just in time to
see and be seen by two squaws, the elder of
| whom raised the war cry, which he well knew
If repeated and heard by the band, would be
certain death. He sprang upon them and
seized both by the throat, and plunged into
the stream with them, intending to drown
| them. This he very soon accomplished with
the elder, but her companion, being young and
vigorous, struggled with her captor with much
energy, and when nearly exhausted, he heard
her, with horror, utter exciama ations in En-
glIsh. To rescue her from drowning and bear
her up the ascent Of the bluff to his companion
was the work Of a moment, where. when suf-
hclently recovered, she informed him that her,
self and father settled on the present sight of
Wheeling, and were taken prisoners by the
Indians, who soon put her father to death and
treated her with the utmost barbarity.
In the meantime the Indians perceived the
body of a woman floating in The river, and re-
cOgnizing the prints of the white man s fingers
on her neck, Approached the bluff, shouting
theic war yell The scouts recommended the
glrl to return to the Indians and consult her
own safety by telling them how the affair hap
pened. She replied, " 1 would rather die IN
the presence Of white man than DC a slave
to the Indian. Give me 4 rife, and sec what
can do But this they could not do. vet
they were determined to sell their lives as
dearly as possible. As before described. on
one side they were shielded by rock, and
with unsrring accuracy they shot several of
the brayest and daring of the foe One point
was inaccessible from an impending cliff
which OTerhung the bluff, and in thai ,lirec.
tion the rife Of McLalland was pointed with
finger on trigger, waiting for 2 sufficient port
of the Indian, (whom he espied MAKING the
attempt to surprise them from that quarter
TO appear above the rock to form n Target ia
aim at At last the savage. with pnrsiseJ
tOmahawk and exultant yell, was about 10 |
make the leap and spring upon his foe when |
the hlut Of McLelland's rifle hung fire He
lowered the butt, and was about Teplaeing il
with fresh flint from his pocket. when he
saw the Indian, whose shout Of victory was
turned to one Of pain, fall hesdlOng into the |
chasm beneath; but shot by whose ia ba
fate, and In a singular manner.
AT the approach of night the Indians with
drew, and the scouts were congratulating |
themselves upon their success So far opi |
wondering who their auxiliary was, when |
they beheld the rescued girl, rife in hand. |
approaching them. This accounted at once |
for the promised and efficient aid they had re- |
ceived. She informed them that at an early
part OF the conflict she succeeded in surpris-
ing one of the Indians asleep, and possessed /
herself Of his rife and ammunition.
Determined to leave under cover Of night
the girl volunteered to act as guide; when
to their disappointment and dismay. thew
found their retreat cut OF by piquet of In /
dlans, stationed to intercept their progress
The girl cautioned them not to make the /
slightest noise, and to remain stationary-and |
then LETT them and shortly returned, and told /
them she had succeeded in putting them on |
raise trall, and they could now proceed They
had not gone far when they were alarmed by |
the bark OF dOg-again the girl gave iniunc-
tionS to remain still, with the information
lhat they were now in the centre of a camp of /
a thousand warriOrS-but trust to her. AT
length they got clear of the village, and
Reached the block house in safety, when. to
the great surprise of all, the girl was found TO
Oe sister OF one Of BOOne's companions.
BEAUTIFUL FIGURE -Tvo po;rtars --oxo -. |