Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-14
A Thrilling Adventure. and the
HattIesnake.


The family Of John Lewis were the first settlers
Of Augusta, in the State Of Virginia, and eonsist
of himself his wife, and four sons Thomas, Will
| liam, Andrew, and Charles OF these, the first
three were born In Ireland, from whence the fam
| lily came, and the last was native of Virginia
| Lewis was man of wealth and station in the
old country, and the cause of his emigration TO
America was an attempt on the part of man Of
whom he hired some property, to eject him there
from, which led to an affray, In which the noble
landlord lost his life. Fearing from the high stand
ing OF his antagonist, the desperate character of
his surviving assailants and the want of eviderce
to substantiate his case, that his life would be in
danger II he staid, Lewis fed the country, accom-
panied by party of his tenantry, and settled in
the then western wilds of Virginia.
The father appears TO have been man Of re-
markable force and energy and all four Of his sons
rendered themselves conspicuous for deeds of da-
ring and determined bravery during the early his
tory of Western Virginia, and that of her infant
sisters, Ohio and Kentucky, which would require
volumes to relate
Charles Lewis, the hero Of my present sketch,
was, even in early youth, distinguished Tor those
qualifications which have rendered the class to
which he belonged-the Indian fghters--so re-
markable among men. He was young man when
the Indians commenced their attack upon the set
tlement OF Western Virginia, but entered the con-
test with zeal and courage which outstripp,d
| many OF his Older and more boastfa compee,s
| ds astonishing selfpossession and presence of
mind carried him safely through many gallant
| exploit, which has rendered his name as familiar.
aud his fame as dear to the memories Of the de-
scendants Of the early settlers rs household wor,s
| Cool, calm, and collected in the face of danger
| and quick-witted where others would be apt to be
| excited and tremulous, he was able to grasp on
the instant the propitious moment for action, and
render subservient to his own advantage the most
triiing incident.
He was so unfortunate on one occasion, as to
be taken prisoner by party of Indians while on a
hunting excursion. Separated from his compan-
ions, he was surprised and surrounded before he
was aware of his danger and when he did become
aware Of his critical situation, he saw how fntileit
was to contend and how reckless and fatal it must
be to himself should he kill one of his antagonists
He knew full well that the blood OF his enemy
would be washed out in his own, and that, too, at
the stake, whereas, if he surrendered peaceably,
ne stood chance Of being adopted by the Indians
| as one OF themselves. Revolving these things in
| his mind, he quietly delivered up his rifle to his
enemies, and was led away by his captors, who re-
joiced exceedingly over their prisoner Bore
headed, with his arms bound tightly behind him,
without coat and bsre-tooted, he was driyen for
ward some 200 miles towar. the Indian towns, his
inhnI.an captors urging him on, when he Jagged,
with their knives, and tauntingly reminding him
OF the trials which awaited him at the end Of tho
journey. Nothing daunted, however, by their |;
threats and menaces, he marched on In the weary
path which led him further and further from ~
friends, perfectly tractable, far as his body xas
concerned, but constantly busy in his mind with
schemes OF escape He bided his time, and at
length the wished for moment came
As the distance from the white settlements in
creased, the vigilance Of the Indians relaxed, ard
his hopes Increased. Az the party passed along
| the edge of precspice some twenty feet high at
| the foot Of which ran mountain torrent, he, by
powerful effort, broke the cords which bound his
arms, and made the leap. The Indians, whose
aim was to take hind Dlive followed him, and then
commenced race - life and liberty, which was
rendered the more exciting by the fact that bis
pursuers were close upon him, and could at any
moment have despatched him. But such was not
their desire, and on, on, he Sped now buoyed up
by hope as bis recent captors were lost to sight,
and anon despsiring Of success as he crossed an
open space which showed them almost at bis heels.
At length taking advantage of thicket, through
which he passed and which hid him from their sight
| for moment, he dartsd aside aud ossayaAto leap
| a fallen tree which lay across his path.
The tangled underbrush and reeds which grew
| tbckly around and almost covered the decaying
trunk, tripped him az he leaped, and he fell with
| considerable force on the opposite side For an
instant he was 10 stunned by the fall to lose his
consciousness, but soon recovered II to find that
/ tue were hCufeiy hearCufnE every DOOk III
his immediate vicinity, and that he had fallen al.
most directly upon large rattlesnake, which had
thrown itself into the deadly coil his face
that his angs were within few inches of his nose.
Is It possible for the most vivid Imagination to
conceive Of a more horrible and terrifying situa-
| tionS The pursuit Of his now highly exasperated
and savage enemies, who thirsted for his recap
| tute, that they might wreak upon him fearful
revenge, which, of itself was fearful danger, cal
| pnlated In thrill tho af ba
had now become secondary fear; for DEATH IN
one Of It's most terrifying and soulsickening forms,
was vibrating on the tongue and darting from the
eye Of the fearful reptile before him. 80 near too
that the vibratory motion of hs rattle IL waved
TO and fro, caused II to strike his ear. The slight
| est movement Of a muscle, conyuliye shudder,
almost the winking of an eyelid, would have been
the signal for his death. Yet, in the midst of this
terrible danger, his presence Of mind did not leave
him, but, like faithful friend, did him good SER
vice In his hour OF trial Knowing the awful nature
Of bis impending fate and conscious that the slight
est quiyering of nerve would precpitate il, he
scarcely bresthed, and the blood flowed feebly
through his veins, as he lay looking death in the
| eye. Surrounded thus by the most appalling dsil.
ger he was conscious that three OF the Indians had
passed over the log behind which he lay, without
observing him, and disappeared In the dark recesses
/ Of the forest
| Several minutes-which to him we're as many
bours--passed in this truly terrifying situation
until the snake, apparently satisfied that he was
dead, oosed his deadly coil, and, passing directly
over his body, was lost TO sight in the luxuriant
growth Of weeds which grew up around the fallen
| tree. OH what thrill-what reyulsion OF feel
| ing shook his frame as he was relieved from his
awful situation. Tears---tears of joyous gratitude
coursed down his cheeks as he poured out his
heart to God in thankfulness for his escape. 81
had eaten nothing" said he to his companions nc
ter his return, for many days; / had no firearms,
and run the risk Of dying with hunger before ]
could reach the settlements but rather would |
have died than have made a meal Of that generous
beast" He was still in immediate danger Of tho
Indians, who knew that he had hidden IN some se.
cluded spot, and were searching with the utmost
zeal every nook and corner TO find him. He was
fortunate enough, however TO escape them, and
after a weary march through the wilderness, du-
ring which he suffered intensely from hunger, he
i reached the settlements.
| VEnD Antique MARBLE.-Probaby but few OF
Il a. O.