Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-10-11
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.

THRILLING NARRATIVE.
James Morgan Was a native of Maryland,
married at an early age, and soon after settled
near Bryant's station in the wilds of Kentucky
Like most pioneers of the West, he had cut
down The cane, built cabin, deadened the tim
Dor, enclosed field with worm fence, and
planted some corn. 1t was on the 7th Of Au-
gust, 1882. The sun had descended pleas
ant breeze was playing through the surrounding
wood the cane bowed under its influence, and
the broad leaves of the corn waved in the air.
Morgan had seated himself in the door of his
cabin, with his infant on his knee. His young
and happy wife had laid aside her spinning
Wheel and was busily engaged in preparing the
frugal meal. That afternoon he accidentally
found bundle of letters, which no had finished
reading to his wife before he had taken his seat
at the door. 1t WAS correspondence in which
they acknowledged an early and ardent attach
ment for each other, and the porusal left evil
dent traces of joy in the faces of both; the lit
tie infant, too, seemed to partake of its kind pa
rents feelings, by its cheerful smiles, playful
humor, and inlantile caresses. While thus agree
ably employed, the report Of a rifle was heard,
5aAother followed in quick succession. Morgan
spfang to his feet, his wife ran to the door. and
thsy simultaneously exclaimed--'. Indians "
The door was Immediately barred, and before
another moment had elapsed their fears were re-
allied by bold and spirited attack by a small
party of Indians.
The cabin could not be successfully defended.
and time was precious. MOisss, sy-asa.ss~ -@a
prompt, soon decided. While he was in the act
of concealing his wife undet the floor, moth
er feelings overcame her-he arose, seized the
infant, but was afraid its cries would betray her
place of conceament She hesitated-gazed si-
lently upon it--a momeniary struggle between
duty and affection took place. She once more
pressed her child to her bosom, and again and
again kissed it with impassioned tenderness
The infant, alarmed at the profusion Of tears
that fell upon its cheek looked up in itsmother's
face, threw its little arms around her neck, and
wept aloud "In the name of Heaven, Eli "a,
release that child, or be lost" said the distrac-
ted husband, in soft imploring tone, as he
forced the infant from his wife, and hastily took
up his gun, knife and hatchet, ran up the lad
der that led to the chamber, and drew it after
him. In moment the door was burst open,
and the savages entered.
BY this time, Morgan had secured the child
in bag, and lashed it to his back, then throw
ing off some clapboards from the cabins roof,
he resolutely leaped to the ground. He was as
sailed by two Indians. As the first appr cached
he knocked him down with the butt end of his
gun. The other advanced with uplfted toma
hawk; Morgan let fall his gun, and at onct
closed in.
The savage made blow, missed, but severed
the cord that bound the infant to his back, anC
it fell. The contest over the child, now became
warm and fierce, and was carried on with knive
only. The robust and athletic Morgan at las
got the ascendency both were badly cut ant
bled freely but the stab, the white man wer
better and deeper, and the savag, soon fell to tn
earth in death. Morgan hastily took up hi
child and hurried off.
The Indians in the house, busily engaged il
drinking and plnndering, were not apprised O
the contest in the yard until the one that ha
been knocked down gave signs of returning life
and called them to the scene of action.
Morgan was discovered Immediately, pursued
and dog put upon his trail. Operated upo
by all the feelings Of husband and father, b
moved with all the speed of a hunted stag, IN
soon outstripped the Indians, but the dog keI
in close pursuit. Finding it impossible to ou
o strip or elude the cunning animal trained
hunts of this kind, he halted and waited till
/. came within few yards of him, fred and bro
the beast to the ground. In short time
' reached the house of his brother who resid,
T. near Bryant's station at Lexington he left Il
Ia child, and the two brothers set out for q
d dwelling.
g As they approached, light broke upon b
10 view-his fears increased and the most agoni
f. ing apprehensions filed his mind. Emergil
from the cane-brake, he beheld his house
y flames, and almost burned to the ground. "N
e. wife he exclaimed, as he pressed one hand
his forehead, and grasped tbs fence with t
ce other, to support his tottering frame. Gazi
r on the ruin and desolation before him, he q
ct vauced forward few PAGES, and fell fainting
n, the earth. a4
I'D Morning came, the luminary of heaven ar
IL and still found him seated near the almost
piring ombers. lnhis right hand he held sa'
y, stick, with which he was tracing the name
=" Eliza "on she ground, and his left hand 10