The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-11-22
THE FIRE LANDS OF OHIO.
a ToUCBIS INCIDENT.

Connecticut, from the Western Reserve 10
compensate the sufferers BY British incendia-
rism, along the coast of the State. during the
revolutionary struggle, more particularly at
New London, Norwalk and Fairfield All
was new, rugged and unknown The Indian
title 70 the lands was not even extsnguiShed.
and the first settlers experienced great difficult
ties, arising from this fact. The red man and
the beasts of the field contended with the
pale face for the possession of the soil. and the
new corners found themselves insulated. as it
were, far from their friends and assistance, and
obliged to light their way 10 the ownership of
their claim. Nor were these the greatest diff
ficulties against which they had TO struggle
Disease, that prolific source OF misery and
destitution, stalked abroad in their midst. and
for year or two after locating, the sturdy pi-
oneer and his family were compelled to un-
derso an acclmatin g-happy. indeed, ii they
escaped with constitutions unimpaired by the
rayageS of the feyers incidental a new
country. Many, very many sick, sick and
disguised with the privations which they
We're called upon TO endure, returned TO their
former houses, and others would have been
glad to DO so, but from inability and want Of
means 10 retrace their steps.
The following instance OF extreme deslitu
ton and suffering viii serve as a specimen of
the trials which many experienced IN their en-
deavors to establish home in the wilderness,
and although an extreme case, perhaps, vet
it is type of others with which the history
of the State. for the period Of which | write,
abounds. Indeed, for "a period Of six or sew
en- years-say. from 1909 to 1915 ana '16,
there were few families located on the ''fFe
lands who did not experience the keenest
suffering from want of proper food and clo-
thing Parchei and pounded corn was the
only food, VITA the exception oI Wild meat;
and frequently that was 50 scarce as 70 be
regarded a luxury when it chsncea TO be cb-
famed.
One morning. late in the fail Of 1910, a
hunter who had been OUT in pursuit Of rau",
and was vending his was Lomeward with
single wild turkey hung 10 his belt, came out
rather unexpectedly upon a little clearing. not
far from the banks Of The Huron River. in
which stood solitary log cabin, the appear
ance o. which. SO far in the reeeszes Of the
forest, and isolated from possibility OF re-
lief in case of danger or sickness, excited his
wonder and his surprise. There was some
thing in the appearance OF the cabin itself
which fixed his attention, and led him 10 a clo
ser examination. Although appearances in
dicated recent occupancy, yet there was no
evidence Of life about the premises He APP
preached the door and knocked. feeble
but he stood aghast on the threshold at the
scene which presented itself On a stool
by tie FIRE place sat q female form, re-
duced to "a mere skeleton; Ler clothing as it
ciung to her attenuated figure. serving t.
bring out in bod relief is PROJECTING angles
and sharp outlines In Ler arms she held a
babe . few months old, whose puny fogID.
blanchei features and sunken eyes beto-
kened its lack Of that nourshnent which its
starving mother was unable - give. On
rude bed behind the woman, la boy three
years old, whose appearance also manifested
what everything went TO show-disease and
starvation. The cabin was without single
article of furniture, except the stool on which
the mother sat and the bed on which lay her
sick and dying boy. Every hing else had
disappeared On the hearth was a pile 4
ashes. which, to his experienced eve, indica
ted lack of fire for At least some days.
As soon as the awe westruck hunter had re-
covered in measure from his first surprise,
he demanded to know what was the matter.
and where her husband was. a frantic burst
Of tears was her only answer. Her over
charged and bIrdencd heart overfiowing
with emotions which her tongue could not
give utterance to. Mingled feelings Of Joy
and sorrow choked her speech. and she could
not reply. At length, however. mastering
herself by al effort she managed between
her sobs 10 say, pointing TO the bed: There
lies NV little Edward, l expect he is dying.
and here is my babe, sick | cannot lay her
down; | am weak and feeble, | can hardly
Sit in nv seat. and my poor husband lies bu
risd beside the cabin Then, a if rendered
frantic by the recital of her sorrows and des.
titution, she exclaimed in tones OF deepest an
suish-'O that | was back 10 my own eoun-
try, where l could fall into the arms OF nv
mother" 4 tear Of sympathetic feeling roll
ed down the weather beaten face Of the hun
ter as he listened to the recital Of her woes.
Her story was soon told In COMPANY
wiki her husband, she had enirr. ed to the
West in the fistbering hope Of having home
/ al their own, where the earth wouid al least
Weld them Irving. Alas she was destined
ike many others, TO bitter disapP ointment
soon after tl.sir arrival her husJaaa had erect
ed his cabin, gird!ed the trees aud cleared q
small spo: OF groun!; bl. " wl., fall came hs
sickened and died. His poor heat broken
wife took the body OF her husband in her
arms, and half dr4,e half carried i to the
outside Of the cabin. where she cont-ived. with
the aid of the axe and sha-pened sick, to
dig a shallow grave IN which she placed the
BODY OF her best and only fl.ea ], then with a
fearless eye but broken heart and nervous
hand, she covered it with the soil, and re-
turned to her children who demanded her Ut.
most care and attention. Her boy, the image
of her father, lay prostrated By the fever, and
she could not leave him 4 moment 10 20 foT
assistance. which was twelve miles distant
Neither could she leave to procure food, and
low her baby was dying for want Of nour-
isEmeut. Every morsel OF food was gone
and for three DAYS she had not broken her
fast- Every article Of furniture. except the
bed and stool, had been used 70 keep alive
the fire GA the hearth, until that source was
exhausted, and the poor woman hal .aken
L.- Ia he u, n.r a--,s and -. L.. - IL.