Eastern times., 1855-10-18

az" PtoHPuy ahs"ereu 0EO- II. NEWMAN.
and seized him. Gist ould have pat hin tcy
death on the spot, but Washington humanely
prevented him. They permitted him 10 finish
loading his gun, but after he had pot IN the
ball, took the weapon from him, and let him
see that he was under guard. Arriving at d
small stream they ordered the Indian to makS
hre, and took turns to watch over the guns
While he was thus occupied, Gist, a veteran
woodsman, and accustomed to hold the life Of
an lndian rather cheap, was somewhat incom-
moded by the scruples Of the youthful COM
mander, which might enable the savage 10
carry out some scheme Of treachery. He cb.
served 10 Washington that, since he could not
suffer the Indian 10 be KILLED, they must man
age TO get him out of The way, and then de-
camp with all speed, and travel all night TO
leave this perfdious neighborhood behind
them; but first it was necessary TO blind the
guide as 10 their Intentions He accordingly
addressed him in friendly tone, and advert
ing TO the late circumstances pretended 10 sup
pose that he had lost his way, and fired his
gun merely ass signal. The Indian, whether
deceived or not, readily chimed in with the
explanation. He said he now knew the way
to his cabin, which was at no great distance
well, then, replied Gst, you can 60 home,
and4as we are tired, we will remain here for
the night, and following your track at day
| light In the meantime, here is a cake Of
bread you, and you must give us some meat
| in the morning.
Whatever might have been the original de-
sign of the savage, he was evidently glad to
get off. Gist followed him cautiously for a
distance, and until The sound Of his footsteps
died away returning then TO Washington,
they proceeded about half mile and made an
other fire, set their compass and fixed their
course by the light Of it, then leaving it burn.
ing, pushed forward, and travelled as fast as
| possible all night, 50 as to gain start should
any one pursue them at daylight. Continuing
on the next day, they never RELAXED their speed
until nighifall when they arrived at the Banks
of the Aleghany River, about two miles above
Shannopin's Town
Washington had expected to find the river
frozen completely over; it was so only about
fifty yards from either shore, while great
quantities of broken ice were driven down the
main channel. Trusting that he had out-trav-
eled pursuit, he encamped on the border of
the river; still it was an anxious night, and
he was up al daybreak TO devise some means
TO reach the opposite bank No other mode
presented itself than by raft, and to con-
struct this they had but one poor hatchet.-
! With this they set resolutely to work and la-
bored all day, but the sun went down before
their raft was finished. They launched it,
however, and getting on board, endeavored to
I propel it across with setting poles Before
they were half way over, the raft became
iammed between cakes Of ice, and they were
in imminent peril. Washington planted his
pole on the bottom of the stream, and leaned
against it with all his might to stay the raft
until the ice should pass by. The rapid cur
rent forced the ice against the pole with such
violence that he was ierked into the water,
where ii was at least ten feet deep, and only
saved himself from being swept away and
drowned by catching hold Of one Of the raft
logs.
1t was now impossible with all their exer-
lions to get to either shore; abandoning the
raft therefore, they got upon an island, near
which they were drifting. Here they passed
the night, exposed TO intense cold, by which
the hands of Mr.. Gist were frozen. In the
morning they found the drift ice wedged SO
closely together, that they succeeded in get
ting from the island to the opposite side Of the
river; and before night were in comfortable
quarters at the house of Frazier, the Indian
trader, at the mouth Of Turtle Creek, on the
Monongahela.