Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-08-17
Pcrils Of Washington IN I753.

NV 'l'IJi VI w dSHlHSlOH Is lull Ol those
incidents, which taken singly, hardly ex-
cite extraordinary attention. but when COM
bincd together mark out the overrulng Pro
yidcncc Of God in raising him up, protecting
him. discirlining and educating him for the
great work which he was to do in establishing
the independent existence Of the United
States Of America.
The account given in Trving's Life Of Wash
ngton, (Which we had the pleasure to intro
duce to our readers notice last weekly of his
employment when but - years DID, by Gov.
Dinwidlic of Virginia, on diplomatic ser
vice to the commander Of the French posts
ON the Ohio and south Of Lake Erio-in
which service thcrc was wanted " physical
strength and moral energy: a courage to
cope with sayagcs andn sagacity to negotiate
with white men, furnishes incidents Of that
sort. With few guides, and pioneers he
had threaded his way across tho Wilderness
with safcty-had held conferences with
friendly and with doubtful sichens on the
way-had ioilcd all the crafty plans of the
French officers to detach from his interest
the friendly Indians who accompanied him
to the Fort at French Creek and late in De
cemher on his return had reached Beaver
Creek, whence he took an Indian guide to
the banks Of the Allegheny. Says Irving
Gle entered upon his duties with alacritv.
took Washington's pack upon his back and
led the way by what he said was the most
direct course. After travelling briskly for
eight or ten miles Washington became ia
tigued, and his feet were chaled he thought,
too, they We're taking direction too much
10 the northeast ; he came to halt, there
fore, and determined to light fire, make a
shelter Of bark and branches of trees, and en-
camp for the night. The Indian demurred
ho offered, as Washington was fatigued, to
carry his gun. but the latter was to wary to
part with his weapon. The Indian now grew
churlsh. There were Ottawa Indians in the
woods, he said, who might be attracted by
their fire, and surprise and scalp them he
urged, therefore, that they should continue
on he would take them to his cabin. where
they would be safe.
Mr. Gst's suspicion increased, but he said
nothing. Washington : also We're awakened
They proceeded some distance further the
guide paused and listened. He had heard.
he said, the report Ola gun toward the north.
1t must be from his cabin he accordingly
turned his steps in that direction
Washington began to apprehend an am
7 buscade Of savages. lie knew the hostility
of many Of them to the English and what
desirable trophy was the scalp of white
man. The Indian still kept on toward the
north he pretended to hear two whoors-
they were from his cabin-it could not be far
off.
They went on two miles further, when
Washington sgnified his determination to
encamp at the first water they should find -
The guide said nothing but kept doggedly
ON. After IL little while they arrived at an
/ opening in the woods, and emerging from the
deep shadows in which they had been tray
Cling, found themselves in u clear meadow
rendered still more light by the glare OF the
snow upon the ground. Scarcely had they
emerged when the Indian, who was about
fifteen PAGES ahead, suddenly turned, levcllcd
his gun, and fired. Washington was startled
for an instant, but, feeling that he was not
wounded, demanded quickly of Mr.. Gist if
lie was shot The latter answered in the neg
auve. The Indian in the mean time run for
ward, and screened himself behind large
white oak, where he was re-loading his gun.
7 lhey overlook, and seized him. trist would
have put him to death on the spot but Wash
inGton hunanely prevented him. They per-
mittca him to finish loading his gun but, ,
after he had put in the ball, took the weapon
from him, and let him see that hc was under
guard. Arriving at small stream they or
dcred the Indian to make a fire and took
turns to watch over the guns. While he was
thus occupied, Gist, n veteran woodsman
/ and accustomed to hold the life of an Indian
rather cheap, was somewhat incommodcd by
the scruples of his youthful commander.
which might enable the savage to carry out
some scheme of treachery He observed to
/ Washington that, since he could not suffer
the Indian to be killed, they must manage
to get him out of the way, and then decamp
with all speed, and travel all night to leave
this pertdious neighborhood behind them :,
but first it was necessary to blind the guide as
to their intentions. He accordingly addressed
him in Il friendly tone, and advertIng to the
late circumstance pretended to suppose that
he had lost his way, and, and fired his gun
as merely signal The Indian, whether de-
cciyed or not, readily chmed in with the eX-
PLANTATION. lie said he now knew the way to
his cabin, which was at no great distance. -
"Well then replied Gst, ''you can 20
home, and as we are tired we will remain
here for the night, and follow your track at
daylight. In the mean time here is cake
of bread for you, and you must give us some
meat in the morning
Whatever might have been the original
ret oT Gist followed him cantion:Iv for a
distance. and until the sound of his f3otstep.
died away returning then to WASHINGTON
rhcv proceeded about half mile and mod,
another fire. set their compassnnd fixed their
course bv the licbt of *, then LEAVING il
burning pushed forward, and travelled rs
fast AS possible all night, as to gain q
davlcbt CONTINUING on the newt dov tbe,
never relaxed their sneed until nigbtGIli
when thew arrived ut the banks Of the Allc
gany River, about two miles above Shanno
rlns Town.
WASHINGTON had expected to find the riyel
frozen comnlotcIv over il was So onlv fo,
nLout iftv yards from either shore Will,