Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-08-09
fallen victims to the tomahawk end scalp

fallen victims to the tomahawk end scalp
ing-kni(e.
The scene Of the present story is al
place known 10 bostmen and rsftsmen ss
'Brady's Bend,' and where now the noise
and hustle Of a new manufacturing town
called The Great Western resounds along
the shores that then echoed only TO the
whoop Of the eavage or the panher's scream.
II is a bend in the river, of nine miles i0
length, snd is sometimes called the Nine
Mile Bend and is scarcely half a mile q
cross the neck. Here in this bend, Corn
planter, returned from some successful in
roads upon the whites, had secured several
prisoners, by tying them 10 as many lrees,
while his swsrthy end hideously painted
followers were busy in making preparations
for the faggot and the torture.
The~s,ake was erected and the faggo.s
prepared with all the GOODNESS and refine-
ment Of Indian barbarity. II was a besuti-
ful evening; the sun was jus. sinking be-
hind the lofty hill upon the opposite shore.
Calmness had thrown its oily wand upon
the Alleghany's crystal tide, and it slept
The full, round moon. jus. bursting through
the tree tops behind them, sailed calmly
through the distant blue, and cast its mel
low beams upon the sleeping river, and
danced upon its placid bosom.
The melancholy note Of the whippoor.
will from the adjoining ,hicket fell swee,Iy
upon the ear. The victims were unbound,
and led forth to the place of torture. At
this moment voice high up among the
frowning rocks tina. loomed ou, from the
thick hemlocks that crowned the hill oppo-
site, hailed Cornplau.er in the Indian ton
que, informing US lha. 'he was an Indian
warrior, jus, returned from the war path
with goodly number Of prisoners
He desired .ha, the ceremonies Of
The torture mig gh, be suspended until he
could ford the river and join them when
they would celebrate the occasion with un-
usual demonstrations Of savage rejoicings.
To This Cornplsnler consented. The flames
.ha. had been kindled were ex,inguisheJ,
aud the prisoners again bound to the trees.
In the meantime Brady-for i. was he
who had deceived the willy Indisn-wish .
body Of men, moved silently up the river to
a place known as 'Truby's Ripple and
there fording the river, dew his men up a-
cross the neck of the bend, and moved
noisiessly down upon the eavsges. SocsEsy
,ious was his approach that the Indians
were completely cut off from re'rea, before
they become alarmed.
Brady's men hemmed them in from be.
hind, while the Allegheny rolled in 'front.'
The frs, in.ima,ion TO the savsges OF his
approach was communicated by deadly
rho, e. 1, B.,
mans Tough. with desperation, but were o.
verpowered; all were killed or taken pris-
oners save chief, CornpIan.er, who finding
himself alone, plunged into the river, and
swan for the other shore.
Being good swimmer, he remained sew
eral minutes under water, bu. as he rose for
breath, he was greeted with a shower Of
bullets. In this way, alternately swimming
under water as long as he could hold hrs
breath, and then rising to the surface, he es-
csped unhur,, and, reaching The other shore
in safety, secreied himself behind large
standing rock.
The prisoners were of course unbound,
and all joined in the joll6ca,ions snd joy
81 the timely aud unIooked-for release
The rock ha. shielded Cornplan,er from
Brady's bullets was pointed Out to me by
.he old Indian, on recent trip down the
river. ]. is known as 'Cornpfanter's Rock
The old Indian gave me the story with
sad and detected coun'eaance, in broken
English.
Alas, wha, change! Where then the
sheeny tide of the boun,eoBs Allegheny
parted only to The swift skimming birchen
canoe, and echoed TO the wild voices that
came on, Of the dense, dark forest, now 10
heard the shrill whistle of the steam-pipe
and the rushing Of The mighty stesmeI.-
Where the iawny savage then reclined upon
the shady banks from his pursui. Of the
deer, the panther and the bear, or rested
from the wsrpalb, is row the scene Of life
and activity.
The tall old fores. has receded from be-
fore the advance Of civilization, and given
place to farme, beautiful villas end bus,Iing
towns. The Indian, too, has passed away.
Blu, few, and they but miserably deesying
relics Of whs, they once were, are now. oc-
casionslIy seen, The descendants Of tho
proud race that once could call these hills,
and groves, and rivers all their own. Alas!
in The language of the poet 80
tsChieftans and their tribes have persisted,
Like the thickets where they grew
Courage, when genuine, is never cruel.
II 10 no, fierce. II forsees evil. It's trepi.
1a,ions come either before or after danger.
10 the mids. of peril i. is calm and cool. i
5 generous, especially TO the fallen. II is
,eldom a,.ained.-Jean Paul