Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-03-03
THE ESCAPE AND RESCUE,
A THRILLING HISTORICAL TALE,

woods on foot to hunt deer He soon killed
a large buck and returned for horse in order
to bringit. During his absence a party Of five
Indians, in one of their skuking expeditions
accidentally stumbled on the body OF the deer
and perceiving that it had been recently killed
they naturally supposed that the blntur ~out
soon return to secure the flesh. Tree oi
them, therefore, took their stations within os,
rifle shot of the deer, while the other two fol.
lowed the trail of the hunter, and waylayed the
path by which he was expected to return.
Mcdonnell thinking not of danger rode care
lessly along the path, which the scouts were
watching, until he had come within view of the
deer, when he was fired upon by the whole
party, and bis horse killed. While laboring to
sxtricate himself from the dying animal, re was
seized BY his enemies, overpowered and borne
of prisoner. His captors however, seemed
merry, good natured sort of fellows and per.
mltted him to accompany them unbound-and
what was rather extraordinary, allowed him to
retain his gun and hunting accoutrements. He
accompanied them with great apparent cheer
fulness through the day, and displayed his dex.
terity by shooting deer. for the use Of the com.
pany, until they began 10 regard him with great
partiality. Having travelled with him in this
manner for several days, they at length reached
the banks Of the Ohio river.
Heretofore the Indians had taken the caution
to bind him at night although not very secure.
ly, but on this evening he demonstrated with
them on the subject and complained so strong.
ly Of the pain which the cord gave him that
they merely wrapped the rug about his wrists
and having tied it in an easy knot and then at.
tached the extremities of the rope to thei. DO.
dies. in order to prevent his moving without
awakening them, they very composedIy went
to sleep, leaving their prisoner to follow their
example, or not, as he pleased.
Mcconnell determined to effect his escape
that night, if possible, as on the following day
they would cross the river, which would render
it more difficult He therefore lay quietly until
midnight, anxiously ruminating on the best
means of effecting his escape. AccdeutIy cast
ing his eyes in the direction of his feet, they
fell on the gittering blade of knife. which
had escaped from its sheath and was now lay.
ing near the foot of one of the Indians.
To reach it with his hands, without distus.
bing the two Indians to whom he was fasten.
ed. was impossible, and was very hazardous to
attempt to draw it up with his feet This
however he attempted With much difficulty
he grasped the blade between his toes, and after
repeated and long continued efforts succeeded
in bringing it within reach Of his hand. To
cut the cord was but the work of moment,
and silently extricating himself he walked to
the fire and sat down. He felt that his work
was but half done. That if he should attempt
to return home without destroying his enemies,
he would be pursued and probably overtaken,
when his fate would be certain On the either
hand, il seemed almost impossible for single
individual to succeed in a conflict with FIVE In.
dams though unarmed and asleep. He could
not hope to deal blows with knife so silently
and fatally as to destroy each of bis enemies
in turn without awaking the rest Their slum.
bers were proverbiaily light and restless-and
if he failed with single one, he must be over.
powered by the survivors. The knife Twas
therefore out Of the question. After anxious
reflection for few moments he formed bis
plan. ....
The guns of the Indians were staked near
the fire. Their knives and tomahawks were
sheathed by their sides. The latter hs dare
not touch for fear Of arousing their owners, bu3
the former he carefully removed, with the ex-
ception of two, and bid them in the woods
while he knew the Indians were still sleeping.
He then crept cautiously back to the sleeping
savsges, his heart quaking all the time for fear
of treading upon some unlucky sprig whose
cracking noise would wake his dreaded enemy
Upon the success of his plan he knew that bis
life depended; the least mistake on his part, OF
by any means they should be awakened, he
we'll knew that binding and burning him to the
FIRST tree would be his fate. But he got back
to the sleepers without being discovered; then
resting moment to get breath, he prepared to
perform the tragic part, upon the proper execu.
ton Of which bis life and freedom depended.
He now cautiously raised himself upon one
knee; then he carefully placed one Of the guns
within bis reach, and equally with a. much
care placed some dry fagots on the fire that
he might have good light to do without error
the work Of death. Quick as lightning then,
before the renewed blaze Of the Ere could pen.
citrate the closed eyelids Of the foe, hesgrasped
the other two guns, and cooking them quickly
and noiselessly, he placed the breach of ono
to each shoulder, with the muzzle Of one 10
The heart and the other to the brain Of an In
dian. With one momsntasy thought upon his
God and his family, both triggers were pulled,
and loud simultaneous report followed which
through the solemn forests. Nc.
Connell heard but faint moan, for be grasped
The remaining gun, and the next moment he
was behind the tree whore be had secreted the
others. BY this time the three remaining In
1ians had sprung to their feet closely grouped
together, and were staring wildly around, but
before another instant had elapsed. McCon-
neIl fred from behind the tree, and two Of the
Ehree fell, ono dead and the other MORALLY
wounded, while the remaining ono ran of:
McConDeil's only plan now was 10 put up
some provisions as quick a. be could, arm him,
elf we'll, destroying the remainder, and be Of.
Il was unfortunate that any one Of them es-
capped. for there was danger Of his giving 10.
formation and Of bis being pursued By other
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