The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-04-10
A THRIIIrNa NARRATIVE.

lucky. LIMO most pioneers OI tue Wesl, uc udo
cut down the cane, built a cabin, deadened the
I timber, enclosed Geld with a worm fencc,and
( planted some corn. 1t was on tho 18th Of Au-
gust, 1882. The sun hid descended; pleas
ant breeze was playing through the surround
! ing wood, tho cane bowed under its influence
and the broad leaves Of corn wavod in the
air. res d far
Morgan had seated himself in tho door ol
his cabin, With his infant on his knee. His
young and happy wife had laid aside her spin
nng-wheel, and was busily engaged in pre-
pairing the frugal meal. That afternoon, he
accidentally found bundle Of letters which
he had finished reading to his wife before no
had taken his seat in the door. II was cor
respondenco in which they acknowledged an
carly and ardent attachment to each other,
and tho perusai left evident traces of Joy in the
faces of both; tho litllo infant, too. seemed 10
partake of its kind parents feelings, cheerful
smiles, playful humor, and infantile caresses.
While thus agreeably employed. The report OF
rido.was heard, another followed in qoick
succession. Morgan sprang TO his feet, his
wife ran to the door, and they simultaneously
exclaimed. .--"Indiansr'
Tho door was instantly barred, and tho next
instant their fears wore realized by n bold and
spirited attack of a small party of Indians.
The cabin could not be successfully defend
cd, and timo was precious. Morgan, cool,
brave and prompt, soon decided. While he
was in the act of concealng her under the
floor, mothers feelings o,orcanic herL-she
arose, seized tho infant, but was afraid tha, its
cries would betray its place of coneea 'ment
She hesitatcd--gazcd silently upon it-a mo-
mentary struggle between duty and affection
took place. She once more pressed her child
| to her bosom, and again kissed it with impas
s;onatc Tenderness. The infant, alarmed a,
| the profusion ftears that fell upon its checks,
| looked up in its mothers face, threw its liillo
arms aroond her neck and wept aloud IN
the psmo Of heaven, Eliza, release the child,
or be lost" said the distracted hus band IN a
soft mploring tone as he forced the infant
from his wife, hastily took up his gun, knife
| and haichet ran up the ladder that led To the
chamber and drew it after him. In n moment
the door was burst open, and the sovogos en-
tered
BY this time Morgan had secured his child
in bog and lashed it to his back, aud then
throwing off some clap boards from the cabins
roof, he rcsolutely lcaped to the ground. lie
was assailcd by two Indians. AS the fret APP
proochod he knocked him down with the butt
end of his gun. The other advanced with up
lifted tomahawk; Morgan let fall his gun aud
closed in.
The savage nado blow, missed but sever
cd tho cord that bound the infant to his back
and it fell. Tho contest owe" the child now
became warm and fierce, and was carried on
with knives only. Tho robust and athletic
Morgan at length got the ascendency; both
were badly cut, and bled freely, but tho sta bs
at tho white man were better and deeper, aud
tho savage fell to the earth in death. Morgan
hastily took up his child and hurried off
The Indians in the house, bascly engaged in
drinking and plundering, we're MT appriscd
Of the contest in the yard until tho one that
that had been Knocked down gave signs of rc
turning life, and called them to the scene
action.
Morgan was discovered, imr cdiately pur-
sued and dog put on his trail Operated
upon by oil tho feelings of u husband and
father, he moved with all the speed of a hunt
ed Stag, and soon outsirppod the Indians, but
the dog kept in close pursnl. Finding it i'm
possible to outrun ur eluie tho cunning ami |
NAL trained to hunts of this kind, ho halted
and waited till il came within fow yards OF
him. fired and brought him to the ground la
short time no reached Tho house of his bro |
ther, who resided near Bryant's Station, d t
Lexington, where he left the child, aud tho !
br r,thcrs left for tho dwelling. As they ap |
preached, light broke upon his ,iew---his steps |
quckened, his fears Increased, and the most
agonizing npprchcnsions crowded uron his |
mind. Emerging from the cane brake, he be- |
held his house in flames and almost burnt to
tho ground My wfr!" no exclaimed, as ho |
pressed ono hand to his forehead and graspci
the foacc with the other, to support his iotior-
ing frame. Ho gazcd on the ruin and dcsola
lion before him, ar advanced few PAGES ana |
fell exhausted to the earth.
Morning came, and the luminary of heaven
etill fo,pI i'm ~, ~
pring embers. In his right hand, he held
small stick with which no was tracing The
name of, Eliza" on tho ground, and his loft
hand 10y On his favorto dog by his side. Look
ing first on the ruins, and then on his dog.
with evident signs of grief, Morgan arose
The two brothers now made search, and found
some bones burned TO sshes. which they gath
cred and silently confined to the mot or earth,
beneath tho high spreading branches OF ven-
erable oak consecratcd by tho purest and ho-
liost recolloctions.
Several days after this, Morgan was enga-
god in desperate battle at the lower Bluo
Licks. The Indians camo off victoriously and
the surviving whites retreaied across the Lick
ing. pursued by the enemy for distance of
six and thirty miles.
James Morgan was among the last who
crossed the river, and was in the rear till tho
hill was descended. As he beheId the Indians
rcappear on the rid e, he felt snd saw hs
wrongs, and rococctcd tho lovely obi ct OF
his affections. lie urged bis horse and press
ed to the front. While in the act of lcspng
from his saddle, ho received rifle ball in his
thigh, and fell; an Indian sprang upon him,
seized him by hc..hair, and applied the sealping
knifo. AT this moment, Morgan cast up his
eyes and recognized tho handkerchief that
bound tho head of tho savage, AID know it to
10 his wfes. stA
This added removed strength to his .boiy,
and increased his activity to fury. He quickly
threw his loft arm around the Indian, aud, with
. doath. like grasp hugged him to bis bosom.
plunged his Knife into his side and he expired
n his arms. Releasing himselffrom the savage
Morgan crawled under small oak, n short
distance on On elevated piece oferound, short
listance from him; the scene of action shifted,
md he remained undiscovered and unscapcd,
N anxious spectator of tho battle.
II was now midnight. The savage band
iad, after taking all tho scalps they could find,
eft the battle ground. Morgan was seated at