Plymouth weekly banner. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1856, 1855-09-06
A Race for Lie.

The family of John Lewis were the fl rst
settlers Of Augusta. in the state Of Vir-
gina, and consisted of himself. his wifi
and four sons, Thomas. William. Andre w
and Charles. OF these. the first three
were born in Ireland. from whence the
family came. and The last was a native of
Virginia.
Lewis was a man Of wealth and station
in the old country. and the cause OF his
emigration TO America was an attempt.
on the part Of man Of whom he hired
some property, 10 eject him therefrom
which led TO an affray in which the noble
landlord lost his life. Fearing from the
high standing OF his antagonist. The des-
perate character Of his surviving assailant.
and the want of evidence to substan,iaie
his case. that his life would be in danger
il he staid, Lewis fled the country. &C.
companied by part of his tenantry. and
settled in the then western wilds Of Vir
ginia.
The father appears 10 have been man
Of a remarkable force and energy. and all
four OF his sons rendered the mselves con
spicuous for deeds Of daring and deter
mined bravery. during the early history
of Western Virginia, and that nf be -, =.
IAN. srsIers. Ohio and kentucky, wnich
would require volumes to relate.
Charles Lewis. the hero of my present
sketch was even in his early youth dis
tiuguishtd for those qualifications which
have rendered the class to which he be-
longed-the Indian fighters--so remark
able among men. He was young man
when the Indians commenced their at
tacks upon the settlements OF western
Virginia, but entered the contest with a
zeal and courage which outstripped many
Of his older and more boastful compeers.
His astonishing self possession and pres
ence OF mind carried him safely through
many a gallant exploit. which has render
ed his name as familiar and his fame as
dear TO the memories of the descendants
Of the early settlers. as household words.
Cool. calm and collected in the face Of
danger. and quick witted where Others
would be apt to be excited and tremuious
he was able TO grasp on the instant the
propitious moment for action. and render
subservieut to his own advantage the
most ,rifling incident.
He was so unfortunate on one occasion
as to be taken prisoner by party of In
dians while on hunting excursion. Sep
arated from his companions, he was sur
prised and surrounded before he was aware
Of his danger, and when he did become
% q n ~
how futile il was TO contend, and how
reckless and fatal it must be to himself.
should he kill one Of his antagonists. He
knew full we'll that the blood of his enc
nv would be washed out in his own. and
that. too, at the stake, whereas, IL he sur
rendered peaceably. he stood chance OF
being adopted as one of themselves
Revolving these things in his mind. he
quietly delivered up his rifle to his enc
mics. and was led away by his csptors;
who reioiced exceedingly over their pris-
oner. Bareheaded. with his arms bound
tightly behind him. he was driven for
ward some two hundred miles towards
the Indian towns. his inhuman captors
urging him on. when he Jagged. with
their knives, and .auntingly reminding
him of the trials which awaited him at
the end Of the journey. Nothing daunted.
however. by their threats and menaces.
he marched on in the weary path which
led bin further and further from his
friends. perfectly tractable. SD far as his
BODY was concerned. but constantly busy
in his mind with schemes Of escape. He
bided his time. and at length the wished
for moment came. AS the distance from
the white settlements increased, the Wig
ilance Of the Indians relaxed. and his
hopes increased. As the party passed
along the edge Of precipice some TWEEN.
ty feet high. at the foot of which ran a
mountain torrent, by powerful effort he
broke the cords which bound his arms and
made the leap. The Indians whose aim
was 10 take him alive. followed him, and
then commenced a race for life and liber-
ty; which was rendered the more exciting
bv the fact that bis pnrsuers wore close
upon him. and could at any moment have
dispatched him. Blu: such was no: their
desire, and on. on. he sped. now buoyed
up by hope ss his recent csptors were
lost to sight. and anon despairing OF sue
cess as he crossed an open space almost
at his heels. At length. taking sdvan-
4 oe of tb;cket fbvouoh which he mas.