American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-03-08

anu cont0rtion our MINDS suffered, tend
ed greatly to the prostration of the
body, when the excitement had subs i.
| ded reI I. ..
4 ne But Twill state here in connection
singular roccurrence,I suppose: On
| taking up our guns in succession, for
examination, we, were no little surpris-
ed to find both discharged; the light.
ming which played in an almost con
slant stream on their barrels during
the. storm having communicated most
unqnestionably with the powder. Levi
hurried wad down his for the purpose
of wiping it dry, which, on Withdraw
ing, was barely discolored, exhibiting
only dust. He turned the muzzle down
in the palm of his hand, when it ran
cut as dry as powder from horn; and
when he blew in the barrel wind
whistled out at the touchGhole as clear
as though powder had never been near
er than Dupont's mandatory. My
gun was in the same singular condi-
ton. lia 3ai obaa ae7at afHJB
3" Our guns we're now in prime order,
and being covered over the fireworks
with the untanned skin from the hind
Ileg or knee of deer, were tolerably
we'll protected from the rain, which,
notwithstanding, ran down the barrels
and stems, from the positions in which
1--we carried them, to such an extent as to
require the most constant and anxious
care to keep them in order for not
unexpected emergency. 3gs .ra4
J "We found considerable diA:culty in
travelling, from the great quantity of
fallen timber, which now obstructed our
course. 1t was now thought to be a.
bout 3 o'clock, and we only some four
miles from the Fort, had We been across
the creek, which by this time it will be
readily perceived was unprecedentedly
high. was becoming faint, (this dis
Iturbed Levi as / mad travelled about
is miles through the cold rain, over an
Iintolerable route, being harrassed in
mind from fear Of falling into the
hands of those We were laboring so
anxiously to elude.
! "Something near mile below this,
to our infinite JOY We discovered large
sycamore spanning the stream as we
supposed, but on passing over and going
a short distance, found to Lewis chagrin
and my almost total disheartening, that
we were only ON small island
Whether to remain here all night, was
q question. But the ultimate determi-
nation was to get of and proceed to-
ward the mouth Of the stream, then
about one mile distant, and within a
quarter of a mile of the spot Of which
| spoke this morning, and where, as
said, | witnessed one of the most saw
agely cruel and diabolical outrages
upon female delicacy, decency, and ten
| der infant life, that ever fell to my lot
! to witness in my long acquaintance with
Indian character. But lett me continue
my account of our descent to the mouth
of White Day before | speak of this
hateful spot.
Z" We left the island, but [ was so
unlucky as to grasp in my hurry de-
cayed limb on nearing the shore which
giving way, | was precipitated from
the trunk of the tree, into the water,
! my gun accompanying me, of course, to-
tally disqualifying it for use. | got
out unhurt from the fall or immersion,
4 being wetto the hide before. We pas
sed in few moments to the junction
of the creek, with the now dark and
fearfully dashing Monongahela.
"We were now standing on the
rocks at this point, for a moment lost
in admiration ofthe mad waters brecch-
I ing at the base of their pristine limit,
when we espicd q canoe dashiag down
the river with the speed of an arrow
sprung from a bow which with a dex-
trerous stroke or 50 of the paddle made
into the mouth of the creek, containing
three tawny savages, two white women
and child. They landed little above
en- the opposite side, when two ofthem
sprang from the craft, ascending the
bank, endeayored in furtivc glances to
reconnoiter our shore. The third also
got out carrying in his hand, the vine
attached to the canoe, coyeringhis body
behind tree. The prisoners did not
stir.
" The savagcs having satisfied them
I selves that there was no danger on
their side, returned to the canoe accom-.
Z panied by fourth, who probably came
4 down the river by land from some point
above, for the purpose Of making OBJ
: seryations.
4 "Leyi, meanwhile concluded to shoot
the Indian at the canoe, but on raising
] his gun, found the priming SO damp
that he had to scrape it from the pan.
"Both guns we're now past use,
whereas, had they been in order, VIC
could have shot two of the Indians on
the spot, and loaded in time for the 9th
ers had their temerity prompted them