Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-06-20


Pioneers Of the West.
By w. p. Strickland. Full Of ro-
mantle interest growing out Of truth
ful narrative relative to the earlier set
Element Of the great West; we have
seldom met with q more attractive vol.
ume. Hair-breadth escapes, disasters,
suiferings. and successes. are depicted
in style vivid and picturesque. The
publishers( Aessrs. Carlton d Phillips)
have done themselves credit BY pre-.
sen.ing this volume in style worthy
Of the work. The embellishments
are appropriate, and the typography
faaltless. We should like 10 quote
largely. but our space allows but a
short extract. Il Is from the chapter
entitled "zxe Squattsv FAMILY" which
consisted Of himself, wife, and three
children. They lived in secluded
hut on the banks OF the IlIidois River.
The book which abounds in such can
be had at DR.. Keely's, in Brookville.
or Of Swormstedt a Poe, Cincinnati.
Zone day there came to the squat.
ter's cabin three Indians. protesting
to be friendly. who invited him to 70
out on hunting excursion with lheln.
As the family subsisied mostly upon
game. be finally concluded to accom-
psny them. taking with him his eldes.
son. They expected ~ be absent about
week, as they intended TO take a
somewhat extensive range. After
three days had passed away. one OF
the Indians returned 70 the squattcr's
house. and deliberately lighting biz
pipe and taking bis seat by the FIRE. he
commenced smoking in silence. Tie
wife was not startled al his appear.
ance. as u was frequently the case that
one, and sometimes more, Of q party
of Indian hunters. getting discour-
aged, would leave the rest and return.
This was usually the case when they
imagined they discovered some bal
sign, Aad II would moi only be useless
but disastrous. for them to hunt onder
such circumstances.
Tie Indian sat for some time In sui
len silence. and at length. removing
his pipe from his mou'h, he gave \
significant grunt to awaken attention
and said. White man die.' The
squatter's wife at this replied,
"'What is the matter?'
"'He sick, tree fall on him, he die.
You 60 see him.
"Her suspicious being somewhat
aroused at the manner Of the savage,
che asked him number OF questions.
The evasiveness and evident wnnt OF
consistency In the answers. at lenpl lh
convinced her that something was
wrong. She judged il best not to 70
herself. but sent her youngest son. the
eldest, rs we have seen, having gone
on the hunt with his father. Night
came. but II brought not the son or
the Indian. gloomy hours were
spent in that lone cabin BY themother
and daughter; but morning came with
out their return. The whole day pass
ed in the same fruitlcss lookout for
the boy; the mother felt grieved that
she had sent her child on the errand,
but II was now too late. Her suspi.
cions were now confirmed that the
Indians had decoyed away her hus-
band and sons. She felt that they
would not stop in their evil designs,
and that. II they had slain the father
and his boys. they would next attack
the mother and her daughter.
"No time was to be lost; and she
and her daughter. as night was ap.
preaching. went TO work 10 barricade
the door and windows OF the cabin IN
the best manner they could. The rife
Of the youngest boy was all the wea.
pom In the house, as he did not take
Il when he went 10 seek his father
This was taken from It's hangIngs and
carefully examined 10 sec that II was
we'll loaded and primed. TO her
daughter shc give tho ax. and thus
armed, they determined 10 watch sll
night. and. II attacked by the savages,
to light TO the last.
"About midnight they made their
appearance, expecting 10 lind the moth.
or and daughter asleep. hut in this they
were disappointed. They approached
s,eallhIly. and one Of The number
knocked loudly At tho door. crying
Mother motherl'
1.-THE myther's ear was too acute 4
be deceived by the Willy savage. and
she replied, Where are the lndIsns
my son?'
1.-THE answer. I'm gone.' woult
have satisGed her. II she had not beer
before aware OF tho deceit.
"Come up, my son, and put you,
ear 10 the lalch.hole. ! want 10 tel
you something before open The door
"The Indian applied his ear to III,
lateh-hole. The crack Of the rifle fol
lowed. and he fell dead.
"As soon No she fred, she stepped
on one side ef the door. and immedi
ately two rife balls passed through
Il. either Of which would have killes
her.
"Thank God said the mother !,
q whisper to her daughter. there ar
but two. They are the three iha
won't to hunt with your father. an,
one Of them is dead. II we can onl,
kill Or cripple another. we shall b
safe. Take courage my child; Go
will not forsake us In this trying hour
We must both be still after they Cir
! again. SupposinR they have kille'
us. they will break down the door.
may be able to shoot another one.' 70
In the mean time she had re.losde
the rife; but II l miss you must us
the AK with al your might
/ The daughter equally couraQeou