Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-02-06

the ravine. The spot, owing to the penin-
sular form Of the tongue Of the land lying
west of the Beaver, n, which they expected
to encamp, was full ten miles from that
fort. Here there was spring, so def'ly
and cunniugly situated 10 deep dell, and
so dcnsely enclosed with thick mountain
pines, that there was little danger Of discov-
cry. Even they might light fire aud it
could no, be seen one hundred yards
The proceeding. Of their leader, which
would have been totally inexplicable to all
others, were partially, if not fully, under
stood by his followers; at least, they did
not hesitate or question him. When dark
came, Brady pushed forward with as much
apparent certainty as he had done during
the day. So rapid was his progress, that
the Indians had but just kinded their FIRE
and cooked their meal, when their mortal
foe, whose presence they dreaded as much
as that of the small pox stood upon huge
rock looking down upon them. His party
had been left short distance in the rear.
at a convenient spot, whilst he went for
ward to reconnoitrs. There they remained
impatiently for three mortal hours. They
discussed in low tones the extreme disparity
Of the foree-,he proprie,y Of going to
M'Intosh to get assistance. But all agreed
that if Brady ordered them to attack, sue
cess was certain.
However impatient they were,h he return
ed at last He described to them how the
women and children lay within the centre
of a crescent formed by the savages as they
slept Their guns we're stacked upon the
right, and most of their tomahawks. The
arms were not more than fifteen feet from
them. He had crawlsd within fifty feet
Of them, when the snortings Of the horses,
occasioned by the approach Of wild beast,
had aroused number Of the savagcs from
their light slumbers, and he had been COM
pelled to lie quiet for more than an hour
until they slept again. He then told them
that be would attack them. 1t was impos-
sible to use fire arms. They must depend
solely upon the knife and tomahauk. The
knife must be placed in the left hand and
the tomahawk in the right. To Bigss,
be assigned the duty Of securing their
arms As -.s 4" Leain the work Of slaugh-
ter upon the right, Gray upon the left,
and Beving'on in the centre.
After each fairly understood the duty
assigned him, the slow, difficult, hazardous
approach began. They continued upon
their feet until they had got within one
hundred yards of the foe, and then lay
down upon their bellies and began the
work of writhing themselves forward like
a serpent approachinga victim. They at
last reached the very verge of the line each
man was at his post, save Biggs, who had
the far,hes, to 60. Just as he passed Bra
dy's position, a twig cracked roughly under
the weight of his body, and huge savage,
who lay within the reach of Gray's toma-
hawk, slowly sat up as if startled into this
posture by the sound. After rolling his
eyes, he again lay down and all was still.
Full fifteen minutes passed ere Biggs
moved then he slowly went on. When
be reached his place, very slow kissing
sound indicated that he was ready, Brady
10 turn reiterated the sound as signal to
Gray and Bevington to begin. This they
did in the most deliberate manner. No
nervousness was permissible then. They
slowly felt for the heart of each savage
they were to stab, and then plunged the
knife. The tomahawk was not to be used
unless the knife proved inefficient. Not a
sound broke the stiffness of the night as
they cautiously felt and stabbed, unless it
might be that one who was feeling would
hear the stroke of the others knife and
he groau of the victim whom the other
had slain. Thus the work proceeded.
Six of the savages were slain. One Of
hem had not been killed outright by the
stab of Gray. lie sprang to bis feet, but
Is he arose to shout his warcry, the soma-
lawk finished what the knife had begun.
BE staggered and fell heavily forward, over
me who bad not yet been reached. He
n turn started up, but Brady was too
,uick, his kuife reached his heart and the
omahawk his brain almost at tho same in-
tant All were slain by the three spies,
xcept one. He started to flee, but rife
hot by Biggs closed his career.
The women and children, alarmed by
he contest, fed wildly to the woods; but
hen all had grown still and they we're
allied, they returned, recognizing amid
heir fright the tones Of their Own people.
'he whole party took up their march for
4 'Iu,osh at once. About sunrise next
morning, the seutries Of the fort were sur.
rised to see the cavalcade Of horses, men, e
7omen and children, approaching the fort. q
hen they recognized Brady, they at
nee admitted him and the whole party.