Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-26
A Thrilling ADVENTURE.

THRILLING ADVENTURE.
wequestion whether in the history of hair
breadth" escapes, a parallel to the following
can easily be found. The story was told us by
an old and valued friend, now residing in the
country near this city, but whose early days
were spent near the tragic adventure here re-
corded
We give the story as related to US, in the
words of the hero:
IL was about the year 1906 that settled in
Virginia, near the fall of the kanawha. The
country at that time WAS an unbrOken wilder
ness But few settlements had been made then
by the whites, and they were so far apart as to
render vain all hopes of assistance in case of an
attack from hostile Indians-numbers of whom
still infested the neighborhOOd.
- lived thore alone with my wife for several
months unmOlssted, and by dint of perseverance,
being then young and hardy, had succeeded in
making quite large clearing in the forest.
which L had planted with corn, and which
promised an abundant yield.
One morning after we had dispatched our
humble meal. and had just prepared to VEN
ture forth upon my regular rout tine of latOr. my
attention was arrested by the tinkling of cow
bell IN the corn-feld.
There, said my wife, the cow is in the
corn-feld'
But the ear Of the back -woodsman becomes
by education, very acute especially so from the
fact that his safety often depends upon the nice
cultivation OF that sense. l was not 50 easily
deceived listened-the sound was repeated
That. said L, in reply to the remark of my wife
was not the tinkle Of bell upon the neck of a
cow 1t is decOy from some Indian who de-
s!res TO draw me into ambush.
Believing this to be the case, | took down my
old musket, II had no rife) and seeing that it
was properly loaded, stole cautiously around
the held toward the point from which the sound
seemed TO proceed As had suspected there,
In acluster Of bushes, erOuehed an Indian wait
Ing tor me to appear in answer to his dccoy-
oeii, that be might send the fatal bullet to my
neart- approached, without discovering nv
self to him, until within shooting distance then
raised my piece and fired. The bullet sped
true to its mark, and the Indian fell dead
Not knowing that he might be accompanied
by others, returned with all speed to the cabin
and having firmly barricaded the door L watched
all day from the port holes in ANTICIPATION of an
attack from the companions Of the Indian had
killed. To add to the danger and seeming hope
Iessness OF my situation, discovered that had
but one charge Of powder left. / could but make
one shot, and then, If attacked by numbers, |
should be entirely in their power Determined
to do the best with what l had, poured out
the last charge Of powder and put it into my
innsket and then waited for the approach of
night, feeling confident of an attack Night
came at last. A beautiful moonlight night it
Was too, and this favored me greatly as /
would thereby be able TO observe the move
ments OF the enemy as they approached NV
cabin 1t was some two hours after nigbtfaIl,
and as yet had neither heard or seen a sign of
the Indians when suddenly was startled by
the Daylng OF my dog 1T the stable 1 knew
That the Indians were coming The stable
stood little 10 the west of the cabin, and be-
tween the two was patch of cleared ground
upon which the light of the full moon fell un-
Obstructed- Judging from the noise at the sta
q " FnniH n,Iu
ton, posted myself at the port hole on that
side Of the cabin
Il had previously placed my wife on the
cross pole IN the chimney. so that in case our
enemies effected an entrance into the cabin she
might climb out through the low chimney and
enect her escape. For myself, l entertained no
nope; but, determined not 10 be taken alive-I
resolved TO sell nay life dearly
win bTeathles5 anxiety / watched at the
pOrt-hole. At length | saw them emerge from
The shadow Of the stable and advance across
the vacant ground towards my cabin. One
tWo-three-great Heaven six stalwart In
dIans, armed 10 the teeth, and urged ON BY the
hope Of revenge. and alone 10 oppose them.
win but one charge OF powder. My case was
desperate indeed. With quick vet stealthy
step, In close single file they approached and
were already IN few yards Of the house when
slight change in the movement Of the forward
Indians changed the position OF the entire six
covered They were in range-one aim would
cover all QUICK as thought aimed and fired.
As the smoke cleared away could hardly
credit what my senses showed me as the result
OF my shot The fifteen sIugs with which had
loaded my musket had done their work we'll
hve of the six Indians lay dead U pom the ground.
and the sixth had disappeared
hIhougn no enemy was now in sight / did
not venture forth until morning There Law
The bodies of five Indians undisturbed, together
with the rifle of the other. Securing the arms
ana ammunition Of the fallen Indians, followed
up the trail Of the missing one, until it reached
the TIver, beyond which point [ could discover
no trace whatever. From the amount Of blood
when marked the trail, together with the un-
mistakable evidence that he had picked his
way with difficulty. | was led TO believe that
ne was nortaIly wounded. and in order to pre-
vent ms body from falling into the hands Of mis-
"blte Zoe, ne had grOped his way to the river
and thrown himself into the current which had
borne him away
The Indians had killed my COW. and that
you may DC assured, was no trifing loss vet in
rny gratitude for my escape from the merciless
sayages. l would have been utterly willing TO
have made greater sacrifices | was we'll pro-
ylded-by means of arms and ammunition taken
from the six IDdians-in case of n second at-
JACK but TINS fortunately, proved 10 be nv last
aEenture with the savages. Not one of the
band hai escaped 10 tell the tale and incite his
brethren TO aNenge the death of his other COM
rades
An exclaimed the old man, while the
Tears gCshed from his eyes at the memory Of
that eyentful night g that was glorious shot
the best ever made
The hero OF this adventure lived TO see the
rude wilderness where he had pitched his lone
ly eaban, transformed into smiling fields and
peOpIed by hardy and enterprising pale faces
among whom his last days were passed IN peace
and plenty undi=turbed by the presence of his
Old time foes
CAUTION TO FARMERS Bors-A Yankee
lai whose fsther was farmer went into the
hArnyard 10 play. n short time ago and being
detained prisoner By thunder storm he fell
asleep on bag Of guHIO. The Oll gentleman,
when the storm was over went into the barn
yard 10 loJk after his son and met a giant eight
feet high, coming out of the barn.
Halo, who are you ," cried the old man.
''wha; are you doing here -
= Why father" squeaked the GOliah, "it's