New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-17
FROM OHIO.
WAR BETWEEN THE PIONEERS AND
sAvAGES-"M MONSIEUR COOKER -

gsnespondenoe Of The N. Y. Tribune.
COLUMBUS, O., May 81, 1857.
TIE early settlement of Ohio has been attended
with many scenes of interest, not few Of which
were connected with bloOdshed. The murder of
settler BY the Indians in the vicinity Of Marietta,
Big Bottom, or Belpre, was not an unusual occur
renee previous to Wsynes victory. DR.. IIildreth
relates the narrow escape made by the two sons of
Gen. Rufus Putnam, William Rufus aud Edwin
One day, in company with several Others they had
been harvesting field Of oats and flax for their
father. They had nearly finished 1t BY night and
the next morning the two boys, with two Others,
were TO finish the work, but owing to the absence
Of one man who was to 60 wit them they did not
leave the fort until near noon. BY accommodating
they found plain signs that the sayages had been
lowering about the field and had the boys gone out
m the morning, as they originally intended, they
would undoubtedly have been shot or captured The
Indians got tired Of waiting, aud by this good prov
dence the lads escaped. They both lived t. good
old age and were greatly hOnored for their integrity
and talents.
In 1871, one Nicholas Carpenter, a first-rate
woodman, and described as "worthy and pious
man." with four companions, was killed by the In
dams They were driving cattle from Carksburgh
in Virginia to Marietta. Carpenter was sccompa.
MED by five men and his son, only ten years old.
They had reached carpenters Run only six
miles from Marietta, and that night very foOlishly
set no guard, thinking there danger, as they
were so near the end of their journey. "a party
" Of six Shawnee Indians, headed, as was afterward
+" ascertained, by Tecumseb, then quite Il youth"
discovered the party and made au attack upon it.
Carpenter, being religious man, was accustomed
to begin his days work with family worship, and on
this particular morning, Gas the men sat round the
fire, and he had just commenced reading hymn
" the Indians who had been stationed behind the
trunk of large fallen tree-rose and fired, follow
ing the discharge with a terrific YELL and rushed
"upOn their astOnshed victims with the tomahawk."
Only one man, named Ellis, was killed by the
hrst FIRE. The surprise was so complete that the
Others had only time TO begin flight, which was cut
short in the case Of Burns, Legit, Carpenter and
his little son, all of whom were dispatched. The
rest made good their escape.
Return Jonathan Meigs, one evening in 1892, had
very narrow escape from the savages. With his
hired man and a black boy, he was returning from
his corn field in the evening. The boy discovered the
Indians, exclaiming "There are two more" which
caused Symonds the hired man, to turn suddeoly
as one Of the Indians fired. This sddden turn
saved his life, as it put him into position to receive
the ball in his shoulder instead Of through his body.
The man sprang into the Muskingum and swan out
Of reach of his pursuers; the black boy was caught
struck down and scalped. Mr.. Megs was pursued by
another savage, whom he had two years before eul-
plOycd as guide in journey to Detroit. He (Mr.
NJ. now advanced upon him, with his keen black eyes
fixed npOn the Indians until he was close to him,
when he struck at him with the dubbed gun, and
rushed past. The Indian received the blow on his
rife and dropping it in his path, drew his tOmahawk
from his belt and pushed on in pursuit. The chase
was not long one, but very keen while it listed
In about forty rods the path crossed small rive;
with pretty deep and wide banks, across which Mr..
Aaasoo VIC III,
to the brink stopped, and threw his Ratchet at his
intended victim as he was crossing log which lay
In the path. As it missed its object, with loud
yell he gave up the pursuit. and FASTENED back to his
Mr.. Meigs now assisted his man out of
the river in greatly exhausted condition.
THIS Return j. Meigs is the son Of the Jonathan
Megs Of whom the anecdote is told that he paid his
addresses to a young Quakeress, who at first re-
jected him, but as he was uutying his horse she |
came to the door and said, Return Jonathan :" an
expression which had such charm for him that he
named his first son, "Return Jonathan Meigs."
In the adventure with the Indians this worthy gen.
tleman ran some risk of not returning.
During the Indian War which caused the Colo
nists in the vicinity Of Marietta much trouble |
there were several French people who resided
Fort Harmar, on the opposite side Of the Muskingum
from Marietta One Of these bachelor known as
I" Monsieur Cooker" was so fond Of hunting and |
Trapping that he could nor Iorrs" .le pleasure al.
though the risk from the savages was great. Al /
fact his habit had been noticed and one day two In
dams lay concealed near the path to his traps.
Monsieur was short man, but wore "a very tall,
steepe- crowned hat" AS he was going to HIS traps
the sayages saw the little mans high hat and sup.
posing bis head to be in it, both of them fired and
10th bullets passed through the hat never tour,u
4be little mans head. Thoroughly frightened he
f|ed to the Fort which he reached in safety. Non.
sieur Cooker concluded to give up his ayo-te amuse
pent until il could be INDUCED IN ,th more safety
30 great was the asn.s,ctr from the savages, who
proyed about the settlements to shoot or capture
spy unwary person out In the fields, or hunting, or
going from one settlement to another, that COM
papy Of rangers-bOld and experienced WOodsmen-
were employed to scOur the woods for miles IN the
vicinity Of the different forts, to discover Indian
trails and give the inhabitants warning. These men
were as sagacous as their willy enemies and did
very great service.
Dr. Hildreth relates the fact that the Rev. Daniel
Story, uncle Of Judge Story Of the Supreme Court,
who was the first minister in Ohio, occasionally
went 10 Waterford to preach to the people at that
Fort; but in order to his safety on the Journey ne
was rowed up the Muskngum in boat, accom-
panied by an armed escort, and for the greater
safety of the party armed scouts ranged the woods
on either bank Of the river. He was returned
with the same care. In 1874, man who was chop
ming in clearing near Fort Harmar, was shot by
Indians. His name was Robert Wartb; and, az
the saysqes were running, Warths brother John,
one OF the rangers ran from the fort and shot one
of them. On another occasion the savages broke
into house, occupant of which escaped from
his bed and made his way out OF window. lie
scarcely left, when the Indians discovered that he
had been there, by the warmth of the bed, and pur
sued him, but be made good his escape.
One Of the most thrilling narratives of Indian
warfare ia from the pen of Col Robert Patterson,