Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-12-31
From the New Orleans
\ THRILLING ADVENTURE.

We question whether in the history OF hair.
breadth escapes, parallel to the following can east
ly be found. The story was told US by an old and
valued friend now residing in the country this
city, but whose early days were spent the trag
c adventure here recorded
We give the story as related to US, in b, words Of
the hero:
Il was about the year 1905 that settled in vir-
gna, near the fall of kanawha. The country at
that time but unbroken wilderness. But
few settlements had been made By the whites and
they were far apart to render vain all hopes OF
assistance in OF an attack from hostile Indians
numbers of whom still infested the neighborhood.
+, lived there alone with my wife fer several months
unmolested, and b. dnt 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 hum
bic meal, and had just prepared venture fol ID
upon my regular routine OF labor, my attention
was arrested by the tinkling of COW bell in the
corn-fed.
"There," said my wife, "the Cow is in the corn
field"
| But the ear ofthe back wpodsman becomes by ed
ucaton, very acute, especially from the fact that
his safety often depends upon the nice cultivation
of that sense. Twas not easily deceived. That,
said |, in reply to the remark ofmy wife, was not
the tinke of bell on the neck of COW. 1t is
decoy from some Indian who desires to draw me in
, 10 ambush.
Believing this to be the case, took down nv
old musket, Il had no rifle and seeing that il was
properly loaded, stole cautiously around the field
toward the point from which the sound seemed to
proceed. AS had suspected, there, in cluster of
bushes, crouchcd an Indian, waiting for me to APP
pear in answer 10 his decoy bell that he might send
the fatal bullet to my heart approached, without
discovering myself him until within shooting dis
lance, then raised my piece and fired. The bullet
sped t-ce to its mark, and the Indian fell dead.
Not knowing but he might be accompanied BY
others, returned with all speed to the cabin, and
having firmly barricaded the door, | watched all
day from the portfolios in anticipation Of an attack
from the companions of the Indian | had killed
To add TO the danger and seeming hopelessncss of
my situation discovered that had but one charge
OF powder left. | could not make but one shot,
ana then If attacked by numbers, should be entire
ly within their power. Determined to do the
best with what had, poured out the last charge
OF powder and put il into y muskct, and then wait
cd for the approach ofnight, feeling confident OF
attack. Night came at last. A beautiful moon
light night il too, and this favored me greatly,
As would thereby be able to observe the move
ments Of the enemy as they approached my Cabin
1t Was some two hours after nightfall, and yet
had neither heard sign of the Indians, when
suddenly was startled By the baying of my dog at
the stable. | knew that the Indians were coming.
The stable stood little to the west of the cabin,
and between the two was patch of cleared ground,
upon which the light of the full moon fell unol-
sructed. Judging from the noise at the stable that
they would advance from that direction, ] posted
myself at the port hole on that side of the cabin
HAD previously placed my wife on the cross-pole
in the chimney, so that in enemies effected
an entrance into the cabin, she might climb out
through the low chimney and effect her escape
For myself entertained no hope, but, determined
not be taken alive, resolved to sell my life dear
ly.
With breathless anxiety, watched at the port
hole AT length, saw them emerge from the sbad-
ow of the stable and advance across the vacant
ground towards my cabin. One-two-three-
great heayen six stalwart Indians, armed to the
teeth, and urged on by the hope of revenge, and
alone TO oppose them, with but one charge OF pow
der. Nv case was desperate indeed. With quick
vet stealthy STEP in close single file. they approach
cd, and were already within few yards OF the house
when q slight change in the movement OF the for
ward Indian changed the position OF the entire six
that portion OF the left side OF each was left
covered. They were in range-one aim would
cover al. Quick as thought i aimed and fred
As the smoke cleared away, could hardly credit
what M senses showed me as the result of nv shot
The fifteen slugs with which had loaded nv mus
ket, had done their work well, five ofthc six Ind
ans lay dead upon the ground, and the sixth had
disappeared.
Although no enemy was now in sight, did not
venture forth until morning. There lay the five
Indians undisturbed, together with the rife of tn,
other. Securing the arms and ammunition of tn,
fallen Indians. followed up the trail of the missing
one until il reached the river. beyond which pOin
| could discover no trace whatever.
From the amount Of blood which marked thu
trail, together with the unmstakablc evidence tina
he had picked his waywith difficulty, was led to be
leye tina. he was MORALLY wounded. and in orde
to prevent his body from falling into the hands o
his white foe. he had CROPPED his way TO the rive
ard thrown himself into the current which hac
borne him away.
The Indians had killed ny COW, and that, you ma
be assured, was no trifing loss, vet in my gratitude
for my escape from the merciless sayages, | wout
have been utterly willing 10 have made greater sac
rifces | was well proyided-hy means OF arm
and ammunition taken from the six Indans-in cas-
OF second attack, but this, fortunately, proved Z
be nv last adventure with the savages. Not on
u OF the band had escaped TO tell the tale and inct
his brethren TO ayenge the death of their other
rades.
II "Ah!" exclaimed the old man, while the tear