Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-11-06
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.
THE PIONEER 5 LAST SHOT.

THE PIONEERS LAST SHOT.
I We question whether in all the history Of
hair breadth escapes, a PARALLEL to the fol-
lowing can easily be found. The story was
told us by an old valued friend now residing
lin the country near this city. but whose ear
| ly days were spent near the scene of the ,ta-
gic adventure here recorded.
We give the story as related to US, il the
words Of the hero. M as
sit ives about the ySar 1865 that | set
tied ia Virginia, near the fails Of the Ca
nawha. The country at that time was an
unbroken wilderness. But few settlements
/ had been made then by the whites, and they
were so far apart as toreader vaini all the
! hope of assistance, in case of an attack from
hostile ludians-a number Of whom still IN
Tested the neighborhood
/ Il lived here alone With my wife for sey-
efal months unmolestea, and by dint Of un-
firing perseverance. being then young aasd
hardly, bad succeeded ia making quite
large clearing in the forest which bad plau-
ted wish corn, and WHICH promised an abun-
dant yield.
"One morning after we had dispatched
cur humble meal, and had just prepared to
venture forth upon my regular routine of
labor, my attention was arrested by the tink-
ling of q COW bell in the corn-Geld.
''There,' said my wife, 'the COW is in the
corn-feld
'But the ear of the baekwoodsman he
comes by education, very acute. especially
I penis on me nee cdltIySffoh ot maj
sense. was not easily deceived, | listened
1.-THE souni was repeated. That said |,
in reply to the remark of my wife, sWas not
the tinkle of oell upon the neck of COW.
1t is a decoy from some Indian who desires
to draw me into an ambush.
''Believeing this to be the case, took
down my old musket, Il had no rife) ana
seeing that it was properly losded, | stole
cautiously around the field towards the point
from which the sound seemed to proceed
As ] had suspected, there, in a cluster of
bushes crouched an Indian waiting for me
TO appear in answer to his decoy bell, that
he might send the fatal bullet to my heart
approached without discovering myself to
him, until within good shooting distance,
then raised my piece and fired. The bullet
sped true to its mark, and the Indian fell
dead.
''Not knowing but that he might be ac-
companied by others, returned with all
speed to my cabin, aud having firmly barri-
cad ed the door watched all day from the
port hole, in anticipation Of an attack from
the companions of the Indian had killed.
! To add to the danger, and seemingly hope
lessuess of my situation discovered that
] had hut one charge of powder lefts / could
make but one shot, and then, If attacked by
numbers I should be entirely in their power.
Determined 10 d. my best with what l had |
poured in my last charge of powder and put
into my musket, fifteen slugs, aud then watt
ed for the approach Of night, telling confident
of an attack.
"Night came at length. A beautiful
u1oop Iirht ,;nbt - NOS ~, o,J ,L:, f.-
NE greatly, as | would be able to, observe
the movement of the enemy as they approach
ed my cabin. It was two hours after night
! fall, and as yet had neither seen or heard a
sign Of the Indians, when suddenly was
started By the baying Of nay dog at the sta
bic. knew that the Indians we're 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 unobstructed. Judging from
the noise at the stable that they would ad.
, vance from thar direction, posted niysel
, at the port hole on that side of the cabin.
81 had previously placed my wife upor
the cross-pole in the chimney, SO that ii
: case our enemies effected an entrance to tht
cabin she might climb out through the low
. chimney and effect her escape. For myself
| had determined not to be taken alive, ana
> resolved to sell my life dearly.
: sWith breathless anxiety / watched a
the rort hole. Atlength isaw them elnerg,
9 from the shadow of the stable and advance
! across the vacant ground towards the cabin
Observation-Disclosures heavens! six stal
b wart Indians, armed to the teeth, and urgec
I on by the hope of revenge. And / alone t
/. oppose them with but one charge Of powder
: Ny case was desperate, indeed, With quicl