The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-09-15

= saw nor 0earo am tn1Dg TO- JUSTIFY alarm
and turning away, he quietly repaired
to the dwelling, re iastened the door
laid himself down and fol asleep
Soon after this the whole house wa
startled by loud cry of fire, which pro
ceeded from one of the men who lodge
in the loft. Captains Kirkwood and
Biggs instantly spraDg from their beds
and, rushing up the ladder, made thu
startling discovery that the roof was il
flames A scene of the widest confu
sion now prevailed, the men thus sud
denly aroused, aud half choked with
smoke, not fairly comIrehending their
situation, and the wife aud children all
sLrieking with terror.
AS soon as he could make his voice
heard. Captain Kirkwood ordered the
men to push off the burning slabs, and
while in the act of doing this, volley
of balls ratified in among them, followed
by those terrific yells which ever proved
SO appalling TO those awakened by them
| i'll the still hours of night Two of the
men were wounded by the first discharge
Of the Indians, whose position, on the
top Of the block house situated still
higher on the knoll, commanded the
root of dwelling, and being greatly
terrified, they all Grew Lack in dismay
aud some declared their only safety was
iu immediate Aight.
Your only safety is in throwing off
the roof before the whole roof takes
fire, retained Captain Kirkwood, as he
pushed iD amoug them and put his own
hands actively to work.
Wen risk that said one, as he hnr-
ried TO the ladder. I'm not going to
BY heavens you shall remain here
till l give you leave to go down T! cried
the enraged captain, rs he sprung for
ward, seized the fellow and threw him
hack violently.
Let US pass!' cried two or three of
the others, advancing towaros the cap
tain-the shots of the Indians mean
while rattling like hail against the walls
and burning roof, aud their wild yells
now aud then resounding afar through
the gloomy wilderness ar und.
What Mutiuy y exclaimed Captain
Kirkwood.. For shame, men! for shame!
Turn back this moment, and do your
duty Is it not enough VIC have com
mOD eUcEly RaIuUoJ, Z dlQSL lldVe 1
a civil strife within ?
who dares rebel sgainst Captain
orders?' shouted Captain
Biggs from below, whittier he had gone
Tor his rife. Shoot down the first ras-
cal that attempts to escape, Captain, or
refuses to obey ypui'
Quick then, pass me up my rife =
shouted Kirkwood, who kept his position
at the head of the ladder.
Aye, here it. is reter ned Captain
Biggs.
t up, ball passed through small via
low, and striking him SO disabled him
hat he let the weapon fall Ripping
,ut an oath, he picked it up,with ii s 9th
,r hand AID passed it to Kirkwood.-
fhe moment the latter got huld of it he
urned to the mutirous men, and ex
laimed
Now, let me see who will refuse to do
lis duty Back, there, aud flush your
york Of throwing off the burning ROOF
The first man thar attempts 20 leave
hrough his brain' y
The mor, mutiuous of tho Humber, /,
uling the captain derermined, and that
here was no q. auce for them to escape,
t once began to take an active part
.ith hose who were already doing their
uty; and III very short time the buru- '
x portions of the roof were Gislodged
I'D thrown to the ground he Indians
Ii he whlle keeping up steady fire, 7
I'D lght'y woundIng one or two more. g, ,
Thus far our besieged party had no
pportuuity to return the fire of the enc q
"; but now the latter, fndiug IL cir
rst attempt to burn the house likely to S
rove unsuccessful, rushed fprward in
rdy with still louder and more terr Gc u
ellis, aud a. ouce began Wig 1rous as n
Iuit upon the doors and windows, the
rmer of which they nearly forced at
lie first onset ,
The Danger being chiefly below Cap :,
III Kirkwood hurried down, aud order T
the greater portion of the men to fol /,
w, leaving a few above to defeud the =
pen roof In ease the savages should at II
mlt to climb the walls and mako an :,
ltrance there.
At once tearing up several puncheons :.
ON the floor, a part of the men pro- g
eded to brace the door, in the most + +
fective manner, the others keeping -
ateh near the two small windows, and -
ing whenever they could get the :,
impse of an Indian. =
In this manner the attack and defence ;,
as continued some little time longer G
other of the party inside being slight !,
wouuded-when suddenly the sound =
heavy gun came booming throngh Fl
g air. =,
Courage, men y cried Captain Kirk -
BOD, in an animated tone, they al
ady hear US at Wheeling, and doubt =,
IS assistance will soon be here u
Let US give three cheers I said Cap al
in Biggs, just to show the attacking o. o.
oundrels that VIC are not in the least
lit intiasidated.' m
Three cheers were accordingly given;
d were answered by the Indians, by
e loudest, widest, and fercest yells of
rious rage. II
AYE, yell away, you mean. cowardly. hc
ievipg. vagabonds = shouted one of ae
e men tauntingly, as he recklcssly ad- I
need close to one of the small wiz in
VS. which had not been so boarded up
side as to render his position safe from
e balls Of the enemy. t
Have care there, Walker y exclaim- C.
his commander. in alarm. vi
Scarcely we're the words spoken when al
Q map, olOpping bis hand to bis breast, he