Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-07-30
5torll-Gellrr.
A WONDERFUL ESCAPE.


pioncer,) that | became acquainted with
Capt. Robert Bonham, who had been quite
a prominent actor in all the principal battles
of the frontier. His name had long been
familiar to me in connection with very pc
culiar and remarkable affair which had oc-
Cured on the Ohio, at the mouth of the
Licking River, as far back as the year 1919;
and rs had hear ! his singular adventures
at that place related differently by different
parties, felt Il little curiosity to arrive at
the exact facts, and therefore took an early
occasion to get the particulars from his own
lips, which now give, as near as | can re-
collect, in his own words
alt was in the autumn of 70" begun
the Captain, "that a party Of us left the
Falls Of the Ohio in fiat keel boats, under
command of Major Rogers. for the purpose
of king an attack upon the Indians at
the old town of Chilicothc. On our way up
the river we met with no remarkable adven-
ture till We approached the mouth of the
Licking, which we did about sunset of de-
lightful day, when we observed few In
dams standing upon projecting sand bar
at the point where the two streams unite,
apparently watching some companions in a
canoe, who were crossing to them from the
opposite bank of the smaller stream II they
saw us there was nothing in their manner
to indicate the feet, and thinking it posi-
bic to take them by surprise, Major Rogers
ordered the boats to be run up under sopc
bushes along shore, and all the men save FIVE,
some seventy III number, to advance cau-
tiously through the wood, and completely
surround the spot where the savages were
We all set off in fine spirits, thinking only
of the surprise we should give the enemy,
and never once creaming of the surprise they
might give US in return Quietly, stealthily
we pushed onward, spreading out as We ad-
vanced. till at length we reached and fairly
cncircled the fatal spot; when just as the or
der was being given To rash in upon the Zoe,
we were startled and thrown into the great
est confusion by the uprising on every side
Of several hundred yelling Indians.
/ We had been drawn into a complete am
buscad2-had been taken by our own enemies
in the very trap We had set for tharn. In
stantly they poured in a destructive fire, and
then FIJI upon us with knife and tomahawk;
when the panic on our sids became fearful
/ 81 Il I r.. l.
ened sheep we all huddlcd together, and
then, finding ourselves henmed in by our foes
who hewed us down as fast as they reached
us, We turned at bay and poured back Il vol
ley from our side. Then, with yells as wild
and savage rs their own, We broke through
their lines and rushed for our boats. But
the Indians comprehending our design,
reached them before us, and made capture
of all save one; in which the men lett in
charge had made their escape. Our only
chance now was to break their lines again
and start through the forest for the station
of llarrodsburgh. Favored by the gather
ing shades of night, some twenty of our
whole party escaped, though hotly pursued
by our blood-thirsty foes.
But was not of that fortunate few for
asI was in the act of clearing some five or
six of the enemy, who barred my way to 4
dense thicket, and just Us | had cut down u
couple of the nearest, a ball passed through
my hips, shattering the bones. At once
fell, but luckily among some thick bushes
which for the moment concealed me- and
the others, propabay thinking me dead or
escaped, immediately darted off in pursuit
of my flying friends. had my rifle still in
nv hands, and wounded and suffering as
was, proceeded to load it as | lay on the
ground-my only hope being that | should
succeed in killing one more of the bloody
wretches before terminus should be put to
my own existence.
As minute after minute went by, however
and the yells of the savages became more and
more distant, and night began to envelope
me in her welcome pail of darkness; new
hope sprung up in my breast, that nigh,
possibly 50 secrcte myself as to escape the
observation Of the enemy altogether. Slow
ly dragging myself through the bushes to a
fallen tree, which lay within a few feet o
me, with the most excrutiatins pain, crept
up under the branches, which | disposed
above my person in the best manner
could.
Here for hours lay, suffering agonies OF
body and mind which no language has pow
er to describe. | dared not stir again
scarcely to breathe. | heard the Indians
return, and could tell by the sounds that
they were going over the ground and butch
ering all the wounded they could fnd.-
About midnight, as near as could judge,
they once more drew off, and lit their camp
fires, the glimmcring of which could faint
ly perceive through the thick foliage which
surrounded me.
Let me pass over that night of horror
If any one would have the faintest idea OF
what suffered, he must imagine himself in
nv situation-there-in the branches OF
that tree-with both hips shattered-sur.
rounded by my dead friends. and worse still
my living foes, dared not change my po-
sition nor give vent to single groan; and
at times it seemed as if nature must compe
from me some expression of pain in spite o.
my utmost will. Q.it was a horrible night
and may God deliver me from eyer passing
such another,
But the end is not yet. Horrible as tha