The Kanzas news., 1858-03-13
Scene on the Ohio.

BY REV. ]. TODD, D. D.
Well, it is now nearly forty years since I
first saw the glorious Ohio. l shouted
since and when die I hope l shall be bu-
ried on its banks. On certain day, was
engaged to go down the river to Kentucky,
with Capt. Ward, as he was removing his
family from the East. The journey was
long, and at best would be tedious. l was
a kind of pilot, for I was well acquainted
with the river and all points of danger
The country was full of Indians, and no
settlement of any note had been made in
Ohio. The whites and Indians, too, were
constantly making war upon each other. I
do not know who was most to blame the
whites killed the most, and the Indians were
the most cruel. We purchased an old, era
zy, square-built boat, between forty and
fifty feet in length, and about eight or ten
feet wide. We contrived to spike on a sim
gle plank on each gunnel, and this was the
only thing we had to defend US. We had a
heavy load-furniture, baggage, horses, pigs,
fowls, plows, besides nearly dozen people.
These consisted of the Captain, his wife,
and their young children, widowed sister
and her son, besides several men to manage
the boat. When we left, we were fearful
lest the Indians should attack US from the
shore; but we knew that by keeping in the
middle of the river we should be beyond
the reach of their rifles, or could be in few
moments. Thus we passed on for severa
days, till we supposed we were beyond the
haunts of the Indians. One day, just a
sunset, after we had become tired with row
ing, we let our boat drift lazily and careless
ly along the current. We were just getting
ready to put up for the night The mothe
was promising the children good run oil
shore. The widow was getting out provis
ions for our supper. The captain and h;
nephew had hold of the oars, and moves
them just enough to allow me to steer tn
boat.
''Rogers," said the captain, ''suppose W
pull in this side of that point, and tie ou
boat to one of those big trees, and there en-
camp for the night
cit is good place. captain, and 1 like it
Besides, few moments ago | thought
heard wild turkeys over the hill, AMI
should like to have one for our supper
So we put in towards the shore, and ha
got within fifty yards of that point. whic
a steamboat had just passed, when 1 hear
a stick crack, as if broken by the foot.
GA deer" said the captain.
"No, no." shouted ''row, row for life
or we are all dead.'
At that instant down rushed scores G
Indians to the shore, with shout that mad
the hills across the river echo back again
The murderous creatures rushed down
the waters edge, and presented their gun
and opened a heavy FIRE upon US. In a
instant the young man snatched his rifle
and rising up his full length fred at th
nearest Indian who had snowy head dress
The Indian fell, and so did the young ma
at the same instant. As he fell, the captai
brought the boat nearer. The Indian
yelled, the women screamed, the horses fall
ing and plunging, and bullets were iyin
thick around us. Yet, above all, the voic
of Captain Ward rose. cool-s'R Rogers, tax
my oar"
took it, and he at the same instar
seized plank, and rowed to such a goo
purpose that in few minutes we were o,
in the river beyond the reach of rifles
We knew they had no canoes, being on
hunting excursiea. and that we were saf
But oh, what sight The horses were a
dead or dying; one child badly wounded
the boat half filed with water, and the youn
man In his blood at the bottom Of the boa
By this time the cooiness of the captain Va
al gone. He lay down by the side Of b
nephew, whom he loved as his son, aRd es
claimed, go John, John! o Lord ha,
mercy, have mercy I have brought tt
dear boy to his DEATH But the widowe
motherl She was pale as a sheet; but ST
came to her son. raised his head in her lal
and opened his bosom, where the blood wa
still coming-he was yet alive
'tJohn," said she, in q sweet voice, rs
speaking to babe; " John. do you kno
me 2"
eMy mother" said be, in whisper.
s.Can you swallow, John 90 said sh
putting her hand over, and dipping mp SON
water from the river.
He tried, but could not.