Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-07-30

should be obliged to winter where we we're.
To be prepared for any emergency, we, with
much labor put up rude shanty, which serv-
ed in some measure to protect from the
almost wintry blasts which now began 20
sweep over the desolate scene
As the season grew colder and more inclem
ent. the game became so scarce that my com
panion with difficulty drove enough within
rihe-shot to give us single meal day and
with all the rest, our powder was so low in
the horn that could count the charges, and
dared not fire, except when certain Of ny
mark then it was we began TO feel the hor-
rors Of despair. and sometimes TO regret that
we had outlivcd the dead around us. Almost
naked, with unshaven haggard faces. hollow
cheeks and sunken eyes. we now indeed look
cd pitiable, even to each other every duy,
too, our condition seemed to grow worse. in
stead of better and at last, with a sinking
heart, informed Brent we had but four
charges Of powder in our horn
"God help us - was his reply.
Matters were thus at their very worst, when
one day Peter burst suddenly into our shan
ty, where sat shivering over few embcis,
and, with tears in his eyes. exclaimed, "Blcs-
sed be God Captain Benham, we're saved
there's a fiat boat just turning the bend
above us =
Who shall describe my feelings then |
started up and hobbled down to the bank If
the river. shouting wildly as | went, lest the
boat, scarcely yet within sight should pass
us ere | could reach the beach OH how
painfully anxious we watched its SLOW APP
proach, continually shouting to attract the at
tenton of men too far distant to hear us, ard
making every kind Of signal We could pcssi-
bly, think Of for the same purpose.
Gradually the boat neared us, and we could
see its crew gathered together. and pointing
toward us. But oh Heaven imagine. if YOU
can. our horror, when we saw them sudd ally
betake to their oars, push over to the Ohio
shore, and then row past us with all their
might, amid our frantic gesticulations and pit
eous prayer for help On they swept down
the river, and then Brent and /, lookiny at
each other with silent horror, sunk down to-
gether upon the cold beach and mentally
prayed for death to end our sufferngs
Suddenly--oh, sight Of agonizing Joy VIC
saw canoe put off from the larger boat and
approach us, and then we got up and fairly
screamed and begged for assistance. When
the rowers had come near enough to converse
with us, they stopped, and told us they feared
we were decoys, put there to draw then 70
the shore, that the Indians might fall upon
and murder them, and it took no small time,
and the most earnest asseverations and pits
Gus appeals to convince them to the contra
try. At last, after rowing past us two or three
times, and closely inspecting the shore, aad
getting us to come far out on the sandbar,
they ventured to take us aboard. We were
kindly treated by these men, when they came
to hear our story and being taken by thom
to the garrison at the Falls (now Louis'ii ii-,
Ky..) we were placed under the care of
skillful surgeon, and soon restored to oui vs.
ual healthful strength.
Reader, is not this story remarkable for he
fact that two men should so singularly escape
from the savages, and live six weeks in the
wilderness-the one with useless arms, the
other with useless legs-the two together
making, as it were only one whole man =
Whoever shall to-day stand upon the leycc
of the now large and fourshing city of Tin
cinnati, and glance his eyes across the beau
tiful Ohio shall behold the very spot wheIo
these remarkable events occurred, at a time
when all around on either shore, was a wide
bowling wilderness.