Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-01-09
- Thrilling Adventure and Harris rcadth
Escapc.

We question whether in the history of hair
breadth escapes. parallel to the following can
easily he found. We give the story as related in
the words of the hero:
1t was about the year 1875 that I settled in vir
cinia near the falls or the Kanawha The coun-
try at that time was an unbroken wilderness
But few settlements had been made by the whites
and they were so Ear apart as TO render vain all
hopes oi assistance in of an attack from hos
tile Indians numbers of whom still infested the
neighborhood
| l lived there alone with my wife for several
months unmolested and by dins of perseverance
being then young aud hardy had succeeded in
making quite large clearing in the forest. which
| / had planted with corn, and which promised an
abundant yield.
One mornng. after we had despatched our
humble meal and had just prepared to venture
forth upon my regular routine of labor, my atten-
ton was arrested by the tiRkling of cow-b bell 10
| the corn field.
There said my wife, the COW is In the corn.
field
But the ear Of the back-woodsman becomes by
education very acute, especially so from the fact
that his safety often depends upon the nice culti-
walton of that sense. was not so easily deceived
| l lstened-the sound was repeated. That,
said ], in reply to the remark of my wife, was
not the tinkle of bell upon the neck of a cow
1t is decoy from some Indian who desires to
draw me into ambush
Believing this to be the case took down my
old musket Il had no rife) and seeing that II
was properly loaded, stole cautiously around
the field to the point from which the sound seem
ed to proceed. As had suspected there in a clus.
ter 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. an.
preached without discovering myself to him. until
within 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 accompanied
by others, | returned with all speed to the cabin
and having firmly barricaded the door, | watched
all day from the port holes in anticipation of an
attack from the companions OF the Indian had
killed. TO add to the danger. and seeming hope.
lessness of my situation. discovered that had
but one charge OF powder left | could but make
one shot. and then, if attacked by numbers
should be entirely in their power. Determined
to do the best with what had, poured ont the
last charge of powder and put it into my musket
and then waited for the approach of night. feeling
confident of an attack. Night came at last. A
beautiful moonlight night it was, too. and this
favored my greatly, as would thereby be able to
observe the movements of the enemy as they ap-
preached my cabin 1t was some two hours after
nightfall, aud as yet bad neither heard nor seen
q sign Of the Indians. when suddenly was start.
led by the baying of my dog at the stable.
stable
stood Il little to the west of the cabin, and be-
tween the two was patch of cleared ground,
upon which the light OF the full moon fell unob-
structed Judging from the noise the stable
that they would advance from that direction,
posted myself at the port hole on that side of the
cabin.
| l bad previously placed my wife on the cross
pole in the chimney, so that in case our enemies
effected an entrance into the cabin, she might
climb out through the low chimney and effect her
escape. For myself ! entertained no hope but
determined not to be taken alive-I resolved to
sell my life dearly.
With breathless anxiety watched at the port
hole. At length saw them emerge from the
shadow of the stable and advance across the va
cant ground toward the cabin. One-two-- three
great heaven six stalwart Indians armed 10 the
teeth, and urged on by the hope of revenge. and
alone to oppose them. with but one charge Of
powder. My case was desperate indeed. With
quick yet steathy step. in close single file they
approached. and were already within few yards
of the house, when a slight change in the move
ment Of the forward Indians changed the position
of the entire six that portion of the left side
of each uncovered. They were all in n range
one aim would cover all. Quick rs thought |
aimed and fred. AS the smoke cleared away
could hardly credit what my senses showed me IS
the result of my shot. The fifteen slugs with
which | had load my muskct had done tn ir
work well. Five Of the s.x Indians lay dead upon
/ the ground, and the sixth had disGpp. aFed
Although no enemy was now in sight, did rot
venture forth until morning. There lay the 10
dies of the five Indians undisurhed. together
with the rife Of the other Securing the arms
and ammunition of the fallen Indians, | followed
up the trail Of the missing one, until it reached
the river, beyond which point could discover no
trace what yer. From The amount of blood which
marked the trail together with the unmisakable
evidence that he had picked bis way with Difficult
ty. was led to believe that he mortally
wounded, and in ordnr TO prevent his body from
falling into the hands of his white foe. he had
CROPPED his way to the river and thrown himself
into the current. which had borne him away.
The Indians had killed my COW. and that you
may be assured was notrihing loss, yet in my
gratitude for my escape from the merciless sava
ges, l would have been entirely willing to have
made greater sacrifices. | was well provided by
means of arms and ammunition taken from the
Indiansl in case of second attack. but this. for
tunately, proved to be my last adventure with
the savages. Not one of the band had escaped to
tell the tale and ncite his brethren to avenge the
death of his comrades.
| 'Ahr exclaimed the old man, while the tears
gushed from his eyes at the memory of that event
| ful night, that was glorious shot-the best
ever made
| The hero of this adventure lived to see the rude
wilderness where he had pitched his lonely cabin
transformed into smiling fields, and peopled by
hardy and enterprising pale faces, among whom
his last days were passed in peace and plenty.
undisturbed by the presence OF his old time foes
CHILD RuIN.-The San Francisco Times is
amazed at the number of little girls decoyed to
places of iniamy. We are not the customs of
society provoke murder Of infants in cOmpari
con with az bich tho afrocitv of Hprod was 1ercv