Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-03-03

SOAN-ciNOAN~
ere from his place of concealment, forgot in
the excitement OF the moment, and in his de-
sire to avenge his comrades, his own personal
safety, and leyelling his rifle on him who ap-
peared to be the chief of the party, he fired.
The bullet found its way to the heart of the
savage, and he fell dead. The Indians uttered
yell at sslng their chief fall, and it was
few seconds ere they recovered from their sur
prise sufficiently to fire at Sol who was now run
ming at full speed and nearly at point where
the swell of the ground would hide him from
their view. The savages fired volley without
effect, when q number of them gave chase
Sol Stacked his speed as to enable him to
load his rife, and by this means three of the
swiftest of the Indians had gained him till
they were within eighty yards. He according
ly cooked his gun, and wheeling suddenly fired
at the foremost of his pursuers. The ball
passed through the4rst Indian, killing him
instantly, and mortally wounding another.
The third, and only one now in sight, halted
moment, then braadishing his tomahawk gave
loud shout and rushed forward. Sol now
finding that his rifle encountered him threw it
away, and was just trying to determine wheth-
er be should stop and kill the Indian in close
fight, or rnn away from him, either of which
he felt that he could do, when he was surprised
by The war-whoop of another party of savages,
into whose midst he had found his way. See
ing that resistance would be useless, he sur
rendered to his enemies, and was securely tied
and taken to their village, where he was con-
demned to the torture, and would have been
burned at once but that number of the tribe
were absent, and twas agreed to postpone the
execution till their return. He was according
ly closely guarded night and day for three
weeks, when the warriors all got home, and
without bringing any more prisoners. They
had lost several of their braves in a skirmish
with Capt. Edstone's company, and conse-
quently felt eager to wreak their vengeance on
the head of Sol. Accordingly extensive pre-
pnrations were made for the execution on the
morrow.
Sol, who had suffered good deal during the
first week of his confinement, prevailed on the
old man and his daughter, who were his atten-
dants, to loosen his bands little, that he
could exercise his limbs. The.squaw evident
ly felt an interest in the prisoner, and several
times Sol thought he tear moisten
her eye as she turned to gaze on him,
while following her father from the wgwam
| in which he was confined. He had strong
hopes that this girl might assist him to es-
cape, though in what way was difficult to
conceive, as two braves kept guard outside
the door day and night, besides his being
securely tied to stakes driven into the ground
= H.. 7 IN,
visited the prisoner with food, during the
whole time of his confinement, and though he
| questioned them he elected nothing regarding
| his 'probable fate till the evening before the
| day fixed for his execution, when the old mar
| told him that on the morrow at sunrise he
would be led forth to die. Up to this time he
had cherished the hope that he would fine
means to escape, but now despair took hold OF
him, and he gave vent to his feelings in pas
sionate burst of grief. In the midst OF his sor
row the old man seemed moved by pity, anC
| beckoning to his daughter walked slowly from
the tent, followed by the young squaw, who
on passing Sol, stopped quickly and placed :
knife beside the hand of the prisoner, at the
| same time pointing to the rear OF the tent
| then placing her finger on her lip to enjoin 81
| lence, she disappeared with her father. So
| INTERPRETED the movement-that he was to ust
the knife first, to cut the cords which bount
him, and then to open way through the rea
of the tent, which was of skins, for his escape
He carefully placed the knife under his bod,
and anxiously awaited the time when all woul'
be quiet without-a signal that all except In
guard were asleep. 1t was after midnight
however, before the quietneSs gave him hope
that all was safe enough for him to commence
operations. At length all was still, not ever
the cat-like tread of his guard could be heard
After listening attentively, without being abl
to detect the slightest sound, he carefully sew
cred his bonds and moved his limbs to assur
himself that he was able to walk. HE thel
moved cautiously to the part Of the tent point
ed to by the squaw, and slowly and carefuli
divided the deerskin covering till he had mad
an opening large enough to crawl through
which he did, and found himself again free
The moon was shining brightly, and enables
him to see his situation-that he was near tn
woods on that side of the village next the set
Elements. Just then a cloud obscured TN
moon, as if to favor his escape, and in tn
, shadow he succeeded in gaining the woods
, at first his limbs were stiff and numb, but tn
excitement and exercise soon impelled tn
blood to the extremitiies, and he felt that h
was vet match for Indian, and sternly re
, solved that if overtaken he would sell his lif
as dearly as possible, and would never be re
captured. Aided by the bright moonlight, h
, made such Roadway that by daylight he wa
, some ten miles from the scene OF his captivi