The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-11-25
From Me Ne1O Y0FH
Border Life.

= Many,long wears ago, at "a time when our
ehtire country was conyulsed anG turn up by
tie frequent inroads upon the white settlers
of the oitposts Of civilization, by the different
tribes OF Inians. two brothers of the Edison
family, tired Of the restraints and shadows of
civilized life, left their homes in the quiet, beau
tifulvalley of the Connecticut, for the pur-
pose of seeing and experiencing little OF
frontier life. in that portion of Kentucky
Bloody Grounds"
They bore respectfully the sirnames OF
William and John. AT the time this narrative
c5mmpnced, William was of about the age of
twenty six John some five yeers younger of
most eifeminae frame, and, seemingly, inca
81 enduring the journey thither, much less the
hardship he would have to undergo on arrlv-
ing.
William, on the contrary, was much more
rabnst. and of bold and fearless disposition.
Witt. al, athletic and pleasant features, he was
as fine specimen of the manly yankee as one
would wish to see.
m1heir 10 rnev was unmarked by any notice
able incident, and, on reaching their distina-
ton they Immediately set about obtaining a
rfot of ground, by the process commonly
known as s.squatfing" Having obtained one
to their entire satisfaction, a neat log cabin
rfaced there, according to the custom of the
times, by the help Of the surrounding neigh
bors.
Two days sufficed to finish il and furnish it
Throughout and the brothers commenced the
not sinecure task of housekeeping in the will
deraess-- William taking it upon himself the
Office Of supplying the table with the various
kinds OF game with which the forests abound-
ed. while John-being more inclined to softer
p,Irsuits-devolved the task Of keeping up the
fire, and attending to those other household du-
ties which usually fall to the LOT of woman
spending his leisure moments in skesching the
varied beauties Of his wildwood home.
Now although these amnsements appear to
us OF the present, most innocent, at that day
combined in John, with an entire absence of
any knowledge of woodcraft, brought upon
him the contempt aid derisive laughter Of all
the sturdy backwoodsmen in the settlement
Willianroften noticed this, md, time and again,
entreated his brother to learn, at least, some-
thing about6using rife, in Justice to himself.
But all to no purpose, John kept the even ten
OF Of f'his ways, regardless alike Of the annoy
ance he caused his brother, and the rieicule and
tapnts Of his associates.
Things went on this way Tor perhaps two
months, when the whole Of the little commu-
nifty was. as it were, shaken with terror to the
very centre, BY receiving intelligence of the
dasterdly murder OF William. As near as
could dbs sAscertainsd, the facts were these
The, two brothers started early, one bright,
clear morning, for the purpose Of hunting, as
was their daily custom--the elder carrying
The usual weapons Of the chase, while the
younger bore only his pencils and paper
While thus engaged, they were surprised by
a party Of Indians, ten in pumber, returning
from foray on'some one Of the neighboring
settlements. ssNS t'fNs
William was Instantly killed, BY blow
from RtomaAaw thrown bya Of the largest
Of the sayages, and, the next instant, his
scalp sRung, pssking, from the girdle of the
victor. 30 rs4
fs.8-g 4sa rl &g3 sSsss.ss sfsu.s 81 ~ ef - Il
John, ceing short distance behind, Instant
ly turseAaAd' fed, and as he was the fastest
runnsrin the province, had no difficulty in es-
caplng-not, however, before he had indelli-
bly, Impressed upon his memory the forms and
very features Of his brothers murderers.
, He.reached the settlement, breathless with
the exsrtiop he had undergone, but only stop
ping long enough to relate what had transpired.
He snatched an extra rife of his brothers.,
hangingin the cabin. and hurriedly thrusting
some ammunition and small quantity Of parch-
ed corn into pouch swinging at his side, he
was of, at full speed, for the forest. No one
made an effort t. arrest his progress, and, in