The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-03-27
A Thrilling Adventure.

We question whether, In the history Of
" hair breadth escapes" o parallel TO the fol-
lowing narrative can be found. The story
was told 10y an old man and valued friend
now residing In the country near Dayton
Ohio, but whose early days we're spent near
tho tragic adventure here told We give the
story as related In the words Of the hero -
II was about the year 1905, that settled
in Virginia, near the fall Of Khnabawa. The
country, ht that time, was an unbroken wil'
derness. But few settlements had been thun
made by the whites, and they were 80 far apart
M TO render vain oil hopes Of assistance in
case Of any attack from the hostile Indians
numbers Of whom still infested the ncighbor-
hood.
lived there alone with my wife for sever
al months, unmolested aud by dint Of pcrse-
yerenee, being then young and, hardy, had
succeeded In making quite large clearing IN
the forest, which had planted with corn, and
which promised an abundant yield.
One morning, after We had dispatched our
humble meal, and had just prepared TO ven
ture forth upon my regular routine Of labor,
my attention was arrested hy the linkling Of
the cow.bel IN the corn Reh.
There" said my wife, the COW is in the
cornfcd."
But the ear Of the back .woodsmon becomes,
by nature, very acute especially 50, from
that his safety often depends upon the nice
cultivation Of that sense. was not so easi-
y deceived. / li,tcned--tho sound wan re-
peatcd
THAT" snid | to my wife," was not the
tinkle OF a bell upon the neck of Il COW. II
il n dccoy from some Indians, who wish 10
draw mc-into ambush"
Believing this TO be- the case. took down
my old muskct, and seeing that il was prop
ctly loaded ! stole cautiously round the field
10 the point from which the sonnd seemed 10
proceed. As | suspected, there, in a cluster
OF bushes, crouched an Indian, waiting for me
To appear TO answer his decoy bell, that he
might send n fAtn. ball to my heart. | ap-
pronched, without discovering mvsclr TO him,
until within good shooting distance, then
ruirrd my piece and fired, and the Indian fell
( dead, -------------..-
Fearing that hr might bc accompanied hy
others, | returned with oil speed To the cabin,
and having firmly barrcadcd the door. ]
watched all day at the port holes, in antici-
patton Of an attack from the companions of
the Indian had killed. TO add to the seem.
ing rripnr-ses of 'fty- situation. -discntGrcd
that had hut one charge Of powder left
| could make but one shot and If attacked
by numbers, I shouid be CutTrcfy IN tii1ir
power. Determined TO do the best with what
. J had. poured out the last charge of powder
nnd put il into my muskct, and then waited
for the approach of night feeling confident of
an attack.
| Night came at lasi--a;hunutifu moonlight
! night, too. This favored me greatly, as |
would thereby bc able TO observe the move
mcnts Of the enemy as they approached my
cabin. II was some two hours after nighiiall,
and vet ] had neither hoard or seen any signs
of Indians, when suddenly | was startled by
the baying of my dog at the stable. The
4. Il. r
and between the two was patch of ground
upon which the light Of the full moon fell un-
obstructcd. Judging from the noise ut the
stable, that they would advance from that d.
recton, posted myself ut the port hole on
that side of the cabin.
| had previously placed my wife on the
crosspole in the chimney and in case cur en-
emies effected an entrance in the cabin, she
might cimb'out through The low chimney,
and effect an escape. For myself | enter
tanned no hope; but determined not to
be taken alive. ! resolved to sell my life
dearly.
l-Miih hreaihlcss anxiety, watched at the
port hole. At length saw them emerge
/ from the shadow of the stable, and advance
across the vacant ground toward my cabin.
/ Onc--two---thrcc--gre Heaven sir stall
wart Indians armed to the teeth, and urged
on by the hope of revenge, and alone to
oppose them, with one charge of powder =
My case was desperate, indeed.
With quick yet stealthy step. in close sim
gle file they approached, and were already
within n few yards of the house when a
/ slight change in the movement of the for
ward Indian, changed the position of the en-
/ tire six. So that a portion of the left side OF
each was uncovered.
They were all in range-one aim would
have covered all. Quick as thought aimed
and fred. ""T r.4
! As the smoke cleared away, could hard
}y credit what my senses showed me as the
result OF my shot. The fifteen slugs with
which / had loaded my musket had done
| their work well. of the six Indians lay
dead upon the ground, and the sixth had dis
appeared.
Although no enemy was in sight, did not
venture forth till morning. Securing the
arms of the fallen Indians, l followed the
! trail of the missing one until it reached the
river, beyond which could discover no trace
whatever. From the amount of blood which
marked the trail, together with unmistakublc
evidence that he picked his way with difficult
| ty, was led 10 believe that he was mortally
wounded and in order 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 curreft, which had
| borne him away.
The Indians had killed my COW, and that,
you may be assured, was no trifling loss yet,
| in my gratitude for my escape from the mer-
ciless savages, would have been entirely
willing to- have made greater sacrifices. |
was provided, by means Of the arms and am
untion taken from the six Indians, in case
of q second attack, hut this fortunately, prov
cd to he my last adventure with the savagcs.
! Not one of the band had escaped to tell the
/ tale or Ia incito his brethrcn TO revenge the
death of his comrades