The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1858-07-21
TERMS-,S2,OO


US. Necessity however, is the mother Of In
vention; and luckily bethinking me- Of my hat
placed the rim in in my compsnion's mouth,
and told him to wade into the river, until be
should be able to dip the hat under. and then,
by returning quickly, faucied good portion o
the water might be retained, after allowing tor
the leakage. The plan succeeded; aud taking
the half-flled hat from his teeth, held it hr
him to drink, and then drank myself, the moss
refreshing and invigorating draught that srsr
passed my lips.
The immediate wants Of nature being now
fully supyled, we began to be more cheerful and
hopeful, though still suffering extreme pain
from our shattered limbs, which / next pro-
coed to dreess as we'll as our circumstances
would permit. Making some rude splinta with
my knife l took off my shirt and tore it ints
strips, and then putting the bones Of Brent's
aims together as well as l could, | bonnd the
splints around them. This done, proceeded
to dress my own wounds in the same incom
plete way.
Another night set in, which we passed TO-
gether lying close in the thicket, and suffering
great deal Of pain. We slept little, but passed
tedious hours in talking over the dire events
which had happened, and mourning over the
loss of our brave companions.
The second day, beginning early in the morn
ing, and keeping sharp lookout for game,
was fortunate enough too shoot two squirrels
and wild turkey, the latter being quite nu-
merous in that region. This served US for food
through the second day, and on the third sue
ceded in shooting couple more squirrels and
and a few birds, my companion always kicking
the game TO me with his feat, and pushing up
sticks and brush in the same manner, and
dressing and cooking the animsls and feeding
him. RI, .rg n r.H9 dd 70
So matters went on for several days, the game
gradually becoming scarcer. and requiring
great deal more labor on Brent's part to drive
within reach ofmy rife Days thus passed on.
and even weeks, before my wounds were SO far
healed as to permit me to hobble about on
crutches, and during all the time we saw not 9
human soul, though anxIously watching for
some chance boat to pass down the river and
take us off.
Our garments being thin, and our shirts be-
ing torn up for bandages, and the weather set
ing in cold our future prospects looked cheer
less indeed, and we were much concerned lest
we should be obliged to winter where we were.
To be prepared for an emergency, We With
much labor put up rude shanty, which served
in some measure to protect US from the almost
wintry blasts which now began to sweep over
the desolate scrne.
As the season grew colder and more inclera-
ent, the game became SO scarce that my COM
panion with difficulty drove enough within
rife 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 my mard; then
! it was we began to feel the horrors Of despair,
and sometimes to regret that wee had outliyed
, the dead around u.s. Almost naked, unshaven,
haggari faces followed cheeks and sunken eyes,
We now indeed looked pitiable, even to each
other; every day, too, our position seemed to
grow worse instead of better, and at last with
sinking heart, informed Brent wo had but
four charges Of powder in our horn.
God help us!'' was the reply.
Matters were thus at their very worst, when
one day. Pete burst suddenly into our shanty.
and, with tears in his eyes, exclaimed
blessed be God! Captain Benham, we're
sayedl There's fiat boat just turning the bend
above usl"
Who shall describe my elings thcnl start
Q up and hobbled down the bank of the river,
shouting wildly as went, lest the boat, scarce
yet within sight should pass Us ere | could
: reach the beach.
t Oh! how painfully anxious we watched ts
slow approach, continually shouting to attract
the attention of men too far distant to hear US.
e and making every kind of signal we could pos
: sbly think ofdor the same purpose. M
|, Gradually the boat neared us, and at length
n we could see its crew gathor together and point
ing towards. But, oh Heayen imagine, If you
q can, our horror, when we saw them suddenly
e bctake to their oars, push over to the Ohio
It shore, and then row past us with all their
Il might amid our frantic gesticulations and pit
is eous prayers for help. On they swept! down
E, the river, and then Brent and l. looked at each
g other with silent horror, sunk down together
uponthe cold beach, and mentally prayed tos
r death to end our sufFerings. VI 4isd
d Suddenly--oh, sight Of agonizing joyiwe saw
10 a canoe put off from the larger boat and sp-
h proaoh us, and then we got up and fairly scream
to ed and begged for assistance. When the row
se ers came near enough to converse with Us,
" they stopped, and told us they feared we were
le decoys, put to draw them to the shore that ths
d Indians might fall upon and murder them. ans
re it took no little time and the most earnest q
1t seyerations and piteous appeals, to conyinc.
IN them7to the contrary. qsgss E5la.
in Atlast, after rowing past us two or thrs'
l. times, and closely inspecting the shore, and get
ct ting us to come far out on sand bar, they ven
tured to take US abroad. We were kindly
pe treated by those mon, when they came to heat
in our story, and being taken by tEem to the gar
to rison at the Falls (now Louisville, Ky..l w
ke were placed under the care Of ssllill surgeon
h, and. soon restored to our usual heaIih and
strength. slf @ seela said 0
4, Such was the remarkable story Of Captain
he Benham-- for the fact that two mel
as should 50 singularly escape fru.n the saxages
81 and live six weeks in the wilderness on.
pa with useless arms aud the ether with useIas: