Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-03-04
Correspondence of the Free Press.]
LETTER FROM THE ALE.
GHANIES.

STANDING STONE, Feb. ~, 1859.
Dear Free Press:
From the junction Of the Junia.a River and
Standing Stone Creek, you look down tho valley
of the river you see it. banks shut in by high
abrupt hills until the steep and stoncy battlemcnts
OF Jacks Mountain crosse. its track apparently,
and seems to dam its outlet. About half the way
down You observe the towering yet regular slope
Of Terrace Mountain, as its bold Tcrrace-lik end
uts out into tho valley its base forming the south
crn bank Of the stream, and as its slowly receding
surface reaches upward to the clouds, it makes
symcrica conc, at the point of which the crest Of
the mountain commences and forming tho south
eastern horizon it stretches away far the eye
can reach. Tho Raystone branch of the Juniata
cmptes into the Juniata proper, at its foot, and
washes its base at intervals for many score, of
of miles. say at intervals, for this is truly tho
most crooked river l ever saw. But l did not pur-
pose description Of mountain stream Intend
ed only to narratc the story of some of the early
settlers on the bank, Of this crooked river.
Eighty years ago. upon this branch, near it,
mouth resided a Mrs. Skelly, and her son Felix
Iheir nearest neighbor was Mrs. Elder, whose
husband had but year two before been muir
dcrcd by the Indians, farther up the Branch, and
in valley known as Woodcock Valley which rises
southwest from our town, and reaches the Branch
about fifteen miles from lie was the first VIC
tim to the scapng knife in the valley. Mrs Ell
der visited Mrs. Skclly upon beautiful Spring
Sabbath morning. As sho started in the afternoon
to go home, Felix Skcly accompanied her, intend
ing to go but part of the distance When only a
60
into their path fight was hopeless; other Indians
wore concealed in the bushcs instantly they were
both seized skely wa, only seventeen years of
age, yet man equal to all the demands of frontier
life. The Indians, doubtless to lessen the chances
Of escape, burthensd them with the plunder which
they had elsewhere secured. They were marched
away over the Allegheny Mountain; increasing
Skelly's load however, with wood for bows and
arrows. Mrs Elder, it appeared, had touched tho
heart of the Indian who's, especial prisoner she
was and her only baggage was long-handled
frying pan, such as graced the corner of an old
fire place you wot of, forty years ago.
Reaching at length an Indian town on the Alle-
ghany, they surprised to SEQ old and young
waiting to receive them, the warriors all drawn
Tho prisoners to receive warm welcome
Each must the gauntlet between these red lines
every warrior being armed with u club or paddle
Skelly was com elled to lay down his load and en-
ter for one heat time every thing to him, and
with speed that startled his tormentors, he made
his race, and but one or two succeeded in striking
him. Baifed in their crue! sport, and vexed that
they had failed to get their fun out of Skelly they
became exceedingly anxious to practice upon Mrs.
Elder Her captor protested but their laws change
not; and she must obey With a bold and some
what defiant look, Mrs Elder stepped into the open
rank armed with the long-handlcd frying pan. The
hrst savage STOPPING, turned to strike her his
dress was short in the skirt and the action exposed
the Piumper part of hi, person. Mrs Elder saw
his purpose, and saw also the place to strike
"twas no sooner thought than done, the frying
pan dsscendei-not on the had of the Indian, but
on such part as sent him sprawling on all fours.
This was too much for Indian gravity-the laugh
wa. general; and only other Indian attem pied
to strike her She whirled the pan around her
head and dashed it down upon the pate of the a.
wage and bounded through the line. without fur.
ther molestation. The squaws incensed at the re.
SUIT of the race attempted to annoy her but a
free use Of the frying pam made them let her alone
Her prove. won the heart Of her captor-he WOO
cd but she would not we'd. She encouraged hcpo,
and thus soothed the savage, and wa, treated with
kindness.
okei'y finally esclpol With other prisoner.
he W." c'ahnsl in the llft OF an old mill Itwas
an';a, of drunken revel with the Indians. After
the tnrh Of tho night, Sk,ly declared his purpose
10 escape window sash was removed, aud fifty
feet below the quiet waters Of the dam looked as
smooth as mirror. All drew back with the ex-
eeption Of skelly. "Boys." said he al am going
to jump The odds are against me. I may be
killed by the fill-nay be re-captured and killed
may starve before reach human habitation
but may escape, and il do, will see my
mother IN ton days. With me, it is freedom from
captivity or death lie stopped and plunge
into the water gave notice that he WAS gone
without food, or any means OF obtaining it, he
wandered suffering all that m ortal could suffer