The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-06-02


OF Kentucky, was found, not long since,
among other papers, in an old trunk belong
ing to family in this city. II is believed
that it has never been published. II might
afford an apt illustration Of the improperly
of permitting a conviction Of q capital offence
to be founded on circumstantal evidence
N' T. A'dger:z E.IE2ICT.+p,<r.r,
at was in July, 1883, that left Richmond
TO visit some lands my father had given to
me, on the western confines of my native
State. Virginia at that time extended to the
Ohio river, which formed its northern bound
ary. Travelling was then dangerous. With
population west Of the Alleghanies scarcely
exceeding five thousand, and an Indian enc
my scattered over the country, it was consid-
cred an undertaking of no little magnitude to
venture on the journey which lay before me.
The country had just emerged from war
full of alarm danger and excitement had
become part of our existence. / had all
the enthusiasm Of youth, with its ardor and
zeal for speculation, and perseverance which
nothing could subdue. Other men had en-
countered similar dangers, why should j
draw back from them? 1t was period
when men cultivated a certain kind of knight
cfrantry that sought difficulty, with the es,.
pectation of wrestling with it and overcom-
ing 1T. was going to a new country this
stimulated my ambition. would rise with
its growth; | might lose my life in frontier
warfare but my name would go down to
posterity as one of my country's early heroes.
had heard of Boones adventures, and was
determined to be led by his energy as l had
been reused by his spirit.
az communicated my intentions to my family,
who opposed my plan, but their tears and en-
treaties could not deter me from my purpose.
My hoart was dcadened to their romonstrances,
by high hopes of the future and by love of ad-
venture, and feeling which seemed to me
patriotism, and which 1 fancied did me honor.
l began my journey and went on, trying to
forget home and its comforts, until reached
the summit of the Allegheny mountains,
where on looking back, the whole landscape of
my native region lay below me. There the
silvery Potomac wound its way through
woody vale; there reposed the town Of Cum
berland, which had been made celebrated by
Washington, and a few miles farther on lay
our own plantation; the very water now saw
ripping in the breeze would, ere long, pass by
its meadows then l felt alone. There is
solemnity in this sensation which weighs
heavily on the heart, and the effort of mind
necessary to throw off the burden, only in
creascs tho tenderness of tho feeling. My tears
came freely, and brushed them away as 1
descended the mountain at whose foot I ex-
pecteu w pass tne HlRnI. '... |'....E.I .Il b..
Six days 1 travelled without adventure or
alarm, alone with my own thoughts, and my
horse for my sole companion. At the end of
the sixth day, found myself within days
journey of Boone's station, and hoped, be-
fore another night, to meet my friends who
were in the fort. In order to make the last
days journey easy to myself and my horse,
determined to ride late at night, and encamp
on the road, which I had been obliged
to do several times, on account Of the scarce
ness OF houses or any place of shelter.
1t was about ten O'Clock at night when
heard the sound of distant thunder, and think
ing it prudent to provide some covert from the
coming storm. erected hasty shelter from
materials which lay about such as branches
of trees, and strips of bark from decaying
trunks, which 1 was enabled to find by the
light of the struggling moonbeams. 1 had
barely time to fasten my horse to- tree, and
roll myself in my blanket, when the storm
broke over me. The rain descended in tor
rents, accompanied by vivid lightning and peals
of thunder, SO loud and frequent, that it
seemed as if the whole forest were to be des-
troyed. Trees were shivering around me; the
wind blew hurricane; it was a war of the
elements in. its fercest FORM, The tree to
which had tied my horse fell with tremen-
dous crash; his cries were carried away and
lost in the roar of the tempest, but L felt no
fear, until, amidst one of the most frghtfu peals
that ever fell on mortal ear, beheld human
face on which the lightning played and heard a
shrek so shrill, piercing and unnatural, that l
started with horror. Ny limbs trembled; cold
drops of sweat were on my forehead; I was
so unneryed by the shock as to be unable to
move. tried to rouse myself. Fool that 1
am, thus to be tortured by fancy-it can not be
real still trembled; my very attempt at re-
action produced tumult of feeling, from which
did not entirely recover until the storm had
spent itself, and the moon was again visible.
l thought / had dreamed, but such was the
confusion of my mind, that 1 could not tell,
and dared not leave my hut to realize what
had passed. I0tAs1 % hsaas#1. -.s...,a ,,sn
"Tho day dawned upon scene of desola-
tion, and when ventured out of my retreat
all around me seemed a wreck. The mighty
oak and the lofty pine had fallen in indiscrimi-
nate ruin. My horse lay crushed near me;
drew my portmanteau, which contained what
ever 1 had provided for my journey, from
under the poor creature, and while 1 stood
lamenting over his loss, the same horrid Shrek
thrilled through me, and hurried me back to
the feelings had endured in the past night. I
was palsied. 1 could not move. Casting my
eyes in the direction whence the sound pro-
ceeded, fancied a hundred Indian faces were
looking at me from behind the trees. felt
that my death was near, and summoning all my
strength to desperate effort, rushed to the
spot to meet my fate. There was nothing to
be seen. 1 found no one. l cried out, with
all the power of my lungs, who are you, and
what do you want? My voice died away
among the sounds of the waving trees. l
searched again; nothing was to be found.
There was a spell upon the spot. I still
lingered-lingered and searched the thickets,
and sat and mused till the day wore away and
night was closing around nae, with nothing to
interrupt the silence that reignetI.i I made.a
slight repast from what found in the port
manteau, and laid myself down in my old
covert, with the resolution that I would prose-
cute my journey with the morrow's dawn.
"Vexed with myself for yielding to such
weak feelings, 1 at length brought my mind to
a state Of comparative cOmposure and fell
asleep, in the confident hope, that the next
night would find me at Boone's station. Sud
denly awoke, knew not why. I thought
some one was breathing near me; held my
breath: the leaves rustled in the passing breeze.
I lay down again and slept, but only to awake
once more with the same wild scream.
rushed involuntarily to the spot and called out
a second time, who are yoa, and what do you
want? In my agitation fired my pistol.
fell heavily TO the ground-next
heard q groan. Tho groan struck heavily on
NV haart. a. snund f,lnwad oe of son,a IN auu