Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-23
THB EsCUE.
An Incident In the Life of n Pioneer
Woman.


settled in Kentucky and at that day all
that country was deep and nearly un-
broken wilderness.
Here and there might be seen small
settlement, or the lonely cabin of some more
bold and adventurous pioneer; but the In
dians the desperadoes, and the wild beasts
held an almost undisputed sway
Perilous adventures, hair-breadth es-
canes. violences and suffering were every
day occurrences then and there; and the
moor women. what few Of them there WERE
had no alternative, even if they desired any,
which am certain they did not, but to share
the common fate which beset the footsteps
of all.
Among the brave women of that day was
Joshua Davidson's wife, Janet, strong,
healthy, fine looking female Of forty, at the
date of this occurrence.
1t seems that, one day, Mr.. Davidson went
cut into the forest, and not long after
leaving his cabin he encountered half
dozen bloodthirsty savages, who sprang
upon him from behind the trunks of trees,
and, before he could do any thing to defend
his life, or give the slightest alarm, felled
him TO the ground, and chopped him almost
to pieces with their tomahawks One of
them then tore the scalp from the poor mans
head; after which they all cautiously
started forward toward the cabin--a few
moments afterward wildly bursting in upon
the astonished and frightened inmates,
poor Mrs. Davidson and her children three
in number two boys and a girl, aged re-
spectively, eight, eleven and sixteen years.
A scream of terror burst from the lips of
all; and, at the same moment the savages
fourished their tomahawks, and with de-
moniacal yells, bounded at them.
At the same time, quick as thought it
self, the oldest child, boy named Charles,
darted down under the arms of the Indian,
and dashed out Of the open cabin door with
the speed of race-horse, directing his
steps toward an adjacent wood.
With loud yell, the redskins sprang to
the cabin door; but a moment afterWard, at
the conclusion of some undistinguishable
iabbering, FIVE of them returned the sixth
one only starting off in pursuit of the fu-
gitiye boy.
Meanwhile, tie other children were cry
ing and clinging to their poor mother who
was standing in the center of the apart
ment, the very picture Of the deepest sort
of despair.
"Oh mother don't let them kill us |!
don't let them kill us |" cried the children
in one voice.
"God help you, my poor children, am
powerless to do you any good y moaned the
poor mother. I" We are in the hands OF Him
who made u.s."
At the same time, the Indians were fran
tically dancing all around the cabin, -four
ishing their tomahawks, and yelling hid
eously; and every moment the poor mother
expected that herself and, her children
would be brutally massacred.
In the midst of their dancing, the red
skins who had scalped Mr.. Davidson shook
the CORY trophy in the face of the poor wife
and mother, telling her, in broken English,
how they had met her husband in the
woods, and there killed and scalped him.
At the sight of her husbands hair, which
she readily recognized, the poor woman ut
tered cry of agony, and buried her face in
her trembling hands.
In this way the time passed until the In
dian who had gone in pursuit of Charles
returned, which he did after the lapse of {
half hom or so. As he entered the cabin
the redskin held up both his hands, which
apparently, were CORY with human blood
announcing in broken English, that it was
the blood Of the boy he had gone in pursuit
of.
The children screamed and clung the
closer to their mother; but Providence had
opened the eyes of Mrs. Davidson, and she
was not so easily deceived. The death oi
her husband she could not doubt, for there
was his scalp at the Indians girdle but
the redskin who went in pursuit Of her son
showed no such trophy-as he would have
done had he been successful; WHILE to hel
eyes, the color on his hands looked muci
more like pokeberry stains than human
blood. Altogether, she felt confident that
the savage was uttering a falsehOod and
in her heart of hearts, she prayed God that
time might prove she was correct.
AT last the Inlians prepared to depart
and, after robbing the cabin of whatever
they took fancy to, they drove the poor cap
tives outside, and set fire to the little log
house. which in q few minutes was COM
pletely enveloped in flames. With cries,
and yells, and screams of exultation, the
redskins finally started on their course
driving poor Mrs. Davidson and her chill
dren on ahead of them, more as if they were
dumb beasts than human beings.
For many long and weary mile, through
the dark and deep wildwood, the poor
woman and her children were compelled to
tramp along; and if they halted, or Jagged
behind little, as sometimes the children
would the redskins whipped them forward
and with violent gestures, threatened t
tomahawk them if they didn't keep up til,
requisite speed.
Wearied and worn, the poor woman
trudged along; and while the mother, mad
strong TO bear her cross, betrayed but littl
outward emotion, the children, despite q
the blows and threats, at times vented theil
feelings in cries and wailings.
"Oh, my children, be strong be brave 2
the anxious mother would whisper to them
81 know it is hard, my darlings, but oh
not near SO hard as to die and if you angeI
them much more, the Indians may murde
you. Only keep up your spirits, and max
as little noise and trouble as possible, ant
something may turn up to save US yet. Blu
don't cry it makes the Indians whip you
and may make them kill you. Remember
God is here as everywhere, and lie ma.
befriend US yet"
For awhile the children would hush thei
lamentations, and hurry along.
At last the shades Of night began t
gather thick and fast.
"Night is coming OF" mentally muttere
the poor mother, land then the savage
must stop and rest awhile. Then will
make an effort to save myself and my chi
dren; and may the Lord strengthen me fC
the trial, for the effort is no easy one, an
may precipitate our fate But we might {
well die that way as any other; and, &c
knows, wemay escape the butchering-k -knivt
OF our captors. Come what, may, howeve
l am resolved to make the attemptW
oFlr rUNnG hsaa -.