Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-31
THE RESCUE.

An Incident in the Life ola Pioneer NO-
man.
About eighty one years ago 17S0) Joshua
Davidson, with his wife and three children, re.
moved from Pennsylvania and settled in Ken
lucky, and at that day, all that country was
deep and nearly unbroken wilderness Here
and there might be seen a small settlement or
the lonely cabin OF some more bold and adven-
turous pioneer, but the Indians the despera-
does, and the wild beasts held an almost I'M
disputable sway, Perilous adventures, hair
breadth escapes, violence and suffering were
everyday occurrences then and there and the
poor 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, a strong
healthy, fine looking female of forty, at the
dale OF this occurrence. 1t seems that one day
Mr.. Davidson went out into the forest, and not
long after leaving his cabin, lie encountered
halt-a-doZen blood-thirsty savages, who sprang
upon him from behind trunks of trees and be-
fore he could do anything to defend his life,
or give the slightest alarm, telled 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
tu6J all SIdTl6u cautiously forward to-
ward 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
GIRL aged respectively, eight eleven and six
teen years.
scream of terror burst from the lips ofall
and at the same moment, the sayages flourish
ed their tOmahawks, and with demoniacal
yells, bounded at them.
AT the same time, quick as Thought ITSELF
the oldest child boy, named Charles darted
down under the arms of the Indians, and dash
ed out OF the open cabin door with the speed
OF race horse, directing his steps towards
adj acenG woods. With loud yell, the red
skins sprang to the cabin door, but a moment
afterward, at the conclusion OF some undistin.
guished jabbering, five of them returned, the
sixth one only starting off in pursuit Of the
fugitive boy.
Meanwhile the other children were crying
and clinging to their poor mother, who was
standing in the centre Of the apartment, the
very picture of the deepest despair. 40
mother don't let them kill us don't let
them kill us p cried the children in one
voice.
"God help you my poor children, am pow
erless to do you any good !" moaned the poor
mother.-"We are in the hands of him who
made us"
ly dancing all around the cabin, fourishing
their tomahawks, and yelling hiieously ; and
every moment the poor mother expected that
herself and her children would be brutally
murdered. In the midst of their dancing, the
redskin who had scalped Mr. Davidson shook
the CORY trophy in the face of the poor wife,
telling her in broken English how they had
met her husband in the woods and there kill.
ed and scalped him.
Al the Siuht nf har buS boir which
che readily recognized, the poor woman utter
ed cry of agony, and buried her face in her
trembling hands.
In this way the time was passed until the
Indian who had gone in pursuit of Charles re.
turned which he did after the lapse of a halt
hour or so. AS ne entered the cabin, the red.
skin held up both his hands, which, apparent
ly, were gore 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 chung the closer
to their mother, but Providence had opened
the eyes of Mrs. Davidson, and she was not
so easily deceived The death of 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 success.
full WHILE to her eyes, the color on his hands
looked much more like pokeberry stains than
human blood. Altogether, she felt confident
that the Indian was uttering falsehood and
and in the heart of hearts, she prayed God
that time might prove she was correct.
AT last the Indians prepared to depart and
after robbDg the cabin Of whatever they took
a fancy to, they drove the poor captives out
side, and set fire to the little log house, which,
in few minutes, was completely enveloped
in flames. With cries, yells, and screams of
Civilizations, the redskins finally started on their
course, driving poor Mrs. Davidson and her
children on ahead of them, more as if they
were dumb beasts than human beings
For many long and weary mile, through
the deep and deep wildwoods, that poor wo.
man 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 vi.
client gestures, threaten to tomahawk them if
they did not keep up the requisite speed.
Wearied and worn, the poor creatures trudged
along; and while the mother, made strong to
bear her cross, betrayed but little outward
emotion, the children, despite of blows and
threats, at times vented their feelings in cries
and wailings.
ooh, my children, be strong be brave p
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 anger them
much more, the Indians may murder you.
Only keep up your spirits and make as little
noise and trouble as possible, and something
may turn up to save us yet, But don't cry
it makes the Indians whip you, and may make
them kill you Remember, God is here as
everywhere, and he may be befriend us yet"
For while the children would hush their la,
mentations and hurry along. At last the
shades OF night began to gather thick and fast.
might is coming on" mentally muttered
the poor mother, ''and then the savages must
stop and rest awhile. Then will | make an
effort to save myself and my children; and
may the Lord strengthen me for the trial for
the efor; is no easy one, and may precptate
our fate But we might as well die that way
as any other; and God knows, we NAV es.
cape the butchering knives OF our captors