The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-02-20
A Hairs Breadth Escape.


in Virginia, near the falls of Kanawha. The
country at that time was an unbroken will
derncss But few settlements had been
made then by the whites, and they were so
far apart as to render vain all hopes of assis-
tance in case of an attack from hostile Indi-
ans, numbers of whom still infested the
neighborhood.
lived there alone with my wife for sew
eral months unmolested, and by dint of per-
severance, being young and hardy, had sue
ceeded in making large clearing in the for,
rest, which ! had planted with corn, and
which promised an abundant yield.
One morning, after we had dispatched our
humble meal, and had just prepared to
venture forth upon my regular routine of la
Dor, my attention was arrested by the tink-
ling of COW. bell in the corn field.
"There," said my wife, ''the COW is in the
corn field"
But the ear of the backwoodsman becomes
by education, very acute, especially so from
the fact that his safety often depends upon
the nice cultivation of TINT sense. was not
so easily deceived listened--the sound
was repeated.
"That," sail l. in reply to the remark Of
my wife, "was not the tinkiing of a bell upon
the neck of cow. 1t is decoy from some
Indian, who desires to draw me into am
BUSH"
Believing this to be the case, took down
my old musket, and seeing that it was prop
erly loaded, | stole cautiously around the
field towards the point from which the sound
seemed to proceed. AS | had expected,
there, in cluster of bushes, crouched an
Indian, waiting for me to appear in answer
to the decoy bell-that he might send the
fatal bullet to my heart approached
without discovering myself to him, until
within shooting distance, when raised my
piece and fired The bullet sped true to its
mark and the Indian fell perfectly dead.
Not knowing but he might be accompa-
MED by others, returned with all speed to
the cabin, and having firmly barricaded the
door, l watched all day from the portfolios in
anticipation of an attack from the compan-
ions of the Indian had killed
To add to the danger, and seeing the
hopelessness ofmy situation, discovered
that had but one charge of powder left.
could make but one shot, and then, if at
tackled by numbers, should be completely
in their power. Determined to do the best
could with what had, poured out the
last charge Of powder and put it into my
musket, and then waited in almost breath
less anxiety for the approach of night, feel
ing confident of an attack
Night came at last A beautiful moon
light night it was, too, and this favored me
greatly, as would thereby be able to OBJ
serve the movements Of the enemy as they
approached my cabin. 1t was some two
hours after nightfall, and as yet had Meth.
or seen nor heard sign of the Indians,
when suddenly was startled by the baying
OF my dog at the stable knew that the
Ind ians were coming.
ue StdDIc StOOu d Ilttc W Tic WcSt Ol ttlc
cabin, and between the two was a patch OF
cleared ground, upon which the light of the
moon fell unobstructed. Judging from the
noise at the stable that they would advance
from that direction, | posted myself at the
portfolios on that side of the cabin. l had
previously placed my wife on the cross-pole
in the chimney, SO that in case our enemies
effected an entrance into the cabin, she
might climb out through the low chimney
and effect an escape. For myself, enter
tanned no hope, but determined not to be ia
ken alive, resolved to sell my life dearly.
With breathless anxiety watched at the
porthole. At length saw them emerge
from the shadow Of the stable and advance
acros the vacant ground toward the cabin.
One, two, three--great heaven six stalwart
Indians, armed to the teeth, and urged on
by the hope of revenge, and alone to op,
pose them. with but one charge OF powder.
Ny case was desperate indeed. With quick
but stealthy step, in close single file, they
approached. and were already within Few
feet Of the house, when slight change in
the movament Of the foremost Indian altered
the position Of the whole six. 50 that por