The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-04-24

BIT AN OLD coMRADR OF DANIEL BOOZE.
In the year 1907, I was living in q
log cabin settlement in Missouri. There
were but few of US, but we were strong
armed and stout hearted--as we had
need to be; for the prowling savages
hemmed as in on every side. One day,
10 the Spring. l had to go to neighbor
ing settlement, where Boone was, for some
corn for seed, and did not get back till
the next morning. l found no wife, no
child, no neighbors on my return; only
smolderiag logs and mutilated corpses
The savages had made clean work of it,
the night before. | WAS horror-stricken !;
but CLEAN of comfort came to my heart,
when missed the bodies of my wife and
child They had evidently been carried
off as prisoners, and being alive. they
might be rescued. 1 has,cned to ,hs
nearest settlement 1t was John O'Neill's
settlement. Ga arriving there, found
john in the same state as myself, except
ing that his family had been slain along
with his neighbors--he himself havios
escaped BY being absent as l was. Lie
of course did not hesitate. a moment te
join me in the attempt to rescue my wife
and child
We had aseertained that the attack up
on my settlement had been made in the
night by party of less than dozen 81
oux Indians, whose village was near the
! mouth Of the Des Moines River scarcely
two days journey by land up the Missis
sippi. They had descended in canoes
and knew that although ] had lost near
" two days, we might reach the De,
Noines by land before they could arriv,
by the teriuous river, and against tn,
powerful current
Providing ourselves with two rifle!
each, and supply Of ammunition, We
started forth, and, being well m ounted
rode rapidly in northern direction, te
strike the Mississippi at about the poin
where we expected to intercept the Ca
noes. Here leaving our horses, we ex
Iamined every part of the river bank fo
miles, hoping to fad the camping place
of the Indians ifsthey had yet passed
for we knew they would spend the nigh
on shore. We discovered nothing to in
dicate that they had passed, though i
was more than possible that they nigh
have made their eucampments on the far.
.ther side, or upon some of the many isl.
aads in the river. At length, on reach
ing the mouth of small stream, we dis
covered moecasin tracks 10 the mud, anc
the marks where two canoes had beer
dragged asho.e; and. but little distance
from these signs. were the still smolderine
embers of a camp Hre.
This was joyful discovery But how
much greater was my delight when found
scattered near the spot several familia
objects, which seemed purposely to hav,
been left there as il to direct and encour
age our pursuit There were child
shoe. Q little apron, and portion of ,
womsn's dress, which I instantly recog
mixed as having belonged to my little bo,
and wife. Besides, there were other ar
ticles of female apparel which did no
recognize, and was convinced that tn,
ssvages, who were accompanied by mum
ber of captives. could not be many hour
sbead of us.
Thanking heaven for these encouraging
tokens, and praying that our hands nigh
be strengthened for the coming struggl
in which we hoped soon to be engaged
We pushed rapidly on; every now ane
then, where long range of the river pre-
sented an opportunity, looking cautiously