The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-09-19
The Pioneers Last Shot.

tory of" hairbreadth escapes parallel
TO the following can easily be found. The
story was told us, says a cotemporaIy, by
an old and valued friend now residing in
the country, and whose early days were
spent near the scene Of the tragic adven-
ture here recorded. We give the story as
related to us, in the words of our hero:
1t was about the year 1865 that sci
tied in Virginia, near the Falls of the Can
asho. The country at that time was an
unbroken wilderness. But few settle
ments had then been made by the whites.
and they were SO far apart as to render
vain ali hope of assistance in case of an
attack from hostile Inians-numbers Of
whom still infested the neighborhood.
Il lived here alone with my wife for
several months unmolested and by dnl
of untiring perseverance, beng :hen young
and hardy, had succeeded in making quite
large clearing in the forest, which haG
planted with corn, and which promised ali
abundant yield. 's.'.
"One morning after we had dispatched
our humble meal, and had just prepared
TO venture forth upon my regular routine
Of labor, NV attention vas arrested BY the
tinkIing Of a cow-bell in the corn>i-Il.
"There,' said my wife, the COW is in
the corn teld.' ..r r.... ..
But the ear of the backwoodsman lie
comes by education very acute, especial,
SO from the fact that his safety often de
pends on the nice cultivation Of that sense
| ,,e;lr- }a,aiy,.l. 7 Ectnn,.l II
sound was repeated.
''Tbat,' said |, in reply 70 the remark
Of my wife, was not the tnkle Of bell
upon the neck of a COW. 1t is a decoy
from some Indian who desires to draw me
into ambush 9
Believing this to be the case, took
down my musket, q had no ri1e) and
seeing that it was properly loaded, stole
cautiously around the field toward the
point from which the sound seemed to
proceed. As [ had suspected, there, in a
cluster Of bushes, crouched an Indian
waiting for me to appear in answer to hi.
decoy~beli, that he might send the fatal
bullet 10 my heart. I approached without
discovering myself to him, until within
shooting distance, then raised my piece
and fired. The bullet sped true to lis
mark, and the Indian fell dead.
mot knowing but that he might be
accompanied by others, | returned with
all speed TO my cabin, and having firmly
barricaded the door, watched all day
from the port hole, in anticipation of an at
tack from the companions of the Indian
had killed. 70 AID to the danger and
seeming hopelesSness of my situation,
discovered that | had but one charge ot
powder left 4! | could make but one shot
and then, if attacked BY nun bers, sho'd
be entirely in their power. Determined
to DO the best with what | had. poured
IN MY last change of pow'!er, and put into
my musket fifteen slugs, and then waited
for the approach Of night, feeling conf
dent Of an attack.
| Night came on at length. A bcauti
| ful moonlight nigh. it was too, and lhi-
favored me greatly, as would be able to
observe the movement of the enemy as
they approached my cabin. 1t was two
hours after nightfall, aid as yet had
neither seen or heard sign Of the Indians,
when suddenly was startled by the bark
ing of my dog at the stable. knew
that the Indians were coming The sta>
ble stood little to the west oe the cabin
aud between the two was patch OF clear
ground, upon which the light Of the full
moon fell unobstructed. Judging from
the noise at the stable that they would
advance from that direction, I posted my
| self at the port hole on that side of the
cabin.
6 had previously placed my wife npon
the cross pole in the chimney, SO tha, in
case our enemies effected an entrance to
the cabin, she might climb out through
! the low chimney and effect her escape -
For myself | determined not to he taken
alive, and resolved to sell my life dearly
with breathless anxiety | watched AT
the port hole. At length l saw them
emerge from the shallow of the stable and
advance across the vacant ground toward
the cabin. One-two-three-gr great
Heavens! six stalwart Indians, armed to
the teeth, and urged on by the hope of re
venge. And alone TO oppose them with
but one charge of powder. My case was
desperate indeed. With quick bni
stealthy step, in close single file, they ap
preached, and were already within few
yards Of the house, when slight change
of divergence in the movement Of The
! forward Indian changed the position of lhe
entire six so that a portion of the lcf
side Of each was uncovered. They were
all in range one aim would cover ali
Quick as thought, | aimed aud fired. A:
the smoke cleated away, | conId hardl,
credit what my senses showed me as the
result of my shot. The fifteen slugs will
which had loaded my musket had done
! their work weI.-fve Of The six Indian.
lay dead upon the ground the sixth haC
disappeared. .a.
Although no enemy was now In sight
/ | did not venture forth until morning
There lay the bodies Of the FIVE Indians
\ undis,urbed, together with the fife Of The
other Securing the arms and ammunition
/ Of the fallen Indians, | followed up the
trail Of the missing one, until it reached
The river, hey which point could dis
cover no traces whatever. From The
amount Of blood which marked the trail
/ together with the Lnmi,takeabe evdenc,