Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-09-10
Che 5torp Geller.
THE RESCUE.

ThE hESCUE.
while stationed in one OF the Govern
ment FORTS at the West, news was bro't
that an enligrant train had been attacked
by band of Indians within half a days
ride of our post. that several persons had
been killed and wounded. quite number
Of horses, mules and cattle been driven off,
and that two beautiful young ladies had
been taken prisoners.
HE intelligence In itself. ordinarily con-
sidered, was OF an exciting character; but
to me. from the very first. it possessed an
interest so intense. that my frame trembled
and my voice qnivered. as put the ques.
sion to the informant. who was himself
of the party that had fortunately escaped
and made his way direct TO the fort:
DO you know the names of tho. young
Indies captured! ~ e war
YES, Captain. One was Miss Mary
stanhope, and the other Miss Adina Som
ers.'
reeled and clutched the nearest object
for support. Adins- Somersl cGracious
Heavenl My Adinsl the object of my
fondest hopes and dreamsl lost lost!-a
prisoner among savagesl 1 had heard acct
den,ally. that her father having failed in
business. contemplated removing his faIni-
~ to Oregon. to try his fortune In the
wilderness: but | only guessed that he had
started by the foreboding of my heart
when / first received the general news
of the disaster to an unspecifed emf
grant train. And yet was | certain?
might there not be some mistaken
In the mal.ip LEFTY OF names. might there
not be another beautiful Adina Somers W no
had set ont on the long and perilous Jour-
ney to~the Far West? In uncertainty
there is hope; and vet dared not hope
dared not lift my heart for moment from
its gulf of misery. lest it should suddenly
sink back into deeper and darker gloom.
No. 1 mnst think Il truth, and try to meet
1t like man-try TO save her and myself
from an abyss OF woe. l was young.
strong, in the full flush of health, and had
under me band Of brave determined fell
lows, who would go through fire and wa
ter to serve me. would instantly set of
on the trail Of the accursed savages. and
follow then, Ike the shadow Of death, til |
l should either rescue, or most terribly
avengs the only being on Garth truly low
ed. rrer = ~sv = rvr rvvEe
Poor. sweet. lost Adina! how my mini
few back to our last interview, when. with
the cold unfeeling order upon my person.
tina. was to compel US to separation and
consign me 20 the perils of the wilderness.
We stood together, hand in hand and heart
TO heart. vowing our eternal love. and seal
ing upon each Others lips the painful fare
wells. Then she was trembling for me.
and was speaking Of hope in the great
unopened future: now was trembling for
her. with no kind, sympathetic voice to
whisper a word of consolation to my ach-
ing heart. But little more than twelve
month had passed since then. .and~what a
fearful changel--first came the news Of her
fathers. min, then rumor of his new de-
sign, and now the sad Intelligence that the
sweet being of my fondest hopes herself
lostf
A few moments were TINS given to tho't
and grief and then came exciting life oil
action. Hastily gathering the prime pal
facts Of the disaster. ordered fifty pick ed
men to horse. and in much less than an
hour we were dashing over the plain in
the direction of the scene of the contest.
On our way thither we met the remnant
of the party-some forty in number. in
Guiding men. women and children-with
three teams, and animals of which had not
long been stampeded They were going
to the fort. sad aud dispirited, taking along
their lighter vsluables. and wounded and
dead. Seven persons had been killed
including the father. mother and brother
of Adina--ffteen had been wounded. some
seriously. and ten or Twelve other were
missing two of whom were supposed to
be prisoners. go
Terrible were my feeling as l looked al
the dead bodies of the Somers family. and
saw my worst fears confirmed. The Adj
ma lost was now certain was my Adina,
and she was supposed to be captive; but
there was no direct evidence that she was
still living at all, and this increased my
grief and gloom. Frustrating and heart
sickening as was the first shock of her be-
ing carried off by the savsges. W nld now
have looked upon the assurance of this
event as comparatively Joyful intelligence
The attack had been made upon the
camp of the emigrants just before day
light, by band of more than . hundred
savages and so fierce. sudden and over
whelming had been the assault, and SO IN
prepared were the whites to recsive it
most of the sentinels having fallen asleeE
ct their posts. that the whole work of de
struction had been accomplished in few
minutes, and the assailed--aroused by 9
most horid din Of yslls, shrieks, groans
and reports of fire arms-could make nc
eifeetiye resistance. Tho wonder wass no
that the disaster had been so great. bu
thai. sofmmy had escaped to tell the tale
l did not stop long with the afflicted
party. but assuring them We were going t.
follow and punish their assailants. w
again dashed on over the plain. neye
drawing rein till we came to the camp
whers the attack had been made. Here j
was impossible to distinguish the retrea.
ing trail of the savages from among TN
mpltiplicity OF horses and cattle track
crossing each other in every direction anf
at every conceivable angle. bu. there being
attached to my corps some half . dozen ex
perisnced scouts and Indian hunters. l sen
them out to scour the country found, ant
return, IS soon IS possible. 3.f e ia
In the course of a couple of hours they
all came in and reported two trails. on,