Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-11-24

us III lorHi. anu thers was Always q rivalry
among the young bcaux of the settlement in
striving to gain the favor and appreciation of
Mary, so among the girls each. strove to gain
the attention of jack The knowing ones
4 among the old folks, planned deep schemes
| for entrapihg the young couple into alliances
best suited to their tothcir own particular in
terests but Jack and Mary, disregarding the
wishes of others, had taker this matter into
their own hands like sensible yoans people,
as they were; and in spite of the plotting of
the old ladies, they had come to perfect un-
defstanding, and formed an intimacy which
nothing but death could sever.
At the time of which speak, this matter
had long been settled, and all the necessary
arrangements made for the wedding of the
likelest couple in the settlement as the old
ladies said Young and old gathered together
at the spacious (for th,s, times) house of
Capt S, to celebrate che nup.ials of Jack
and Mary and ample were tho Preparations
for the feast. Bright-eyed tsmsels with
blushihg cheeks. and gallant hardy men were
there. The worthy parson from the next set
tlcment was there, aad by his side sat another
parsonage, with whom. in these fastidious
times, it would be deemed u sacrilege to asso-
yiatc with the man of Cod mean the fiddler
But things amt now as they were then. All
was joy, all was gaity. All, little did those
gathered there, dream of the awful fi.to that
awaited them.
Il was just then twenty-five, and having
married my worthy %ife==pcacc be to her
worthy ashes only few months before, was
unprctared to go with my brother and sister
at the outset but was intending to follow them
as soon as my affairs could be arranged. l
had been out a week or two trapping sable,
and knowing what WAS to come off, | made it
in my way to bo present The gaiety of the
party was at its height. The ceremony was
just being pcr'"rmed. Tho minister had pro-
nounccd the solemn words" whom God hath
joined together let no man put reunder"-the
kiss was exchanged, and all were crowding
around che happy pair with congratulations,
when yell, wild and hideous, rent the air
the deadly war-whoop of the indians.
Terrible was the Consideration of all, and
faces a moment before radiant with happiness,
turned in agony of horror to Heaven. In al
instant the doors wcie burst open, and savage
after savage, with glittcrng knife and toma-
hawk, rushed in to slaughter. My God what
a moment was that! The hidcohs wells of
savagcs-the shrieks and groans of the dying
they ring ii my car to the present day !
saw the bloody tonahask eleasc the skull of
poor Jack as he vainly cndcavored to protc,
his bride. l heard her win shrick as the
deadly knife pierced tho bosom of tho lovely
Mary. I saw the savage arm uplifted, felt
the stunning blow, ahd know no more.
How long remained inscnsible I have
no means of knowing. l awoke from fear
full dream. was nearly crushed and covered
with dead bodies, to which circtimstanee |
probably owed my life. With struggle,
cxtricated myself from the dead Upon and
around me. and stood upon my feet The sun
was shining high iii the Heavens, Oh, hor.
rors, what sight met my eyes! There, in
their blood. lay every one that had formed the
bridal party, not soul had escaped! Invol-
unfairly I put my hand to my head !; and felt
my scalp; | found the Fracture l hal been
struck with the back Of tcn,ahawk and only
stunned, and brlhg covered BY my ftichds the
Indians had neglected to scalp mt ..'
g" One by one, I examined the bodies of all,
to see if life vas remaining in any. l found
two or three whom the savagcs had neglected
to scalp-but not one alive The sight was
too horrid for human vision. My brain reelcd
and | fell to the earth. Coming again to my
| senses, hurried from the dreadful spot, step
ping over the mahglcd eorpses of my sister
and brother, and the bride and bridegroom in
the embrace of death. passed to the next
house. An aged lady and four children lay
dead in their bed Ipassed to the next
death had been there too The smoking ruins
of others told but too plainly the tragic story /;
there WAS not living being, beside me in the
settlement.
When l think of thot awful night of the
horrors of the morning as l awokc to sensibili-
ty ihy blood curdles in my veins, and my
head swine From that time swore ven
geance on the red skins 1t has long since
been accomplished. Not one ef that tribe
lives to tell the story" ..
On my return home that night thought
raw the Indians in every bush. And when at
last slept, | saw the cold glare of the eyes
of murdered men and women upon mc-I was
pressed down by the weight of dead bodies
The incidents of that tragic wedding, as j
heard them from the old mans lips for along
while moved me as a ponorama, SO deep wus
the impression made upon me by the old man S
story. .taf .t4 ~
WIEN asked how he got out Of prison, a
witty rogue replied s. I got out of my cell
with ingenuity, ran up stairs with agility.
crarled out of the window in secrecy, slid
down the Gghtnins,rod with rapidity, walked
out of the Town with dignity, =and nm now
basking in the sunshine of Liberty !"
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