Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-06-28

CAPTURE AND ESCAPE or ALEXANDER
sUaeg odH MCCONNELL. eds 73lEHe
BY SIDNEY HERBERT.


q Alexander Mcconnell was one Of the
first settlers of lexington, KY, and cele-
brated for the coolness and bravery which
he exhibited in numerous encounters with
the Indians. a' tt"s''h 7af 1ef"t
Ore morning, 10 the spring of 1780,hc
went into the woods to hunt for deer, and
had proceeded but short distance when
he shot large buck. After securing III
from the wolves, he returned to the settle
ment for his horse, on which to take home
the carcass a-iN" .l'@as q
During his absence party Of five In.
dians discovered the deer and rightly
Judged that the owner would soon return
for it. The place was in a ravine, the
sides Of which were covered with a dense
growth of bushes, admirably adapted for
an ambuscade. a The Indians divided
themselves into two parties, and awaited
his approach. Mcconnell soon appeared
riding along leisurely, unsuspicious of the
danger, until he was fired upon by the
party, and his horse shot under him. He
became entangled in the fall of his horse,
and before ne could extricate himself, the
Indians rushed upon him, and made him
4 prisoner It 81 adj as'tsi a'.
His captors appeared to be good-natured
merry set of fellows, and, after binding
his wrists commenced their retreat, which
they continued until night, when they en-
camped binding their prisoner in sit
ting posture to tree. In the morning
Mcconnell persuaded them by signs to
unbind his wrists and, what was remark.
able, they allowed him to resume his CUR
and ammunition. He accompanied then
with apparent chcerfuluess and endeav
ored to win their confidence still further
by showing his dexterity in handling his
rife, and shooting a deer for their use
j He soon so far won upon them that they
showed considerable favor, treating hin
as q prisoner only when they encampe(
for the night In this manner they pro
ceeded several days, until they reached th'
banks Of the Ohio, where they they en-
camped for the night.
Mcconnell now determined if possibl
to make his escape before crossing tn
E river, as it would be much more Difficult
: after they should cross, for, even if b
should succeed iu eluding his present cap
tors, he would be much more likely t
! meet another party Of Indians, and SO b
!. recapturcd by them, than if he wer
still on the eastern side Of the greo
river. ..l If.., ~.
= Accordingly, when they commenced s.
Z curing him, as usual, he laughed at ther
for binding him 50 securely, and by sign
/ and such words as he knew of their lar
gusge. told them they were towards ant
{ though five to one, dared not go 70 slee sts
. without tying him; and, BY his tauntin tlt1l
2 manner made them almost ashamed
y to bind him. but could not prevail upc
them to entirely abandon their habitu'
!. !. cautiousness. But, instead Of tying hi
70 tree, as they bad previously don
: they bound his wrists together with
thong, and then made the other cnd ia
). to the bodies Of two of their numbe
Is and then laid down on each side Of hin
in such q position that but q slight NOV
ment would awaken them, .,a l,Y
= McConnell laid down quietly, and 500