Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-02-17

ting his scanty seed under ground
) At that time there were Indians
all around us, and some of the
; very worst kind. They hated a
J white man like poison, and / was
sure we should have trouble with
them. 1t was that more than
anything else that made me more
!apxious to oremain with them un.
til the country became more set.
! tied.
+ The season was pretty well ad-
vanced when a man called at our
house one day and told us that a
party of Indians had attacked the
settlers further up the creek, and
after massacreing several families,
were descending 10 a large canoe
for the purpose of serving US in
i the same manner.
4 This was ala. ming news indeed,
and We decided TO change our
lquarters at once, while there was
|prospect of escape. Green pro-
! posed that we should start through
the woods TO the settlement; but
as that was twenty miles distant,
knew they would follow our trail
with the speed and certainty
icf the bloodhound, he took my
advice, which was to embark in
the canoe, leaving everything be.
hind US. BY this means we could
efectually cover our trail; and as
the shores were both lined with o
luxuriant, overhanging under
growth, we could glide under COW
er and remain until the danger
had passed.
This was a good plan, and
would have succeeded admirably
had it been adopted an hour soon
err The hunter who had given
US the intelligence started at once
down the stream, in the hopes
that he might able to warn some
of the other settlers in time
The light canoe comfortably seat
ed us four, including the little
girl, and within fifteen minutes
after the alarm reached us we
showed out from the bank. Green
took the paddle and we started
on our perilous descent of the
creek, which, however, was large
enough to deserve the name of
river. -.
We had scarcely showed out
from shore when whoop reached
our ears, and looking back we saw
to our dismay that the Indian ca
noe was in sight. The redskins
had discovered us, and naturally
enough determined tEat we should
not elude them in that easy man.
ner. | glanced at the miscreants
as they came dashing down the
stream almost with the speed of
the wind, and saw that the canoe
was occupied by Eve Of them.
| "Now, Green," said !, ''use the
paddle, for all depends on that"
/ never saw him use the oars
with such skill. He had seen
enough of Indians to understand
that it was now a case Of life and
death, an6 with his wife and only
child depending upon his iexer-
ltions, it need not be said that tevery
particle of strength and skill that
he possessed were needed and put
to use. -
Every moment or two the In
dians uttered one of their fright
full yells, SO frightful indeed that
the little girl began crying through
terror. However, Ipersuaded her
to lie down in the boat, and her
mother soon soothed her fear, al
Though she still shivered every
time the fearful sound reached her
ears. - = s1
nv great fear was that the In
ldians would fire at us, which would
be pretty certain to result fatally,
| as we were within easy gunshot
distance. But they evidently con-
sidered this unnecessary, as It
looked as if we must evidently fall
into their hands. $50 -.
/ Despite the utmost exersions of
! Green, the saysges gained stead.