Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-14
THE SETTLERS ESCAPE.
A Thrilling Incident of the EARLY
Days I'm Kentucky.

A Thrilling Incident of the Earl,
Days I'm Kentucky.
There are many incidents connected will
the early settlement of Kentucky, that hav,
not as yet been touched upon by the sketcl
writer or the novelist, much as has beer
written of those days; and the following
adventure, which we now give to the reader
| is one of those that have for so long time
lain buried, and now for the first time
brought before the gaze of the great re
public: .--- ..-
! Among those that regarded themselves as
living within the confines Of BOonesbor-
ough, though so far from the station that
bore the name of its founder as to be almost
entirely unprotected by it, was settler
known by the name of Dick Turner. He
had built bis cabin on the very outskirts OF
the settlements, and, with his wife and three
| children, had for two years lived in peace
and quietness, unmolested by the savages
that were at all times in greater or less
numbers abroad on the war-path.
Their nearest neighbor was half mile
away down the river, out Of sight and
hearing; and had 1t not been for the smoke
that every morning curled above the tree
tops, one would not have known, standing
In the doorway of Dick Turner'S cabin,
but that this was the only settlement for
miles around, for on every side was the
forest unbroken and solemn as in the days
before Daniel Boone led the first party of
hardy adventurers over the Cumberland
mountains.
One afternoon, the last of August, as
Dick was at work in his "clearing" (and as
it CHANGED at point as far from the cabin
as was possible for him to be without being
in the forest,) he was startled by the sudden
appearance of half dozen Indians, hideous
with war paint, who surrounded him almost
before he could spring and grasp his rifle
that he always carried into the field when
at work.
Startled by their sudden appearance, he
made motion toward it; but heavy hand
was laid upon his shoulder, and its owner
said in broken English, "White man, go
with us.D
"No," said Dick, looking him full in the
face. "Can't do that; much work to do.n
And he pointed at what he had been do
ing, and then casting wistful glance at his
rifle, which was now in the hand of one of
the savages.
"Come," said the savage, who appeared
to be the leader, as well as the only one
that knew word of English. "White man
must CO."
Dick glanced toward the cabin, and saw
his wife stand in the doorway, apparently in
great alarm at his situation. The savages
saw her, and after word or two between
themselves, three of them started in that
direction.
Unperceived by his captors, Dick made
sign that his wife fortunately understood,
and she disappeared within, closing the door
in such manner that the ssvages failed to
obtain admittance, as Dick saw to his great
joy when, after trying it for few moments,
they hastily returned and joined the others.
Evidently small in point of numbers,
they cared not to waste time that would
be necessary for siege; so they had desist-
ed from their efforts to make ca ptiYes Of the
woman and children.
"Come," said the savage, laying his hand
on his captive's shoulder; and Dick, who
had felt his heart rise that his loved ones
were left behind, went almost cheerfnlly
into the forest, in which the shadows of
night were already beginning to gather,
cast ing only one backward glance at his
home, to wonder when he would see it
again.
Then he resolutely put has face forward
Tor the fate the future had in store for him.
The future might be a long captivity, or
might be death; yet, as he walked between
bis captors, and the shadow. grew deeper
about him, hope was in his heart that he
might escape perhaps before the sun should
rise on the morrow.
That night was long and weary one to
the settler. Evidently they feared pursuit,
~ co. VlOf f. 81 ,x,fsl Q ha
sun was an hour high the next day. Then
as If feeling secure, they had a long halt,
made fire, and one Of the number shoot
ing deer, they cooked it and enjoyed a
plentiful repast.
Thus far the savages had used him well,
only taking the precsution to hold his hands
behind his hack in such a manner that he
found 1t impossible to use them in the least.
They had been very considerable of his COM
fort; and he determined, by appearing as
cheerful as possible, to drive away from
their minds any thoughts they might have
of any unwillingiess to accompany them,
80 that his chances of escape might be bet
ter, though their suspicious were constantly
on the alert.
In this manner the day passed, and with
the first shades of evening they made prep
arations to encamp. A fire was made-as
they considered themselves so far from the
settlements that they need fear no longer
from the WITHSTAND couple of the party
soon brought in game to afford them gen.
erous supper.
This cooked and partaken of, they all lay
down to rest, Dick, with a savage on
either side Of him, so close that he could
not stir without being aware of the mo
ton, and, as an extra precaution, they had
bound his feet together as tightly as his
wrists, and the prisoners heart began to
sink within him as it bad done before; for
he saw while thus bound no possible chance
of escape offered to him.
A couple of hours passed, and still Dick
had not closed his eyes. One after another
of the sayages dropped off, as he knew by
their hard, regular breathing, until at last he
was the only one of the group who was
not asleep.
Oh! if his hands were only free, how soon
he would be at liberty again!
He pulled upon the thongs with all his
power until they cut deep into the flesh
like the keen edge of the knife; and at last,
to his great Joy, he found the knot that held
his left hand had slipped a little. Another
strain, and it moved little further; and
with another it was parted so far asunder
that, with trifing exertion, be pulled his
hand through.
The savage lying on the left side OF him
moVedj and he lay perfectly motionless, al