The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-21
A Fortunate and Fatal shot.

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A Fortunate and Fatal Shot.
It was the year 1905 that settled in
Virginia, near the falls of Kanawha.
The country at that time was an un-
broken wilderness. But few settlements
had been made by the whites, and they
we're 80 far apart as to render vain all
hopes OF assistance in case of attack
from hostile Indians. numbers of whom
still infested the neighborhood. I lived
there alone with my wife for several
months unmolested, and by dint OF per-
severance, when young and hardy, had
succeeded in making quite clearing in
the forest, which I planted with corn,
and which promised an abundant yield.
One morning. after we had despatched
our humble meal, and had just pre-
pared to venture forth upon my acous-
toned routine labor, my attention was
arrested by the tinkling of cow.bell in
the corn.field.
"There." said my wife. ','tbe COW is in
the corn.heid."
But the ear of the backwocdsman be-
comes educated very acute, especially
from the fact that his safety often de-
pends upon the nice cultivation OF that
sense.
was not 30 easily deceived. The
sound was repeated. "That," said 7. in
reply to my wife's remark, "was not the he
tinkle OF bell upon the COW, but de-
coy from some Indian, who wishes to
draw me into an ambush"
Believing this to be the case, 7 took
down my old musket, and seeing that it
was properly loaded, I stole cautiously
around the field toward the spot from
which the sound seemed TO proceed. As
suspected, there, in clump of bushes,
an Indian was waiting for me to appear
In answer to his deoVy bell, that he
might send fatal bullet to my heart. I
approached without discovering myself
to him until within shooting distance,
then raised my piece and fired. The bull
let sped true to ita mark, and the Indian
fell dead. Not knowing but that he was
accompanied by others, I returned with
full speed to the cabin. and having firmly
barrlcaded the door, watched all day
Tor the companions Of the Indian I had
killed. To add to the danger and SEEM
ing hopelessness of my situation, I dis
covsred that I had but one shot left, and
If attacked by numbers, should be en-
tirely in their power. Determined to do
the best with the powder, put it into
the musket, and then waited for the an.
proach of night, feeling sure of an at
tack.
Night came at last. A beautiful moon.
light night it was, too, and favored me-
greatly, as would thereby be able to
observe the movements of the enemy as
they approached the cabin. It was
some two hours after nightfall, and yet
had neither heard nor seen q sign of
the Indians, when suddenly was star
tied by the bayipgof my dog at the sta
Bile. The stable stood q little West of
the cabin, and between the two was
patch OF clear ground, on which the
light OF the moon fell unobstructed.
Judging from the noise at the stable
that they would advance from that di-
rection, 1 posted myself st the port hole
on that side OF the cabin. had previ-
onsly placed my wife on the cross-pole
In the chimney, 80 that in case our enc.
mics effected an entrance into our cabin,
she might climb out through the chin
ney and make her escape. For myself,
l entertained no hope, but determined
to sell my life dearly. With breathless
anxiety 1 waited at the port-hole. At
length saw them emerge from the sha-
dow OF the stable. and advance across
the open ground towards my cabin.
-suEe5-EIoRt ueGYenBl Blk
stalwart Indians. armed to the teeth,
and urged on by the hope OF revenge,
and alone to oppose them with one
charge Of powder. My case vas despe-
rate, indeed. With quick and stealthy
steps,. in close single file, they ap.
preached. and we're already within few
yards OF the house, when o slight change
IN the movement OF the forward Indian
changed the six, 30 that q portion of the
side of each was uncovered. They were
in range, and one aim would cover all.
Quick as thought I aimed and fred.
As the smoke cleared away I could hard.
~ credit what my senses showed me as
the result Of my shot. The fifteen slues
with which I had loaded the musket had
done their work we'll. Five of the six
Indians lay dead npon the ground, and
the sixth had Disappeared. Although
no enemies were now in sight, I did not
venture forth until morning. There lay
the bodies Of five Indians undisturbed.
together with the rife OF the other.
Securing the arms and ammunition of
the fallen Indians, I followed up the
missing one until reached the river,
beyond which point could discover no