The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-20
The Levers Leap.
A Story OF the Falls OF
Little KanaWha.
DrJ. W. ".

In the year of our Lord, 174G, Just
thirty years prior to tho time when The
Declaration Of Independence was pro-
mulgatud, amid tho shouts of the
brave men Of the Colonies, the terrific.
Ty now embraced in West Virginia
was inhabited solely by Indians. The
red man was monarch Of all ho sur
yeyed," mud nothing but tho no less
savage but less intelligent beasts Of tho
forest, disputed his territorial rights,
Within tho boundary l have named,
tho banks Of tho Elk and Little
Konewlla, (now Kauawhu) Rivers
weru the fayorito hunting grounds, and
there it was that large and powerful
tribes spent tho winter months, when
the iuclemcncy Of tho weather prevent
cd tic pursuit Of tho elk, tho buffalo,
the deer, tho bear or the panther, or
the capture Of any Of the fnny tribe.
AT what is now known as Falls
Mills" III Draxtou county, intho win
ter Of the year | nave uamcd. was au
Indian village, composed Of perhaps
seventy or eighty lodges, Pcrchel
upon tho huge ledge which oysrlOoks
the Ealls Of Kanawha, tic savagcs
had fair view Of the river, above
mud below, for some distance; while
tue nouptslns gu cyOry side screened
them in u great measure from the rude
blasts Of tho winters toinpGs;s.
The nile life led by these sons and
daugl ors Of the forest would haze
been dull indeed, had 1t not been re.
'licysd by tho narration by the older
warriors. of tho traditions Of their
tribe; ofthO glorics they had won be-
faro tho ralo.facO had driven them
from the shores Of great suit lake /; aud
Of the scalps they had taken in desper-
atc forays upon ncighboring tribes.
Aad then would tho hearts Of the
young men beat with impotence, for
they, too, longcl 10 be led on the war.
path, that they might join those who
had preceded thOm to the happy hunt
ing grounds With glad faces, and
their belts filed with tho sc.lps OF
thtit roca. An opportunity soon pre-
scented itself. A saloay Of palc-isces
had established themselves on tho
Valley River, (iu what is now Ran.
dOlpll coupty) and j. was determined
to cxtortdinate them. Preparations
we're hastily made, aud early in the
spring Ofl1l7, the warriors Sot forth,
grim and savage and dcmOniacal in
their rude paint aud gaady uappings
Thrcc.scoro in number, and led by the
young chief Cudhoma, they orept
stcult6ily al,ng, and in three days
were within sight Of tue huts Of their
enemies. Oudhoma ordered that tho
at;acI; should be made at mght, and
that no life shosld DO spared. At the
appointed iime, the warriors burst
upon tho uuguardcd settlement With
horrid yclls, and the brave pioneers
wcro ovOrpowCrcd and sluin-mcn,
women and childrcn-erO they had
time to call upon God for forgiveness.
hut amid all the carnage, tie chief,
Cudhoma, forgot bis orders. In tue
midst of Of the massacre, he had seeu
tho fair form aud bright eyes Of lisa.
dorc Aiken, tho beautiful daughter Of
QUO of the settlers. AS his eyes rested
upon tho stausc0ndant vision, his fury
vanished, aud IeiSiug her III lie arms,
no hurried back to his temporary ell.
canpmont, and by every means With.
in his power attempted to assuagO tho
grief Of his charming captive. Bat Of
no avail. by lie hand she bad lost
father, mother and brother, and she did
not wish to survive them. Cudhomn
gave strict ipianciiOns that bis prissn-
Or should bu closely guarded, aud re.
GOi5c every attention at tho hands Of
his warriors; aud after gathering up
the plundr they had gained, tue
party turned their faces liomeward--
Isadoro mounted upon one Of her ia.
Tiers horses, aud constantly At her
side tho warrior chief
It was apparent to lsadorO that her
charms Lad smiiton tho heart Of the
aud that ho intended 10
make her lis tquaw. She wo. fearless
aud resolalc, bat still, shO was but
woman. She lovedAcr parents aud
brother viii siucero ufcolioni but
moro tliAh his. hrr heart had Long ago
passed from litf own koeping. 10 an
sut.liSh settler o. Tho Jamcs River,
suiOrs was belrollcd ; aud 1t lad
,,on arranged with tho full consent