Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-05-20
UNCLE JOHNS INDIAN STORY.
BY A KENTUCKIAN.


"Well, boys" said Uncle John, &" I've an
idea in my head that / don't think I've
ever told you about. 1t is a little incident
that occurred in the land of romance-the
Far West l am going to tell you" he
continued, "about a scrape that L got into
among those red devils, yclept indians.
The West had been my home from early
childhood. My father and mother had
moved from one of the Middle States when
they were first married, and had chosen
the West as the field in which they would
find their veal or woe. Well, as soon as !
was old enough 1 was taught the use of
firearms and often, when my father was
at work in the field, | would saddle and
bride one of our powerful horses and ride
forth Oh the plains, very frequently secur-
ing enough small game to supply the fami-
ly with meat. ! used to pride myself on
being a first-rate shot though the long,
heavy rifle that was taught to use would
have been q burden for any ordinary youth,
to me long practice had made 1t so familiar
that could carry it all day with as much
ease as a Kentucky boy would common
shOt gun.
prosperous and peaceable one until / was
about entering my twentieth year. Well,
as L said, all went well until l was about
entering my twentieth year, when an Incl
dent occurred that was destined to prove
one Of the most remarkable episodes in my
life's history and this is how 1t came about /:
my father had given me horse for my
own use. had spent great deal of time
in breaking and training it, and in all the
great West there was not, perhaps, a finer
or nobler animal than Duke Wellington
for that was my horses name. Duke, as
commonly called him, and myself were
fast friends. Indeed, this spirited animal
seemed TO be as much attached to me az
was to him he was as docile as lamb if ]
commanded, and at the same time, If l
wished it, he was Off over the plains like
the wind. Perhaps his value was enhanc-
ed, in my estimation, by the fact that l
used TO spend many pleasant hours in gall
Looping over the plains accompanied by
pretty Nellie Martin, the charming daugh-
ter Of Squire Martin, who resided just
four miles west of my own home. One
day had tethered Duke among lot of
tine prairie grass in sight of the house,
and was taking a nap for refreshment
when my mother came and awakened me,
telling me that an Indian was providing
about In the vicinity OF my horse in very
suspicious manner. Jumping up, / seized
my rife and hurried out TO where 1 could
Gee my horse. That the Indian designed
stealing him was apparent at glance, for
even as I stepped out Of the house he had
cot the rope that tethered Kim, and was in
the act Of mounting. / yelled at him to
gtoS, but he appeared not TO hear me In
stead Of stopping, he took a north ward
course, and was soon flying like mad
across the prairie. An instant looked at
him, and then raising my rifle fired, not,
however, with the expection OF checking
him, for he was now nearly quarter Of a
mile distant from me but az luck or fats
would have 1t, he fell from the horse as
suddenly ~ " every nerve and muscle in
his body had been severed.
my horse thus being freed Of his furious