The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-05-28
Az INDIANS REvExGE.
ny RALPH RINGwooD.


Where the Kentucky river cuts its
way through the mountains, having
upon either bank bold, rugged cliffs that
lift their submits five hundred and a
thousand feet, as the case may be, above
the stream, there lived in the early times
settler by the name Of Rufus Bransou,
who, with his wife and only child, a
charming little girl Of some eight OF
nine years, occupied the rude cabin at
the base Of the precipice a little back
from the river.
Although greatly exposed TO danger
the Indians at the time being plentiful
throughout the resion-he managed 10
live peaceably for several years.
The Indians frequently visited the
rude home of the hunter, and being
always welcomed and provided with such
food a. might be in the larder, they
maintained friendly attitude.
Especially were they fond of the child
Maggie, and more than one fierce war.
rior had been seen sitting on the grass in
front Of the cabin, listening to the
prattle Of that little one or else engaged
in making it some toy or plaything from
willow twigs or plant bark.
In this manner several years had been
passed, and Rufus Branson came to feel
as sure as though he was within the walls
off frontier fort.
One evening Branson and his wife
were seated near the doorway, when sud.
denly a shadow fell across the threshold,
and the next moment a tall savage,
whose Keeling step and bloodshot eyes
told that he was intoxicated, appeared,
and staggering to the log steps threw
himself upon them.
His first demand was for fire water"
which was of course refused oil the plea
that there was none in the house.
The Indian became cross and ugly,
swearing with terrible oaths that il the
liquor was not produced he would muir
der the whole household. Branson was
a brave, determined man, and although
dreading the necessity, yet he saw that
he would have to take steps to prevent
the savage from executing his threat.
Waiting until the warrior had made a
demonstration, which he soon did by at
tempting to draw his temahawk, Bran
son sprung upon him, knocked him
down with a blow of his fist, and then
quietly disarmed him and bound him
where he lay. After a few minutes Of
furious raving aud futile efforts to free
himself the savage rolled over and sunk
into drunken slumber.
He did not wake until the next morn
ing, but before he did so the settler had
quietly removed his bonds and restored
his weapons, which he lay by the sleep
er's side.
The savage on awaking rose slowly 10
his feet, felt his wrists as though the
thongs had left a feeling there, took up
his weapons, and, without speaking a
word, left and disappeared in the timber
near by.
"What think you of that ?" asked .he
wife, turning to her husband with scared
looks.
-, A. ''o"v'o your neau
-. n;.,.,'' u' a"'"e,e' INC
anil .,oneaa e. 'u Nv AZ ~ '",nea away
M;ts ~, W., ''', .a'u Nv nau'.e,,u
80, =. -, ~ nun "o 'Vi,o"
ha won,d NV, - "a' ~ noPvs 'na ma.
A.. - I n'o '.".''uo'i'u, ou'
80, y W. my n'' ianaeu was
o,,.sp,",aa,D s ''''' W i'o"'' 'he CIR
Tho s,,nr.o. ,....,..,,L....
Jru,laa .,,a-. -. . """ '"1! "a" '"ei'
usLa NJ. - o MY, io ,"',eu W
hsaan 30 I'll 49, - Du' as i ,ne raves
re,nrninn e. s.' - o .n Jay ,,, "hiis
nass;na ~ ,au''h In" . ~ 'l; 'n' n',,s' anu
~, h " u.ne P'o0o VI 'inoer,
a e.. I.a,s s' ' I"'s"' 'isn' vi
wh;rh o,,;aLI., 5;aaa"a s ~. p pus".'' ou'
yanoad -, ..,harl t - wv. "" Ta n Eau ao'
-. - - y vas IN, nsuie
Rranson ~ !, ~a. 49, o',. "n ~. nu' !,
had lnaoLaJ - VOC ~ az one "ho"' nc
WON. summe, ' WV p''
The Lnow,odoo u.s No, :.
oomfor,ing and honoo ha IA No., IN -" ~,
wife of the discovery II won,J onIv