The daily gazette., 1877-02-26
DEFENDING, his BOAT,
# BIZ SIDNEY HERBERT

mont emigrated, with his family to
what is now Frankfort Kentucky, but
a. that time, 1870, was only a small
frontier rsettlementsini nsswid nu'iiTa
Here he procured Aflst bottomed
poat, and, in company with q Mr. Dan
lei Light, and Mr.. William Plascut and
MS family, consisting Of his wife and
eight children. who were on their way
20 Limestone, Kentucky proceeded
ieisurely down the river. - '1si1 ;li5F =
Before reaching. the mouth OF tho
Great KenhawS River, their number
was increased by tho addition of sevl
erai Persons, who had Joined them at
different places on the river, whose
names were Joha Stoncr, Messrs. Pay,
Tucker and O. Mr.. Kilpatrick, with his
Two daughters, aud an Irishman and q
Dutchman, whose names 4, are not
known, making ia all twenty persons.
Of whom nine were men, thrs e women
and eight children .r%hsT
They proceeded In this, manner nn-
w the evening OF the twenty-third Of
March, when they overlook feet of
six boats descending the river In COM
pany, and congratulated themselves on
The additional security they would de-
rive from 90 large a force. They had
however. been 10 their company but a
short time when they became satis-
fed 1t would be merehazardous TO re-
maia than to part company and pre-.
ceed alone, as those on board the other
boat seemed disposed to have O Jolly
time, drinking and dancing, without
making any preparations for defence,
in case of an attack. ''.i!Yl ~ 't51Hf'
One OF the boals, however, com man
ded by Captain Greathouse, followed
the example of Captain Hubbell, and
for Q while kept up with his boat but
becoming weary of rowing, they 'cea-
sed theii efforts, and fell behind. .uoa D
Early in the night, Captain Hubbell
being on the watch, discovered ca
noe slowly floating down theriver,
which he at once concluded contained
Indian scouts, reconneitering and
from other signs which they observed
en- shore, they felt sure they were
watched by a large party of Indians,
who would wait only for a favorable
opportunity to attack them. nny ~
Captain Hubbell remained up all
night, fearing the watch might be-
come careless, and allow the savages
to approach without giving the alarm.
He had, indeed obtained but little
sleep since leaving Pittsburg. }T
just before daylight, while the men
We're still sleeping, as the boat ap-
Preached q bend In the river, a voice
hailed them in plaintive tone, and
begged them to come ashore and take
on board two white men, who had,
during the night escaped from the In
dians. '2t t-i'
But Captain Hubbell was not to be
SO easily deceived, but Immediately
suspected it was an Indian artifice to
throw them off their guard; and if
they should near the shore, instead of
finding white men, they would be
boarded by Indians, and either secur-
ed as prisoners or murdered at once.
He therefore called up the men, and
getting out the sweeps, rowed down
the river us fast as possible, without
paylag any attention TO the voice on
shore, which soon changed to insult;
and but short time after, they dis
covered three canoes filled with In
dads, rapidly approaching them.
Keeping two men at the oars, the rest
threw overheard the chairs, tables, and
everything else that would impede
their action, and then telling the wo-
men and children to lie down on the
floor of the cabin, they piled the
trunks and other baggage around them,
forming sort of bulwark which would
protect them from the balls of the
Indians.
These orders had hardly been de.
livered when the canoes arrived, each
containing from twenty-five to thirty
warriors. H
Captain Hubbell allowed them to
approach still nearer, and then gave
the word to fire, which was ebeyed
with 80 much spirit and skill, that the
Indians were thrown into confusion
and their advance checked for time;
but they soon rallied again. Captain
Hubbell had fired his own gun, and
then seizing Mr.. fuckers, raised 1t to
his shoulder, when ball came and
carried away the lock; he coolly turned
and seizing a brand from under the
kettle which served as caboose, ap-
piled it to the pan, discharging the
gun and killing his man.
After several minutes incessant mr.
ing on both sides, Captain Hubbell in
the act of firing his gun was hit by a |
ball, which passed through his left
arm, touching the cords, and causings
them to contract, and for few minu-
tes completely disabling him. He had
Just recovered the use of it, when he
discovered the Indians in the canoe at
the bow Of the boat, just about to
board her. Selling his heavy horse
pistols. he rushed forward with one in |
each hand, just as two of them had
got astride the side of the boat, and
were preparing to spring in. Pointing
q pistol at the breast OF each, he fired
and they both fell backward into the
river. Two others we're holding the
sides of the boat, with their heads Just
in sight, Raising one of his pistols, he
brought 1t down on the head of one,
and then of the other, with such force |
as to break IN the skulls and kill them |
making four he had killed |
in less time than 1t takes to relate it. |
Others still attempting to come on |
board, he seized heavy stick of wood |
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