The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-01-31

moments later an6 the woman whose free
dom they had beer Iying to obtain spraDg
from pony excfssming
"For heaven SrSake, my countrymcn do
not give me up. [ have escaped but they
viii soon be afte- me-"
The traders INSTANTLY held a council
The savages octrumbered. them twenty to
one there was no hope of making sue
cessful resistance.
"Some oneEIust fly with the woman back
to Indepeudence-and there's not mo
ment to be lost cried several voices
"Whc'N do I ?'' inquired the leader.
No one spoke the men all had gccds
upou the train and could not desert them.
'I have 10 property to risk, >" said Mr..
Randolph, after few moments reflection,
my business is urgent tits true, bot I'll
take her'back or perish in the attempt.
A few minutes later and Randolph and
the woman were flying as fast as the horses
could Gritty them back to Missouri.
JusJstefore the break or day the Indians
appenrei at the traders camp aud demand
ed the woman. They were assRred she
was Est present, neither did they know
where she was. It was not untR the saw
ages'F1ade a strict search of the wagons
tbatf5ey were convinced that they were on
the wrong trail but their disappoin bment
wasso great that they made au attack upon
the traders. a smart fight revealed 20
then, that they would have to o5saia rein
forccments if they desired to capture the
trais, so they withdrew and left the TRADERS
iu.peace.
Nkfter two days hard ridiag, ME-. Ran
dcloh and the woman reached a pest of
dragoon soldiers and were given escort who
saE7 them safe to Leavenwotth. The fol-
lowing is the story the poor woman told
/ NJ Randolph:
'''I was born OF respectable parents, my
father being farmer ia western Missouri.
s II was married at an early age and after
.the birth of daughter, ay husband start
Ted to go to Independence for the ,pGlpose
1~of entering into business, taking :hescdild
7sGud myself with hiA. After travelling
+ some days we entered = great forest, aud
ebefore we were aware Of it we fouad our
selves surrounded By doEea indians, ,asFho
had crossed the line on a stealing ,ezpedi-
tinn. They shot nay bussand before my
eyes. ahd were going 10 kiH any babe when
l begged for its life. One ef the saysges,
who seemed to have some authority, lsDre-
vented my child from being murdered but
refused to let me have it, and it was .left
upon the ground to die, while theyhapried
away, bearing me off a captive. The~suf-
ferirgs I have endured wosld not relate
il could. L was often tempted to destroy
myself, but the tboaght OF zegainiug. my
, freedom, and hope that my child might
have been providently found. ,stayed,.ny
hand when l would have taken my own
life"
Such, in bri.f, was the history given,iSy J
tho poor woman, whose name was Baker
Mr.. Randolph listened with breathless
interest to her naTT<tive, and when sh g had
concluded he asked her if she 'Tern embezs5
on what day of the month aud the yeac
her misfortune ocoETred. Her reply wac
prompt. She named the year and stated
that il was on the Seth of Juig, the day
being Sunday.
81 shall never forget it while Iiive,' '>she
continued. Life has only been=a burdeC
to me since
Mr.. Randolph vas satisfied rshRt tho
mother of his adopted daughter was before
him.
With some little cizoumlocutioufhe gave
3 an account OF his adventure in Tho forest
and stated the mannec in which the infaR
Ehe found was dressed, When the poer
woman heard this she threw hersek .at Dir,
sRandolph's feet, and rsept tears of graft
: t1de and JOY, while she kissed bis hands.
hadge Randolph married well, and con
t.nued through life 20 love her adopted
Father, while she became a comfoaS and
ssctace to her unforta0sse mother.