New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-07-16

with her husband, retaining, to the
last, an excellent flow Of spirits, as
well as all her faculties. Her sad
and melancholy death occurred on
the 10th Of january, 1851, by her
clothes accidentally taking fire.
Lewis md the Ralilesnakc.
The family Of John Lewis were
the first settlers Of Augusta, in the
State of.4irginia, and. consisted OF
himself, his wife, and four sons,
Thomas, William, Andrew, and
Charles. OF these, the first three
were born in Ireland, from whence
the family came, and the last was a
native Of Virginia.
lewis was a man of wealth and
station in the old country, and the
cause Of his emigration to America
was an attempt, on the part of a man
Of whom he hired some property, to
eject him therefrom, which led to
an atfray, in which the noble land
lord lost his life. Fearing, from the
high standing Of his antagonist; the
desperate character of his surviving
assailments, and the want of evil
dences to substantiate his case, that
his life would be in danger if he
staid, Lewis fled the country accom-
panied by a party of his tcnantry,
and settled III the western wilds Of
Virginia.
The father appears to have been a
man of remarkable force and energy,
and all Of his sons rendered them
selves conspicuous for deeds of dar.
ing and determined bravery during
the early history of Western Virgin.
ia, and that of her infant sisters,
Ohio and Kentucky, which would
require volumes to relate.
Charles Lewis, the hero of my
present sketch, was, even in early
youth, distinguished for those quail
ifications which have rendered the
class to which he belonged the In
dan fighters so remarkable among
men. He was young man when
the Indians commenced their attacks
upon the settlement of Western Vir-
ginia, but entered the contest with
a zeal and courage which outstrip-
ped many of his older and more
boasfrul compeers. His astonish-
ing self.possession and presence of
mind carried him safely through
many a gallant exploit, which has
rendered his name as familiar, and
his fame as dear to the memories of
the descendants of the early settlers
as household words. Cool, calm,
and collected in the face of danger,
and quick witted where others
would be apt to be excited and trem.
ulous, he was able to grasp on the
instant the propitious moment for
action, and render subseryient to his
own advantage the most triAing in.
cident.
lie was so unfortunate, on one
OCCASION, as to be taken prisoner by
a party of Indians while on a hunt.
ing excursion: Separated from his
companions, he was surprised and
surrounded before he was aware of
his danger, and when he did become
aware OF his critical situation, he
saw how futile it was to contend.
and how reckless and fatal it must
be to himself, should he kill one of
his antagonists. He knew full we'll
that the blood of his enemy would
be washed out, in his own, and that,
too, at the stake; whereas, if hesur.
rendered peaceable, he stood d
chance Of being adobted by the In
dams as one OF themselves. Revol-
wing these things in his mind, he
quietly delivered up his rifle to his
enemies, and was led away by his
captors, who rejoiced exceedingly
over their prisoner. Bare-headed,
with his arms bound tightly behind
him, without a coat, and bare. foot.
ed, he was driven forward some two
hundred miles toward the Indian
towns, his inhuman captors urging
him on when he Jagged, with their
knieyes, and tauntingly reminding
him Of the trials which awaited him
at the end Of the journey. Nothing
daunted, however, by their threats
and MANAGES, he marched on iii the
weary path which led him further.
and further from his friends, perfect
" tractable, SO far as his body was
concerned, but constantly busy in.
his mind with schemes Of escape.
He bided his time, and at lenght the
wished for moment came.
AS the distance from the white
settlements increased, the vigilance
OF the Indians relaxed, and his hopes
increased. AS the party passed a.
long the edge Of i precipiice, some
twenty feet high, at the foot Of
which ran mountain torrent he, by.
a powerful effort, broke tile cords
which bound Ills arms, and made the
leap. The Indians, whose aim was
TO take him alive, followed him, and
then commenced a race for life and
liberty, which was rendered the
more exciting BY the fact that his
pursuers were close Upon him, and
could atany moment have dispatched
him. But such was not their desire,
and on, on, he sped, now buoyed
up BY hope as his recent captors
were lost to sight, and anon des-