Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-02-01

noiselessly prepared for the massa-
Tcre OF the ansuspecting Slumberars.
Paugus had ordered his followers to
spare none, reserving to himself the
sole right to spare lives or secure
prisoners.
Dividing into small parties, and
stealthily approaching the build
ings, they set them on fire, together
with large piles of dry brush, scat
tered about, and at the same mo-
ment, with loud yells, they COM
menced the work of death. The
flames rapidly spread over the bark
roofs of the cabins and lighted up
the horrid scene with a strange and
unnatural glare. The surprise was
cOnplete-scarcely any resistance
was made and the terrified inhabi-
tants were dragged from their beds
and butchered in cold blood.
1T happened that the cabin in
which Louisa and her parents re-
sided was attacked by Paugus and
one of his followers. Awakened by
the tumult and glare of the flames,
the old people sprang from their
/ bed, and as they stood trembling
and dismayed, the door was burst
| open, and the Indians, hiddeously
painted, bounded into the room.
Louisa, terrified, sank to the floor;
! in an instant the tOmahawk of the
nearest savage sank deep into her
| fathers head-his scalp was torn off,
and he lay q quivering corpse. Her
mother shared the same fate, and
then the quick eye of the chief
! glanced on the hOrrOr-stricken girl.
] With fierce whOOp he sprang to-
/ wards her, and winding his bloody
hand in her long dark hair, dragged
! her to his feet. The knife was
! raised, but suddenly the chief
changed his purpose, and grasping
the senselesS form of the young girl
/ in his braWny arms, he hurried to
the lake, and, leaving her in the
care of the guard, again Joined in
the strife. All the families outside
OF the blOck-hOuse had been massa-
cred, and several attacks had been
made on that building, but its strong
walls, and the vigorous defense
made by its inmates, rendered them
unsuccessful.
The Indians, satisfied with their
success, now retired, carrying with
] liACaAA5 % W elo NAtCAl CuolOiAA3 bliC
bodies of two warriors killed in the
skirmish. Fourteen scalps and
much plumber had been taken; all
the buildings, except the block
house were on fire; a captive had
also been secured, and when it was
known to the party, whOOps of joy
reSOunded on all sides. The poor
girl was securely bound, placed in
the bottom of Paugus' canoe, then
embarking they padded swiftly up
the lake.
So rapid had been the work of the
Indians, there were still several
/ hours of darkness, and knowing
that the remaining settlers were I'M
/ able to pursue them, they slackened
! their speed and near daylight
| landed at one of the small islands
/ on their way for rest and refresh
/ ment. Here Louisa was taken on
/ the shore, and some water offered
| her. 1t was refused, while her con-
! Vulsive sObS told her agony and fear.
| Soon they were on their way again,
| and to enable him to use his paddle
with greater vigOr, the iefstripped
| his blanket from his shoulders and
! threw il, stained with her parents
blood, upon Louisa, as she lay shiv-
ering at his feet.
About noon they reached the up
per end of the lake, where they
/ found the residue of their party,
! who received them with every
/ demonstration of savage joy. Lou
! lisa was carried to a lodge and left
in the care of some old women, and
] thn hIn1 fn hi l,if
| their trophies and decide her fate.
/ CHAPTER II.
When day dawned on the ruins
of the little settlement, sad and mel
/ OnchOly was the spectacle. Heaps
| of smoking ashes marked the site
of the cabins, and many a half
/ burned corpse lay among the glow
/ ing Goals. Some bodies were found
a short distance from the scene,
where they had been stricken down
in attempting to escape.
/ SuSpecting some Stratagem of the
Indians, the people of the block
/ house waited several hours before
they ventured forth to gaze on the
scene of desOlatiOn and collect the
mutilated remains of their friends
| for burial.
Having discovered that their ca
noes were rendered useless, messen-
| gers were dispatched to the nearest
! settlement for aid. As the cabin of
Louisa's parents was burned, and a
| few charred bones were found
among the embers, it was supposed
l that all the inmates had persisted
With Saddened hearts the survivors
| gazed from the walls of their fort
and eagerly awaited the expected
J assistance, hoping then to pursue
their enemies and avenge their
slain friends.
In the mean time the savages
had assembled in council. The
fires were lighted, and the usual
forms having been observed, Pau
gas proceeded to give an account of
the EXPEDITION and ask the opinion
/ of the warriors as to the manner of
| dispOsing of the prisoner. As two
of their warriors had fallen in the
attack, he was in favor of burning
the victim at the stake, as an offer
| ing to the spirits of the slain,
majority of the council cOncuTring,
| her fate was determined, and the
setting of the moon fixed as the
| hour of execution. Active prepara-
| tons were now commenced for this
dreadful ceremony so dear to every
savage heart, and Louisa was in
formed of her doom. The poor girl
could scarcely realize hersituatiOn
her faculties were chilled, and
when told of the intention of her
captOrs she manifested but little
emotion. The place selected fOrthe
torture was a smooth grassy knoll
near the lake shore. A large post,
painted after the customary man
ner, with strips of red and black,
was erected, and bundles of dry
wood, and pitch pine knots, and
cOmbustables heaped around it. The
day passed away, and evening drew
her curtain around the Indian
camps.
The moon at that time set about
midnight, and the hour was anX-
iously awaited by the savage thrOng.
At length it drew nigh the moon
| beams gilded the tree tops and
glimmered on the still waters of the
lake as the pale orb sank behind
! tbp sim D1it of Rcd Hill Tho bONt