Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-04-14

1
Gals, but they were so confident of victory
that they forgot their cunning treachery
The young man grasped his rifle, and run
ming it through the aperture fired the shot
which killed the rascally scout and brought
the Indians around the building.
Anxious to wreak vengeance on the de-
voted family for the death of their COM
panion, the savages commenced 10 light
fire-brands and throw them about the
house, but these only served to reveal their
foes.
Robert" said the father, ''aim low and
be sure of your mark.
With this advice from his parent. the
sun ran out his gun and fired again with
fatal effect. as was announced by the mad
dened yells of the red devils which fioated
away on the Silly night air.
Occasional firing was kept up for num-
ber of hours when suddenly all became
quiet.
The old settler knew that this ominous
stiffness boded him and his family no good
and that the Indians were only waiting for
the light of day to aid them IN the destruc-
ton of his family and home. Arriving at
this conclusion he ordered preparations to
be made for an immediate flight, If such
thing was possible. He saw that unless
they hurried daylight would be upon them
and their escape would be impossible, ir-
deed the gray light of dawn was already
appearing. This last resort was decided
upon after much mental torture TO the anX-
ious parents.
To flee to the river was thought the best
plan. but ah. what dangers attended it,
The red fiends were watching every point
of exit, but when the hunter built his house
he had run kind of subterranean passage
from the cellar several hundred feet to-
ward the river lin anticipation Of such an
exigency as this oEe) and it was thought by
following this to the end they could reach
the river and their canoes and from thence
get to the settlement below.
| illpSi plCtAOus
the whole family commenced their danger
GUS retreat. The end of the passage was
gained in safety and they were making
their way through the underbrush 10 the
river, silently congratulating themselves
upon their escape, when a savage yell ST no
great distance warned them that they Were
discovered.
Now was the supreme moment. In a
few seconds the whole band of blood-thirsty
demons would be upon them.
The poor man knew now that unless he
reached the river all would be lost. Sum-
moning his great strength he caught his
wife up in his arms while Robert lifted his
sister and both ran toward the canoes.
The Indians came rushing ON, yelling
like fiends incarnate, yet happily they were
several hundred yards in the rear.
The race of life and death was continued
in this manner for some minutes. but the
father saw that unless they made an extra
dash they would fall victims to their foes.
A few more seconds and the boats would
be reached. Could they hold ou, they
asked themselves.
Father and son did nebly and as they
rushed on the veins in their faces stood out
like whip cords and the perspiration rolled
from their heated brows in great drops.
The Indians were gaining upon them
perceptibly, but the tried hunter makes
Herculean effort, while his son follows
closely after with his charge and with
desperate strain the canoes are reached.
The women are laid in the bottom of the
boats 10 shield them from the arrows of the
savages and with the father in one and the
son in the other the canoes are padded
rapidly out into the stream-just in time to
escape a shower of arrows which go whis-
tling hsrmlessly overhead.
The baffled Indians stand along the shore
venting their rage in fearful, blood-curdling
yells that echo and re-echo along the dis
tant hills.
All danger was not yet over, for an In
dian, followed by several of his comrades,
was seen running along the shore, with the
intention evidently of getting on a project
ing point of land below, where they could
reach the fugitives with their arrows when
they passed in their boats.
Fortunately the river was higher than
usual, but though the escaping family kept
along the eastern shore they felt they could
hardly pass the point above mentioned
alive and were almost ready to give up in
despair when they were encouraged by a
loud, ringing cheer. Looking up the river
hey deserted large party of hunters ap-.
preaching in their boats and the imperilled
family knew they were saved.
The red skins quickly disappeared in the
| woods and were subsequently nearly all
killed or captured.
The brave hunter and his family, together
| with the other boats-one of which con-
tanned the handsome person of Frank Muir
lust, the favored suitor of Rose, the settlers
beautiful daughter-pulled for the Waynes-
burg settlement, where they arrived a few
hours later in safety.
| As the Indians had become somewhat
troublesome in that region the family re-
mained in town for some months.
In the war with the redskins which fol
lowed soon after the events narrated above,
Robert who was a fine looking young man,
enlisted and being brave soldier soon rose
from the ranks to be an officer OF distinc-
ton. Rose, who was the loveliest girl in
all that region, acquiesced in the Oft re-
peated request CT her brave and gallant
Hover. Col. Frank Murlust, and on Christ
mas day, Just four months after her peril
GUS escape from the indisns, was married
and lived many years after, ever the Joy
and light of her husbands home.
Her father and mother. pleased with
their daughters choice, lived near her on
A.. IT,. of ,hoir old home which WAS de-