The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-03-03
ON THE OHIO.
a ThriIfng Account OF an k-ncsunser
with IndfAua.

a Thrilling Account OF an Encounter
with indians.
In the year 1871, while the Indians /.
were yet troublesome, especially on the,
banks of the Ohio, Captain William Hub
bell who had previously emigrated to
Kentucky from the State of Vermont,
and who, after having fixed his family in
the neighborhood of Frankfort, then a
frontier settlement, had been compelled
to go eastward on business, was a sec
ond time on his way to this country. On
one of the tributary streams on the river
Monongahela he procureda fiat bottomed
boat aud embarked in company with Mr..
Daniel Light and Mr.. William Plascut
and his family, consisting of eight chill
dren, destined for Limestone, Kentucky.
On their progress down the Ohio River,
and soon after passing Pittsburg, they
saw evident traces Of Indians along the
banks, and there is every reason to be-
ieve that O boat which they overlook
and which, through carelessness, was suf-
fered to run aground on an island, be-
came a prey to those merciless savages.
Though Captain Hubbell and his party
stopped some time for it in o lower part
of the river, it did o t'arriye, and it was
never to their knowledge heard of after
ward. Before they reached the mouth
of the Great Kanawha they had, by sev-
eral successive additions, increased their
lumber to twenty, consisting of nine
men, three ONE and eight children.
The men, besides those mentioned.above,
were one John Stoner, an freshman and
a Dutchman, whose names are not recol-
lected, Messrs. Ray and Tucker and a
Nh. Fitzpatrick, whose two daughters also
were of the party. Information received
at GalIipolis confirmed. the expectation
which appearances previously raised ola
serious conflict with q large body of In
dams; and as Captain Hubbel had1been
regularly appointed commander of the
boat every possible preparation was made
for a formidable and successful resistance
Of the anticipatedsattack. The nine men
were divided into three watches for the
night, which were alternately to con-
tinue awake and be ON the lookout for
two hours at a time. The arms on board,
which consisted principally of old mus
kets much u Of order, were collected,
loaded, and put in the best possible con-
dition for service. At about sunset on
that day, the 22d of March, 1891, our
party overlook a fleet of six boats de-
scending the river in company, and in
tended to have continued with them, but
az their passengers seemed to be more
disposed to dancing than fighting and as
soon after dark, Notwithstanding there
monstrance of Captain Hubbell, they
commenced fiddling and dancing instead
of preparing theft arms and taking the
necessary rest preparatory to battle, it
was wisely considered more hazardous to
be In such company than to be alone. It
was therefore determined to proceed
rapidly forward by aid of the oars and to
leave those thoughtless fellow-travelers
behind One of the boats, however, be-
longing to the feet and commanded by
Captain G~reathouse. adopted the same
plan and for a whilekept up with Captain
Hubbell, but all its crew at length falling
asleep, that boat also ceased to be pro
PEELED by the oars and Captain HubbelI
and party proceeded steadily forward
alone. -Eariy In the morning q canoe
was dimly seen floating down the river
in which were probably Indians recon-
noitering, and other evident indications
were observed Of the neighborhood and
hostile intentions Of o formidable party
of savages.
It was now agreed that should the at,
tack, as was probable, be. deferred till
morning. every man should be M before
dawn In order to make as great O show
IS possible of numbers and of strength;
and that whenever the action should take
place the women and children should lie
down ON the cabin floor and be protected
rs well as they could by the trunks and
other baggage which might be placed
around them. In this perilops situation
they continued during the night, and the
Captain, who had notslept more thar one
hour since he left Pittsburg, was too
deeply impressed with the imminent
Hanger which surrounded him to obtain
any rest at that time.
Just as daylight began to appear in
the East, and before the men were up and
at their posts agreeably 10 arrangement,
q voice at some distance below them in q
p~laintive tone repeatedly solicited
them to come on shore as there were
some white persons who wished to obtain
a passage in their boat This the Cap
tain very naturally and correctly con-
cluded to be an Indian artifce, and its
only effect was to rouse the men and
place every ON his guard. The voice
of e~ntreaty was soon changed into the
language of indignation and insult, and
the sound of distant paddles announced
the approach of the savage foe. At
length three Indian canoes were seen
through the mist Of the morning rapidly
advancing. With the utmost GOODNESS
the Captain and his companions prepared
to receive them. The chairs, tables, and
other membranes were thrown into the
river inorder to clear the deck for action.
Every man took his position and wa
ordered not to fire till the savages had
approached SO near that Ito use the words
of Captain Hubbell J ''the flash from the
guns might SINCE their eyebrows" and
q special caution was given that the men
should fire successfully so that there
might be no interval. On the arrival of
the canoes they were found to contain
about twenty-five or thirty Indians each.
As soon as they had approached within
the reach of musket shot a general fire
was given from one of them, which
wounded Mr.. Tucker through the hip 80
severely that his leg hung only by the
flesh, and shot Mr.. Light just below his
ribs. The three canoes placed them
selves at the bow, stern, and On the right
side of the boat so that they had an OPP
portunity of raking in every direction.
The fire was commenced from the boat
and had a powerful effect in checking the
confidence andfury of the Indians. The
Captain, after firing his own gun, took up
that of one of the wounded men, raised
it to his shoulder and was about to dis
charge it when o ball came and took
away the lock; he cody turned round,
seized a brand Of fire from the kettle
which served for . oaboose and applying
it to the pan discharged the piece with
effect. A very regular and constant fire
was now kept up on both sides. The
Captain was just in the act of raising his
gun a third time when a ball passed
through his right arm and for a moment
disabled him. Scarcely had he recovered
from the shock and reacquired the use
o. his hand which had been suddenly
draUn up by the wound, when he OBJ
served the Indians in one of the canoes
inst about to board the boat in its bow.