Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-07-26

position seems most probable from be-
, ing found in its own cabin and On Its
own bed. At the principal mansion,
! the party were so agitated by the cries
of women and children, mingling with
the yell of the savagfs that all
were for a moment irresolute. AMI
that moment sealed their fate One
young man Of powerful frame grasped
child near him, which happened to
be Brownlee's, and effected his escape
He was pursued by three or four saw
ages. But his strength enabled him
to gain slightly upon his followers,
when he came to a rye6eld, and
taking advantage of thick copse,
which by a sudden turn interviewed be-
tween him and them, he got on the
fence and leaped far into the rye,
where he lay down with the child.
He heard the quick tread of the saw
ages as they passed, and their Slawer
steps as they returned, mutt, ring
their cultural disapI oinment. That
man lived to an honorable old age.
but is now no more. Brownlee made
his way to the door, having seized a
fife he saw, however, that 1t was a
desperate game, but made rush at
some Indians who We're entering the
gate. The shrill, clear voice of his
wife exclaiming, Jack, will you
leave me ?" and he sat down besides
her at the door, yielding himself
willing victim The party were made
prisoners, including tho bridegroom
and bride, and several OF the family OF
Miller. At this point Of time, Capt.
j was seen coming up the lane
in full gallop. The Indians were cer-
tain of their prey, and the prisoners
were dismayed at his rashness For
tunately he noticed the peril in which
he was placed in time to save him.
self. Eagerly bent upon giving warn
ing to the people, his mind was so
engrossed with that idea, that he did
not see the enemy until he was within
full gun shot. When be dill see them
and turned to fly, several bullets whis-
tied by him, one of which cut his
bride rein, but he escaped. When
those of the marauders who pursued
the fugatives returned, and when they
had safely secured their prisoners and
loaded them with their plumber, they
commenced their retreat.
Heavy were the hearts of the
women and maidens as the were lead
into captivity. Who can tell the bit
terness of their sorrow? They looked
as they thought, for the last time upon
the dear fields of the country, and of
civilized life They thought of their
fathers, their husbands, their brothers,
and as their eyes streamed with tears.
the cruelty and uncertainty which hung
over their fate as prisoners of savages
overwhelmed them in dispair They
had proceeded about half mile, and
four or 1--WE Indians near the group of
prisoners, in which was Brownlee,
were observed to exchange rapid
sentences among each other and look
at him. Some ofthe prison
ers had named him; and whether it
was from that circumstance, or because
some of the Indians had recognized
his person, it was evident he was a
doomed man. He stopped slightly to
adjust his child on his back, which he
carried on bis back, in addition to the
luggage which they had put upon him;
and, as he did so, one of the Indians
who had looked 80 earnestly at him
stepped to him hastily and buried a
in his head. When he fell
the child was quickly dispatched by
the same individual.
One of the women captives scream
ed at this butchery, and the same
bloody instrument and ferocious hand
ended her agony of spirit.
God tempers the wind to the shorn
lamb and He enabled Mrs Brownlee
to bear that scene in speechless agony
of Woe Their bodies were found the
next day by the settlers and inferred
were they fell. The spot is
marked to this day in Mecbling's |
field As the shades of evening began
to fall, the marauders met again on the
plains of Hannastown. They retired |
into the low grounds of the Crab tree
creek, and there regaled themselves
on what they had stolen. 1t was
their intention to attack the fort the |
next morning before the dawn
Of day.
At nightfall thirty yeomen, good
and true, had assembled at Georges
farm. not far from Miller's, determined
to give, that night, what succor they
could to the people in the fort. They
set off to the town, each with his trusty
rife. some on horseback and some on
foot AS soon as they came near the
fort the greatest caution and circum-
spection was observed. Experienced
woodsmen soon ascertained that tho
enemy was in Crabtree bottom, and
that they might enter the fort. Ac-
,ordingly, they all marched to the
gate, and " ere most joyfully welcomed
by those within. After some consulta-
ton, it was the general opinion that
The Indians intended to make an
attack the next morning: and, as
there were but forty-fve rifles in the
fort, and about fifty-fve or sixty men,
the contest was considered extremely |
doubtful, considering the great superb
ority of numbers on the part of the
savages. 1t became, therefore, a mat
ter of the first Importance to impress
the enemy with beliefth large rein
forcements were arriving. For that
reason the horses were mounted by |
active men and brought at full trot
over the bridge of plank that was
across the ditch which surrounded the |
This was frequently re-
peated Two old drums were found in
the fort, which were new braced. and
music on the fife and drum was kept |
occasionly going during the night.
While marching and counter-march-
ing. the bridge was frenuentlY crossed |