Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-05-25

they came in contact with. Therefore
they were by no means alarmed when
one day Eve Indians stalked gravely
into the cabin Just as the MONDAY
meal was being served. It had eveI
been Mr.. Myron's custom TO invite
such visitors to partake of food, and on
this, as on other occasions, they readily
accepted the invitation; but, greatly to
the surprise and uneasiness OF their
host, instead of placing their rifles in
one corner OF the room, as usual, they
held them between their knees, the
muzzles OF the weapons showing just
above the edge of the table.
Mr.. Myron was too we'll versed in
Indian customs not to know that such
action on the part of his guests meant
mischief With the view OF showing
them that he understood this breach of
hospitality, and in the slight hope of
intimidating them, he arose from tho
table, took from the rack on the wall
his rifle and fowling piece, and care
fully examined them to show they were
loaded. Why the savages did not at
tack him then is one OF the inexplica-
BILE things in Indian warfare. Instead
of making any hostile demonstrations
they stalked gravely out OF the house,
disappearing behind a clump OF bushes.
For the moment Myron believed he
had wronged his guests, and that they
had taken umbrage at his movements
when their intentions we're peaceful.
Still holding his rifle in his hand,
Myron stepped to the open door for the
purpose OF ascertaining whether his
guests had really departed. When the
farmer appeared on the threshold the
report of a rifle was heard, and Myron
fell, With dangerous but not necessa-
rily fatal wound in his side.
Women who live on the border, here
they are constantly menaced by danger.
learn early in life that they must deny
themselves woman's privilege OF faint
ing. When Mr.. Myron fell, his wife
sprang to his defense rather than assis,-
ance. To close and barricade windows
and doors was but the work Of mo.
ment when everything was prepared
for such occasions, and then the heroic
woman turned her attention to her hus-
band and children. The fathers wound
bled but little, and save to stanch the
blood the devoted wife could not aid
him, except by piling the bedding
around him in such a way that, in a sit
ting posture, he could face the closed
door. The temporary safety OF the
children was secured by fastening them
in the cellar, where they would be be-
yond the reach Of any bullets their late
visitors might send, and after she had
perfected her plan OF defense she be.
gan to assume the offensive.
By removing the mud that filed the
crevices of the logs at the end of the
house, loop-holes we're formed, and
through these the husband and wife
began an assault upon their foes. With
his rife Myron shot one OF the Indians,
and at the same time his wife killed
another with the fowllng-piece. BY
this time the foe, finding their intended
victims more tenacious Of life than they
supposed, resorted to stiatagem TO ac-
complish the massacre. In the field
was a cart half filed with hay; in the
stable-yard stood n yoke OF oxen quietly
eating. To fasten the animals to the
cart and not expose themselves to the
deadly aim of those in the house was
difficult task, but one tha. the Indians
finally accomplished. To get the load
of hay against the building, that it
might be set on FIRE, was still moro
difficult, and in this case unsuccessful,
for before it could be done both hus-
band and wife had shot an enemy.
while the fifth and only remaining one
sought safety in precipitate fight.
Each moment the conflict lasted the
husband grew weaker, and medical aid
could not be procured without jour.
ney Of hundred and eighty miles. To
traverse this distance there was no
other mode Of conveyance than the OF.
cart. In this rude vehicle Mrs. Myron
placed her husband and children, and
not once during that tedious journey,
made painful by the suffering OF the
man for whom she had braved the
dangers and discomforts OF frontier
life, was halt made.
At 81 Cloud surgical aid was pro-
cured, and there, after Mr.. Myron's
recovery, he sought work of any kind
that would bring in sufficient for the
support of his family. since the depreda-