Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-07-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Double Ambush.
By GEORGE a. CooMER.

Walters) through all the Seminole
war, which lasted seven years, so that
I grew up with the names of the great
chiefs, Osceola, Alligator, Wild Cat
and Tiger Tail, making a part of my
childhood.
A,sense ofperil was always present
with US. remember the feelings
with which we heard of the slaughter
of Lieutenant Dade and his command.
The tragedy took place in open bat
tie, yet it seemed dreadful that so
many brave men should be shot down
in the dark woods, with the painted
savage yelling around them.
In the spring when [ was thirteen
and my brother Arthur fifteen the war
was at its worst, and my father talked
strongly of removing to a greater dis
tance from the danger.
Among our few slaves, consisting
only of two black families, was half
idiotic young negro named Jason,
who had the privilege of wandering
pretty much as he pleased. He
ftsR EsgqaiR FL
the gobble of the wild turkeys.
One day he returned with an ap-
pcarance that startled us. His woolly
head had been completely shaved,
and his black face dyed to a bright
scarlet. He had, however, received
no real hurt, and seemed not in the
least terrified by the ordeal through
which he must have passed.
We gathered from his broken SEN
tcnces that he had fallen in with In
dians; and it was plain that they had
been in some measure true to the
proverbial respect of their people for
idiots. An ordinary person they
would have sacrificed without mercy. !;
but when Jason stared aimlessly at
the tree-tops, ,or gobbled like turkey,
they simply set their mark upon him,
and let him CO.
The incident showed that our dan
ger was more imminent than had been
supposed; but there was fortunately
squad of United States cavalry
picketcd within few miles of us,
and my father lost no time in notify
ing the officer in command of what
had occurred. The soldiers, how
ever, could find nothing of the enemy,
and in the meantime we passed q
couple of days in very anxious sus-
pcnsc. The movements of Indian
warriors are erratic and to white men
unaccountable.
My parents began to regain conf
dencc, believing that the Seminoles
were gone from the neighborhood, as
they were doubtless for the time
Father said they were probably scouts
and there was no telling how they
might have scattered themselves, or
at what point some of them might ap-
pear next. He hoped, however, that
the presence of the soldiers had led
them to abandon any design they
might have entertrined of attacking
us.
On the third day after Jason's adj
venture we were feeling much re-
lieved. The negro men were at work
in the fields, and father had gone to a
considerable distance from the house.
Mother, Arthur, and myself, with the
female servants, were within doors.
Presently, not far off, we heard the
gobble of wild turkey, or what
seemed such, although, as turkeys
were not in the habit of approaching
so near the house, we imagined Jason
to be at his old silly pastime again,
Initiating the call which he could SO
well counterfeit.
The notes were continued with
great regularity at intervals of min.
ute or two, and SO natural were they
that Arthur would have been all OF
fire to seize his rifle and hurry in quest
of the game, had he not remembered
how often he had been led upon {
fruitless chase by the vocal powers
of the poor idiot.
We all excelin something" saic
mother, F" and Jason was made to cal
turkeys. But 1 do wish he would b,
Iquiet; he makes me nervous to heal
him.
JASON" said a little negro CIR
who Just then came in from the rea
of the premises; why, missus, ia
son done gone asleep in de shade a
de back OBJ de wash=house. L don
see him dis minute. -
7 Arthur fastened outdoors, locke,
behind the wash-house, and having
lassured himself that the black bo,