Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-01-16
PIONEER LIFE ON THE OHIO.

| Ed. JoURNAL:- will endeavor to re-
late As near verbatim ~ possible, MS / re
ceived il from the lips Of n descen,lent Of
the man who made the "Trip down the Ohio
river one memorable night in the year
1891, n most remarkable adventure OF u
little band Of the early pioneers along the
bsnks Of that stream.
In the year above mentioned Captain
HubbeIl, residing in the vicinity of Frank
fort, Kentucky, was returning to that point
from trip 10 the East. Near Pittsburg
he secured fiat bottom boat and embark
ed down the river with Daniel Light and
William Plasent, wife aud family, con.
sisting of eight children. Their destina- =
tion was Limestone, Kentucky. They
were but short distance below Pittsburg
when they were made uneasy by the ap--
pearance of different bands Of Indians
watching them from the shore. Drifting
and rewing with the current they picked
up emigrsnis on the way till by the time
they had reached the mouth of tho Kan
ava river they had o crew of twelve men,
Fl We women and ten children. At CALI.
polls their fears were confirmed beyond
doubt that the Indians were intending 10
attack them at some point on their voyage.
As they passed along they saw the Hniouldl-
eriog ruins Of more than one log cabin
that had been burned afresh and on one
occasion large band OF Indians appeared
on the shore with several cspives and at
the same time held bloody scalps above
their heads that they had just stripped
from some unfortunate captive. As night
approached, Capt. Hnbbell was appointed
Captain of the little band and the men
divided into three reliefs so that each
might stand two hours watch through
the night. They were armed with flint
lock muskets, all carefully loaded. The
boat was put in the best possible shape for
a combat with the red demons. Tables
and boxes and chairs were thrown over.
board to make room. 1t was early in the
evening when Capt. Hubbell saw an In
dian canoe stealing along after them in the
darkness with the creates, stealth by the
red skins, believing they were not observed
Tho Captain was we'll acquainted with
their mode OF attack and was well satisfied
that it would not be made Till the dawn of
day and Mt that time it was agreed that nil
hands should be astir so as to make as big
a showing as possible. 1t was further un-
derstood that wheh the fighting came ON
! that the women and children should lay
down on the Cap aims floor so as to he out
I
began to appear in the east. TO their aston.
ishment they were hailed from tho Ohio
shore. The calls, "hello on board there"
came from the shore, and the answer went
back, "what do you want?" "Can you
give us passage down the river?" "How
many are there OF you ?" Five" was the
response. "Come out so we can see YOU"
ave are afraid the Indians will kill us il
we do.' The last answer satisfied Captain
Hubbell that il was Indians on shore and
he told them to remain where they were
as lie had no Use for them. This reply was
answered by a shower OF bullets from the
shore, accompanied by aa many oaths, and
within two minutes they could hear the
splash OF oars. A heavy fog hung over
the scene and they could not see the shore.
When the boats came in sight, hive IN mum
ber were counted and they were filled with
the red demons. As they came in range
the redskins commenced FIRING, The first
round severely wounded two of Capt.
Hubbell's men. lie ordered them to hold
their fire till the discharge would scorch
the eyebrows of the rsdskina, As the boa,s
came nearer they deploysd out 30 as t"
attack Capt. ilnbbtll on all sides. When
they were within 30 feet, Capt. Hubbell
gave tho word fire. and as the smoke clenr-
-,l away the redskins were seen to be de-
moralized. But II was onls Tor momenl,
when they renewed the attack vigorously.
But this time they were routed by another
volley and with hatchets. As they fell
back The second time and made ready for
The third attack, the hve canoea began
circling and came mp from all sides. This
time it looked as ii they must yield, but
point. and met them so strong that the