Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-04-09
CHAPTER XIV.
THE JOHNSONs.


the young lads of our country not
only with all the bravery but all
the subtiIity of the Indians them
selves.
In the fall of the year 1893, two
boys of the name of John and Hen
ry Johnson, the first thirteen and
the latter eleven years old, whose
parents lived in Carpenters station,
a little distance above the mouth
of Short creek, on the east side of
the Ohio river, were sent out in the
evening to hunt the cows. At the
foot of hill, at the back OF the
bottom, they sat down under a
hickory tree to crack some nuts
They soon saw two men coming to-
wards them, one of whom had a
bride in his hand. Being dressed
like white men, they mistooK them
for their father and an uncle IN
search of horses. When they dis
covered their mistake and attempt
ed to run of, the Indians, pointing
their guns at them, told them to
stop or they would kill them. They
halted and were taken prisoners.
The Indians, being in pursuit Of
horses, conducted the boys by a
circuitOus route over the Short
creek hills in search ofthem, until
late in the evening, when they
halted at a spring in hollow place,
about three miles from the fort
Here they kindled small fire,
cooked and ate some victUals, and
prepared to repose for the night.
Henry, the youngest of the boys,
during the ramble had affected the
greatest satisfaction at having
been taken prisoner. lie said his
father was a hard master, who kept
him always at hard work, and al
lowed him no play; but that for
his part he wished to live in the
woods and be a hunter. This de-
pertinent soon brought him into
Intimacy with one of the Indians,
who conld speak very good Eng
lish. The Indians frequently asked
the boys if they knew OF any good
horses running in the woods
Sometime before they halted, one CT
the Indians gave the largest of the
boys a little bag, which he supposed
contained money, and mrde him
carry it.
When night came on, the fire was
covered up, the boys pinioned, and
made to lie down together. The
Indians then placed their hoppis
straps over them, and laid down,
one on each side of them, on the
ends of the straps.
Pretty late in the night the In
dams fell asleep; AID one of them
becoming cold, caught hold of John
in his arms, and turned him over
on the outside. In this situation,
the boy, who had kept awake, found
means to get his hands loose. lie
then whispered to his brother, made
him get up, and united his arms
This done, Henry, thought of moth
ing but running off as fast as pos
sible; but when about to start,
John caught hold of him, saying:
ave must kill these Indians before
we go.r After some hesitation,
Henry agreed to make the attempt.
JhOn then took one of the rifles OF
the Indians, and placed it on Il log
with the muzzle close to the head Of
one of them. He then cooked the
| gun, and placed bis little brother at
the britch, with his finger on the
trigger, with instructions to pull 1t
as soon as he should strike the other
| Indian.
He then took one of the Indians
tomahawks, and standing astraddle
of the other Indian, struck him
with it. The blow, however, fell
OH the back Of the neck and to one
side, so as not to be fatal. The In
dian then attempted TO spring mp;
but the little fellow repeated his
blows with such force aud rapidity
on the skull, that, as he expressed
| it, "the Indian laid still and began
to quiver."
At the moment of the first stroke
given by the elder brother with the
tomahawk, the younger one pulled
the trigger, and shot away a con-
siderable portion Of the Indians
lower jaw. This Indian, moment
after receiving the shot, began to
flounce about and yell in the most
frightful manner. The boys then
made the best of their way to the
fort, and reached it little before
daybreak. On getting near the
fort they found the people all up
and in great agitation on their ac-
count. On hearing a woman ex-
claim, "Poor little fellows, they are
killed or taken prisoners I" the old
est one answered, "No mother, We
are here YETI
Having brought nothing away
with them from the Indian camp,
their relation of what had taken
place between them and the In
dians was not fully credited. \
small party was soon made up to
90 and ascertain the truth or false
hood of their report. This party
the boys conducted to the spot by
the shortest route. On arriving at