South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1888-03-02

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notice. and Dane captois did not
doubt that be had some reason to
expect rescuine party, so they
fastened TO rejoin their comrades
near the fort and the poor boy was
sickened, soul and body, by the
sight of the dripping scalps in the
possession of those who had gotten
behind the stockade. the Tod. ans
had in fact managed TO take two
scalps from each victim, aud Dan,
now sure that his parents were
dead, gave up all hope of escape
and moved on passively with the
band, who having obtained infof-
nation that Capt. Paul was on
their trail with twice their number
now hied oil to the northwest, tax
ing with them the soaps Of their
victims, their weapons aud the boy
captive. E" sl'9HA 20 aas
| Fifty years after this raid there
came to Bath county a splendid
looking old chief 10 Indian dress
accompanied by q grown son and
daughter and few warriors. The
stranger inquired from house to
house for Mrs. Brown and came
finally to the fine residence of Col.
Samuel Brown who owned a fine
estate. and had a large family a.
round him. With him his old
widowed mother lived, bent and
feeble, broken IN spirit but with q
clear mind and memory. Colonel
Brown with the prompt hospitality
OF that day Invited the travellers to
become his guests, aud his invita-.
sion was accepted. When the time
came for evening meal, which was
served in the wide clean kitchen,
the master of the house went to an
inner room and brought out on his
arm his aged mother.
The instant she crossed the
threshold the Indian chief and his
children sprang forward and knelt
before her; they were silent after
the Indian fashion but the chief
showed strong emotions il every
hne of his rugged features.
The old woman trembled vic.
lently as she gazed upon the kneei
ing figures of father and son: some
thing in the young face confirmed
the wild hope that 81 ept through
her soul and With cry as of one
who sees the dead come back 70
life. she tell upon the old warrior
kneeling before hel-'O Dan, my
boy, MY Doy!'
1t was indeed the boy she Lad
lost half Il century before. Fifty
years had changed him from rud.
dy-strip!ing into a bronzed and
white haired old man; had given
new generation 10 take the place
of the old; had brought the old
mother herself to the brink OF eter-
nifty. yet it could not make her for
get her first born. Under his
change of name and nature and
garb and guise she recognized her
boy and her youth and strength
seemed renewed.
The kinsfolk gathered from far
and near In hear the old mans sto-
ry. He had been carried off to
the shores of Lake Huron, ard u.
dcpted into the tribe OF his captors.
They told him that every member
OF his family had been slain and
the bloody scalps ut their belts
seemed TO prove the truth of their
words. Dan turned from them
with deep aversion at first but was
bought by Frenchman, who had
married squaw, and The lad soon
became in all respects a son Of The
tribe.
His fine physique, his quick mind
his ability 10 read and write and
his valuable services in their treat.
les with the whites, gave him de.
clded prominence IN the tribe
lie married woman of their ma
ton and his son and daughter had
Inherited many Of the finest puali-
ties of both races.
why did you not come back TO
us during all these yearsY cried
the old mother with passionate re.
proach. Brown (for nc bad kept
his old name) told her that he had
never doubted the tale told him fiji
ty years before, of the destruction
of bis whole family. Why should
he care 20 visit the scene of such
desolation?
And what started you at laet?'
querled Colonel Brown blubtIy.
There had been treaty on foot
between the Indians and whites,
Brown said, and one of the whites
bad lived in Virginia as sboy; had
sat on the same bench at school
with the Brown brothers, and this
man told the chief that bis mother
was still living, but warned him
that it he would see her alive he
must make no tarrying.
a few weeks later and the stall
Wart sons strong ovau IN advonced