South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-02-06
THETNTELLIcENckR
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY s. 1891.
A BRAVE WOMAN.

IN VIC ou usy VI MAY, 1867, q
pioneer on the Solomon River. Kan
sss. heard the reports OF rifles 20 the
west OF him just as he had fiuished
breakfast. His name vas Cherry
and his family consisted OF a wife
and two boys. Only one of the bows
was ~ home 1t the time. He was 4
lad Of twelve. named jobs, The In.
dams had been surly and uienscinq
all winter, and every white man kne v
that an outbreak was likely TO occur
Ia the spring. believing that the
blow was about to fall. Cherry closed
and barricaded the doors aud made
ready TO hold out as long as possible.
Two hours passed quietly. and then
the settler argued that the firing FAUST
have come from party OF hunters.
In order 10 satisfy himself on the point
he slipped out Of the back door into
the brush, intending TO go up the rfv-
er TO the other cabin. lie had gone
only quarter OF mile whom ave
Indians fred on him from an ambush.
Every bullet, as they afterward rela-
ted. inflicted mortal wound. Cher
ry fell TO the earth. ibut as they rushed
forward TO scalp him he killed the
foremost man with q shot, and then
drawing his knife, he attacked the
Others and cut two OF them badly be.
fore he fell down aud died.
The reports of the rifles warned
Mrs. Cherry OF what had happened
to her husband. He had taken the ri.
fie. while she had a shot gun. and
Johnny had single barrelled pistol.
Fhey did not have long to wait. A
band Of nine warriors came toward
the front OF the house waving white
shirt as a flag of truce, and when
within ten feet of the door the leader
called to the occupants of the house:
'We7no hurt you if you open doorp
If youtry to get in We shall shootl,
replied Mrs. Cherry. sl
The Indian laughed In derision,
Ind four or Eve stepped forward to
burst in he door. Mrs. Cherry and
Johnny quickly retreated 10 the back
door, hoping 10 get clear of the house,
but as they opened is two warriors
were found on guard. Mother and
son fired together, and the two men
fell but before Tho fugitivcs had run
hundred yards they were overtaken,
The first impulse Of the Indians was
to tomahawk them, but after a wfau-
gle lasting two or three minutes the
lives of the prisoners were spared.
They were taken back to the house,
their arms tied behind their backs,
and then, conducted by Two warriors,
they set of for the west. The Indi.
ans they had fred ON at the door,
were both dead, before the party star.
ted. This made three Warriors killed
and two wounded by the Cherry
family.
Mre. Cherry and Johnny were Ia.
ken 10 the other settlers, whose name
was Robinson. He had been shot
down in his door,. aud bis wife and
sister were prisoners. The house had
been ransacked and set afire, and one
Of the Indians had Robinson's scalp
at his girdle. The prisoners, who
now numbered four, and we're guard
ed by only two men, were conducted
along a small creek which emp,ied
into the Solomon, and after mssch--
ing about seven miles were halted in
grove. The guarda offered them
no violence, and they we're allowed
TO talk with each other as they walk.
ed along. The two Robinson women
we're completely overcome, but Mrs.
Cherry and Johnny were full OF cour.
age and determined to escape If pos
sible.
The grove bad been named as
rendezvous, aud the four prisoners
we're the llrst TO reach it. One of the
guards had an old wound la the side,
and about an hour after reaching the
grove be pulled of his shirt to dress
it.. Mrs. CberTy's arms were 30 see
curely bound that she could not re.
lease them. They had been more
careless in the case Of the boy. AS
the two indians were employee With
the wound the lad worked bis arms
loose and with an encouraing nod
from his mother be made a rush for
the fides. With one Of them be shot
tho wounded Indian dead The 9th.
er was Hrested from him before he
could FIRE, but he turned and ran and
got clear away. dodgiug the bullet
sent after bin, and The surviving In
dian did not dare 70 pursue him for
fear the women would get away. THIS
brought the dead up TO four What
happened 10 the lad after HE escape
no one will ever know, as no trace
OF him Was ever discovered. mys
self was for nearly six months search.
ing for him after peace came, but
nothing came IL. He was not kill
ed as be wondered about, neither was
be retaksBs believe be perishod on
the plains from exhaustion.
The remaining Indian sat with his
ride across bis knees and guarded the
women until band Of seven or eight
OF his companions came up. They
had ae prisoners two children, BELONG
ing TO family named Hascad. q wO-
man named Deeriug, and a boy. 10
years old named Lawton. This boy
bad been living With 40 uncle named
Thomas, and both his aunt and uncle
bad been killed. Ia the raid on tbe
settlers quite number Of Indians
bad been killed and many wounded.
But for tie efforts Of the subchief all
tbe prisoners Wouli have been lomas