Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-05-16

and GOV cred with Gags and rushes and
some stunted willows. Here we lay all
day, for the most part down on our
stomachs under the brush. OF course
we could build no fire nor move
about, so we ate the cold victuals the
women had brought along, and l dipped
up water with my cap. Twice parties
of Indians stopped not hundred
yards below where we were to water
their horses, but, Judging from their
actions, / knew they did not suspect
anyone was near them, but were prob
ably on their way to Ridley's. They
did not linger but rode on at once,
much to my relief, for all the time they
were within hearing l am sure / did
not draw a breath minute for fear
one of the children would cry out,
when we would have all been massa-
cred; but the poor little things, with
the exception of n child a few weeks
old, were too badly scared to stir or
speak unless hidden, and as for the
women, they put any man ever saw
to shame with their calmness and
courage.
when night came we struck out for
line of the hills lying about five miles
away, and where 1 counted on finding
cave or at least q hiding place. OF
course | and the women and the larger
children could have made it without
difficulty, but being obliged to wait on
the little ones and to carry them every
half mile or so, we were nearly all
night getting to the nearest hill. We'd
gone about mile when low down on
the horizon l saw dull glow, and
knew the Indians were burning the
camp and that they'd be on our trail in
little while. When we got to the hill
could see nothing like cave, and,
while it was pretty heavily wooded,
there was no place to hide where the
Indians would not spy us directly. I
was looking about me when / caught a
glimpse of a black bear running round
a rocky spur about half way up the
hill. l followed just in time to see her
go tumbling or climbing down sort of
cash in the earth, and which I knew
must be her den. Without stopping l
jumped after her and found myself in
little cave, about ten by ten feet, but
toward the center of the hill. The bear
began to growl when she saw me, and
l saw, when my eyes got accustomed to
the dim light, that she had two cubs in
the den with her which she was going
to defend. So, aiming as carefully as |
could, fired at her, breaking her skull,
after which killed the two cubs and
transferred my party to the cave. The
last of the cold meat and bread was
then eaten, and the women and chill
dren, creeping into the larger division
which was, however, only about four
feet in height-went to rest. But l
was too anxious TO sleep, tired as |
was, so l hoisted myself out of the |
cavern and climbed to the top of the
hills to see if 1 could see aught of the |
Indians.
Several times it seemed to me that |
saw band moving along the line of |
the horizon, and, while the specks |
might have been cattle, / thought it |
best to stay where we were all that |
day, that night, and the next day. Our
great trouble was water, which had to |
be brought from spring on the other |
side of the hill, and as only a small |
quantity could be brought at time
my cap being the only vessel we had
the children especially suffered good |
deal AT last one of the women dis |
covered a fiat rock with hollow dip in |
the middle, which would hold about |
two quarts or so, and kept this filled
as cistern. ventured that night to
roast a piece of the bear in a hole in |
the ground, which change of diet was a
one. / never passed such a
time since l was born, for l dare not
sleep an hour for fear of surprise, and
the weight of responsibility l felt with
those poor, helpless creatures on NV
hands was simply awful.
Late on the second day, when l
climbed the hill for last look, saw
small band of Indians not more than
an eighth of a mile away. They did
not number more than seven, but We're
armed and in full war dress, and were
heading straight for the hill. Dropping
IN my all fours ran as fast as l could
,or the mouth of the cavern, and
'cram bling down soon had the women
md children crouched up in the far
End of the larger division, where no
shot fired into the smaller one could
each them, though hoped the Indians
would either pass by altogether or fail
20 find us if they halted. Silence then
was absolutely necessary, and the
women impressed this on the children.
then went back, and, by clinging to
)ne of the bushes across the entrance |