Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-07-05
A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.

cabin stood near Buckets fort, in
Western Virginia. By this we
mean that the intervening distance
was about half-dozen miles, just
sufficient to make the inmates of
both intimate neighbors.
The garrison of the fort consist
ed of about thirty men, all exper-
fenced in blackwoods life, under
the command of one who had spent
a dozen years in Indian warfare.
The cabin of which we have
spoken was about halfway between
the fort and a village of several
hundred inhabitants; so that its
location might have been consider
ed as safe as could have been sell
ected. But this spot, so far remov-
ed from the "howling wilderness,
was the scene of terrible tragedy
which we have undertaken to re-
cord.
Mr.. Bowdoin, his wife, three
small children and a daughter about
eighteen years of age, were the oc-
cupants of the cabin. 1t OCCASION
ally became necessary for the faith
err, who was quite advanced in life
to go to the village for the pur-
chase of necessaries for the family
and at other times he made a neigh
borly visit to the fort, where he
was always cordially received, and
made welcome, so long as he chose
to remain.
One afternoon in autumn, MIR.
Bowdoin reached Fort Bucket;
after spending an hour or so, he
was about to set out on his return,
when he observed that it was snow
ing quite briskly, and that there
was every prospect of its continuing
through the night. While he was
examining the heavens, to make
sure of the omens, the command
ant, Captain Yadkin, came up, and
addressing him in the familiar man.
ner of the frontier said:
"Uncle John, we are going to
have a regular snow storm-the
first of the season"
"Yes; and it will not stop until
there is good depth of it on the
ground
''In that case, you'd better spend
the night with us"
The old man shook his head.
I'm obliged, but | can't do it.
| must be off right away"
But it is nearly dark, and you
may be belated, and lost in the
woods"
81 don't think there is any dan
ger, he replied, showing that he was
somewhat apprehensive. "Thepath
through the woods is very plain
and can keep it if it be dark"
"All right; | suppose you do not
like to remain away from your
family"
You've hit the truth, captain
if it wasn't for that should accept
your invitation
IF you feel like that, you ought
to go at once. You will have
night upon you by the time you
reach home, walk as fast as you
may
Pm glad to hear you speak thus. '
The two babe each other good
night, and the old man passed out
by the gate. Ere he had advanced
IA dozen steps, he was taken with
such sudden and violent sickness
that lie was barely able to return.
For time it was thought he was
going to die, and the man. who
sometimes officiated in the character
of surgeon was called to his assist
ance. Everything was done to re-
lieve him, but in vain, until nearly
dusk, when the difficulty departed
as suddenly as it had come, and he
was as well as he had ever been in
his life, with the exception, perhaps,
of the weakness occasioned by the
severe ordeal through which he had
passed.
During his entire sickness, the
only anxiety of Uncle John seemed
to be that he should not reach home
until dark. lie continually asked
whether the snow-storm was still
raging, and how long it would be
before he could start on his return.
Captain Yadkin now renewed his
petition for him to remain over
night with him.
at is already getting dark" he
said; most likely you will lose
your way, and have to remain in
the woods until morning"
mo fear; all | have to do is to
keep my eyes about me-"
IL am afraid that will do you no
good"
Finding that persuasion would