The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-24

then frontier line of Central Kentucky on
,.,ount of proving bands Of Indians that
--seuently visited that region. Several
miles beyond this little place Of refuge
-oo fearless settlers. named Saunders ana
smith. had ventured 10 build their lonely
.a5ias. They were about a nile apart on
5pnosite sides OF a small creek.
The saunders family consisted OF the
-arsnts. a daughter Mary. aged II. and
son years old. In the Smith family was
also daughter about the same age as
Mary Saunders, named Jane, and of course
the two girls. having no other associates
Of their own age and sex, becameS-ery init
mate and were in the habit of making
each other frequent visits unattended by
anv male protector. not apprehensive Of
danger, as the path from one dwelling 70
The other was along its whole course Wis
ible from the doors Of both. On one of
these visits Mary Saunders had remained
later than usual; but, as no signs Of In
dams had been reported in the vicinity for
some time, she felt no hesitation about re-
turning alone, although the dusk Of the
evening had set in and it was growing dark
rapidly.
After kissing each other good night
Mary bounded away on her homeward
Trip. promising. according TO their usual
custom, TO notify her safe arrival at home
tv singing a snatch Of a favorite song,
,hich. amid the profound solitude of that
neighborhood. could easily be heard over
the intervening space. Her friend. from
vague fear stu rendered uneasy, watched
until her form disappeared in the dark
ness, and then stood listening, long and
anxiously. for the promised signal. But it
,ver came. And yet no scream or other
md was heard, such as would result
rom any act of violence. So she turned
reluctantly away, partially relieved of her
apprehension, remarkng to her mother
on reaching home that IL was strange that
Mary had forgotten TO give the signal.
But poor Mary Saunders had not reached
home, and her parents, surprising that she
had concluded, as often before, To remain
with Jane all night, We're not alarmed at
her absence. When, however. on the tol-
lowing morning she failed to return, they
were seized with fearful misgivings, and
we're about to repair 10 the smith house,
when Jane smith who had become very
anxious concerning Mary, had hurried over
Saunders cabin, ana not seeing her fuend,
"A deathly pallor spread over her face, while
she imploringly asked for Mary. The now
frenzied parents after Jane Smiths state
lhent regarding her separation with Mary
she night before which was given i'm sObs
and tears concluded their child had been
captured by prowling Indians.
The alarm was O. once given, and 10y
noon the father accompanied by "A party
Of fearless bacSwoodsmen, sympathizing
friends, were pressing forward on the trail
OF the saVages Fortunately several set
-lers from ne9r the fort We're assisting in
the erection of a cabin that day, only one
mile away, all of whom Joined in the pur-
suit. This was a pursuit which many
father in those days, with an aching
heart, had made. The pursuit was always
uncertain in its results, for should the fee
ing savages be Overtaken great precau-
zion had 10 be exercised TO prevent the IN
dams from numbering their CaptiVes when
a rescue was imminent
The pursuing party had hurried on dur
ing the entire afternoon not stopping for
Z moment, hoping to tnd the saVages in
camp for the night While thus hurrying
on the father, far in the lead, suddenly
came upon the mangled body OF his daugh-
ter She had been tomahawked and
scslped by her brutal captors. The
bloody deed had evidently been com
mitted but short time before The poor
girl was yet alive and conscious She
recognized her father as ne knelt by her
side. She gave signs that she wanted
2 drink. At once one of the friends hur-
RED away in search of water, and soon
returned with a plentiful supply which
she eagerly drank The water revived
her so much that she was able to re-
count all that had occurred after parting
with her companion the evening before.
On bidding Jane good night she crossed
over the creek on the log pathway, and
1NsnrnM che
thought she heard approaching footsteps.
By this time il had become quite DARK.
She paused for a moment to assure her
self that no intruGers were about. She was
instantly surrounded BY four Indians,
and before she had time to utter a Shrek
or cry a blanket was thrown over her
Lead and she WIS hurried into the deep
wood. They Travelled rapidly for several
hours before they encamped for the night,
and q strict watch was kept over her.
BY daylight they again started of rap
idly in the direction Of the Ohio river,
which stream they intended to cross. One
Of the Indians, who could speak 4 little
English, said they were all Pawnees and
were on their Way 10 their village on the
Auslaize river. They appeared to be very
apprehensive of being overtaken before
they could reach the river.
Their great haste, kept up so long, had
slmost worn their prisoner out But she
hat her friends would soon overtake
them. The now half-famished savages
we're compelled to halt and prepare a
nasty meal, of which she partook. hop
nS that it might give hey renewed
strength that would enable her to keen
up the weary journey. For should she
iail 70 do so she well knew that instant
death would follow, hence she made u su-
perhunan effort TO proceed again. but
aer limbs failed TO respond to her viii.
she could not walk q step.
The leader of the band, sulIen looking
s4Vage, ordered her to come on. but he
saw that it was impossible for her to do
50. He returned to where she stood and
ordered her to sit down. Fearing fate
worse to her than death, she refused to
sDey. Again the command was given, and
compliance was refused. Enraged by such
action, he raised his tomahawk over her
4ead and in broken English, with oaths.
reiterated his order. The helpless girl
itll refused. While she had fortitude
-hough to choose death, she lacked cour-
age cufticient 10 calmly face the stroke
Adl would end her sufferings She threw
ler apron over her head which V-.,s in