The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-22
A GOOD INDIAN STORY
MAI. BLAND w. BALLARD's THRILL
ING ESCAPE IN PIONEER DAYS.
His Later Appearance I'm the 1910
Presidential Campaign-Extract
from Mr.. Enelish's Books.

and prosy narrative OF military and other
public events. a perusal will soon dispei
that impression. for these events are In
terspersed with sketches of individuals
and other things Of popular character.
told in such a pleasant and Interesting
way as to entertain the reader. Neither
are these digressions forced. or foreign to
the subject. but relate to persons who were
in some way or other connected with the
conquest OF the Northwest, and with In
diana history. Below is given an illustra-
ton of his happy style in the following
extract from the second volume, where =
sketch Is given OF a famous pioneer who
made a marvellous escape from the Indians
in southern Indiana. In concluding the
Sketch the author naturally glides into in
teresting "reminiscences OF the celebrated
political canvass OF 1910. In which certain
historic characters participated; but there
is not the slightest trace OF political par
tisanship in it, or in any part of the vol
umes. The following is the extract referred
| to. except the pictures which illustrate II
| in the book:
THE name of Bland W. Ballard is not on
| the roll Of persons who received land for
services in the Illinois campaign but he
| was undoubtedly in service under General
| George Rogers Clark in several campaigns
| after the latter returned TO the falls or
the Ohio and established his headquarters
| scout, or spy. and in that capacity expert
enced many exciting and dangerous adj
| grant, and is worth relating. on one oc-
cason when he was scouting on the north
| ern side. of the river be was captured by
| i've Indians a few miles above the falls
| and carried back into the wilderness some
| twenty miles to an Indian encampment-
The Indians happened e. be in frollcsome
! mood about the time OF his arrival having
! been lucky in securing plumber. including,
probably. little fire water At al events,
nV IN nj ZINC UQu nd min Inc
| races. Finally a match was made for a
| foot-race between two old ladians. which
ment This was the day otter BaiIard's
| capture. The Indians were also engaged
in horse racing, but the focS.race between
the two old warriors was 10 be the grand
climax OF the occasion.
Ballard, although strictly under guard.
| apparently Joined in the merTiment with
as much zest as the rest. but he was
| cretiy watching for an opportunity TO es-
| self, although dangerous one. The In
| dams had some fine horses they had stolen
| from Kentucky, and Ballard had cast his
eye on a particularly feet-looking animal
standing not far away
THE INDIANS FOOT RACE.
when the old warriors started on their
foot race the excitement Of the Indians
| mounted to the highest pitch. and Billiards.
guards, with the rest, pushed little ahead
| of him to watch the contest and see the
outcome. This was the opportunity he
wanted, and. dangerous as II was. he TIM
braced it With a bound he reached the
horse. sprang upon his back with the agility
OF a circus rider, and in a moment was
making for the river with marvellous repid-
ity. The Indians had been so completely
engrossed by the foot race. and were SO
dazeG by the holiness and audaclty OF the
act, that ne had obtained a good start be-
fore they mounted their horses and started
in pursuit OF him. Then, indeed, began
ride for life. The famous rides Of John
Gilpdn and Tam OShanter were small AZ
saard r compsr his danger aD He Knew
recapure meant certain death. end he
pushed his horse 10 the very utmost OF us
He had not misjudged the speed and
bottom of the gallant animal, Tor, although
When MAs they sy' started he gradually widesed
| the distance between them, and nnally was
entiyely out Of sight He did not know THIS ms
horse on at its utmost speed, expecting ey-
cry moment TO hear the discharge or the
gnhS 81 fe sne Completely exhaused ballard
left the horse to ITS fate, and ran on toward
the river. which was but few miles s,s dis,
| couple of logs In the water, and hastily
bound them together with a grape vine:
sop dean s se' toward the Kentucky shore.
which he reached at last, but almost dead
Trough ibpm bne which he had passed Thus ended
the most thrilling individual ride ever made
across the territory embraced I'm Clarks
} INDIANA on a larger scale during the war OF
the rebellion, known as MorgaD's raid
which skirted along the northern border OF
| Ciark's grant, the author can testify
being an interested observer on that ex-
citing occasion.
WHY BALLARD HATED INDIANS.
'.In the spring OF 1873 Ballard and his wife
were in an ungarrisoned and almost unoc-
cupied fort In Shelby county. Kentucky.
| ~
t occupying a cabin near the fort. One of his
sons, who went out of the house in the
morning with an AK to cut firewood. was
suddenly shot at and killed. The door Of
? the cabin was shut and fastened before thu
Indians could reach 1t, and Bland. who hap
pened to be the only Indian fighter In the
: fort, hearing the shots, rushed toward the
cabin, keeping himself out Of view. and
managed 10 shoot two OF the party OF In
dams who were trying TO get In by the
e front door. The other savages ran around
, the house and with the OF the dead son
broke in the door on the opposite SIDE Old
{ man Ballard, who was also named Stand.
e his wife, and several children in tie cabin
| were ruthessly stricken down by the re-
naming five Indians, who instantly FED.
with the scalps OF the victims as their tro-
: their number by a shot from the courageous
| Bland as they hastily departed He could
. not, however attempt 70 pursue them under =,
the cabin, the bodies OF all the inmates were
found to be lifeless and mutiIated. except
one little Aria half sister-who had been
: scalped and left for dead, but who revived
Q and had strength enough remaining 10 crawl
:, under the puncheon floor. But. notwith-
? standing this fearful ordeal, she finally re-
covered and lived to become the mother OF
a large family OF children. witness o.
these horrd butcherses OF his own kindred
v no wonder Major Ballard became the in
: veterate foe of the Indian race This ac-
e count OF the massacre OF the members oI
q by r c. Ballard Thurston. who Is a mem.
: Der of the family. and he received Il from
, sources understood to be entirely authentic
and reliable.
"Bland Ballard was engaged in many
/, other adventures with the Indians. and n
u one, which occurred few miles below the
n falls he succeeded I'm killing three as they
4 were attempting to Cross ID the Kentucky
: side in a canoe, not knowing that he wa'
. concealed I'm some willow bushes within
shooting distance. General Clark warml,
10 commended his bravery and adroit manage
ment on this occasion. besides rewardin<
IA him with presents. one OF which Is men
" toned in the accounts OF the time, as a
y linen shirt from which IL may be inferre,
, that that article was then a scarcity an<
&c highly priced. He captain of n com
pany In the war OF ISL. and was wounde,
and taken prisoner in. Canada. but tht
time he was too far away from home Il
make another horseback ride for life ant
liberty, even IL he had the opportunity.
As APPEARED IN 1870 CANVASS.
AZ when the writer was about eightees
sh years old, and. no doubt. mncn fuller CT 20
q l