The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-03-29
STORIES OF
THE PIONEER.
The Last indian Rad on
Holston.
Lebanon Outlook.

Lebanon Outlook.
One clear bright morning in the month
Of May back in the year 1874, had the
reader stood in or near certain gap lead
ing through the Cumberland mountains
from Virginia to Kentucky, after having
viewed aud delectuted in the beauties oil
the landscape as the rising sun shot its
burning beams from tree-top to tree-top
along the mountain side and at length into
the valley setting all the forestry in daz-
zling fame as the light was caught and
flung back from numberless myrlads OF
dew drops on tho bourgeoning buds and
freshly curled leaves-had he, after view
ing the numbeiless attractions OF nature
thrown out in grand panorama before the
eve, but waited and listened a time he
would have become convinced that he was
not alone in that wild and r0matic section.
A few minutes later, from some concealed
spot. he would have seen band OF
Shawnee Indians, all armed for the war
path, steal softly up the gap from the
western eide and pause as they reached
the summit.
In the lead of this band was man tall
and heavily built. On his mighty arms
and shoulders, which were BARE the
sinews stood out in startling prominence
and proclaimed him to he one OF mighty
strength and greatly to be feared mat
easy, stealthy and elastic step with whlch
he ascended the mountain bent well lore
told the fieetness Of the forest deer when
frst the deep-torgued pack warn that the
trial is found. This stalwart leader was
not so ducky as his companions, whIch
went TO show that in those buIging veins
cOursed the blood of the white man.
settler from Castlewood or Bluegrass Fort
would have had little trouble in identity
ing this chieftian with the halfbreed
Shawnee Benge.
As the big Indian paused in the gap
a mad triumphant light must have leaped
into his eyes as he gazed far beyond where
lie what are now Russell, Scott and Wash
ington counties Of Virginia. He had not
forgotten that recently his incursions had
been rather futile, as the intrepidity and
cautiousness of his white enemies had
proven too much for even his Indian
prowess and stealth; and now he came
from his western wigwams to seek to re-
trieve his reverses. Doubtless his imagi-
nation beheld the blue smoke of the white
settlers cabin as alar on Holston " CURED
above the trees and mingled with the
clouds, and savage delight came over
him as he thought of the devastation he
would work. He felt secure, as hereto
fore they had remained in ignorance OF
his way of ingress and egress; but he did
not know that settler Hobbs had sped out
the land ard discovered the cattle path by
which the Indians came.
Pausing but short time the leader and
his band were soon descending the trail
and directing their steps toward HOlstOn.
1t was bright morning few days later
that Mrs. Elizabeth Livingston, wife OF
Peter Livingston, was sitting at her spin
ming wheel while all the men were away
clearing land. Her little girl was in the
room with her and near by, in its sugar
trough cradle, lay her baby. Merrily,
merrily the spinning wheel turned as the
lady featly handled the distaff, nothing
being heard in the morning stiffness save
the peculiar hum of the wheel and the |
songs of the forest birds. But suddenly |
there was a change; dog outside sprang |
from his doze in the sunshine, his hair
brsiling savagely as he barked a chsl-
lengc. CHANGING through the open door
Mrs Livingston felt her blood run cold as
she beheld dashng toward the cabin
band Of Indians at full speed. But her
did not fail her. Women in those
days, though tender of heart, had iron in
their veins. Leaping from her employ
ment she succeeded in getting the win
dows and doors closed fast just as the
bowling devils dashed up to the cabin.
She had rife and did not hesitate to
make use of it.
There were several cabins situated here,
and IN one of them they found Peter Liv-
ngston's mother, Mrs. Sally Livingston,
whom they dispatched with the tomahawk.
Three children also were found ard -ery-
ed similarl", two of whom recovered
Returning IL u to the cabin thy had
attacked ut frsi, the redskins used very
means TO effect al entrance. fIuding
hey could not get in, they set FIRE to the
cabin. Thc brave woman within the fam
ng building saw she must surrender; but
with mothers's true love she gave her
baby to her little girl telling her to fly TO
4 place of safety while she gave up. The
child ran ore way from the house and the
mother throwing open the door stepped
out and was Immediately seized by a
brawny Indian.
Somewhat satisfied with this incursion
the warriors started back with the wives
of Peter aud Henry Livingstone, one
negro woman and two negro men.
But they were by no means safe from
the avenging bullets of the whites, and