Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-21
PIONEERS
CAPTURED BY INDIANS

oughly in love with Indian life and allowed
them to roam as much as they pleased.
The boys, however, under Brashear
direction were playing a deep game. They
were diverting suspicion and awaiting
time to make their escape.
That chance came at last In the
autumn OF 17S5-they were captured in
NSruary Of that year-the warriors OF
the tribe went on the annual hunt, leaving
the village In charge OF old men, squaws
and children. One day the boys arranged
TO go fishing some miles from the village.
1t is probable that they went to the Kan
kakee river. They were accompanied by
an old Indian and his squaw.
INDIAN AND SQUAW KILLED.
The boys felt that this was their oppor-
tunity. But they did not dare to leave
the old Indians alive behind them They
could raise the alarm and the boys would
be recaptured. The old people had been
kind TO them. 1t would be cruel and
unnatural return for this kindness TO
take their lives. But to make their escape
sure they killed the old man and his
squaw while they slept. Brashear gave
the signal.
1t must be borne in mind that these
boys had been taught from their infancy
that to kill an Indian was a commenda-
BILE action. Besides, the father of two Of
these boys. the Linns, had been killed by
savages.
With the skill and craft OF red men they
took up their long journey to the south,
travelling by night and lying hidden in the
tangles OF, the forest by day. They were
guided, as fugitive slaves were many
years later, by the north star, except that
while the star guideu the slave to the free
north, the Kentuckians were interested
in keeping It as far in their rear as pos
sible
JOURNEY THROUGH WILDERNESS.
They subsisted on nuts. wild berries,
roots and occasionally had a squirrel or
rabbit which they killed with stones.
They had always known how TO throw
stones, but their education in this respect
had been improved by practice with the
Indian boys.
Their journey led them through will
derness which has long since disappeared.
They made their way through swamps
and streams. Their course must have
taken them through what is now the city
Of Indianapolis. They must have passed
through or near the sites OF what after
ward became the fiourishing towns of
Logansport, Franklin, Columbus. Sey-
mour and Jacksonville. In all that jour
ney they did not see white mans clear
ing, the smoke of a white mans cabin,
nor hear the bark Of a white mans dog. .
MISTAKEN FOR SAVAGES.
They must have moved In q hurry, for
the journey was accomplished in twenty
one days. They reached the Ohio river
opposite Louisville. They shouted and
made gestures to attract the notice Of the
people on the Kentucky side of the Ohio
to have them come over and get them.
But the Indians had been troublesome
that summer. These boys were dressed
In Indian costume, and the people who
saw them feared that their signals were
a part Of some treacherous design.
The boys were not disheartened. They
went a short distance upstream, and with
a knife, the only implement they had, cut
a number OF saplings and pieced them
together with grape vines. This rudely
constructed raft would scarcely bear up
three Of them. The older Linn boy was q
good swimmer. He swan by the side
Of the raft. The others padded. In this
way they reached the Kentucky shore.
BARELY ESCAPED PURSUERS.
As they were nearing the landing they
looked behind to the Indiana shore. There
was a party Of red men, their pursuers.
making many vigorous gestures to indi-
cate their rage at having failed TO over
take the escaping captives.
They soon found Colonel Pope. and also,
It may be believed. their teacher and
scnoolmates, and there was no lack OF
listeners to their thrilling story OF adver-
ture,