The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-26

Is founded. were many years ago obtained from
story, as strange as IL may seem. has never
4 IN any or tnS nid. 1t tns' vance
family.-E. K. CT
Boonesborough. KY. the home of the re-
nowned backwoodsman, Daniel Boone, and
his brother. Squire Boone. was protected
by strong palisade fort, with blockhouses
designed and erected by Daniel Boone. 1t
was regarded as the Gibraltar of Indian
warfare at that time. On account of the
great protection afforded by this fortiica-
ton. many emigrants settled there.
A wedding was announced TO take place
June Is. 1777, at the home of Captain Luther
Miller, located three miles from Boones-
borough. on the main trace. His oldest
daughter, Martha, was TO be married to
Samuel Vance. young man of the neigh
borhood. AS was the custom, the entire
population, old and young, were invited to
be present and participate in the festivities.
About the Sd of the month Indians made
their appearance in the settlement, having
killed and scalped boy who was in the
woods hunting for a cow and calf. This
created much uneasiness throughout the
settlement, as it was not known how many
Indians were in the vicinity The intention
Of making the approaching wedding pub
lie one was about abandoned, when ii was
reported that the savages, being few in
numbers, had made a hasty retreat from
the settlement and when the wedding day
arrived confidence was restored and the
Indians about forgotten. Yet the older set
tiers. who, from habit were always on the
alert, came with their rifles on their Shout
ders and scalping knives and tomahawks
in their belts. prepared for any emergency.
In the presence of a large and joyous
assembly the two were united The cere-
mony consisted of the contract with wit
nesses and religious vows administered by
Daniel Boone's brother, Squire Boone, who
was an occasional preacher of the persua-
sion popularity known "Hard-she1l Bap-
lists The formal license from the county
court was not waited for, as the courthouse
of Fincastle, of which county Kentucky
was a part, was distant more than 600
miles.
After day Of feasting and pleasure the
older persons. with their younger children,
returned to their homes before nightfall,
while the young folks kept up the festivi-
ties during the evening. About O'Clock,
while the dancing was still going on, the
bride slipped away, and. accompanied by
her sister Sarah, aged sixteen, and her aunt
Eve, her fathers sister, an elderly maiden
lady, and neighbor lad of fifteen years,
went over to the Vance cabin, distant
about five hundred yards, to put things to
rights. The neighbors had erected them
nice one-room cabin, which was furnished
and ready for occupancy. They swept the
floor and adjusted the bed, which had been
no daU nv no
place to deposit their babies while they
slept. away from the noise and consfusion.
CAPTURED BY INDIANS.
Having completed the object of their visit,
the four were about to return to join the
merry-makers. Says the aunt: being in
hurry, / started first The night was very
dark and cloudy. 1 had reached about half
way between the two houses when 1 saw
in the darkness figures approaching ahead
| of me. / supposed they were some of the
young folks coming after us. stepped to
one side. Soon the figures came so near
| that / saw they were Indians. 1 had on
dark dress. and they did not observe me.
started In a roundabout way through the
woods. screaming as / ran, Indians. In
dians! In the excitement I ran against a
| tree with such force that ii knocked me
down. 1t was some moments before / re-
gained my senses. AS i lay on the ground
1 could hear the dear creatures at the cabin
| shrieking In the greatest agony. Then all
| became as still as death. 1 supposed the
| fiends had murdered them all. now re-
| gained my feet and hurried on In the direc-
ton Of the dim lights which I could see
| all the time. and soon reached the house,
| giving the alarm"
| All the arms at hand were two guns, two
or three butcher knives, hatchets and an
ak. With these rush was made for the
cabin. my brother. Captain Miller. leading
the way. On reaching the house the door
was found wide open, not a sign Of life or
death was visible This was a great relief,
for while there is life there is hope" The
groom called and called his wife, with the
hope that she might have escaped i'm the
darkness and be In hiding near by, but no
| answer was received. AS pursuit could not
be made until morning, all returned to the
| house, leaving a part of the number to
| guard the premises. while the others has
tened to the fort to give the alarm. Early
next morning runners were sent in every
direction to notify the settlers to rally at
the fort, to prepare for the pursuit Samuel
4 vance anu MS ldtner-lu-iaW, Lutner
with three brave and reliable neighbors.
| we'll armed and provisioned, took the trail
of the savages\ before it was fairly light,
leaving instructions for others to follow as
| fast as possible.
REINFORCEMENTS TOO LATE.
About o'clock that evening the Vance
party overlook the Indians (who had stop
ped to eat and rest awhile), but did not
dare TO show themselves. The savages
1 were found to be too strong for them, being
eight in number. The only hope OF rescue
| at best would be to overcome the Indians
| before they would have time to kill their
captives. They fell back to wait for rein
forcements, which did not reach them until
after sunset. IL was decided to start very
early, in the morning, with the hope OF
finding the Indians yet in camp. and only a
short distance away. But their hopes were
not realized, as the Indians did not go into
camp that night. but kept on until they
| reached the river. where their canoes were
secreted. Embarking. they hurried away,
travelling, no doubt. all night, making good
their escape. The pursuing party, baffeu
| and detected, returned to the fort to report
the unfortunate result of the pursuit. For
eighteen years % tidings were received
| from any OF the captives.