The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-08-21

"Divining that tho objects Of his
search were at last within reach, he
retrsced his steps short distance,
then going parallel to the Tuscarawas
with the purpose of crossing It a
couple of miles above the place from
which he had seen the light. After
going about that distance, he returned
to the river. and making raft of
driftwood. placed upon It his pistols,
rife and powder horn. The river was
deep and the current strong, but he
did not have more than 20 yards of
actual swimming to do. and soon sue
ceeded in reaching the opposite shore.
Here he carefully examined his gun
and pistols, and seeing that his hunt
ing knife was Immediately available,
he moved on until he discerned the
light from a small campfire which
had been allowed to burn very low.
HE could see his two boys each
with one hand bound to an Indian
who lay between them, while two 9TH
sers lay, one, by the side of each boy.
Two more were placed as guards. One
of these was stretched out by the fire.
his head elevated and leaning against
a tree. the other was doing beside
him.
"Beinhart felt that it would be of
great aid IL he could in some way
attract the attention of one of the
boys without any outcry being made
Here was a problem to solve indeed;
but Providence favored him. The
younger boy could not sleep, and was
looking with open eyes in the direc-
ton from which his father approach
ed. When his eye first saw his par
ent he gave slight start, but his
woodman's training prevented him
from giving vent to any audible
sound. The father motioned him to
keep quiet by placing his finger on
his lips.
The only watchful warrior was at
this time looking in the direction of
the boys, and the father knew that he
could do nothing until his attention
should be attracted elsewhere.
For several minutes the sentry sat
with position unchanged. Finally
some beast of the forest, moving not
far from the camp, made a slight
noise, which caused the Indian to
turn and fix his attention in the op-
posite direction, his back being turn
ed directly upon the captives.
"The father now drew near and
Hans, the younger boy, carefully rails
ed his free hand and reaching over
the body of the Indian touched the
face of the elder boy Karl. The latter
awakened Immediately; but one look
from Hans prevented any noise or
unusual movement. There was not
moment to be lost. At any instant
the sentry might turn toward them.
Creeping up to them the father gave
his hunting knife to the elder boy and
a pistol to the younger who was the
better shot of the two. By quick
signs the father made Hans under
stand that he was to shoot the Indian.
on guard, while Karl was allotted the
task of plunging the knife into the
breast of the brave to whom both he
and Hans were bound The task of
the father was the killing with the
other pistol, of one of the other Sleep
ing Indians. This would leave two to
be reckoned with, the second savage
supposed to be on guard, and the
third sleeper.
within a minutes time after the
guard had turned his back Beinhart
had placed his pistol within a foot of
one of the sleeping Indians, and CIV
ing the sign to the boys. fired. Sim
ultaneously the pistol of Hans rang
out, and with wild yell the guard
fell, desperately wounded Seeing
that Karl's knife had gone true, Bein-
hart now fired upon the other guard
as that warrior rose to his feet and
raised his rife to shoot. Beinhart
then grasped the barrel of the gun,
and with terrific force brought the
butt of the weapon down upon the
head of the remaining Indian, who
was in the act of raising to his feet
and preparing to fire.
Karl quickly withdrawing the
knife from the bosom of his victim,
Immediately severed the bonds that
bound him and his brother to the
dead Indian, and then plunged the
blade into the bosom of the savage
who had been stunned by the fathers
blow.
Forgetting the wounded guard, in
fact, believing that he had been killed
the father was about to clasp his boys
in his arms, when shot rang out
and Beinhart fell, badly wounded in
the shoulder. 1t had evidently been
done at the expense of all the Indians
remaining strength, for the boys saw