The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-12

FROM the date Of the FIRST settlement
Of America there was warfare with m,
indlans, and during the war Of IN,
revolution there was also war with
the British. But by that dine the In
aian lighting had retreated westward
an lI'7 Harrodsburg. Ky. was sur
rounded By red men, aud the people
not daring TO 20 OUT to hunt for game
We're often IN great straits for food
The settlement was protected by one Of
those stockade forts used at that time
Tor keeping of savages. and when
they were hostile the inhabitants OF
the place were obliged to keep within
its Enclosure.
During this Indian hostility and con.
sequent lack Of food a youth Of sixteen
made himself Invaluable by leaving
the fort before dawn. hunting an day
and returning after nightfan with the
game be had shot. James Ray was
the name Of this brave boy. and he
afterward became general officer In
fhe United States army.
One day Ray and a companion were
outside the fort shooting at a mark.
Suddenly Ray heard the report Of a
rife and his friend fell dead. II did
not require a process Of reasoning for
Ray to know that the shot had come
from an Indian. Looking about him
be saw the redskin who bad killed his
friend and raising bis rife was about
20 shoot him when there was a whoop
from another quarter. Then Ray took
70 his heels and ran like deer toward
the fort few hundred yards distant
Ray was very quick runner The
Indians could not catch him. but they
followed him with brisk Ore. He
reached the fort without having been
bit. but found the gates closed Those
within bad heard the firing. had shut
themselves In and were TOO terrified TO
open the gates. Rcy called upon them
70 let him IN. but fearing that Il they
did the savages would follow him and
massacre the garrison they refused TO
do So
Ray threw himself Eat on the
ground, a stump covering him from
the Ore OF the enemy. That is. the
indians couidn't bit him. though their
bullets sang IN such proximity to his
ears as to make him think thar the
next would cut OF one OF them. or per-
haps tear a strip out Of his side or
20 through his foot He was but half
dozen steps from the fort. within
which he would be safe If be could
only get there
But this was impossible 80 long as
the Indians were threatening him.
Near enough to see those in the fort
looking through the loop holes be
talked with them about ways TO exrri
cate him from his position. While the
bullets were singing on either side OF
him he wss conversing with his moth
err There seemed no way TO relieve
him except to open the gates, and by
doing this many lives might be sacri
iced In an Intellectual attempt TO save
one.
There was one IN the fort who sur.
fered as much. doubtless far more,
than Ray himself. That WIS his moth
Or. She looked through a loophole,
where she could see him lying IN his
perilous position. aud she could see
each squirt of smoke as 1t left an In
dian ride. knowing that Il marked the
aending of a bullet 10 kill her boy.
And Ray could not only hear the bull
let slug by him and feel the dust sprin.
king over him. bot saw his danger re-
Elected in bis mothers face.
-Four after hour passed without any
change In the situation. When 1t
seemed impossible for him 70 lie any
longer in one position and be attempt
exc TO change 1t, the consequent expo
sure OF some portion Of his body would
draw more fire. admonishing MIN 10
endure the constrained attitude rather
than risk wound by trying to relieve
u. Tue ground on each side Of him
was torn up in burrows by the bullets
that had been shot through It. and be
was covered By dust they had thrown
upon him.
Night was coming on and the In
alaus were drawing nearer. When Il
became dark there could be nothing 70
prevent the ssvages from coming near
enough to take him or to shoot him
from position where the stump would
not protect him. For four hours be had
laid ia view Of those in the fort, his
mother trying to encourage him, yet
herself needing enroura cement. when
q sudden thought occurred 70 him
"For heavens sake he cried. dig
4 hole under the cabin wall and take
me in"
All wondered why they hadn't
thought Of the plan before, PICK and
spade we're brought. and hole was
sank in the ground. Then when i was
81 depth sulaciqut To excavafe under
the wall d channel was run out 20 the
young hrater and tie was drawn with
in the fort.
RAY had no sooner enlar1ed from the
hole than he found himself Rugged IN