Year: 1866

We question whether, In the history of
hair breadth escapes parallel to the follow
I ing can be found The story was told to us
by an old and valued friend, now residing
the country near the city, but whose
early days were spent near the scene of the
tragic adventure recorded here.


We give the story as 1t was related TO us
in the words of the hero.


1t was about the year 1905, that [ settled
in Virginia, near the falls of the kanawha.
The country at that time, was unbroken
wilderness. But few settlements had been
made by the whites, and they were so far
apart Is to render vain all hope of assistance
in case of an attack from hostile indians,
numbers Of whom still infested the neigh
borhood.


lived there alone with my wife for sew
eraI months unmolested, and by dint of per
severance, then young and hardy. had sue
ceeded IN making quite a clearing III the
forest, which planted in corn, and which
promised all abundant yield.


One morning after we had despatched our
humble meal, and had just prepared to ven
ture forth upon my accustomed routine of
labor, my attention was arrested by the tink-
ling OF a COW bell III the corn flied.


There, said my wife, the COW Is In.
the corn field a.sE .-s -z-1s-ssst



comes by education very acute, especially so
from the fact his safety often depends upon
the nice cultivation OF thai sense. | was
not SO easily deceived l listened. The
sound was repeated.


That, said |, in reply TO my wife's re-
marx, was not the tlnkiIng OF a bell upon
the neck OF u COW, but decoy from some
Indian, who wishes 10 draw NE into am
bush. >


Believing this to be the case, took down
my old musket, and seeing that it was prop
erly loaded, | stole cautiously around the
field towards the spot from which the sound
seemed to proceed.


As | suspected, there, In clump of bush
es crouched an Indian, waiting for me TO
appear in answer to his decoy bell, that he
might send the fatal bullet to my heart. L
approached without discovering myself to
him until within shooting distance, then [
raised my piece and fired. The bullet sped
true TO its mark, and the Indian feel dead.


NOT knowing but that he might be accom-
panied by others, | returned with all speed
to my cabin, and having firmly barricaded
the door, ! watched all day from the port
hole, in anticipation of an attack from the
companions of the Indian had killed To
add TO the danger and seeming helplessneSs
of my situation, [ discovered that | had but
one charge of powder left, l could make
bat one shot, then. II attacked by num-
bers, | should be entirely in their power
Determined TO do the best with what L had,
| poured out the last charge OF powder and
put it into the musket, and then waited Tor
the approach of night, feeling sure OF an
attack.


Night came at last. A beautiful moon
light night it was too, and this favored me
greatly, as | would thereby be able to OBJ
serve the movements Of the enemy as they
approached the cabin.


1t was some two hours after nighttal, and
yet | had neither heard or seen a sign OF the
Indians. when suddenly was startled by the
baying of my dog at the stable | knew
that the Indians were coming. The stable
stood little to the west of the cabin, and
| between the two We're a patch of cleared
ground upon which the light of the full
moon fell uuobstructed. judging from the
noise at the stable that they would advance
from that direction, posted myself at the
port hole on that side Of the cabin.
| had previously placed my wife on the
cross pole in the chimney so that In case
our enemes affected an entrance into our
cabin, she might climb out through the low
| chimney, and effect her escape. For my,
/ self, [ entertained no hope, but determined
not to be taken alive, and to sell my lie
dearly.


With breathless anxiety [ watched at the
port hole. At length | saw them emerge
/ from the shadow of the stable, and advance
across tie open ground toward my cabin.
| Observation-Disclosures Heavens six stat,
wart Indians armed to the teeth, ana urged
on by the hope of revenge; and ] alone, to
onpoee them with one charge of powder.
Nv case was desperate indeed Win
! quick and stealthy step, in close single tle,
| they approached and were already within
| few wards of the house, when a sh ght change
! in the movement of the forward INDIAN
! changed the position of the SIX, so that
| portion of the left side of each was uncoE-
cred. They were in range. and my ainI
yronld cover all. Quick as thought | aimed
an5 Sred As the smoke cleared away, |
could hardly credit what my senses showed