Year: 1875

We question whether in the histo-
ry of the ''hair breadth escapes" a
parallel to the following can easily
be found. The story was told US by
an old and valued friend, whose carly
days were spent near the tragic ad-
venture here recorded. We give the
story as related to us, in the words Of
the hero:


1t was about the year 1875 that |
settled in Virginia, near the falls OF
Kanawha-thc country at the time
WAS an unbroken wilderness. But
few settlements had been made then
by the whites, and they were so far
apart as to render vain all hopes of
assistance in case of an attack from
thehostileindians-numbers the ofwhom
still infested the neighborhood.


lived there alone with my wife
for several months unmolested, and
-bydint of perseverance being Young
and hardy, succeeded in making quite
a large clearing in the forest, which
| had planted with corn, and which
promised an abundant yield:


One morning after We had dis
patched our humble meal, and | had
Just prepared to venture forth on my
regular routine of labor, my atten-
ton was arrested by the tinkling Of
cow bell in the corn field.


There" said my wife, the COW is
in the corn field"


But the ear of the backwoodsman
becomes by education very acute, es-
pccally so. from the fact that his safe
ty often depends upon the nice culti-
vation of that sense. was not so
easily deceived, Ilistencd-the sound
was repeated.


That" said I, in reply to the re-
mark of my wife, ''is not the tinkle
of q bell on the neck of 4 COW. 1t is
a decoy from some Indian, who de-
sires to bring me into ambush"


Believing this to be the case /
took down my old musket, q had no
rihe,) and seeing that it was proper.
" loaded, l stole cautiously around
the field from which the sound SEEM
ed to proceed. As l had suspected,
there, in a cluster of bushes, 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 dis
covering myself to him, till within
good shooting distance; then raised
my piece and fred. Thh bulletsped
true to its mark, and the Indian fell
dead.


Not knowing but what he might
be accompanied by Others, Ircturned
with all speed to the cabin, and hav-
ing finally barricaded the door, |
watched all day from the portfolios,
in anticipation of an attack from the
companions of the Indian | had kill
ed. To add to the danger and seem
ing hopclessof my situation, discov-
cred that | hadonly one charge pow
der left. l could make but one shot,
and then if attacked by numbers, l
should be entirely in theirpower. De
termined todo the best with what |
had, l poured out the last charge ofmy
powder and put it into my musket,
and than waited for the approach Of
night, feeling confident of an attack;
Night came at last. A beautiful
night it was too, and this favored me
greatly, as l would thereby be able to
observe the movements Of the enemy
as they approached the cabin. 1t
was some two hours after nightfall,
and as yet | had neither seen or heard
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 west of the cabin, and
between the two was patch ofclear-
ed ground, upon which the light Of
the full moon fell unobstructed.
Judging from the noise at the stable
that they would advance from that
direction, l posted myself at the port
hole on that side of the cabin.


had previously placed my wifeon
the cross pole in the chimney, so that
in case our enemies effected an en-
trance in the cabin, she might climb
out through the low chimney and eff
feet her escape. For myself, | enter
tained no hope; but determined not
to be taken alive. resolved to sell