Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys

STORIES OF THE REVOLUTION
With an account of the lost child of the Delaware: Wheaton and the Panther, &c.
Thanks to Willis Barshied Jr. for the donation.

By JOSIAH PRIEST
Albany
Printed by Hoffman and White,
No. 71 State Street 1836.
A Conflict for Life, Between Three Indians and One White Man.

Within a half mile of a Fort, which the inhabitants of a certain place had built on the Ohio river, in the time of the Revolution, there was a log house, which the owner, with his wife and two little children, had deserted for the Fort, to avoid death or captivity by the Indians, who were skulking around in all directions. But on a certain day, for some cause or other, the gate of the fort was for a few minutes left open, at which time those two children went out unseen, and made off for their former home. In a few minutes, however, the parents missed them; when on opening the gate to find them, they were no where to be seen, The father now took his rifle and pursued after them, greatly fearing that they were already in the hands of the Indians--but on coming to the house, there they were, safe and sound. He now told them to flee for their lives to the fort again, and by no means not to speak or cry, or the Indians would hear them. They started off, while their father clambered on the corner of the house to watch the woods, in the direction of the fort, till the children should arrive, and some one take them in. But while in this situation, he discovered before the children had gone half the distance, that no less than three savages were running swiftly to intercept them. The father now dropt down from his look out position and flew toward the spot, to save them if possible. This was instantly discovered by the Indians, who now abandoned their first design to capture the man. In order to do this, they severally betook themselves to as many trees, for safety, which compelled the white man to do the same. But as the Indians found themselves too near together to hit their victim, they tired to spread themselves more in a circle, so as to hi him, which as one of them attempted to do, lost his life by the shot of the white man. At the same instant another of them who had sprung off in the opposite direction, and did not know that one of their number was no more, kept darting on from tree to tree, till the white man had reloaded, when he also fell from the second shot of the white marksman. The remaining Indian having discharged his piece, at the very instant when the white man fired last, but missed his aim, now rushed ton to grapple for the precious life, as both their guns were now empty. The Indians being much the most powerful, easily threw the white man to the ground, when he posted himself firmly on his breast and drawing his knife, began to flourish it about his head, in token of death by scalping. But ere he proceeded to this, he seemed to delay for the purpose of grinning horribly over his victim, and of gently stabbing him in the breast, by way of prelude to excite his terror. But while the Indian was thus employed, the white man observed that the handle of the Indian's knife was extraordinary long, and extended out at least three inches beyond his hand. On this he was now determined to seize, as on a lot hope. A favorable position of it, as the Indian kept on his flourishing, was presented, when the all important grab was made, which succeeded; and as the drew it with violence through the Indians' hand, cut off all his fingers; while in the same instant, the whole knife handle and all were driven quite into its owner's lungs entering in on his left side, when he rolled away, and fell over to the ground, a helpless and dying Indian.

The white man now crept out and fled, lest some other encounter might yet take him off ere he could reach the fort.