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751 
 
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 R ATIVE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EXTRAORDINARY SUFJ-ERINGS 
 
 O F 
 
 Mr. Robert Fohbes, his Wife, and 
 Five Children; 
 
 DURING 
 
 An unfortunate Journey through the Wildernefs, 
 from Cam^da to Kenhebeck River, 
 
 IN THE YEAR 1 784: 
 
 In which three of their Children were ftarved tp 
 
 Death. 
 
 [Taken partly from their own mootfat, and partly from an 
 imperfed^jnarnal : and publilhed at tbeir rtquaft.J 
 
 MM 
 
 By ARTHUR SRji dm an. 
 
 m 
 
 P H I L A p E L P H I A-*«i- 
 
 PaiNTSD FOR M^CjtJlET.'^ifgj^, 
 (PrisCf Six ?9na.) . 
 
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 N A R R A T 1 V E, e^<:. 
 
 MR. ROBERT FORBES, flot bddg a na- 
 tive of Canada, but having reflded there fe- 
 veral years, w^s defirous of being where he might 
 have a more frequent oppottunity of afitociating With 
 bis own countrymen. 
 
 He and his wife had premeditated a removal to 
 the United States of America, when falling in com- 
 pany with three men, by the names of Midftaff, 
 Pancake, and Chriftian, they were Induced, by 
 iheir infmuatiohs, to undertake the journey by 
 land : the faid Midilaff engaging, for a certain fum. 
 that with the afliftance of the other two, he would 
 conduct them, in twelve days time, to the fettle- 
 ment on KennebccH ftiver. 
 
 Mr. Forbes* neighbours endeavdufed to diffuidd 
 him from the attempt, not only on account of the 
 length and difficulty of the way, but becaufe there 
 was a poffibilityof his being defefted by his guides 
 in the midft of the wildernefs. 
 
 Neverihelefs, being determined on a removal, 
 and having paid to Midltaff i large ftipulatcd fum 
 
 for 
 
 M> 
 
bSWPWPHB" 
 
 m^^mm 
 
 H 
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 for that purpofe, on the feventeenth day of March, 
 A. D. one thoufand feven hundred and eighty-four, 
 they entered upon this unfortunate journey. 
 
 From Nouvelle Bois, on the river Chadore, they 
 took their departure. The men and Mrs. Forbes, 
 (who was then pregnant), and Mr. Forbes' fon John, 
 a lad about thirteen years old, on fnow (hoes. 
 
 Their proyifions and other effects, together with 
 four children, viz. Mary, about feven years ; Peg- 
 gy, about five; Catharine, about three; Robert, 
 about fifteen months old, they undertook to haul 
 on Indian ileighs, or hand fleds. 
 
 In this manner, but with great difficulty, they 
 purfued their way eight days ; and on the ninth, 
 being obliged to leave the river which they had fol- 
 lowed hitherto, and whereon they had travelled 
 fome part of the time, they found the country fo 
 broken with large and deep, gullies, an4 fo roug}} 
 and mountainous, that they concluded it next to 
 impoflible to proceed any further with the fleighs. 
 
 Here they were obliged to make a halt ; and af- 
 ter a ihort confultation, having firft erefted a fmal| 
 camp, to leave the woman and children in, they, 
 took the chief part of their provifions, apd as much 
 of the reft of their baggage as they were able to car-^ 
 ry on their backs ; and leaving the woman and chil" 
 dren, about ten o'clock in the morning, fet out in 
 qucft of Meconick Pond, otherwife called Lake 
 Chadore, expeding to return the ne^tt day. But 
 irneeting niuch difficulty, they did not reach the 
 pond until the next day about three o'clock in the 
 afternoon. , 
 
 Here being much fatigued, they left their bag* 
 gage ; and MidftafF having had fome previous no- 
 tice that there was an Indian refiding not far from 
 |Jjence, went in queft of hirn to the other fide of the 
 {iii^u >; ■t^-.r !■■ ^v ^•> '-r: ■ . ■ ' . pond, 
 
^ of March, 
 eighty-four, 
 ney. 
 
 ladore, they 
 /Irs. Forbes, 
 es' fon John, 
 (hoes. 
 
 3gether with 
 years; Peg- 
 ;e; Robert, 
 aok to haul 
 
 Bculty, they 
 n the ninth, 
 they had fol- 
 lad travelled 
 ; country fo 
 q4 fo rough 
 1 it next to 
 the (leighs. 
 lalt ; and af- 
 e£ted a fmall 
 ren in, they, 
 apd as much 
 ; able to car^ 
 nan and chil" 
 g, fet out in 
 called Lake 
 !^t day. But 
 3t reach the 
 'clock in the 
 
 :ft their bag' 
 
 previous no- 
 
 not far from 
 
 er fide of the 
 
 pond, 
 
 ( s ) 
 
 pond, where they found an old camp, without in- 
 habhants ; and there they encamped that night. 
 
 The next morning, being Sunday, the twenty- 
 feventh day of March, they croficd the pond back 
 to where they had left their baggage. When, to 
 the great aftonifhment of Mr. Forbes, his pilot and 
 the other two, taking to themfelves the provifions, 
 and his other effeds of any confiderablc confcquence, 
 frankly told him, that they were determined not to 
 return with him to hi« family ; and that they mull 
 now leave him, and make the belt of their way 
 through to Kennebeck. 
 
 This may well be fuppofed to be fhocking indeed 
 to one who was already difcouraged and difhearton- 
 cd. ** This," faid he, " ft ruck me to the heart, 
 *' and filled my eyes with tears ; it confirmed what 
 
 my neighbours had repeatedly mentioned amongft: 
 
 their fears of what might happen to myfelf and 
 
 family." 
 
 Notwithftanding his importunities, his moft ear- 
 ned entreaties and folicitations, they would not be 
 prevailed upon to continue any longer with him i 
 but, leaving him only one axe, a fmali firelock, and 
 two loaves of bread, they departed. 
 
 With a heavy heart did this unfortunate man then 
 make the beft of his way back to his family ; where 
 he arrived that evening, with the forrowful tidirtgs. 
 
 Here were they left in the wide wildernefs, llran- 
 gers to the country, deftitutc of provifions, and 
 whhout a compaj^ ; eight days journey from the 
 inhabitants in Canada, and how far from any other 
 fettlement they knew not; probably not lefs than 
 one hundred and fifty miles. 
 
 The wife and fon had laboured under the moft 
 terribl< 
 
 (C 
 
 c« 
 
 appr< 
 
 iring 
 
 efpecially feeing he did not return at the time ap- 
 ©ointed. Their fears had ahnoll driven them to def- 
 
 
ti.. 
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 pair ; and the poor lad, a little before his father's 
 return, had fatigued himfelf altnod to death, hav- 
 ing followed their tracks for feverai miles ; and had 
 ju(l got back when his father arrived. 
 
 The next morning they were in the moll: doubtful 
 perplexity whether to go backward or forward. 
 Should they undertake to return to Canada, it might 
 take them more than double the length of time in 
 which they had got ihus far, the river being then a- 
 bout breaking up; and in that cafe they mult inevi-. 
 tably (larve. 
 
 When the huiband and wife were in this pitiable 
 fituation, gazing at each other, and tears gufhing 
 from their eyes, their children were h.anging around 
 them, and crying bitterly, for a inorfel of bread. 
 
 Upon the whole, as the before-mentioned two 
 loaves of bread, were in the way towards Kennebeck, 
 and as they might, perad venture, find the Indian at 
 Meconick pond, they concluded, by the help of God, 
 10 proceed on their journey. 
 
 Accordingly they left the mod cumberfome, 
 though neceflary articles, which they had now re- 
 inaining, and the eldeft daughter undertook to tra* 
 vel on foot with her mother, while. Mr. Forbes took 
 .two of the children, and John one, upon ileds ; and' 
 thus they proceeded with as much difpatch as poilible* 
 The way, however, was rough ; and they traveU 
 led but a ihort didance during that day. At night, 
 they encampedj and the next morning there came 
 on a violent ftorm of rain, hail, and fnow, which 
 continued until Wednefday evenjbg. In the mean 
 while, the children were pinched with hunger and . 
 ]wirh the cold ; and their cries were fo bitterly dif- 
 treiHng, that, leaving the mother and children in 
 camp, the itither and fon pufhed forward with all 
 fpeed to the pond ; but it was (till ftormy, and the 
 
 travelling 
 
■',./! 
 
 father's 
 h, hav- 
 and had 
 
 loubtful 
 forward, 
 it might 
 time in 
 ; then a- 
 ft inevi- . 
 
 pitiable 
 gufliing 
 r around 
 }read. 
 aed two 
 mebeck, 
 Indian at 
 of God« 
 
 serfome, 
 now re- 
 k to tra* 
 bes took 
 ds; and' 
 poffible* 
 y travclt- 
 U night, 
 :re came 
 , which 
 he mean 
 iger and . 
 :erly diC- 
 Idren in 
 with all 
 and the 
 ravelling 
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 travelling fo difficult, that they did not get back vith 
 the two loaves until Wcdnefday evening. 
 
 Upon their return, they had not a dry thing a- 
 bout them, nor any dry clothes to put on. And to 
 add to their misfortune, the fire was extinguifhed, 
 and they were unable to rekindle it for the whole 
 night. 
 
 The next morning, the dorm being confiderably 
 abated, they proceeded on their journey ; but the 
 trees and buflies being wet, they had an uncomfort- 
 able time, and did not reach the pond until Friday 
 morning about ten o'clock. 
 
 SooA after this, to their great confolation, they 
 met with the beforementioned Indian, who proved 
 to be one John Baptift, and with whom they had had 
 fome previous acquaintance in Canada. — He very 
 hofpitably invited them to bis camp, which was at 
 a confiderable diAance from the pond ; and there 
 he kindly treated them with the bed of what his houfie 
 afforded. 
 
 This was a camp where his wife refided, while he 
 followed hunting. Here they tarried until the next 
 Monday. And the Indian having, jufi before their 
 meeting, killed a moofe, at a few miles diftance, Mr. 
 Forbes and his fon went with their ileds, and ailiiled 
 him in bringing it home. 
 
 The Indian gave them as much moofe meat as 
 they would undertake to carry ; and agreed to pilot 
 them to Kennebeck river. — This agreement he punc- 
 ' tually fulfilled ; and would have proceeded with 
 them to the fettlements, but his wife xr^s £o 0ck 
 that he did not dare to be any longer abfent from 
 her. He therefore marked the way on a piece of 
 bark, reprefenting the bends, windings, hth, and 
 carrying places abng the river.— .He then wifbed 
 them well, and left them* 
 
 On taking leave of the Indian, they could not ex- 
 
 prefs 
 
 j> 
 
 
^:}vf^ 
 
 MSr-T 
 
 (; 
 
 f- ( 
 
 *1 
 
 n 
 
 ,.?) 
 
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 prefs their gratitude. His kiadnefs was beyond their 
 cxpeftation. — Before his departure, however, they 
 gave ^im what things they had left behind, together 
 with fome other things of confiderable value. And 
 they had reafon afterwards to wifh that they had pre- 
 fented him with more ; for their loads proved fo 
 much too heavy for them, that they were obliged to 
 leave by the way a large bag full of valuable articles. 
 
 They now met with almoft infurmountable difficul- 
 ties ; tor in purfuing the river, their progrefs was 
 ob(lru£ledby craggy windfalls, rocky ledges, lofty 
 mountains, and hideous precipices. 
 
 On the twelfth day of April, their provifions were 
 exhaufted ; and Mrs. Forbes thought it mod advifa- 
 ble to have a camp erected, and for herfelf and the 
 children to remain there, while her buiband and 
 oldeft fon (hould go forward to fee whether they 
 could find the inhabitants-^apprehending th^t they 
 were much nearer than they afterwards proved to be. 
 
 A camp was therefore ereded, and leaving Mrs. 
 Forbes with her four young children, Mr. Forbes 
 and his foii went forward with as niuch fpeed as 
 poflible. The fir (I and fecond days, finding the ice 
 would bear them, they trayelled on the river; and 
 would have made confiderable progrels, but unfor- 
 tunately they midook their . way at a very material 
 carrying place, where^ inftead of leaving the river, 
 and eroding by land to the next bend, which was 
 only .twelve miles, they followed the river fixty 
 miles around. 
 
 A little before night, th(2 fecond day, they came 
 to falls, and could ga no further on the ice. They 
 went on fhore, and foon after C(|,me to a precipice 
 where they were obliged to defcend twenty feet al- 
 moft perpendicularly, and at the rifque of being 
 daflied upon the rocks. — Night CQming^ on, they^ 
 encamped ; and the next day, Ending a (hoal rocky 
 
 place 
 
 f] 
 
^ond their 
 ver, they 
 
 together 
 le. And 
 
 had pre- 
 troved fo 
 bilged to 
 ; articles, 
 e difficuU 
 grefs was 
 lofty 
 
 jcs. 
 
 ions were 
 >ft advifa- 
 If and the 
 )and and 
 thcr they 
 that they 
 \red to be. 
 nng Mrs. 
 •. Forbes 
 fpeed as 
 ig the ice 
 ver; and 
 lit unfor- 
 r material 
 the river, 
 hicU was 
 ver fixty ■ 
 
 hey came 
 
 e. They 
 precipice 
 
 ty feet al- 
 of being 
 on,; they, 
 
 oal rocky 
 place 
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 plAce in the river, they crolTed over to the oihel^ 
 fide, in hopes of finding better travelling, andl;^ 
 ^ore convenient place to eAcamp. Here they wtrc 
 obliged by reafon of (lormy weathei^ to encamp 
 fbit tne remain4er of ibe day. Uctn /.,^ih\t< ; i. 
 
 The next day they travelled on; and. perceiving 
 the fiver to be almoA clear of ice, they concluded 
 to. build a kind of taft— 'a thing ^i(h which tbeyr 
 werd altogether unacquainted, an<t by means oif 
 ^hich they had both like to have loft their lives. 
 
 A few day& aiftbr they got on the raft, and under 
 way about te<n o'clock in the morning. The cur** 
 iient, however, rani fo fwift, that they foon found 
 there was no pofTibUity of turning it to the (hore. 
 As they paflfei down the river, they ftsiick againd 
 a trte, which they Were obliged to cut away^ in or- 
 derto clear the raft. When they djefcended over 
 ripples, the water never failed of dafhing over thein^ 
 fo that they were wtt^dminu ally. 
 
 About the middle of the day, (he raft moving 
 with great .rapidity, (Iruck a large tock, pat?ted one 
 of its, corners, and fpread; injp ^ fingie (tring of 
 logs. At this time they l6ft th^r;9^e, and it b4^ 
 came extremely difficult.t0ikeep,up<>n their broken 
 machine. . *; i •; 
 
 They were, from thb time, driven with amazing 
 rapidity, expe^ing every moment would be their 
 l^;(l, until about four o'clock in the afternoon; 
 when, failing into an eddy, they were brought up 
 by a point df land, and both got fafe on (hore. 
 
 They now travelled on by land until their ftrengih 
 was almoft exhaufted. About the twentieth of A- 
 pril, they heard the report of a gun, which feemed 
 to grs^e them new life. They fired feveral times, 
 but were not anfwered. Then, concluding that it 
 might be nothing more than the falling of a tree, 
 V - ■. . ..,.....,. : '.:.-. , iheir. 
 
 A 
 
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 .'"■'■■•.;■.,:,:,■, . ( 10 )■ ■ ■■;■•;■■• r 
 
 their fpif*its again funk nvithin them, and they mov^ 
 id oil with heavy hrar!s. 
 
 ''But on the evening of the twenty-fecond, having 
 kindled a fmall fire upon an eminence, they were 
 difcovered, and kindly relieved by two hunters— ^Jo- 
 nathan Crofby and Luke Sawyer. 
 ^^ It was now the tenth day fince they left Mrs. For- 
 bes and the children. And during this time they 
 had eaten up all the moofe meat which they had ta* 
 ken with them (it being only two or three ounces) 
 ?nd their moggafons — having had nothing elfe to 
 fubfift upon. 
 
 The hunters fupplied them with fuch articles of 
 nourifhment as they had with them ; and then con- 
 ducted them to the fettlements at Seven Mile Brook, 
 a little above Norridge walk, where they arrived in 
 a few hours ; but fo reduced, that they were fcarce* 
 ly able to (land alone. ■■-■■■^■x 
 
 Upon their arrival, Mr. Forbes procured major 
 Hale, William Hufton, and Ebenezer Hilton, three 
 of the mod fuitable men that could be found, to go 
 with all fpeed to the lelief of his wife and children. 
 They fet out immediately, and after having been 
 gone thirteen days, returned without having been 
 able to find them. . 
 
 - It was now twenty-four days from the time Mr. 
 Forbes left them, with only one pound and an half 
 of moofe meat, and a pound and a half of tallow, 
 for their fubliftence : It was the general opinion, 
 therefore, that they mud have been dead. ^u 
 
 Neverthelefs, Mr. Forbes' anxiety would not per- 
 mit him to reft fatisfied until he had procured two 
 other perfons, Meflrs. James McDonald and Jona- 
 than Ames, to go with him, and fee whether they 
 might not be ftill alive. But by this time, all the 
 low lands adjacent to the river were overflojiped, 
 which rendered the paiTmg extremely difficult. For 
 
 ' m this 
 
 ■A 
 
 -^K 
 
 ■••■>J 
 
\ 
 
 ( 
 
 II 
 
 ) 
 
 this reafon, and becaufe they had no expedation of 
 finding them alive, they could not be prevailed up- 
 on to fet oflf until the waters were abated. .b-fniis 
 
 On the twenty-eighth day of May, they fet out. 
 Having travelled one day, Mr. Forbes found himfelf 
 unable to keep up with them ; and upon their tel- 
 ling him he could be of no feryice, and that he 
 might depend upon their fidelity, he confente^ t;c» 
 return. ' ;:;, ;:,••.■■.■ ' -'■ \r ?'-\>' 
 
 They proceeded on their way, and, on the fecond 
 day of June, arrived at the place where Mrs. Forbes 
 and her children were left. And here, to their great 
 aftonifhmeht, they found the mother and one of her 
 children alive. It was now fifty days fines they were 
 left with nothing beiides the before mentioned moofe 
 meat and taliow. Nor had they any thing elfe dur- 
 ing that whole time, excepting cold water, and the 
 inlide bark of the fir tree. And in addition to this^ 
 they had been forty-eight days without fire. 
 
 To paint in proper colours this fcene of diftrefs, 
 is altogether beyond my powers of defcription. It 
 muft be left to the imagination of the reader. 
 
 On the thirty-eighth day after the departure of . 
 Mr. Forbes, the little boy expired. Catharine died 1 
 the next day ; and Mary lived but four days longer. 
 This lad child had often told her mother, they fhould 
 all certainly ftarve to death ; and carneflly bi^gged, 
 in cafe her mother fhould outlive her, that fhe might 
 be put where the wild beafls could not devour her. 
 
 The poor woman was herfelf but juO: zlive, and 
 expeded every hour to clofe the eyes of Peggy, her 
 only remaining chifd and companion. The bodies 
 of the deceafed children were laid out, and kept by 
 her fide : For fhe was unable to buiy them-^having 
 been fo weak, for the laft fifteen days, that (he had 
 been obliged to crawl upon her ha^ds and kn^es to 
 the (pring for water- .^,,||, '^^^mix^4: ^' ' " ^ ' 
 
 th( 
 
 \ 
 
 4, 
 
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 ) 
 
 The breath of life, , however, was ftlU remaining 
 in them. And the twJ men who came to their reliei, 
 afforded them fuch afli(tance, and adininidered to 
 them fuch nouriOiment as their iituatiou and circum- 
 ftances required. *'^m^i? -3;.iyixi 
 
 On the third day of June they fet out for home ; 
 ind carried Mrs. Forbes and the child on a bier by 
 land, and in a canoe by water, till they all fafely ar- 
 rived at Norridgewalk : where, to the fufprize of 
 the inhabitants, and the utter adonifhment of Mr. 
 Forbes, he was once more prefented with a iiving 
 wife, and one living child. •*^** '^' ' ' - '" " 
 
 On this occafton, well might he 'adopf the lan-» 
 guage of holy David— in whole words we (hall now 
 ciofe the narrative: * -' , ^ ... ^..;. -v.. *» 
 
 biri M T foul with grateful thoughts of levi t i. ^nff 
 
 ,|*^Vf» Entirely is pojeji, c, ',.hj|,T: 
 
 \ Becaufe the Lord was pleased to hear a I*;;; 7^(5 
 
 '■^■i Jhevoiceofmyrequeji, s#wr5*itM, cf 
 
 Since he has now his ear inciin'd^ 
 J never will defpair^ 
 ^^ ':'. Butftilly in all theflraits of life^ 
 \^^^' ^^ ^^^ addrefs my prayer, - 
 
 ■^.^1 
 
 
 
 With deadly forroivs eompqfs'd rounds 
 :^K^*«., ^ith painful fears opprefs'd / _^i,, .J' 
 
 Wh^n troubles feiz,*d viyahng heart 
 
 .'^, And anguijh racked my breafi ^^^^^ . ,^ '" 
 
 ate; On God's almighty name I call* d, > ii^boa- 'J 
 
 And thus to him I pray* dy ^^■■ 
 
 .*. u<j|j» L^trdf I btfeech thee fave my /hul^iUiu /im> 
 
 rdtcpj^ith forrows quite difmay*d»** ^ >», 
 
 ' HflW jiifi and metcifui is God ; 
 H(iw gracious is the Lord I 
 Who fave s the feeble^ and to nie 
 Pees timely help affordf 
 
 
 
 *? 
 
 Th^n^ 
 
 \ i 
 
 
 
 ^-r«**»»ifr 'tid^ii^■' 
 
 •wmr 
 
«.v 
 
 ( '3 ) 
 
 Tben^ fret from doubtful cam ^ my foul 
 
 Refume thy wonted reft ; 
 for God hath wond*rouJiy to thee 
 
 His bounteous love expreft. 
 
 When ^eath alarm'd me, he removed 
 » My dangers and my fear$ : j ^. . 
 My feet from falling he fecur'd^ 
 And drfd my eyes from tears, 
 
 Therefore my Itffs remainimg yearsy 
 Which God to me fhall lehd^ 
 
 Will I in praifes to his name^ 
 And in bis fervice fpend. u ' n :.: 
 
 
 m 
 
 t 
 
 
 V-i»,' 
 
 POSTSCRIPT, 
 
 AFTER the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Forbes, 
 at Norridgewalk, a number of gentlemen ga^e 
 them a writing from under their hands ; in w,hich 
 the relation of their unparalleled fuffering was coo- 
 firmed, and by which they were warmly recommentj* 
 ed to the notice and charitable ailiftance of all Chrif- 
 tian people. This recommendation was figneidby 
 fome of the firft, characters in the county of Lin- 
 coln. ^, ,, , . 
 
 Mr. Forbes and his wife, with their two furviv- 
 ing children are now living in the town of Ne^- 
 Glouc^fter, about twenty-five miles from Portland; 
 where, by their induftry and econpmy> they h^^ve 
 (ince been enabled to procure a very comforta.ble 
 fubfift^ncc. 
 
 Mrs. Forbes, from the emaciated (late in which 
 we have before defcribed her, h^s now becqcue a 
 large and corpulent woman. And the child, of 
 which (he was delivered fpon after their arrival at 
 Norridge^^l^, is ^ lieaithy and very promifing boy. 
 
 « 
 
 ^ 
 
 z^ 
 
 •'-'"' ■tife'VV'^-V.-.. 
 
m.y I. 
 
 ! It 
 
 
 .^ A -_ ■._• s;•■>^A^>.;••^, V.:, » 
 
 ,V'-,, :v - •■ -v- -. !»-.. ., -, ^, V... ,v 
 
 NARRATIVE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 
 i -_ If,* i*«r'*V /, » 
 
 #■ 
 
 t::^ 
 
 Captivity and escape of Mrs. Frances Scoity 
 
 t 1^ '■ 
 
 An inhabitant of Wafliington county, Virginia. 
 
 ■' 
 
 
 i 
 
 .-■/ 
 
 k. 
 
 
 
 ON Wednef4ay, the 29th of June, 1 785, late in the evening, a large 
 company of armed men pafTed the houi^, on their way to Kentucky : 
 Some of whom encamped within two miles. Mr. Scott living on a fron- 
 tier part, generally made the family watchful ; but on this calamitous 
 day, after fo large a body of men had pailed, ihortly after night he lay 
 down in his bed, and imprudently left one of the doors of his houie open 
 —the children were all in bed, and afleep. Mrs. Spott was nearly un- 
 drelTed, when, to her unutterable altonifhment and horror, ihe faw rufli- 
 ing in tlirough the door that was left open, painted favages, with prefent- 
 ed arms, raiHng a hidepus fliriek-r-Mr. Scott being ^w^ke, inftantly 
 jumped out of bed, but was immediately fired at: he forced his way 
 through the middle of the enemy, and got out of the door, but fell a few 
 paces from thence. An Indian feized Mrs. Scott, and ordered her to a 
 particular fpot, and not to move : others ftabbed and cut the throats of 
 the three youngeft children in their bed. And afterwards lifted them up 
 and dafhed them down to the floor, near the mother ; theeldeft, a beau- 
 tiful girl of eight years old, awoke, and efcaped out of the bed, and ran 
 to her parent, and with a moft plaintive accent, cried, if O nianuna ! 
 mamma ! fave me,''-^the mother, in the deepeft anguilh of fpirit, and 
 with a flood of tears, intreated the favages to fpare her child, bpt with 
 a brutal fiereenefs, they tomahawked and ftabbed her in the mother's 
 arms. Adjacent to Mr. Scott's dwelling houie another family lived, of 
 the name of BalU, The Indian; alfo attacked them at the fame inftant 
 they did Mr. Scott ; but the door being (hut, the enemy fired into the 
 houfe through an oponing between two logs, and killed a young lad, and 
 then eflayed to force the door open, but a furviving brother fired through 
 the door, and the enemy defifted, and went off; the remaining part of 
 the family ran out of the houfe and efcaped. In Mr. Scott's houfe were 
 four good rifles well loaded, belonging to people that had left it on their 
 way to Kentucky. The Indians loaded themfelves with the plunder, be- 
 ing 
 
 
 
 '.-r-'"'-^ — ■^*""''9%%ji^ ^.i'^r- 
 
t's houfe were 
 
 #■ 
 
 ( IS ) 
 
 l'.. 
 
 ing 13 imauinber, and then Ipeedily made off, and ctntinued traveUiax 
 all night ; next morning their chief allotted to each ntan his fliare, and 
 detached nine of a party to fteal horfes, from the inhabitants in Clinch. 
 The eleventh day al'ter Mrs. Scott's captivity, the four Indians after hav' 
 ing her in charge, ftopped at a place fixed on for a rendezvous, and to 
 hunt, being now in great want of provifions . Three went put, and the 
 chief, being an old man, was left to take care of the prifoner, who, by 
 this time, expreffed a willingnefs to proceed to the Indian towns, which 
 feemed to have the defired effect of leAening the keeper's vigilance. In 
 the day time, as the olcl man was graining a deer ikin, the captive pon- 
 dering on her fitnation, and anxioufly looking lor an opportunity to make 
 her efcape, took the reiblution, and went to the Indism carelefsly, 
 aiked liberty .{« go a fmall dillance to a ftream of water, to walh the 
 blood off her apron, that had remained befineared fmce the fatal night of 
 the murder of her little daughter. He told her in the Englifli tongue, 
 *' Go along ;" ihe then pafled by him, his face being in a contrary direc- 
 tion from that (he was going, and ho very bufy. She after getting to the 
 water, proceeded On without delay, made/to a high barren mountain, 
 and travelled till late in the evening, when ihe came down into the val- 
 ley, in fearch of the track (he had been taken along ; hoping thereby to 
 find the way back, without the ri(k of being lo(t, and peri(hing with hun- 
 ger in uninhabited parts. On coming acrofs the valley, on the river lide, 
 Aippofed to be the eafterly branch of the Kentucky river, (he obierved in 
 the fand, tracks of two men, that had gone up the river, and had juft re- 
 turned. She concluded the(e to have been her purfuefs, which excited 
 emotions of gratitude and thankfulnefs to divine providence for fo time- 
 ly a deliverance. Being without any provifions, having so kind of wea* 
 pon or tool to afiift her in getting any, and being almoft deftitute of cloth- 
 ing; alfo knowing, that a valt track of rugged high mountains interven. 
 ed between where (he was and the inhabitants eaftwardly, and (he almoft 
 as ignorant as a child of the method of fteering through the woods, ex- 
 cited painful (enfations. But certainly death, either by hunger or wild 
 beafts, feemed to her better than to be in the power of beings, who had 
 excited in her mind fuch horror. She addreUed Heaven for proteAion, 
 and taking courage, proceeded onward. 
 
 After travelling three days, (he nearly met with the Indians, as (he 
 fuppofed, that had been fent to Clinch to fteal horlbs, but providentially 
 hearing their approach, concealed herfelf among the cane, until the ene- 
 my had paffed. This giving a fre(h alarm, and her mind being filled with 
 eenfternation, (he got loft, proceeding backwards and forwards for Xeve- 
 ral days ; at length (he came to a river, that feemed to come ffom the 
 eaft; concluding it was Sandy river, (he accordingly refolved to trace 
 it to its fource, which is adjacent to Clinch fettlement. After proceed- 
 ing up the fame (everal days, (he came where the river runs thrpugh a 
 great laurel mountain, where is a prodigious water fall, and numerous 
 high craggy cliffs along the water edge ; that way feemed impafTable, the 
 mountain fteep and difficult : However, our mournful traveller concluded 
 that the latter way was the be ft. She therefore afcended for fonic time, 
 but coming to a range of inaccefiible rocks, (he turned her courfe to-' 
 wards the foot of the mountain and the river (ide ; after getting into a 
 deep gulley, and pafling over feveral high fteep rocks, (he reached the 
 river fide, where, to her inexprefiible affli^on, (he found that a perpendi- 
 cular rock, or rather one that hung over, of 1 5 or 2o feet high, formed 
 the bank. Here a folemn pau(fe took place, (he eflfayed a return ; but 
 the height of the fteps and rocks (he had defcendad ever, prevented her. 
 
 She 
 
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 «f it!w •# the certain fpot to'edd iOL ftar trobbles, «r remain en; tUe lop to 
 
 pine aWitt ift hxugery or be devoured by wild beaft% Aftccftviows nie^- 
 
 tition iM dcvo«t exerciie^ ihie<;letei'jiuncfd oft leqnng fxota the beigbt, 
 
 ind accordingly jumped aS. '■■ Ahhoiqpi the place: ilie .had te alight was 
 
 "CA^Md with uneven cdcks^ not aboite %v«9'.iirolcen|' bat being exceed* 
 
 Ibgly ftudiied with the faH, ihe remained uoabUt M proceed fdr fi»me 
 
 'l&mi. . Thc'dryfearoncauiid the river to be OiidlaniH^V .travelled in ic, 
 
 ind WltereJfe^oBldy by its vdge,. iiitil ibe |g»t.|{lMagitht mountain, 
 
 #bidt th$ ctoaelnded was feveirai iniles. After tii|s| -as flie'ivAs travelling 
 
 ^>«^tf{;t!betMtnk of the river, aVeaottous fiiake b|t her on the; ancle « flie 
 
 ha^ftreAgth Co kill it) ami knowing its kind, -ctmcluded that death 
 
 '^uft'flienrdvertake ber- By this time Mrs. Stfotc.Was iPed^ccd te a m^ce 
 
 icliiitart|Vith fatigue; bnngc^j Atidinofl ^rebably ^s ftateof her bod|r 
 
 wutk^lMansfc of l>V*<)ni^i<^ib«rfrain thf t/ttt^ df i*^ fiSiAifhe thftt 
 
 at iiiflijr,' £» itwat^ thie «l^ ,lit|l«i^akh Aicvtedtd «h6 Mljei Viaid whM 
 
 little (Welling there vi^Uf. it ftHiuto htr feet Oar watklettr <now left 
 
 theriveri and afteirpfocwdill^s^gpod diftance, flie oanie te where the 
 
 valley puted itft# tw4 lAitti: leldiag a different cbttsft.^*-4ier# a paifaf ol 
 
 fiif{>enre ag^h:Mbl( pia<ie ; aiorlom creature, almeft. exlfaufted,. aid «ec- 
 
 taAh U^flnr^idr^r led out of the way, that fhe wioidd otymr ft* a bkiio^b 
 
 ere^^vei During thi$ denbt^ a beautifal bird pafled irlofe by her, flut- 
 
 «ei>^tiltoig the groundf and Went out of iigUt tip nod of thd vallie). 
 
 "^bn^nmr ber attention, and, whilft tfofffideriag' <ifh'it it m^liit meatt, 
 
 CAother bird of the ihme appeazaheef Ur like mstmlei* flatterctf pdft bet, 
 
 ■tfld took the ^me valley eii^ former JMid dorte. 'tbis detcirmiiied : her 
 
 -tbolci of liter way4 add i«t!^od^rs/;. which was ea the f ith day of Aof* 
 
 li«k^,> JlhcrteacbedtiM (bttlcttaddtot.Gynch, called N^w-Oarden) whereas 
 
 |(he it fthee IbiflannKd 1^ Vo^fdmra^ Ihe taken the other valley, ik 
 
 #«ia1d b«ve led bicfe JdwardSitM Ohio. Mrs. Scott Idated that tiie In^ 
 
 ■diant told her, that the party «i^*s cbmplofed pf fottrdlflenBiftnationS| two 
 
 ^f whom Qie thinks they nahied O^laorares and Mi^q;dcfs. ' 
 
 .' ■ IShe'fhrtber relates^ that, duting bar wandering frbm the loth of jM^ 
 
 (ttyi^'tfth of Augdft, a» 1AA M other fdbfiftitete but chewing and 
 
 f^vallowingthe juice of young cade Aalks^ fafiafrns leaves, and fomfco^ 
 
 ther plants Ae"^ did ndtltnow thitname of; ttiift, ma her journey, fte faw 
 
 boffkkies, elksj deer^ and fre^iaently I)cart> ibaft wdlvAs; not one of 
 
 Which, Although fbtat of them piifled-very near her, c^red her any hamr. 
 
 4Q)itt di^ a bear came near her,' with i young fitwniii his ihdutb, sndoft 
 
 difebming her, he dropped bit pivy had ran off' Hnng^r.prompted her 
 
 to tmioA MilEe the flefli, ahdeat it; but on vefieftioia, Oie d^flfted, thinks 
 
 ing tWt the bear niig^t retarn'tSbd devoutW } befidei, Ihi lud aa av6r> 
 
 floa to tall* rkvr fleflioM^-^VIrs; $t!dtt:a9tttin^.s in a low Aate ef healthy 
 
 «Md ramains inconfokUe foe theloft of Uir fknlil^ parttctdatlv b*wait< 
 
 ihg the crtivl deiittt of her Ihtkilirai^ter. 
 
 ^ii^is. 
 
 t,fii._ . . ■ »i»ij > ' j,..._ 
 
in«n;tlietppto 
 tci«jrio«8 nw^- 
 rotn tht height, 
 d: X» alight \tz% 
 It being exceed- 
 Dcecd fdr .fiKMe 
 
 travelkd in it, 
 /Hit mountain, 
 i^TNTdts^travelliiig 
 iths'mclei; Am 
 dcd that death 
 j^ced te a mew 
 hit»of herbod|r 
 iibik&.be thM 
 laM \i»hM 
 desMr inotf ' Ictc 
 e tm when the 
 "Hare apaifafai 
 tufted^ aaid xieii- 
 ierfceafakiinito 
 fd by her, flnt- 
 
 of: thd vallie^. 
 it inig)]it meatil^ 
 Dtei-Ml psift hee, 
 ia:teimiiiwd:}iar 
 ftthday of Anf- 
 trden) tHieneaa 
 ither valley, \t 
 ed tbUt tiie'In>- 
 nfenatioo«| two 
 
 the 10th of Jnl^ 
 it chewing and 
 it^ and ibmfcoi' 
 iurney, ftle faw 
 s; not one of 
 d her any harm, 
 itioutb, sndvNi 
 T.frampted her 
 a^Med, tUiak^ 
 hihifida«av6r> 
 Hate «f healthy 
 
 :,*'*' 
 
 ;-*pi5ai«*«i»- '- ».*f"«>w-**