Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1907 — MUTUAL SERVICE. [ARTICLE]

MUTUAL SERVICE.

The experience of Capt Robert Ben ham, during troubles with the Indiana In Ohio In 1778, Is one of the strangest In the history of Indian warfare. Ths author of “The Ohio River” gives a description of It. “Having broken through the line of Indians during a battle, Benham made his escape, though wounded by a musket-ball In both legs near the loins. He reached an Ind mense fallen tree, crawled under It, and lay still through the ensuing night and the next day, In bitterest pain. “On the evening of the second day ho shot a raccoon on a tree near by rs hoping by some means to get and cook It At the crack of his musket the sound of a human voice reached him. In a moment’s time he reloaded and awaited the Indian’s approach, resolved to fight to the last extremity. The voice sounded nearer. “ ‘Whoever you are,’ were the beseeching words, ‘answer me.’ And at the words a borderer, shot through both arms, came into sight “The comrades were unspeakably pleased each to find the other, for between them they had a pair of armfi and a pair of legs, and therefore some hope of life and escape. As best he could, Benham dressed all the wounds, and then proceeded to cook some food; all that could be done with arms and hands Benham did, cooking, loading and firing the gun. “His comrade, having the' rims of a hat placed between his feet by Benham, waded Into the river and secured sufficient water for their needs; he also drove wild turkeys near enough to Benham to allow him to bring some down, and then be kept tossing them with the toe of his boot toward camp until they were within Benham’s reach. By the same means he kept his partner supplied with wood. "When the wounds healed and the men could travel, they camped at the mouth of Licking River in the hope of being picked up by a passing flatboat Near the last of November a boat was hailed, and although It took some time to prove that they were not such savages as their appearance indicated, they were taken on board -and carried to Louisvllle.’t. _ >