ROBERT CARPENTER.
A nephew of Joseph Tomlinson, named Robert Carpenter,
came near losing his life under the following circumstances.
He had gone out early in the morning for the horses, and
while hunting near Grave creek, was fired on by a party
of Indians who were concealed near the bank. The ball
took effect in his shoulder, breaking the bone, and inflicting
a severe wound. Thus disabled, the Indians soon overtook
and made him prisoner. Anxious to get possession of the
horses, but unable to catch them, the Indians concluded to
let Carpenter try it, as the animals knew him and would be
less difficult to capture.[44]
Accordingly, Carpenter was untied
and started in pursuit. Going about two hundred yards,
he determined to escape, and instead of catching the horses
ran towards the house of a friend. But his flight was so
greatly impeded by the old shoes which he wore, and his disabled
arm, that the savages soon overtook him. Another
attempt was then made by the Indians to get the horses, but
utterly failing, Carpenter ventured to offer his services, declaring
that he would not again try to escape, but do his best
to catch the horses, and go along with them to their country.
Finding they could not get near the animals, they concluded
to trust Carpenter once more, threatening him with all
manner of horrid deaths if he attempted again to escape.
This time he adroitly drove the horses before him a considerable
distance, and then kicking off his shoes, and taking
a firm hold of his maimed limb, started on the race of life or
death. He safely escaped to the house of Nathan Master,
living on the farm now owned by Lewis D. Purdy, Esqr.
