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trict, and that the captain of each company should report the result of the vote.

This proposition was successfully opposed. But the parties in favour respectively of confederation and of separate state independence were so equally balanced in convention, that resolutions of the most opposite tendency were offered and carried.

A seventh convention was then called, which met at Danville, in November. Previous to this, however, the Kentucky Gazette was established at Lexington by John Bradford, and through the columns of this newspaper the people were enabled to glean a more accurate knowledge of the real condition of things.

As the time for the election of delegates to the seventh convention approached, a concise and clear statement appeared in the Gazette, of the particular clauses in the laws of Virginia, and in the articles of the confederation, which would be violated by the formation of an independent government in the manner proposed by Wilkinson and his party. This well-written article, which though it appeared under the signature of George Muter, was attributed to the pen of Colonel Thomas Marshall, had an excellent effect in modifying the opinions of many who had hitherto been opposed to the Union.

Of the five representatives in convention to which Fayette was entitled, four were elected

from the party headed by Marshall, while Wilkinson was the only candidate on the opposite side who was successful.

A series of long, turbulent, and vexatious debates ensued, in which Wilkinson, Brown, and Innis, the leaders of the independent party, were conspicuous for the boldness of their sentiments, and the daring character of their innuendos.

In the mean time, Virginia sought to allay the feud by passing a third act, requiring the election. of delegates to another convention, to assemble at Danville, in July, 1789, and go over the whole ground anew.

In the winter of this year, an English agent from Canada visited Kentucky, and called on Colonel Marshall, and subsequently on General Wilkinson. His object appears to have been to sound the temper of Kentucky, and to ascertain how far she would be willing to unite with Canada in any contingency that might arise. Suspicion having arisen among the people of his being a British spy, he soon found it necessary to seek safety, by retiring from the country with equal speed and secrecy.

The new general government having by this time gone into operation, the executive of Virginia was authorized to inform the convention, that a force of regulars would soon be organized to protect Kentucky from any future Indian incursions. This information, acting upon the

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They accepted drew up a meadmission into

modified temper of the people, doubtless had its weight upon their representatives. The eighth convention met in July, 1790. the Virginia act of separation; morial to Congress praying for the Union, and made provision for the election of a ninth convention, to assemble in April, 1791, and form a state constitution. At the meeting of Congress in December, 1790, Washington strongly urged the recognition of Kentucky as one of the states of the Union; and on the 4th of February, 1791, an act to that effect passed both houses, and received the signature of the president.

9

CHAPTER VII.

Indian inroads-Silas Hart pursues the Indians-Is killedHeroism of young Hart-Captivity of the family—Judge Rowan sails down the Ohio-Is pursued by Indians-His perilous position-Wonderful presence of mind of Mrs. Rowan -Adventure of Caffree, McClure, and Davis-Meet with an equal number of Indians-Terrible combat-Caffree and Davis killed-Subsequent adventures of McClure-His escape Colonel Marshall descends the Ohio-Is hailed by James Girty-Indian decoys-Captain Ward assaulted by Indians-Death of his nephew-Panic of the others-The search for a stray horse by Downing and Yates-They are followed by Indians-Downing conceals himself-Pursuit -Perilous situation of Downing-His remarkable escape.

IT has been already stated, that after the expedition of Colonel Clark against the Miami towns, the Indians generally preserved pacific relations with the whites. Occasional inroads, however, took place during the period of political ferment into which Kentucky was plunged, by her almost interminable succession of conventions. The incidents connected with these inroads afford instances of presence of mind and heroism equal to any that occurred in the earlier history of the settlement.

Late in the summer of 1782, one of these predatory bands of Indians, having committed excesses in Hardin county, Silas Hart, surnamed by the savages for his keen sagacity, "Sharp

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eye," assembled a party of settlers and pursued the marauders. In the pursuit Hart shot their chief, while several others of the party were also killed, only two making good their escape. When the death of the chief was made known to his brother, he declared vengeance on Hart, and collecting a small band of warriors, he secretly made his way to the vicinity of Elizabethtown, and commenced plundering and destroying.

No sooner was the neighbourhood fairly aroused than the Indians decamped. Among the foremost in pursuit was Hart. Finding it impossible to overtake the savages, the people returned to their homes. In the mean while, the Indians, who had secretly kept a watch upon the movements of their pursuers, turned when they turned, and followed them back into the settlement.

Hart reached home, some five miles from Elizabethtown, about dark in the evening, and having no apprehension of any Indians being near, went to bed and slept soundly. The next morning, while the family were seated at breakfast, the Indians, who had secreted themselves around the house during the night, suddenly appeared at the door, and the brother of the fallen chief shot Hart dead. The son of Hart, a boy of twelve years of age, no sooner saw his father fall, than, grasping a rifle, he sent a bullet through the savage before he could enter the door.

The Indians then rushed into the house in a