The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • Page A2

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$9.99 ASH (sa $8.00) 905 A 400 Notvalidwithanyotherdiscountsorspecials. EnjoyaRealFamilyOuting! CHRISTMASTREES! 6-8FootHandShearedWhitePine Cutyourown ONLY WreathsandRoping Directions: RightatRiverheadsH.S.Rt.701,2.3milestoBethelChurch(Rt.693), 6E. (540)885-06510-5 1-4 Slam ,1 .10, 011 enda, LOTTERY PICK 3 Friday Day: 5-7-9 hursday Night: 0-7-4 PICK 4 Friday Day: 5-8-1-2 Thursday Night: 2-7-9-4 CASH FIVE Friday Day: 3 -7-18-20-22 Thursday Night: 2 -7-25-26-28 CASH4LIFE 8-28-29-49-57 Cash Ball: 3 The News Leader strives to be accurate in its news columns. If you believe we have made an error of fact, please call Exec- tive Editor David Fritz a 213-9116 or (800) 793-2459 ext. 116.

Corrections will appear on his page. GETTING I RIGHT Charles Lewis grew up earning survival skills rom the best teachers in colonial Virginia his father, John Lewis, who had settled Staunton in 1732, a nd his older brothers, Andrew, William and homas. While still just a boy, this youngest mem- er of the Lewis family could hunt, fish and melt into the forest as well as any pioneer in the wilds of A ugusta County. ut on a day in 1749 or 1 750 we know the exact date Lewis made an mistake that for a time cost him his reedom and could have cost him his life. he boy, who was in his early teens, set out on a unting excursion from the half stone, half log home two miles east of Staunton known as Fort ewis.

As he padded hrough the forest intent bringing down some game, he allowed his attention to wander from his immediate surround- i ngs. He neither saw nor sensed the eyes that atched him from the shadows of the forest. uddenly, arms like bands of steel pinned his own arms behind him. struggles were et with howls of laugh- er as a band of warriors aterialized from the trees. Tears of mortification burned in the eyes at having been nared so easily.

An a wareness of sur- oundings was a prime lesson learned in the wilderness, and Lewis had forgotten it. As his hands were bei ng bound with buffalo hongs, Lewis wondered what was in store for him. It was not uncommon for Indians to torture their captives before killing them, or to take them prisoner to use as slaves in heir distant villages. Lewis, however, had little time to dwell on his fut ure; the points of several knives jabbed him in the back, prodding him forward on a march into the great, yawning wilder- ess. In single file the group passed through the foot- ills and then into the mountains, heading ever estward.

The cords inding wrists cut him cruelly, and stones a long the trail sliced into is bare feet. And all a long the way, for days and then weeks, knives prodded him in the back a nd sides, urging him ver onward. ut young Lewis was made of stern stuff, and for the entire length of the 200 miles he marched he orked the thongs at his wrists. One day, while the roup was traveling along the bank of a 20-foot prec- i pice, Lewis suddenly burst the cords at his wrists and leaped down the side of the precipice i nto the bed of a mountain orrent. Whooping, his aptors set off after him.

Lewis used the initial moments of his escape in putting as much distance a he could between him- elf and the Indians. He as aided by low undergrowth, which hid his movements, and the torrent, which drowned the sound of his footsteps. Ex- austion soon overcame im; he leaped upon a fallen tree which lay across his course, and collapsed among some weeds which had grown up around it. As he lay panting and nearly unconscious, three of his captors sprang over the tree trunk within a ew feet of where he lay. hey disappeared into the ark recesses of the forest.

Lewis was on the verge of rising when he turned is head and came face to face with an enormous attlesnake which had coiled near his head. The fangs were within a few inches of nose. The boy lay completely motionless while he reptile rattled its arning; several minutes ater it slowly crawled over his body and disappeared into the tall grass. Young Lewis sprang up a nd began the 200-mile ourney home, nearly tarving to death before he got there. But he made it, and his story went down in family and Augusta County lore.

ext week: Col. harles Lewis fights in the Battle of Point Pleasant. Contact Charles Culbertson at stauntonhisto- COURTESY OF CHARLES CULBERTSON Fort Lewis, the home of John Lewis and his family. It was from here that a teenaged Charles Lewis set out on an ill-fated hunting expedition in 1749 or 1750. The legendary survival skills Augusta Lewis CHARLES CULBERTSON SPECIAL TO THE NEWS LEADER The card pictured here hails from the late 1800s when the Staunton Dispatch and News was one of the Queen ajor newspapers.

Tit led it was distributed to subscribers at Christmastime and was agentle poetic reminder to tip the boy who delivered papers all year ong. The time for jolly gifts and mirth as come once more to bless the earth. enerous folks are lanning wise give their friends a glad surprise. In sunshine, storm or rain, Ibring your paper ust the same. please you this newsboy Will do his very best; You drop some silver in his hand And he will do the rest.

ontact Charles Culbertson at stauntonhis- The Christmas Greeting COURTESY OF CHARLES CULBERTSON worth noting that the bugaboo of political correctness haunt folks at this particular point in history. The ottom of the card wish readers a or winter or any other such vagary. It unequivocably blesses Staunton readers with Merry hristmas and A Happy New CHARLES CULBERTSON SPECIAL TO THE NEWS LEADER.