John Gardner, one of the young pioneers in the village "on the peninsula," was from Massachusetts. He was a sailor by trade, who enlisted in the first detachment of pioneers immigrating from the East and one of those arriving at the mouth of the Muskingum in April of 1788.

    Jervis Cutler, a young man from the same state as young Gardner, joined the company with him along the way. They agreed to assist each other in clearing their lands, after arriving with the second association, up the Muskingum in 1789. In September of that year, they were busily engaged in clearing their lands.

    On the last day of September, Cutler decided to go down river to Marietta for supplies. Gardner grew tired and sat down on the trunk of a large tree which he had just cut. (It was near the spot where Bowen's had a store, later on.) He laid his rifle aside and was busily counting some balls which he had poured into his hand from his bullet pouch.

    Four Indians and a white man appeared within thirty feet of the log without his hearing their approach. The white man beckoned, and, speaking broken English, asked Gardner to come forward. As it was a time of peace and several parties of friendly Indians of the Delaware tribe had been hunting nearby, Gardner saw nothing amiss.

    Returning the balls to the bullet pouch, he picked up his rifle without hesitation and approached the party. The white man took Gardner's gun, looked it over, and handed it along to the last Indian who was without a rifle and so, kept it. Another Indians pulled off Gardner's hat while a third threw a cord over his neck and two of them took his hands and led him silently into the woods toward their camp.

    They passed near to the mills on Wolf Creek and from the top of the high ridge where the path led, Gardner could distinctly see the people at work. The party could not be seen for the thick growth of brush along the path. They marched along in silence, two or three miles before reaching the Indian camp where they had left their horses and a number of bells that they had stolen from the settler's cows. Among the horses Gardner saw one which he knew, a small mare belonging to Judge Gilbert Devol.

    The Indians mounted up leaving Gardner and one Indian walking behind. Taking turns, the Indians all rode leaving Gardner to make his way on foot in a most uncomfortable fashion. They headed southwest leading over to the waters of Federal Creek. At night they camped without a fire, giving their prisoner a small piece of jerked meat for supper, as they had very little for themselves.

    Before they lay down to sleep, a stout sapling was bent down and fastened to the ground. On this they made him lie, with his hands bound behind him with leather thongs, while another cord fastened him to the trunk. They tied the cow bells to the branches so that their ringing would awake them should he attempt to escape that night. They lay down near him on the ground. Being much fatigued with the long march and excitement of the day, he made no attempt to escape that night, but lay quietly on his rough bed.

    In the morning a fire was kindled and after smoking their pipes and eating a little jerked meat, they proceeded on their march. In the course of the day, during a short halt, they cut off a part of his hair and painted his face, like an Indian.

    The second day, they encamped before night and two of the Indians went out to hunt meat for supper. While they were gone, Gardner was directed to gather wood and kindle a fire. They soon returned with the carcasses of a deer and a bear. Their flesh was roasted and their prisoner received a plentiful meal, the first he had eaten since he had been with them. At night he was secured in the same way as before. Towards the morning it began to rain. The rain moistened the dry leather thongs with which he was bound and rendered them pliable. After several cautious hours, he succeeded in getting loose, and slipping gradually from the prostrate sapling, stepped to the sleeping Indian beside the fire and grasped his rifle. He was unable to get his powder horn and bullet pouch, as the Indian had the belt, to which they were attached, around his body.

    Heading in the direction of home, Gardner walked all night and at daylight took an easterly course, traveling without stopping, all day, except to drink from small branches which he crossed. That night he crept into a hollow log, closing the opening with brush and leaves. This kept him warm and protected from wolves. On the second day of his escape, he came to the west branch of Wolf Creek, and by following down the stream, came to a place which he recognized from his hunting trips. A little before nightfall he reached the mills and was heartily greeted by his friends, who were aware of his mysterious disappearance.

    In the meantime, Jervis Cutler had made his trip to the settlement at the mouth of the Muskingum and returned to the mills, without any knowledge of the adventures of his companion. The meeting was most gratifying and in the morning they returned to the scene of their woodland labors with renewed spirits, four adventurous days having elapsed.