An Indian Story
John Kilburu was ono qf tho pcttlers of Walpole, N. II. When Col. Ben. Bollows great-grandfathcr of the Rev. Dr. II. W. iellows, of New York) carne to the town o settle, he found Kilburn in a garrioned house about two Hiilos north of the own. In tho summcr of 1705 (the year of tliebreaking out of the old French var) two mea were shot by the Indiaïl. Shortly before thi-, an Indian immod 'hilip liad visited Kilburn'a house in a 'riendly way, pretendingto be in want of' )rovÍ8Íons. He was Bupplied with nints iiid flour, and disinissed. It was aseerained that this same Indian had visited dl the settlements on the river, doubtless o procure informationofthe state of thcir efenses. Word came froin Gov. Shirley hat 600 Indians were colloeting in Canida, whose aim was the butchery and excution of tbc whule of thn white popuia - ion on the upper part of the Conuecticut iiver. Col. Bellows had at this time about 30 men at a strong fort which he had built on a hill oveiiooking the Connecticut, about half a niile south of Kilburn's but oo distant to ufford him any aid. About. loon on the 17th of June, Kilburn and his on Johu, in his cighteeiith year, and also i man named Peak, and his son, were reuruing to dimmr, from the field, when one of thom discovered the red legs of tho ndians among the alders "as thick as ;ra.sshoppors." The whito men instant ly made for tho house, fastened the doors, and preparcd for an obstinate defense. ülburu's wife, liuth, and his daughtcv, letty, were already in the house. In about fiftoen minutes the savagos were een crawliug up the bank cast of the ïouge, and as they crossed the foot-path, one by one, 197 were counted, about the same nuniber, it afterward proved, had remained in ambush, but joined the at.aeking party soon. The sa vagos appeared to have learnod hut Col. Bellows and his men were at work at his grist mili, about a niile cast, and they intonded to waylay and mulder ;hera before attacking Kilburn's house. The Colonel and his men wore now reiurning homo, each with a bag of meal on his back, and unsuspieious of danger, when the dogs began to growl and be;ray the neighborhood of an enomy. The kolonel, knowing the language of tho dogs and the wiles of tho Indians, instautly adopted his policy. Ho directed jis men, throwing ott' the meal, to crawl carcfully to the risc of land, and on reachmg the top of the bank to spring together to thoir feet, give ono whoop, and instantly drop into the sweet-fern. The movcment had the desired effect to draw the Indians from their ainbush. At tho sound of the whoop, fancying themselves discovered, the whole body of the savagos aroso from tho bushes in a somi-cirelo around the path Col. Bellows was to havo followed. His men fired upon tho Indians, who werp so disconcerted that they dartod into tho bushes and dissappeared. The Colonel, sensible of his uuequal force, hurriod his men off by tho shortest cut to the fort, and prepared for ite defense. The Indians, finding tlioir plan defeatíd, tlien dotcrminod to taku vengeance on i weaker party, and soon appeared on the eminonoe east of Kilbuni's house. - Here the samo treacherous Philip, who bad visited him and partaken of his hospitality BO short a timo bof oro, carne torward under the shelter of a tico, and summoiied tho littlo garrison to surrendc-r. " Old John, young Jchn," cried ho, " I know ye; como out hero. AVe KÍT6 you good quarter." " Quarter ! " vociferated old Kilbnrn, in a voice of thundcr "you black raseals, begono.or we'll quarter you! " It was a bravo reply for fout men t make to nearly four hundred Philip returned, and aftor a short consultution tho war-whoop rang out, as if, to use tho languago of an oar-witnoss, " al tho devils in heil had broko loose." Kil burn was lucky and prudent enough to get the first fire, bcfore tho smoke of tho battlo perplexed his aim, and was confi dent ho saw Philip fall. The firo from the littlo garrison was returned by a sliower of balls from thó savages, who rushed forward to tho attaok. The roo Hext to the eminence trom which tho at tack was mado was a perfect " riddluaieve." Home of tho Indians feil at onoc to butchering ih'e eattle ; othersto a wanton destruotior: of tho graiu, whilo tho largor part ept up an inccssaiit firo at tho house. Meanwhile EUbum and his men - ayo, nd his woinen - wcro In [ly at work. . Their powdcr they pourcd into theii hiits for groater oonvenien'co ; the w.iim 11 lóaded ï i n ; gillis, ;ill of th( in being kopt liot by iuueuaant use. KS tin ir stock of lead grew short they suspended blankpts over their heads to oatch the ballsof the aiieruy, whicli penotrated ono sido ot' the roof and feil short of the other. These wore immediatelyruil ly these Spartan wonen into bullets, and before they had time to cool were sent back to the enemy f rom whence they came. Sevoral attempta were mado to foroe the door, but tlio unerriug aim of the marksnii'ii sent sucli eertain deatli to their assailanta, that they soon desisted froin their efforts. Most of tho time tlio Indians kept behind logs and slumps, and avouled a.s best they COIlld the firo of tho little Gibraltar. The whole afternoou, even tül sundown, tlio battle continuud, nntil, as tlie sun set, the savages, unable to oonquni so gmaO a fortress, discouraged und ballled, forsook the ground, and, as was sujiposed, returned to Canada, abandoming the exnedition on whieh thuy had set out. Is it not reasonable to .suppose that their fatitl experience here, through the m itchle.-js detense ot' these héroes and heroines, was intnuncntal in taving lumdreds of th(i dwellers on the fror.tier frpm the homora of ua Indian ni;i.-s.icre 't Se'.dom did it fall to the lot of the early settlers to wdtl :i more britliant crown thüii John Kilburn earned in tliis glorious exploit. Peak got the only wound ot his party, receiviüg a ball in the bips, from exposure at a port hole, whioh, uuhappily, fot laok of surgical care, oaused bis death on the iit'tli day. The Indians nevcr appeared in that ïieighborhood af terward, although the war did not termínate till eight years aftcrward. John Kilburn lived to SCO liis fourth generation enjoymg the benefit of a high civilization on the spot he had rescued from tho savages. AVhat auiount of destruction ho and his coinpanions mado among the savages it was impossible to teil, as they carefully Oanied OÍF aud concealod their dead.
Article
Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus