The Wilmingtonian., 1824-04-01

t4,d. where his descendants vet live. Settlers
however, rapidly increased-and the Indians De
gan to feel Jealous of the encroachments on tnelr
territory, and to threaten hostilities About the
time that the struggle commenced between 1res'
Britain and her refractory colonies, person VINO
had settled as far up the hennebeck' as Ca,r,
funk falls, be gan to be alarmed, and moved ms
family down to the settlements in Bloomfield lie
soon All er returned; when he found that his hul
had been robbed by the Indians. He fastened
hack with the intelligence, which excited 50
much alarm, that three experienced huhters'
los. Weston, senior, Isaac Smith, and Oliver wa.
son. we're ,lt spatched with a birch canoe, and
each gun. on voyage of discovery. 1hey pro
ceedcd up the river as tar as Savage's isiaho'
where they found it expedient to separate; agree
ing not To discharge their guns at any game they
might chance to see, uaess they came across tie
Indians: but when any one heard the report OF q
Gun, he was to return to Bloomfield with al pos
sible speed, and make preparations tor as goou
defence as practicable.
Having male these arrangements, WILSON pro
ceeded in the boat, and the other two on s''ore
They had no, long been separated, before the twe
who were on shore were saluted with the repor'
of a gun, echoing through the forest, ana feVer
berati Z from hill to hill with NOISE ise nun
der With the greatest despatch they hastened
home to their expecting friends, with the dread
flu, intelligence, that the hostile Indians were Ger
taiply spproachng All the families IN the set
Element were soon collected, and ferried over 10
the Great Island, so called, containing aoou' ~
scres. and situated lust below the confluence o'
the Wissesumset stream end the he'.'eoecN
They here waited with fearful expectations "
norant of the fate Of Wilson, who had most pro-
baby fallen victim to the ferocity OF the savaSes'
and fearing esery moment, that they were soon
10 be bu,chered themselves, or see their helpless
infants murdered before their eyes. They ofead-
ed that the ssyages would come down the riv-
er in their Canoes and make an attack IN tne high'
They, therefore, stationed guard ot their ahies'
men at the head of the island, to watch during the
darkness, while their wives and children win the
remaining men continued III barn, the ohy re-
fuge at hand.
black speed moving slowly and steadily down the
stream; and as it approached nearer, they thought
il rescmbled a canoe, with six or seven Indians
They accordingly concealed themselves m the
bushes and as soon as it was near enough, navlng
each singled out his man,at given slgnai a'i Hre'
and loaded their guns as soon as possible; oo'
hearing no noise from the canoe, they ~alled uf'
ill it had drifed almost ashore when u was d's-
covered to be a tree covered with hmhs, whch
they had "killed as dead as hammar." Mean
while, ihe party at the barn awakened, W me!
could sleep in such stuaton,) by the noise OF
the guns, jumped from their beds OF straw and
hay the men seized their arms, and FASTENED 10
the scene Of action while the women clasped
their children to their breasts, expecting soon to
be sent 10 the world of spirits. OF endure a cap
tvity more terrible than death itself. The re
turn of the men, however, from the shore, picfiee
them in sume measure. The next day, Wll-o'
returned from his voyage, and informed then
that as he was padding his canne along. an OIL
bear came down 10 the shore OF the river to drink
and before he thought of their agreement he hat
pu. brace of buiie.s through her; and that lie
had not seen or heard anght OF the indians.--
Thus ended this perilous affair; the ihfa ilant'
returned to their habtations, and resumtd tlleii
occupations in peace.