Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-03-24

ditch, or stockadc. in the half built
CABIN, with deerepi,udc and infancy.
listening tn every step. anxious for the
coming IN of those who had gone forth
IN search Of the foe. than il did Ia fiyht
the foe when he WAS met. This was
more than Spartan fUrtitude: for the
enemy seldom saw the dwelling where
the heroic mother Of Sparta waited 10
hear the fate Of her husband or chill
dren but ours were in constant dan.
ger 81 an attack from the savages.
/ Many instances OF female heroism,
which occurred during the early settle
mcnt Of this country, are on record,
and should be carefully preserved.
among the most conspicuous. WAS that
"f Mrs. Hannah Duston, Of Haverhill.
pleasant village situated on the lef,
bank OF the Merrimack. On the 18th
at March, 1893, Mrs. Duston was made
prisoner by party Of Indians. She
was on this day confined 10 her bed by
sickness, attended by her nurse. Mary
Ma. Seven children, besides female
infant six days old, were with her
As soon as the alarm was given. her
husband sent away the seven children
towards the garrison house. by which
time the Indians were so near. that.
| despa'rIDg Of saving the others of his
family, he FASTENED after his children
on horseback. This course was adyis.
ed by his wife. She thought il was idle
tor her To attempt 10 escape. a party
OF Indians followed him, but the father
Kept IN tie rear of his children, and
often firing on his pursuers. he KEEP,
them back, and was enabled 10 reach
the garrison with his children in safety.
ihe Indians took Mrs. Duston from
her bed aud carried her of. with the
tie nurse and infant Lut finding the
little one becoming troublesome, thev
took her from her mothers arms by
iorce. and dashing her against tree.
ended her means. and miseries, aud
HE together. The mother had follow
eel she Indians until This moment with
ialteF'ng steps aud bitter tears, think
ing On the fate OF herself. her babe. and
her oth1x children. After this horrid
outrage,Nhe wept no more; the agony
ni nature drank the tear drop ere il
tell. She looked 10 heaven, with a 81
lent prayer for succor and vengeance.
and followed the internal group with
out word Of complaint. At this in
slant, the high resolve was formed IN
her mind. and swelled every pulse Of
her heart. They travelled on some
distance; as she thought, one hundred
aud htty miles. but, perhaps, from the
course they took, about seventy FIVE.
The river had probably been broken up
but short time. aud the canoes of the
Indians were above the upper falls on
the Merrmack. when they commenced
their journey to attack Haverhill.
Above these falls, on an island in the
river, the Indians had a wigwam, and
IN getting their canoes in order, and
by rowing ten miles UP the stream, be-
came much iatIgued. When they rea CHI
ed the place of rest, they slept soand-
iy. Mira. Dus,on did not sleep. The
nurse, and an English boy. a prisoner,
we're apprised Of her design. but we're
not ot much use 10 her in tie execution
ui ~. In the stiffness 0f the nieh,. she.
arose and went out Of tie wIgwsn, to
test the SOundnrss aud security Of "a
wage sleep. They did not move they
were to sleep until the last day. She
returned. took one Of their hatchets.
aud despatched ten q them in a mn.
ment, each with single blow. An
Indian woman, who wa iiSing when
she struck her, fed With her probable
death wound and an Indian bn, Wa
dcsignedly spared, for the avsncer OF
blood vas woman, ard mother. and
could not deal a death blow upoo n
helpless child. Size survrycd tie car.
mage ground by the light of the fire
which she stirndup afler the deed "a
done. aud catching a few handsfall Of
roasted corn. she commenced her ingr-
ney but on rejecting a moment. she
thought the people Of IIayerhill would
consider hes tale as tie ravings Of fund.
ness when she should get home. n eve.
that ti,re might come Size therefore
returned and scalped The siain; ,hcn
pat her nurse and English boy lnto the
canoe, and with herself Ghev fsaird
down to the falls, when She landed aud
TOOK To- The woods, keep,nzthe ti,eriu
sight. which she knew must direct her
on the way home. After suffering Va
credible hardships. BY hunger, cold.
aud fatigue. she reached Lrue, 10 tie
surprise aud Joy II i,er husband, chil
drcn and iricnds. The gcnersl court
81 massaohusetts examined her story.
ai'd being satisfied Of tie truth II Il,
TOOK her uoIbies, tie scslps. aud gave
her h'iy pouuds. The people II b..
on made her many prestDfs. All
classes we're snxiOu, 10 see ihe heroine
and ~ one Of tie writers Of that ia,