Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1836-12-20

house until dark. They then poured in
heavv fire at oil the windows and lanterns !
that was the time they set fire TO the door
and window even with the ground /; the
window was boarded up with plank and fill
led up with stones inside but the flames !
spread fast being red, with yellow pine |
wood. Their balls had perforated the tin
tanks Of oil, consisting OF 225 gallons; my |
bedding, clothing, and in fact every thing |
had was soaked in oil. ! stopped at the
door until driven away by the flames. |
then took key of gun-powder, my balls,
and one muskeL 10 the top Of the house,
then went below, and began To cut away
the stairs about hall way up from the bot
tom had difficulty in getting the old me-
gro man up the space | had already cut,
but the flames now drove me from my labor,
and | retreated TO the top Of tie house. |
covered over the scultle that lead 10 the
lantern, which kept the fire from me Tor
some time at last the awful moment ar
rived, the cracking flames burst around
1 me, the savages at the same time began
! their hellish yel!s; my poor old negro
looked up 10 me with tears in his eyes, but
could not speak we went out OF The Ian
tern, and lay down on the edge Of the plat
| form two feet wide; the lantern was full of
! flame, the lamps and glasses bursting and
| flying in every direction, my cloths on fire,
end 10 move from the the place where
was would be instant death from their RI
| files. My flesh was roasting and TO put an
| end to my suffering, | got up, threw the
! key Of gunpowder down the scut lie; in
| stanily IL exploded and shook the tow
er from the top to the bottom; it had not
the desired effect oil blowing me into eter-
nifty, but it threw down the stairs and all
the wooden work near the top OF the house !;
it damped The fire for uoment, but it soon
bazed as fierce as ever the negro man
said he was wounded, which was the last
word he spoke
BY this time had received some wounds
myself; and finding no chance for my life,
for was roasting alive, took the deter
minalion TO jump Off got up went out
side the iron railing, Recommending my
soul TO God, and was on the poiut OF going
head foremost on the rocks below, when
something dictated TO me TO return and lie
down again did so, and in two minutes
the fire Tell to the bottom of the house. 1t
is remar kabie circumstance that not one
ball struck me when stood up outside the
railing, although they were flying all a.
round me like hail stones. | found the old
negro ma dead, being shot in several
places, and literally roasted. A few min
/ utes after the fire fell, stiff breeze sprung
| up from the southwark, which was great
blessing TO me. / had TO lie where was
for could not walk, having received three
rifle baIls in each foot. The Indians, think.
e ing me dead, left the light house, and Sc
t fire to the dwelling house, kitchen, and 9th
r er out houses, and began to carry theii
plumber TO the beach; ,hey took all the
> empty barrels, the drawers Of the bureaus
and in fact, every thing that would act as
vessel TO hold any thing my provision
were in the light house except barrel O
8 -four, which they took off. The next NOR
: ming they hauled out of The light house !,
= means OF pole, The tin that compose
the oil tanks, no doubt 10 make CRATES {
d. manufacture the country root into what W
;. call arrow root. After loading my liltl
n sloop, about 10 or twelveswenl into her; III
}. rest took 10 the beach 10 meet at the olhe
IS end OF the island. This happened, as judge
i about 10 A. M. My eyes being much af
IS ected, prevented me from kno wing the
e actual force, but Judge there were irol
a 40 10 30, perhaps more. ] was now almoi
3, as bad off as before; a burning fever q
70 me, my feet shot TO pieces, no clothes
= cover me, nothing 10 eat or drink, h'
sun over head, dead man by my side, r
friend near, or any to expect, and place
T. between 70 and 80 feet from the earth,
al no chance of getting down, my SITUATE
p was truly horrible; about II O'Clock,
v thought | could preceive vessel not Il
of; touk piece of the old Negroes tro'
y sers that had escaped the flames by belr
}. wet with blood, and made signal.
[. Some time in the afternoon, saw "
" boats with my sloop in low coming 10 Il
q. lauding. ] had no doubt but they were !
dans, having seen my signal, aud had T
turned to finish their murderous desig
're bu, it proved to be boats OF the the u.
it'll schooner Motto, Capt. Armstrong, with
&C detachment Of seamen and marines, und
IL the command of Lieut.. Lloyd, Of the slo
:, of war Concord. They had reIaken I
" soop after The Indians had stripped her
10 her sails and rigging, and every thing
lr- consequence belonging to her; they
bic formed me they heard my explosion
ex. Twelve miles off, and ran down 10 my ass
=. lance, but did not expect TO find me ally
70 These gentleman did all in their power
relieve me, but night coming on, they
turned on board the Motto, after assuri
at me of their assistance in the morning.
ca Next morning, Monday, July 5 thu
Use boats landed, among them Capt. Cole,
the schooner Pee Dee, from New fo
They had made kite during The night
r. get a line 10 me, but without effect; II
then fred Irvine from their muskels ms
ia fast 10 ramr ,d, which | received q
ur- hauled up a tail block aud made last arou
da, an iron stauncheOn, rove the twlne lrou
ate the block, aud they below by that me'
at rove two inch rope, and holsled up
per men, who soon landed me on terra iirna