The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-06-08
HANNAH DUSTON.

This woman should be ranked among
the heroines of antiquity. She was the
wife of Thomas Duston, of Haverhill, in
Massachusetts, born in the year 1869, and
married in the year 1877. She had alto
gether l3 children. When the Indians,
who dwelt in the source of the Merrimac
river, and the region round about after a
great freshet on the 18th Of March, 1867,
came down the river and attacked Haver-
hill, she was confined to her bed with an
infant, only week old. Her husband
catching the alarm from the field, ran TO
the house and consulted bis wife on the
course he should pursue.-She calmly told
him to leave her and her infant to their
fate, and to make his escape if possible,
with her other children. He sent seven of
his children on the path through the woods
on the way to the garrison, and mounting
his horse, he followed in the rear; with
his musket he kept the pursuing Indians
away, until he found his charge in the
place of salty at the garrison. Before
Mr.. Duston had reached the garrison the
Indians returned and captured his sick wife,
and Mary Niece, her nurse,-They with
other captiyes, took their march, by order
of the savages, for the north, After they
had travelled few miles, the Indians found
the infant troublesome, and they took the
child from its nurse and dashed It's brains
out against a tree. Mrs. Duston was feeble
and wretched, but the outrage nerved her
for every enterprise. After this horrid
outrage she wept no more agony OF ma
ture drank the tear ere it fell. She looked
to heaven with silent prayer for succor
and vengeance, and followed the internal
group without word of complaint At
this instant, the high resolve was formed
in her mind and swelled every pulse of her
heart. They travelled on some distance as
she thought $50 miles, but perhaps from
the course they took, about 20. The river
had probably been broken up but short
time, and the canoes Of the Indians were
above the falls of the Merrmac, when they
commenced their journey to attack Haver-
hill.-Above these falls, on an island IN tins
river, the Indians had wigwam, and IN
getting their canoes in order, and by row.
ing ten miles up the stream, became much
fatigued. When they reached the place OF
rest, they slept soundly. Mrs. Duston did
not sleep. The nurse and an English boy
were apprised of her design, but were OF
not much use to her in executing 1t. In
the stiffness of night, she arose and went
out of the wigwam to test the soundness OF
savage sleep. They moved not /; they were
to sleep till the last day. She took one OF
their hatchets, and despatched ten Of them
in n moment, each with single blow. An
Indian woman, who was raising up when
she struck her, fed with her probable death
wound-and an Indian boy who was de-
signedly spared; for the avenger of blood
was a womou and mother and could not
deal death blow upon helpless child.
She surveyed the carnage ground by the
light of the fire, which she stirred up after
the deed was done; and catching few
handsfull Of roasted corn, she commenced
her journey; but rejecting moment she
thought the people of Haverhill would be-
lieve her tales as the rawlings of madness
when she should get home, il ever that time
might come, she therefore returned and
scalped the slain, then put the nurse and
English boy into the canoe, and with her.
self they foated down the falls, when she
took the woods keeping the river in sight,
which she knew must direct her on her way
home.
After suffering incredible hardships by
hunger, cold, and fatigue-shc reached
home. to The surprise and joy of her bus-
band, and friends. The general Court OF
Massachusetts examined her story, ana