Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-07-12


reverend pastor has eosnsclIsd pointed oct The cay
and prayed fsr blessing. thes oil dssercssbIs u |
iasioss viii vanish and nooeh, bot tho Joy OF the
mou,sn, will Jay upon The hearts u the msrned
pair. Thus the sadness that hrs, weighed down
The spirits departed and through the festivities OF
the evening they were the rsyesi ofihe gay.
The ihhsbitsnts Of the whole town were wrspt
~ siumber- the watch he'd been set but neglected
their deity for rePose, and oil without
Wa, peaceful and As sill
A, ,sr.ii light siumberius on ycn hill.
Bot ere the grey Of morning came the ffghtfoI
yell Of ssvsges bsokc upon the ears OF every Sleep
81. The doors and windows of the houses were
broken by the Indians to gain sdmittsnce TO The
defenoeic.s inhabitants. Many that sought repose
~ a,ed security, we're folded in the sleep oil
death. Many were torn from their beds and Tor
eed into the open ar. Mothers had their infauts
torn from their arms and dashed upon the frozen
ground. Fathers beheld their children knocked
down and soalpcd before their eyes. Husbands
we're torn from their wives and horribly butchered
Wives were shot down while clingug to their hus-
bands for protection.
The Rev. Mr. Williams. who but a few hours be-
fore had blessed the newly married pair, and prayed
that sorrow might come upon him rather than upon
them, was forced from his bed and compelled to
uiph,-clo,hes upon him where he the wife OF
his bosom dragged away. her infant al the breast
taken from her arms and dashed upon the stepping
stone and another. while clingng to him for pro-
lection shared the same fate. lie beheld those that
remained of his little family group-small children
preparing with their mother, enfeebled by late
kness TO be taken into captivity than death
itself and forced TO travel hundreds Of miles in the
ntcrninable forest, Though the snow. Can II be
supposed that the heart OF man could endure such
scene But the afflicted trusted in his Maker.
Theodore and Arabella were started from their
slumbers at the first sound the savage var-whoop
In an instant their dwellings was besct by the infu-
rated demons. No escape was deemed possible ;
and though bitter as is death, the inmates Of the
house, who owing to the bridal, were many in mum
Der, were resolved to die in their defence rather
than surrender themselves to lingering death or
horid captivity.
Having been joined by others Of the unfortunate
inhabitants they succeeded in repeling every sttempt
made by the Indians upon them. They beheld the
fires enkndled by the savages breaking out from
the neghboring buildings around. They saw from
their place Of fra and hazard security, many muir
dercd and the crack Of the Indians rifles was con-
tinually heard, while the shrieks Of women and
children and the groans eff the dying completed the
Arsbella almost distracted, broke from the back
part of the house and attempted to escape with
others of her sex whom she saw flying for their
lives. Theodore. with more presence of mind saw
the peril she was in, and hurried to the Of
his bride. He saw q sewage raise his tomahawk
to strike the afrighted bride to the earth, but ere
he blow descended Theodore shot the savage thro'
the heart. Arabea by the assistance that came
to her was conveyed back to the house, while The.
odore, delaying in Immediately following, was seiz-
ed by two powerful Indians that saw the death of
their companion, and effectually bound SO as to de-
prive him Of all power of resistance.
Thus were the happy prospects Of the young
couple destroyed by the all-powerfuI sense of an
adverse and horrid reality. Theodore with others,
captive was carried away. Arabella remained with
a few others who had succeeded in defending them
selves from the savsges in the only house that
vived the conAagration. To this day may that
same building be seen, with the marks of the In
dams Ratchet upon It's door, and the prints Of rife
balls upon it's sides-an interesting memento of the
past.
The state of Arabella's mind after the departure
of the captives, cannot be easily described. Let
the imagination picture the smoking ruins of q
whole village that a few short hours before was
the pride of the New England settlements. Let
o"S '"''s"o 'he Wahgieu coreeS VI many WIN ~eIe
familiar companions, strown upon the bloody ground
ana an immense trough Of those who proudly walk
ed Its streets, now sadly going into captivity. Let
one imagine this aud strive to realize The feelings
Of The detected Arabella.
The Indians with their captives succeeded in
reaching but few miles on The first day Of their
journey. The wife Of Mr. Willioms was knocked
on the head and scaped before the eyes of her hus-
band whilo unsuccessfully attempting to cross
Green River. Numberless were the scenes of cru
city and horror that Theodore beheld on that dsy
Of his unhappy bondage. At night the captives
were ehectually secured. Theodore was bound by
eofo aud made to lie beside an Indian who claim
ca 70 DC his master. Circumstanced as he was it
Gould not otherwise be expected that he would try
oil possible means for escape. In the night he
succeeded after much labor and hazard Of discoye-
ry' In disengaging himself from his fastening and
proceeded tar on his way home before he was mis-
sed by his master. When it was discovered that
ne mad escaped, the rest Of the capves were threat
ened with instant death. should like attemp, be
MADE. They were too much in fear Of pursuit to
return to find the los, captive, and Theodore was
permitted to make his way home without further
moleslation.
The return of Tbeodo,a ,..s a. ,,axooc,.1 a.