Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-09-20

capin tuking no more thun the usual pre-.
csutions. lo sa 54f 5aplad Aas lfr
On the following morning q, day bresk,
while he Captain and MIR Mckay were yet
asleep, canoe came along side 10 which
were twenty Indians. commanded by young
Shewish. They were unntmcd, their aspect
and demeanor friendly, and they held up
otter skins. and made signs Indicative Of q
wish TO trade The caution enjoincd by
Mr.. Aston. in respect 10 the admission Of In
dams on board Of the ship. had been neglec-
ted Tor some time past; and the officers Of
The watch, perceiving those in the canoe 10
be without weapons, and having received
no orders to the contrary. readily permitted
them 10 mount the deck Another canoe
soon succeeded, tho crew Of which was
likewise sdmiued. In iltlc while other
canoes came up, and Indians were soon
clambering into The vessel on all sides
The officer Of the watch now felt alarmed
and called TO Captain Thorn and Mr. Me.
Kay. BY the time they came on deck, it
was lhrouged with Indians The interpre
ter noticed 10 Mr.. Mckay that many OF the
natives wore short nantes OF skins, and in
iimated suspicion that they were secretly
armed Mr.. Mckay urged the Captain TO
clear the ship and get under way. lie a.
mented swarms Of canoes about the ship,
and the numbers still putting OF from shore,
at length awakened his distrusi. and he or
dercd some OF the men 10 weigh anchor,
while some were sen, aIofi to make sail
The Indians now offered 10 trade with
the Captain on his own terms, prompted up.
parenlIy by the approaching departure OF
the ship Accordingly hurried trade wns
commenced. The main articles sought by
the savages in barter were knives; MS fast
Us some were supplied, they moved Off and
others succeeded BY degrees they were
thus distributed about the deck, and all with
weapons.
The anchor was now nearly up, the sails
were loose. and the Captain in a loud and
percmptory tone, ordered the ship TO be
cleared In an instant signal yell was
eivcn--it was echoed on every side. knives
and war clubs were Lrandshed in every di.
section. and The savages rushed upon their
marked victims.
| The first that fell was Mr. Lewis, the
ships clerk He was leaning. with folded
arms. overa bale of blankets, engaged in
bargaining, when he received deadly stab
in the back, and fell down the companion.
way
| Mr.. Mckay. who was seated in tafTrail.
sprang on his feet. but was Instantly knock
ed down with war club and flung back
wards into the sea. where he was dcspa,c he'd
by the women in the canoes.
In the mean time. Captain Thorn made
| 4. C,ht n,f,l Ill. II
was apowcrful as well as resoluir man, but
he had come on deck without weapons
Shewish, the young chief, singled him out
as his peculiar prey, and rushed upon him
al the first outbreak. The captain had bare
ly, time to draw clasp knife. with one
blow Of which he laid the young savage
dead at his feet. Several OF the sioutes.
followers OF Shewish now set upon him.
He defended himself vigorously. dealing
crippling blows TO the right and left aud
sirrwine The quarter deck with the slain
and wounded. His object was TO fight his
way 10 the cabin. where there were fTe
arms but he was hemmed with Toes. cover
ed with wounds and faint with loss OF blood.
For an instant he leaned upon the iiller
wheel when a blow lIom behind, " ith war
club, fc!lel him TO the deck where he was
despatched with knives and thrown over
board
While this was iransnciina on the quar-.
ter deck chancc-meiey fight was going
on throughout the ship. The crew fought
desperately with knives. hand spikes. and
whatever weapon they could size in tho
moment of surprise. They were soon, how.
ever. overpo~ered by numbers. s. merciless
" bnlchrred.
As to the seven who had been sent alofl
to make sail. they contemplated with horror
the carnage that was going on below. Be-
ing d-silue OF weapon they let themselves
down by the running rigging, in hopes oil
getting between tho decks One fell in the
attempt and was Instantly despatched, anoth.
er received death blow in The back as he
was defending. third Stephen Weekes,
the armorcr. was MORALLY wounded ms he
was getting down the hatchway
The remaining four made good their re.
treat into the cabin, where they found Mr.
Lewis, still alive. though MORALLY wonn
dcd. Bnrricading the cabin door. they
broke holes through the companionway with
the muskcts aud ammunition which were nl
hand, opened brisk fire that soon cleared
the deck
| Thus far the Indian interpreter. from
whom these particulars are derived was an
i eye witness ofihe deadly conflict. lie had
taken no part in il. and being spared by the
natives as being OF their race. In the con
fusion Of the momen. he took ref,Ire wiib