The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-10-01

ter, where he succeeded ia getting into one o
the canoes. According to his statement, the
bay presented an awful spectacle after the Gu.
tastrorhe. The ship had disappeared, but the
bay was covered with fragments OF the wreck
with shattered canoes, and Indians swimming
for their ves, or struggling in the agonies OF
death while those who had escaped the dan
ger remained aghast and Supplied, or made with
frantic panic for the shore. Upwards OF Il hun
drcd savages were dcstroyedby the explosion,
many more were shockingly nntiliaed, and for
days afterwards the limbs and bodies of the
slain were thrown upon the beach
| The Inhabitants Of Neweetee were over
whelmed with CONSERVATION at this astonisll.
ing calamity, which had burst upon them III HE
very moment of triumph. The warriors sat
mute and mournful, while the women filed the
air with load lamentations. Their weeping and
walIing, however, was suddenly changed into
! yells of fury at the sight of unfortunate white
men. brought captive INTO the villnge. They
had been driven shore in one of the ship
boats, and taken at some distance along the
coast.
The Interpreter was permitted to converse
with them. They proved TO he the four brave
fellows who had made such desperate defence
from the cabin. The interpreter gathered from
them some of the particulars already related
They told! him further that, after they had beat
en- off The enemy, and cleared the ship, Lewis
advised that they should slip the cable and
deavor TO get to sea. They declined to take his
advice alleging that the wind was too strongly
from the bay and would drive them on shore.
They resolved, as soon it was dark, to put off
quietly, in the ships boat, which they would be
able to do unpCrcevcd, and to coast along back
to Astoria. They put their resolution into effect;
but Lewis refused to accompany them, beng
disabled by his wound, hopeless Of his escape
and determined on II terrible revenge. On the |
voyage ont he had repeatedly expressed IL pre-
sentiment: that he should die by his own hands, |
thinking it highly probable that he should be
engaged in some contest with the natives, and
being resolved, in Of extremity, to commit
suicide, rather than to be made prisoner. He
noG declared his intention to remain OH board
of tie ship, until daylight, to decoy many Of
the savages GU board as possible, thcn to sci fire
TO the powder magazine, and terminate his life
10y signal act OF Vengeance-Itow well he
succeeded has been shown.
His companions babe hun n melancholy adieu
and set off on the precarous expedition. They !
strove with might aud mann 10 get out of the |
bay, but found it impossible to weather point
of land and were at length compelled to take
shelter in small cove, where they hoped 10 re-
main concealed until the wind should ;be more
favorable. Exhausted by fatigue and watching
they fell into ii sound sleep, and in that state
were surprised by the savnges. Better had it
been for those unfortunate men had they re-
manned with Lewlsan shared his heroic death
as it was, they persisted in more painful and
protracled manner, being sacrificed by the ma
tves to The names Of their friends with all the
lingering tortures of savage cruelty. Some
i - - 18th ,lla Interpreter, who had
remained kind of prisoner at large CuCcleH
his escape and brought 'he trugcul udings OF
AStOria.