The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-07-17

l,bev were ~,rrounded by "A multitude Of sava
lge. THE rest is soon told-those four wer'
all that lived to tell the tale but many Of thei
enemies had gone with them that had fallen
tbe-' Spirit land
\, The next day the savages, made more say
age by their losses, and yet exulting in thei
Understanding, too, how weak our garrison
must be-attempted TO take the fort ny storm
! but were repulsed with loss. Thus, for some
weeks were we pent up; our water was all gone
our provisions nearly SO; Of powder we haC
not more than enough to load our guns twice
in con,eouence Of which we had not free
them for several days, and the Indians, embod
eped by il, had built their fires within few
hundred yards OF the fort.
Made bold by despair we drew lots TO see
who should attempt to get some water from
| the spring, as soon as night set in. The lol
fefl on brave young sailor. who bad voluD'
tered TO undertake it before the lots were cast
He was discovered and taken prisoner. and the
next day, as IL in derision Of our helplessness,
they determined to sacrifice him to their ven
geance before our eyes. In the morning the
Indians began to prepare for their horrible
Sport. Asciem place was selected, not more
than two hundred yards from the fort; stake
was planted IN the middle and dry wood piled
around it. IL was plain that they no longer
powder at an end, for the place chosen by them
for the scene Of torture was directly in their
range. We loaded them for the last discharge,
with every thing we had in our possession that
could prove destructive. The captive was led
to the stake, and the work of torment COM
menced by dancing in small parties around the
unfortunate prisoner. This however did not
continue hong. One who seemed to be the Of
fciating high priest in this terrible sacrifice,
caught a small faggoi from one of the piles that
lay by, fired it and laid il at the feet of the cap
tive. In moment every warrior, to the num-
Der oftwo or three hundred caught a faggot
and threw it on the burning one, and then all
joined in'the dance around the victim. This
was our time for vengeance, and at a signal
from Seagreaves, the matches were put to the
guns, and in a moment, fifty of that yelling
group were swept with their victim into eter-
nifty. Oh it was sport to us,-for we were
demons then, not Den,-to see them, grovelng
in agony in the fire, which they had built
for such purpose. Their cries, their groans
were answered by exuting shouts, and bursts
Of laughter, savage as their own. Into such
terror, did this fatal discharge put the survivors,
that no man stopped to assist another; they
were lcft--the dead, and the limbless to consume
amidst the flames, which where fast spreading
through the dry grass and bushes. Another
week of hunger and of thirst passed, and it was
plain that we must either perish by hunger and
thirst, or again make the desperate attempt of
escaping the vigilant eyes of the savages, and
trust to finding our small boat which we had
reason to think had not been discovered by
them; as it had been carefully hid in a small
but thick swamp near the shore, and at least
three miles from our present habitation.
II is at length decided tonight we leave the
fort death by the hands of the savages is bet
ter than this state of starvation and suspense -
The time draws near: already have we bid each
other farewell, and the growing darkness tells
me that our hour of death or liberation is at
hand, and my history draws to close. Little
hope hasth writer of seeing the bright sun of
another day. The time is come ! and the war
ming voices of my brave, but unfortunate com
rades. call me from my melancholy task
Farewell, thou rough but shetering walls lit
tie have | seen within thee but misery.
And thou, too, my wife perhaps thou art
now sitting by thy lone hearth, fondly looking
for thy sailors return. Farewell to thee for
never! never will he return.
Now then, my manuscript; to thy hiding
place in the rough wall thou hast beguled
me of some melancholy hours. Farewell II
must to my work of DEATH for so feel it will
be.