The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-02-20


they laid aud fired without our being able
to see them. Well, soon found after our
first fire, that couldn't do much down
stairs, so went up into the loft, where the
old man was. had not been there long,
before got sight Of one fellows feather
which he wore in bis scalping lock.
ranged for il and then calculating accor-
dingly let him have it, | found by tho
screech, and the voey that followed M
shot, that il had told. In the course of
half al hour got three shots more, in tho
same way two Of which told, the other
missed. When all ut once we heard loud
shout and the iramping Of horses. II was
John and Tim, with abou, six or seven
more fellows. They had heard the firing
and had come to share in the fun, but tho
Indians were soon among the missing. We,
went out TO see what dead ones we could
find, and on searching the barley field we
found the three had shot there, dead as
herrings. Two Of Item ] hit within an.
inch Of the eye, the other was shot through
the throat Ever since that I have given
tho preference to moonlight for shooting
Indians"
At this moment the finger Of the Indian
was raiscd to enjoin silence.
"Whst hear you! said Gardner, for to
me all is still"
Hear you not that cry Of the whippoor- 8
will I" saidthe Indian. "Mark you not that
the last note rises more than the usual note
Of That bird docs' That cry tells to me
that thy enemies are ready for the attack !;
in moment you will hear it from scyefal
quarters nt once, and shcn you will hear u
fur different note. DO calm, be firm, but
bc ready. Let your response to their cries
be with your guns nlone,"
: II was as the Indian said. In few
minutes the melsncholy notes Of the bird Of
" night,-werc heard sounding oil around
them. In another moment the dreaded war
's whoop, from hundred savage thros,s,
70 hurst S'' :. ar ears. And a dozen dusky
!" forms showed themselves, ss though they
T. had risen by magic, almost u, the very door
y Of the house 10 which We shnll confne our
" selves, namely, that Of Gardner.
Nov, Jim." snid the young fellow be-
fore spoken Of 81 will bet you pound Of
powder That I take my first nur before he
clears that fence, right between the eyes"
Done" said the other; and the noxt mo.
inc1t the word was given to fire by Gard
= ner. Three Of the Indians fell by the frsl
. volley. The rest paused for moment, in
!, surprise at this reception, but tie next,
they came bounding bravely, but madIy on,
to sure destruction. The firing wns now
heard to be general ihrougl, l,out the village.
The Indians fought desperately, for they
were led by Philip, and he was too sensible
Of the importance Of this blow to neglect my
means Of making it n successful one. But
they fought in vain. The deadly rifle WINS
fast thinning their numbers, while their own
guns, shot darkling at an unseen foe, were
, harmless. Thcy then attempted To draw
A lne Whtcs TOH tic hnehtf vi tHcn HoussS
by firing their barns and stacks, bit in vain.
= The settlers knew too well the foe they were
dealing with, thus TO expose themselves so
that the nunpuvre of The Indians only in
= jured themselves by more fully exposing
their situation to the whites.
. The savsges finding it useless to expose
!, themselves, while the whites were thus shell
tered, now adopted their usual mode Of
:, fighting aud in Few moments not man
/. was To be seen. Yet the occasional report
+. Of a gun, or the battle cry Of some warrior,
told that though unseen, they might not be
b. unfcli. In this desultary manner the flight
might have continued for hours, had not an
:, accident pu, more hasty conclusion to n.
d The Indians succeeded in firing one OF
d the houses which was SO much detached in
!, point Of situation from the others, as TO DO
d obliged to rely mostly upon its own garr'-
u son for its defence. In attempting TO ex-
, ,incuish the flames two Of the garrison fell.
u The rest, to the number Of seven, finding
% they could not maintain their post, attempt.
e ed to retreat to the fortified building, bu'
1t their enemies were so exasPernted at Their
% own loss, and the III success Of their enter
10 prise, that The whole band turned upon these
it the devoted ones. In q second they were
70 surrounded by the ssvnges, but they were
ID men who would not give up life without
); struggle. Back to back they stood, and
ID every blow from their heavy rifles laid On
ed enemy ct their feet Yet must they eventual.
10 ly have fallen, had no. the fast rising flames