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

i"s ""o "s"ius' "heh anotner large party, ola
different tribe, visited our Island, (forsuoh we,
found was the land on which we had settled.l
They were called the Sogkonates, and their
chieis name was Shawonet Hc was differ.
ent person from Conouco, his whole appearance
showing the savage without one redeemug.
trait. Our friends. the Narrag ganse,ts, did no,
seem much pleased with their visit. intimating
to us that he was bad man. This we were
not loug in finding out, and we felt some appre-
hensions for our safety which were not allayed
by quarrel breaking out between him and
his tribe, and the Narraganseus. Then.
Tor the first time, did We realize the hor-
rors of savage wsitare--mutilating the dead,
aud tor'uring the prisoners. The latter, how
ever, were few. for knowing the fate Of a prison.
er they preferred death IN The battle to torture
at the stake. Many Of our people could with
d'iiculty be prevented from taking sides with.
the Nanagansetts, who were at length beaten
and driven of. After their departure the Sog-
kona,e Indians were more friendly towards US
than they had been before, and we soon found
that It was their object to detach us from the
friendship we felt towards their enemies. They
offered our young men wives from their tribe.
but these offers were generally rejected only
two OF our men accepting them, and they were
Immediately dismissed from our company aud
departed with the indians.
We now began to put plan into operation,
the necessity of which had so lately been made
maniiest namely, the building Of fortifcation
which would be impregnable to the Indians.
Several plans were drawn, but the one designed
by Seagreaves was chosen. This was to be
building of stone, completely round, and rais-
ed on pillars to the height Of ten feet from the
ground. On the first floor our two cannon were
to be mounted, and on the second, appertures
were TO be left for the use Of the cross and long
bow. While the work going on we were
frequently visited by small parties Of Indians, Of
different tribes, who for small trifles lent their
aid in bringing stones from the neighboring
shores, and by collecting shells for lime abun-
dance Of them being found on the shores,
Il and especially on a beautiful beach short dis
tancc to the Eastward ofus. Before the winter
set in our building was completed. our guns
mounted, and we were in pretty good condit-
ion TO stand a siege against such foes as we
might have to contend with.
, But the winter passed away, and we had 10
occasion to use il az place Of refuge against
any foes, except the cold blasts Of that dresry
season. During the winter the quarrel between
the Sogkonatc Indians and the Narragansetts,
broke out afresh, aud some Of our men, tired Of
the idle life they had led for some months, took
part in il, constantly siding with their first
friends, the Narragansctts. We also felled
quantity Of timber, intending in the spring to
construct some kind Of a vessel to convey us to i.
part of the continent more likely to be visited
by Europeans.
! About the first Of April we were surprised to
see one Of the two men who had loft us to live
with the Sogkonate Indians return to us. Ho
brought us news that Shawonet, the chief was
so incenscd at our taking part with the Nara
gansct,s, that he was collecting large army,
with the intention Of attacking us. Thinking
!, that this was only TOO true VIC prepared TO re-
: ceive them, but q month passed away and ws
b. heard nothing more Of them. About the middle
h Of May we heard that an engagement had oeI
CURED between them and the Nanagansetts, IN
which the Sogkonstes had been worstcd.. A
r young Indian, who was taken prisoner by the
y Narrsgansetts, confessed that the expedition
, was against us, and that the white man who lived
: with them was the ins,igator Of il, in reyenge
for our having bapished him from among US
that he had promised them a great amount Of
plunder from our stores, resering. or rather
STIMULATING, in case Of success, that he should
have the young Agnes for his part. The rest
Of us were all to be destroyed. The man who
was thus plotting against our. lives, was
in the first Of our voyage, the fourth officer
in the ship, but on account Of mutinous con-
duct had been dismissed from his post.----
4 This was something which he could never for
give and at the time Of the wreck he bad at
tempted to raise muiiny amongst the hands,
but through the vigilance Of Seagrcavcs, he was
defeated ia his object. This reused his resent
ment still deeper, and on Seagrcaves it all CEN
tered. As we we're all unfortunate alike, and
as there did not seem to be any likelihood Of his
being able to injure us, his conduct had passed
without any further punishment, but when he
had accented Of the insidious offers Of the In
dams, who, we had every reason to think, would
become our enemies, it was thought necessary
I to bsnish him from among us.
For several days after we had heard OF the
I defeat Of the Sogkonate Indians, we sent out
supsn p.r,ies to scour the Island and discover
whether there was any lurking bands Of the en-
emy in our neighborhood. In these excursions
they were generally accompanied by one OF
more Of the Nsnagansctts, but no signs Of
the enemy appeared, and our people at
length relaxed from their vigilence, and follow.
ed their pursuits as though nothing had occur
red TO alarm them. Thus il went on for about