Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-03-28
A CRIIEI. STRATAGEM.


Did you ever hear of old Smith" tina, used to
live away down east, during the early settlement
of the country now called Maine; Old Smith had
lost several Of his relations by the hands of the
Indians, and had vowed eternal enmity TO the
" hole race. He has! been twice taken by the saw
age tribes, but contrived to escape from them, aud
had killed several of their number. He sought
every opportunity to do them mischief in any way.
BY this course he had become so exceedingly OBJ
noxiou to the red men, that they would not even
kill him directly il they could, but were almost
cor. ianty ON the watch to take him alive, for the
purpose of satisfying their vengeance by the in.
fiction of the utmost torture that harbarlty could
invent Smith was aware of this disposition Of
the savages md was the less afraid of their bullets
1t is reported that Smith was nj time en-
gagged in splitting some pine logs for fence rasand
in the artlor of his employment had neglected his
"look out" till six Indians came upon him with
yell of exultation. The chief of the party, whose
name was Wahsoos, seized him by the arms, ex-
claiming +" Now, Smit, me got youl" Smith saw
it would he in vain 10 resist aud, assuming air
of composu,e thus addressed his captor: Now,
Wahsoos, III tell you what will do lr you will
now help ne to split open this, will then 20 with
you without any trouble; otherwise | will not
walk, and you must carry or kill me-" The lndi-
ans now having him safe in their possession, and
willing to save themselves trouble, agreed to help
split the log, il he would tell them how. Smith
had already opened one md of the log with large
wooden wedge, and renewing his blows on the
wedge with beetle, he directed them to take
hold of the separated parts OF the log, three on
each side with oil their might, while he should
drive in he wedge The red men were without
suspicion but kept their eyes Oh Smiths motions
while they pulled at the sundered parts of the log
Every blow of Smiths opened tho crevce wider,
winch enabled the Indians to renew their hold by
inserting their fingers deeper into the crevice when
Smith, slightly changing the direction OF the bee
I'm nj, a,,ft ha in II
oil the log, which, Immediately closing with great
force, caught every foe by the hands, save one,
who, seeing the predicament of his companions,
took to his heels, but WINS soon brought down by
Smiths long -barreed gun, which he had kept
near him. The other five expecting no mercy,
were not disappointed. Five blows from Smith S
axe senced their death-song.
A year or more alter this affnir Smith 'vas re-
turning from all excursion, and passed near bend
of The Androscoggin river, about mile above the
falls, on which the Lewiston mills are now oca -.
ted : it nearly dark, and he discovered an In
dian making fire OH rock by the river bank
Smith saw through the business at once; The fire
was for II beacon, TO guide the landing of n strong
party. With unerring aim he shot the lone saw
ege, who pitched into tn, river, and Smith threw
the fire and fire brands infer him and then pro
ceeded down to the falls, and there he soon kindcd
another fire on projecting rock and then reir-
ing up the river bank a short dstunce, awaited the
result He soon heard the songs of company OF
| warriors, who Ii Hd discovered the fire, and were
steadily padding towards il in high glee. Smith
| could hardly refrain from laughing, as they neared
the fatal beacon. The songs were suspended by
SURPRISE nj the rapid motion of their canoes, aud
the hoarse roar of the falls, which revealed TOO
late the dreadful truth. A brief death song utter
ed in savage yells and the cries of several squaws
and pappooses, were all that preceded their las
aud dreadful plunge over the falls.