Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-02-14


~ SIX feet IN height, of an iron constitution and
swlfier on foo, than any one who ever pursu,d
him. H. obtained double harrtlcd rihc Of III,
very best kind carried the tomahawt and scalp
ing knife. h. took on the nigh, he aided Captain
Harper IN killing the ten Indians and could US
them all with as much skill MS Mohawk II
soon became a terror 10 the rcd mcn His many
miraculous escapes. and bold exploits led them
TO believe he WAS protect, by the Crest Spirit
Tie lowered over them like vulture and many
Of their braves warriors cell beneath hls brawbv
arm. He spent the most of his time alone in the
woods seeking his hated foe He never hcstatcd
attacking party Of four or FIVE No one could
load a rife quicker than him. and no had
nerves better calculated to give deadly aim
lie often boosted that he never lost shot His
courage was ms cool as his revenge wns dreful
Such was Murphy IN his feelings towards the
savagcs For his friends he possessed a warm
heart and was ready 10 serve them.
The party that reirpatcd down the Delaware
when routed at U,stayantho ne pursued In the
day time he would keep The ridge, and a, night
fall into their path, On tn" second evening he
came in sight of their cncampmont near the bank
Of the river BY the ligh, Of their FIRE he could
count twenty.seven warriors some fwhom were
evidently wounded He determined to wait un
til all was quiet and then give them shot
About midnight, the whole party had lain down
bu, one. Murphy then approached in the beaten
path to avoid nose until within few rods Of
them. His rife was raised the hair spring was
touched and the Indian sentinel was numbered
with the dead He Immediately retrca,ed and
before the others were sufficiently awake TO hear
his footsteps he was TOO far off for them TO dlscov
er his direction From their mournful howhngs
he concluded the one killed was their leader
Fearing he might be pursued the next morning.
he crossed over to the west side ofthe ridge He
now determined to station himself on their hunt
ing ground near Aquago He accordingly vls
ted white s,ulcmont r.plonishrd his provisions
and the second night lay within six miles OF the
Indian station In n ledge of rocks the next NOR
ming. he found n cave thae xtended about two hun
dred feet back with an opening nj the further end
sufficiently large for egrss admitting considerable
light Near it was spring Of water, heqn' n''d
by deer. Ia that lonely place he made his loca-
ton AT the narrow entrance he could sit and
overlook the ground below him for consdera-
bic distance Early in the afternoon he heard
the report Of n gun and the next minute a fine
buck rushed by and fell dead near the water.
Presently two savagcs up ond commenced
dressing the animal Murphy listened minute
to learn if any Of Their companions were near
Discovering none. he made up hi. mind 10 put
another portion into his cup Of revenge The
fatal weapon was pointed they both fell beneath
his unerring aim in quick succession. He char
eed his faithful piece, and waited anyiously TO see
the result Of his daring adventure Night came
on and all was silent as the house Of death He
then approached The bodies of his fallen focs and
proceeded to perform the Indian ceremony upon
them He scnlp ped them, cut out their tongues,
and relieved himself ofa heavy load, that had
been hanging like dead weight, upon his mind
He then secrrted them between the rocks secured
thcr arms and ammunition took the saddle from
the deer, and retired to his narrow house TO enjoy
the sweetest sleep he had known since the murder
of his family.
The next day about noon he discovered three
Indians approaching the spring apparently in
search of their lost companions They examined
the remains of the buck very closely but little
thought they were ,reading on the blood of their
brothers with which theirs was about to mingle
For some minutes Murphy hesitatcd fearing there
might be more at hand He had The other two
guns by him ready charged, and f It safe il he had
none to encounter bot them. AS they were about
to leave hr d. cdcd to administer the blue pill
One Of them stopped down to drink, the rife wac
levsled the other two FIJI The third started to
his feet the next second he too was struggling in
de tn Our hero quickly charged his pieces, and
remained at his post tchng, with panther
scrutiny. every thing around him Late in the
afternoon five savages passed some distance below
him IN the direction Of Aquaga, In the evening
Murphy took the calps ofthe three he had klll'd
tomaha 81 od them in true Indian style secrtt'd
their arms 10 the cave and conclud,d 10 change
his quarters As the moon rose, he commenced
his Journey back taking with him the scalps as
the evidence Of his temeriy and boldness The
third day he arrived at the block house in hi.
own neighborhood HIS friends received him
with glad h'ars fearing he had fallen into the
bands Of tn buicherng foe. They begged him
10 dcsist from such exposure and danger, but all
to no purpose He r,s''d under on oath and fear
fully did he fulfil it He desired no angels tear
10 bio, it from the record he determined TO per
form ms vow NJ perish in the attempt He had
his life in his hand always ready 10 sell It al a
high price
H. rcplenished bis provisions and Started for
the bills bordering on The Mohawk The second
day he arrived Al a settle men, Of whfbs who were
greatly DISTRESSED at the loss OF one OF their NUN
Der few hours before All the men that were
fl for service had gone TO the northern army and
lrft the remainder with the women aud childfcn
IN strong block hOuse Early ia the morning,
a young ady had gone on, 10 milk the cows. As
the enemy had not appeared there for some time
no danger was npprehended She was about for
~ rods from the house when four sayagcs sud
denly sprang upon her and dragged her INTO he
woods Her crirs were heard her frantic ffiCnd.
could see her struggles but dared not venture out
flr fear an might b. massacred Her flihcr two
l,otiars and a vo,,rs, officer ~ whom she M.