Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-12-22


rifice, was readily agreed upon; but who il
should be, was more difficult question to
settle. The minds of most of the chiefs
seemed 10 be turned towards Major Dean. as
man Of the highest standing and impor-
lance any where IN that vicinity, and there
fore tho most suitable to be offered as an
atonemcnt for their murdered brother
Some of the chiefs, however, argued that Mr..
Dean was an adopted son oftheir own tribe,
and therefore not accountable to the tribe
for the acts of the whites. The debate was
long and earnest, and the first days council
broke up without coming TO a decision, leav-
ing the subject to be resumed the next day.
In the mean time one of the number, who
was particularly friendly to Mr.. Dean, ac-
quainted him with the nature Of the debate in
the council.
Surprised and panied at the information,
he was at loss what course to pursue. He
had built him a house which he occupied,
and he had a wife and two children. To at
tempt to abandon his house and flee from
that part of the country would be almost
equal TO death; and besides, should he I'M
dertake it, the probability that he could es-
cape with his family would be small. He
resolved 10 remain and trust to Providence
for favorable issue in the council. The
debate was resumed again the next day, and
again he learned from his friend, that tile
question was still undecided. This delay
strengthened his hopes that the debate would
terminate in his favor. The council was
continued for several days longer withou,
co ming to decision, and he felt more and
more assured of his safety.
At last in the dead of night, he was sud-
denly startled by death-whoop near his
dwelling, which he at once knew to be a
warning of his approaching fate. He had
hitherto kept the matter entirely from his
wife, unwilling TO give cause of alarm while
he had hopes of escaping. But he now in
formed her that he believed a party of Indi-
ans were approaching the house to take his
+ life, and desired her to remain quiet with the
children in their apartment, while he would
meet the Indians at the door, and see if he
could by any possibility turn them from their
purpose.
The party soon came up 70 the door and
entered the outer room. There were eigh-
, teen in number, all chiefs and head men OF
the tribe. After brief pause, the principle
chief gravely informed Mr.. Dean of the ma
ture Of their errand. He alluded to the re-
cent murder that had been committed on one
of their nation, and told him plainly that their
council after long and deliberate discussion
had selected him as the most suitable person
to be sacrificed as an atoDement for the dead
1 and TO appease the soul of their departed
e brother in the land of spirits. They had
now come to execute the decree ofthe coun-
0 Gil, and ne must prepare for immediate
death.
. Mr.. Dean calmly commenced reasoning
: with them on the subject; urged the wrong
a it was doing to an honest person to punish
him for the acts of the guilty; and that espe.
4, cially, even according TO their own laws, il
;, was wrong for them to sacrifice him in this
: case as he was an adopted son of their own
y tribe. The chief replied that the whole
S matter had been discussed a long time and
. viewed in all its bearings, and that the decree
of the council could not be changed. Mr.
G Dean addressed them again, and enforced
t his arguments with all the skill he was mas.
y ter of; but still he could see no prospect oil
o making any impression upon them of avert.
a ing the object oftheir visit.
. In the midst Of these arguments, the door
: suddenly opened, and squaw with blan.
e kel around her entered the room. She was
the wife Of the head chief, and she il was who
e had adopted Mr.. Dean as her son in his bov-
e hood. The chiefs looked on with astonisll-
] ment as she took her station calmly by the
S door, for no woman was allowed to enter
|, their solemn councils. After a moments
y pause the door again opened, and the wifi, OF
I. another of the chiefs came in, similarly at,ir.
/ ed, and took her station by the side of the
former. In moment more third came in
= and took her silent station by the others.
After the surprise occasioned by this
: strange occurrence had little subsidized, the
=. head chief rebuked the women for coming to
v the solemn council, and babe them retire and
S leave the chiefs to pursue their business
#. The first squaw replied firmly, that the coun-
ii Gil must change its decision. The blood OF
s the white man must not be shed he was her
y adopted son, and they must let him alone
G and not harm him. The chiefs with more
!, imperlous tone babe them BECOME, for the
: council knew its own business. At once the
), thee women threw their blankets from their
n shoulders, and each held in her clenched
# hand long sharp knife, and each soemnly
: declared to the council, that if the least harm
n was offered to the white man, they would
v plunge the knives into their own hearts.
4 The effect was electric. The council re-
garded the strange scene as an indication OF
r the " i'll Of the Great Spirit. They imme-
. diaiely came to the decision to reverse their
y former decree, and the white mans life was
spared. Mr.. Dean continued to occupy his
r dwelling in peace and safety, and lived to an
{ advanced age an inhabitant of Westmore-
f land. where he died in eighteen hundred and
thirty-two.
WHO CAN BEAT THIs.-A correspondent of
! the Eastern Sentnel boasts thus As | have