The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-04-03
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Godey's Lady's Book.
Erdmpies of Female Rrrotsm.

Talk as you will of the heroic days Of Greece
and Rome, you may look in vain for brighter
examples of human sympathy and sublime
self-devotion, than are to be found in the an
mails of the rude abonginies of our county,
And as in all countries, perhaps, the brightest
of all examples Of sympathy and self-sacrifice
are met with in the softer sex, so the Indian
women of this country has fully established
her claim to this high distinction. Where has
the world ever seen a more beautiful and
touching instance, than that exhibited in the
story of Pocahontas and Capt. John Smith
And where is there more competent witness
| TO this general character of the sex, than the
same gallant Captain himself travelling as he
did through almost the whole civilized world
besides many portions that were barbarous
and unciviizedl
The complacent simplicity with which he
relates his own experience on this point is de-
lightfui.
My comfort is said he, that heretofore
honorable and virtuous Ladies, are compare
bic but amongst themselves. have offered me
rescue and protection in my greatest dangers.
Even in foreign parts | have felt relief from
that sex. The beautious lady TragabigZinda,
when | was slave TO the Turks did all she
could TO secure me. When | overcame the
Bashaw of Naibrits in Tanara, the charitable
lady Callamaia supplied my necessities. In
| the utmost of many eXtremitles, that blessed
Pocahontas, the great kings daughter of Vir-
ginia, oft saved my life. When | escaped the
cruelty Of pirates and most furious storms, a
| long time alone in a small boat at sea, and
driven ashore in France-the good Lady Mad
am Chanoyes bountifully assisted me-
! In all his wanderings, however, and in all
the scenes of his remarkable life, blessed Poe
ahontaS,' the young Indian girl of Virginia,
was undoubtedly the bright particular star
that attracted his highest admiration and de-
served his warmest gratitude. She peried
her life more than once in the most devoted
and heroic manner to shield Capt. Smith from
danger; but the story Is too familiar to most
readers to be dwelt upon.
! Another instance somewhat similar TO that
of Pocahontas and Capt. Smith, though not
rising to so powerful an interest, on account
perhaps of the more humble condition Of the
! parties, is recorded of a young Seminole girl,
at much more recent date. 1t may not be
inappropriate TO give some of the particulars
of this affair, inasmuch as it has not been so
widely published and is not so familiar as the
case alluded TO above.
In the year 1917, the Indians of the Sem
mole tribe, inhahiting some parts of the terri
tory of Florida. commenced a border warfare
upon the inhabitants of Georgia. Duncan
| McKrimmon, militia soldier, who had been
stationed at one of the forts, while out one day
upon a fishing excursion lost his way IN the
woods. After wandering about for several
DAYS. lie was fallen in with and captured by a
party of Indians under the prophet Francis.
HaviNg taken him to campand extracted from
/ pfttp no
the positions and intentions of the military
forces of the whites, they prepared to sacrifice
him with the fortunes common in savage war
fare.
He was bound to stake, and dry faggots
) were heaped around him. These savages then
formed in circle around his funeral pyre, and
danced, and sung. and screamed for several
hours together. With one solitary exception,
all were rejoicing over their victim and eager
to witness the consummaton Of their tor,ures.
Mily Francis, young daughter of the proph-
ct, said to be but fifteen years of age, was in
the company. She alone partook not of the
general Joy, she alone joined not in the revel-
nv, but watched the cruel preparations with a
saddened countenance and evident pain
When the faggots were about TO be fired, and
the tomahawk was raised TO mutilate the VIC
tim. she suddenly rushed before the fatal iu-
strument, and babe the executioner let the
blow fall on her. declaring that she would not
live if the captive's life were taken.
The executioner, paralyzed with astonish-
: ment, DELAYED to strike; and Milly kneeling
10 her father besought him TO save the cap
uve's life, in such moving terms, that he at
last Welded to her request, and ordered the
prisoner to be unbound. While McKrimmon
remained with them, Milly continued to show
him all the acts Of kindness in her power. Ii
was but a few days, however, before the proph-
ct sold him to the Spaniards at St. Marks for
seven gallons and half of rum.
The sequel to this affair is, if possible. still
l more beautiful. In the fortune of war, some
, time afterwards, party ofthe Semlnoles, be-
{ ing placed in a situation where they must Ell
Their starve or surrendef themselves prisoners
TO the whites, at last, preferring the latter al
tentative, came in and gave themselves up
Milly Francis was one of the number. When
McKrimmon learned that she was prisoner,
. he fastened Immediately to find her out, and
to do what he could TO discharge the obliga-
ton he was under TO a woman who had pla-
, ced her own life in imminent jeopardy to pre-
serve his. By making her case known, he
had every thing done that could be, to add to
her comfort and happiness. And that he might
show her the strongest possible evidence oil
, his high sense of the obligation he was under,
he offered her his hand in marriage. As il
conscious of the feeling which induced the of
, fer. with true dignity of soul, she declined it.
telling him that she had done but what she
considered simple act of duty, and said that
) she did no more for him than she should have
done for any other one in like circumstances.
Another striking incident, in some respects
e PARALLEL to the foregoing, and yet differing IN
D others, occurred in Western New York some
] fifty or sixty years ago. James Dean was one
= of the earliest settlers OF Westmorland, Onei-
, da county. Hewas a native of New England
the son Of religious parents, who designed hin
for missionary among the Indians. Forth.
purpose he was sent a while, when but clever
} wears old, to reside among the Indians on the
: Susquehannah, to learn something of theil
. language. manners, and customs. During