Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-06-24


rain Williams, than whom more gallant
man never breatled the air OF New England.
The doctor fought under his command at
Lake George, on the memorable eighth OF
September he saw, or imagined he saw.
The tai. OF his brave leader and is quite
sure that he put bullet into The French,
officer, Mons. s.. Pierre. The next year
ne joined Rogers company of Rangers, and
was stationed where Whitehall now stands.
but at that day il was dark and bloody
ground; a frontier station in the forests, which
were filled with rival savayes attached TO
France OR England.
One day, in md-winter, eight rangers,
with serjeant, were ordered out on some
service; the doctor did not know what, but
probably TO seize some struggling French
man about Ticondeaross or Crown Point,
and bring him TO tho fort, for the sake Of
obtaining intelligence. He was himself Of
the party. A narrow road, or rather path,
led horthward toward Canada, and they fol-
lowed it for several hours. There had Just
been heavy fall of snow ali the pines and
hemlocks Of the forest loaded thick with il {;
and as the afternoon was still and clear, only
occasional fakes and masses dropped from
the burdened boughs Ike feathers. These
circumstances were stamped ON the old
mans mind, seeming Ike a constantly re-
curing dream. The rangers waded in lndian
file through the snow, and as danger was
apprehended, man was placed some rods
in advance, one on each flank, and another
behind. The last was the doctor himself,
and this was the gun carried, said he, taking
short heavy piece from corner. They
saw no signs oe the enemy /; there was no
sound but tho little chick.a dee-dee, SO ia
miliar to the pine pools in winter.
AT length they descended into a hollow
the frozen sheet of Lake Geo:ge lay not far
on the left, and steep hill on the right
The ground short distance before them
was quite low and swampy, and littls
brook had spread itself out on the path,
making large frozen space free from trees,
across which their advanced man was now
slowly tramping, crushing his bones into the
ice and water at every step. lie paused
suddenly. turned sharply round and gave the
low whistle appointed as the signal of alarm.
He had seen the tracks of many moccasned
fee, in the fresh snow beyond. There was
no time to think !; the loud report Of gun
broke the stiffness. The ranger gave
shrill scream, leaped four feet into tho air
and fell flat. Instantly the Indian yell burst
from the woods on the left and font, followed
by the stunning rattle of more than fifty
guns, and no, man of tho rangers but one
stood trans6xed with surprise at the death
of his comiade.
That man was our hero, whose position,
far behind the rest, saved him. He reynem-
bered the panic felt at the fierce burst of
muske,ry, and the sudden rush of this savage
swarm from their ambush, upon his fallen
comrades, and, in the next instant, that his
memory could recall, he was flying toward
the forte He heard sharp, sudden yelps, be-
hind him, and glancing back, saw two Indians
bounding on his track. He ran mile, he
should think or more, without turning or
hearing single sound then turning his
head, saw an Indian leaping, silent as spec
tire, within few reds of him. With an adj
mirable GOODNESS, he turned quickly round,
and raising his gun with steady hand, fixed
with such good effect that the Alenaki
pitched forward to the ground, and his
shaven head ploughed up the snow for
yards, by the impulse Of his headlong pursuit.
The young soldier turned and fled again,
and as he did SO he heard the report of the
other Indians gun, followed by the loud
humming of the ball. So alert and attentive
were his faculties, that he observed where
the bullet struck upon a loaded bough in
front Of him scattering the glisiening parli-
Cles Of snow.
The path now led downward with deep
descent: at the bottom ancient pins-tree
had fallen across it, whose sharp, broken
branches rose up perpendieularly Fl ON the
PROSTATE trunk four or five feet from the
ground, blocking up the way like brist-
ling chevaux-de-irize. The rangers had
previously turned aside into the woods
10 avoid it. There was no time TO do so
now The DOCTORS limbs were small and
light, but active as deer and the Indians
tomahawk was close behind. Without, hes
itating, he ran down and sprsng into the
air. His foot caught, so that he fell on
the opposite side; but he sna,chcd up his
gun and ran again. In moment he
heard a horri1 cry, and turning rs he ran
up the opposite hill, he saw sight that
murdered his sleep for muny night. The
daring savage had leaped like him, bat had
not succeeded SO we'll, he had ;ripped, and
one of the broken branches had caught and
impaled him on its upright point, passing
upward into the cavity Of his chest! he
saw the starting eye ball. and the painted
features horribly distorted, and paused 10
see no more.
About sunset, the sent,nels Of Fert Ann
saw him emerging from the woods, run
ming as if the Indians were behind him still
A strong party, sent out next morning,
found the bodies Of the rangers stripped,
and frozen in the various positions in which
they had died, so that they appeard like
marble statues. On a tree close by, the
French officer who commanded the Aben-
6. had fastened piece Of birch bark,
inscribed with un insolent and triumphant
message to the English. The bodies Of
the two Indians had been removed, a Though
the white snow around the old pine tree
retained ineffaceabIe marks Of the tragedy
that had been enacted there, and was beat