The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-07-21
From Thotcher's Tales OF tho Indians.
The Heroes of WalpOle.

hNio ih ifoos lHe urge una leFte tneuuOWS NJ the
mouth of CodRiVer, that township, slightly covered
with tall butternut and ancient elm trees presenting
an inviting prospect to colonists, and an ensy
harvest to the hand of cultivation. Just above them,
along the bank of the Connecticut was the de-
file, bounded by steep mountains, which formed the
Indian highway to and from Charleston, the next
township. There, too, was the head of tho shad
navigation, tho great fishing ground of the savages
from time immemoral. Next below this narrow pass
by the river and tho meadows, is the site of
an ancient village, occupied by a tavern. Next
on Tho south, and bounding the meadows norherly,
was Cold River, small branch of the main stream
overshadowed with tall naples and elms. The mead
ows themselves were about half mile in extent;
the Connecticut on the western side, and semcir-
Gle Of woods on the cast, with central round emil
nence, 10 feet high, from which issues unto this day.
a medicinal spring. 1t was here that the adventur-
Gus and hardy Kiburn built himselfa log hut. and
here he inhabited the solitude of the forest for two
years, withou; any intercourse with friend foe.
During this time his life one continued scene
Of danger and hardship He sought opportunities to
cultivate the friendship of the Indians who roamed
now and prowled in the woods around him, but in
this attempt ne was wholly unsuccessful They a
voided him studousy in the day time, and in the
night he found that they approached his humbles
habitaton only for the purpose of dealing him the
deadly blow. He finally obliged, in consequence
Of this state OF things, adopt the plan of camping
out at different places in the woods each night, with
nothing but the cold earth for his bed bear skin for
his covering, and cartridge box for his pillow. In
this manner, he continued himself TO eude the scalp
ing knives Of his lurking enemies, though they not
unequently visited and pundered the hut in his alb
senco.
In I75l, Colonel Ben jamn Bellows obtained the
charter of Wapole, and began small settlement on
spot occupied TO this day by the buildings of gem
teman Of the same name, about mile south from
tho establishment of Kbun. There was at this
time fort also on the noighboring townships in Mum
Der -Four, now called Charlestown. These additions
the powers Of the whites of this quarter had an
sentia influence upon the respect and tho fear felt for
them by the Indians; nor was il long before Il compa-
ny of them descended the river in their CANOE landed
above the falls and invited their old acquaintance,
Kilburn, to trade with them. He accepted their in
vitaton without scrnple hestancy visited their
campment, bought rurs of them, made them presents
of Aints, flour and fshhools. From this time they
continued 20 hunt fish, and lodge occasionally in the
neghborhood. The repor; of the guns with which
the whites had furnished them long this, and the
smoke OF tnGlr low WlnWuIlS trees,
mingled with the familiar occurrences of daily life.
TIE affairs Of the settlers continued to prosper I'M
til 1753 when the first alarming incident occurred to
disturb their security. Two men, by the names OF
Twitchol and Flint who had gone back to the hills
about a mile east of the settlement, 10 procure some
ash timber for oars fired upon and killed by the
Indians, One Of them was scaped The other they
barbarously cut open, took out his heart yet warm,
cut in pieces, laid it upon his breast, and thus left
him to be found by his friends. This massacre was
among the first appearances Of rupture of the nego'
ciations for peace pending between England and
France and was the commencement of a new and
long series of Indian rnvages. II was, moreover, the
first christian blood that was split in WalpoIc, and
the impression it produced on the minds ofhe settlers
was proportionutey deep and lasting. The bodies o.
the murdered men were buried near whore they wero
found in spot still indicated by ridge Of land, on
the west side of the road about two miles north OF
Wapole village. It was believed by the friends OF
Twtchel-at least by some of the nuniber-ttat his
guardian spirit continued, long his savage muir
derers lived to hover them by night and by day,
and to warn them Of the will orthe Indians Even
rock in Connecticut river where he used to fish with
never-Cailing success, long time held in rell-
gious veneraon; and few, it is rumored, Of all those
who this day go to angle from 'Twltchell Rock'' re-
turn without taking from tho stream most generous
fry. r.
In the spring of 1855, an Indian by the name OF
Philip, who had just learned English language to De
understood, visited Kilburns log house, under pre-
tension of being upon hunting excursion, and IN
want of provisions lie was treated with Kindness
and furnished literally with aints, meal and various
other articles which he asked for Soon alter his de-
"a tbo Indian had
visited all the settlements Connecticut river about
the same time, and with the same plausible story
The conclusion was, with Kburn and his fellow so:-
tiers, he was a scout employed by the enemy. This
suspicion was soon after confirmed by intelligence
ceved Mt the forts the frontiers, through friend
" Indian from Gov. Shirley, at Albany. He stated
that four or FIVE hundred of the savages collect
ed in Canada, whose object it was to butcher the
whole white population on Connecticut river