The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-05-22
A CRUEL

Did you ever hear of old Smith, that used
to live a way down east, during the early
settlement of the country now called Maine?
odd Smith had lost several relations by the
Indians, and had vowed enmity 10 the whole
race. He had been twice taken by the saw
age tribes, but had contrived to escape from
them, and had killed several of their num-
Der. He sought every opportunity to do them
mischief in any way. By this course he had
become so exceedy obnoxious TO the red
men, that they would not even kill him d.
rectly if they could, but were constantly on
the watch TO take him alive for the purpose
of satisfying their vengeance by the infliction
of the utmost torture that barbarity could In.
vent. Smile was aware ofthis disposition
of the savages, and was the less afraid of
their bullets. 1t is reported that Smith was
at one time splitting some pine logs for fence
rails, and OF his employment he had neglect
ed his "look-out,n till six Indians came up
ON him with a yell of cxultation. The chief
of the party whose name was Wahsoos, seiz-
ed, him by his arms exclaiming, Snow Smit!
now Smit! me got you" Smith saw that it
would be in vain to resist, and assuming an
air Of composure, thus addressed his savage
captor.
"Now Wahoos, | will tell you what I'll do,
if you will now me to split open this log, |
will then 60 with you without any resistance,
otherwise / will not walk a step, and you
will have to carry or kill me.n
The Indians now having him safe in their
possession, and willing to save themselves
trouble. agreed to split the log, if he would
tell them how. Smith had already opened
the end ofthe log with a large wooden wedge
and renewed his blows ON the wedge with a
beetle. he directed them to take hold of the
separated parts of the log, three on each side,
and pull with all their might, while he should
drive in the wedge. The red man were not
without suspicious, but kept their eyes on
Smiths motions, while they piled at the sun
dered parts ofthe log, Every blow of Smith
opened the crevice wider, which enabled
the Indians TO renew their hold by inserting
their tigers deeper into the c%revice, when
Smith, slightly changing the direction OF the
beetle, struck on the side of the wedge,
knocked it out of the log, which closing with
great force, caught every foe by the hands,
save one, who seeing the predicament ofhis
compaeions, took TO his heels; but was quick
ly brought down by Smiths long gun, which
he had kept near him. The other five ex-
pected no mercy, and were not disappointed.
Five blows from Smiths axe, silenced their
death song.
A year or more after this affair, Smith was
returning one evening from an excursion,
and passed. near a bend of the And.oscog-
gin river, about mile above the falls, on
which the Lewiston Mills are now located.
1t was nearly dark, and he discovered an In
dian making a fire on a rock by the river
bank. Smith saw through the business al
once: the fire was for beacon, to guide the
landing of a strong party. With %unerring
aim, he shot the lone savage, who pitched in
to the water, and Smith quickly threw the
fire and fre-brands after him; and then pro-
ceeded down to the falls. and there he soon
kindled another fire on a projecting rock
and then retiring up the river bank a short
} distance, awaited the result. He soon heard
the songs of a company of warriors, who had
discovered The fire, aud were steadily pad
ding towards it in high glee. Smith could
hardly refrain from laughing aloud, as they
neared the fatal beacon. Their songs were
suspended by surprise, at the rapid melton Of
$ their canoes, and the hoarse roar of the falls
revealed too late the dreadful truth. Abrief
. death song uttered in savage yells, and the
cries of several squaws and papooses, were
all that preceded their last and dreadful
plunge over the perpendicular falls.-M Y
Mechanic