Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-09-27
VOLUME VI. NO. 80.

ne held in his hand towards the enraged officer.
"Begonc," cried Thorn, in rage, cor I'll
kick you overheard. Don't be sticking your furs
in my face, you red scoundrel'
" Me give him to white chief, him no able to
pay for him skin-take him home for squaw,"
and Shushong threw the skin at the feet of
Thorn.
The brow of the qnck-temperedC Captain grew
livid with rage at this act of the Sachen, and
spriuging forward he seized the savage by the
back of the neck, and giving him push from
him, followed it up by kicking him overheard.
The savage disappeared beneath the water, and
a fierce yell rose from a hundred warriors, as
they made demonstrations to attack the ship, but
the chief suddenly rose to the top of the waves,
and was dragged into u canoe by some of his
men
In the meantime, the Infatuated Captain, reck.
less of all consequences, ordered his men to
drive the rest of the Indians from the deck, and
they were hustled unceremonously over the
sides of The ship, and several of them were Sc
verely bruised by the hasty fall into the canoes.
When Shushong was safely placed in the ca.
noe, the savages started for the shore, and a gun
or two which had been run out by the Captains
order, was considered as the cause of this ex-
traordinary haste to land. The interpreter, who
had stood with folded arms, and viewed the en-
tire scene, now once more approached Thorn,
and told him the Indians would certainly avenge
the indignty offered their Sachem, and advised
him TO weigh anchor and sail from the spot.
But the morose officer paid no attention to the
warnings of the interpreter, but again insulted
him by telling him he was capable of managing
his own affairs, and that he thought the sayages
had learned a lesson they would not forget The
interpreter rather urged the matter, as he knew
well the character of the savages around Van
couvers Island, hut Thorn finally ordered him
to be silent and declared he did not fedr an at.
tack from the Indians
Thus abused, the interpreter became sulen
and silent, and said no more to any one on board
the l.fated Tonquin.
Another day pa: scd by, and when morning
came again, two or three canoes came off from
the shore, and approached the ship; and some
of the Indians coming on board, informed Thorn
that they would sell him the furs at his own
price, and actually bartored some which they
brought with them for little Or nothing, in ex-
change for kniUes.
Gradually more boats came alongside, all Of
which were filled with sayages, and brought furs
to barter, but strange TO say, none wished any
article of trade save knives, and for these they
appeared willing to give such bargains as ena-
bed Thorn to make enormous profit.
Once more, and for the last time, the interpret
of the Indians, and telling him iiiat thdsy We're
purchasing the knives to murder him and his
crew. With an olh Thorn bid im be silent
and allowed the savagos, thee or four hundred
in number, to climb up on the ships decks, and
continued to supply them with weapons, until
each one was armed. Some hostile demonstra-
tons which were about this time made, however,
alarmed the Captain, and he gave orders to push
out from shore but this was not done for want
Shushong, which was responded to by hundreds
of voices and With k ives. war clubs and other
weapons the sava2os commenced the work of
slaughter,
The first who fell was Lewis. He was en-
gagged in bargaining over q bale Of blankets
when he received deadly ab in the back, and
springing up, fell backwards down the compan-
ion way. Mr.. Mckay, another of the crew,
who was seated on the tafIrail, was knocked into
the sea with war club, where he was set upon
by the women i'll the canoes, and finally dis.
patched.
In lhe meanwhile, Captain Thorn, though Ia
ken completely by surprise, made desperate
and gallant resistance against fearful odds. Al
though reckless and quick-tempercd man, he
was also brave us lion, but had, unfortunately,
come upon the deck without arms, save a clasp.
knife stuck in his belt. A young chief, who had
singled him out, rushed upon him, but, with a
single blow, Thorn laid the savage dead at his
feet, and was Immediately beset by several Of
his soutest warriors. Towering up amid his
host of enemies, he dealt Gripping blows to the
! right and left around him, sIewing the quarter
deck with dead and wounded, and making his
way towards the cabin, where he had fire arms
but which he was doomed never to reach. For
a single instant overcome with faintness and loss
of blood, he leaned on the tIler wheel, when a
E tall savage struck him from bchild with war
club, and felcd him TO the deck, where he was
instantly dispatched with knives, and tossed
j, overheard.
! While this was trunsactiDg on the quarter
, deck medley fight was going on throughout
!, the ship. The crew fought desperately, with
handspikes, knives and such other weapons as
4 they could get hold of; but were soon oycrpow.
: cred and mercilessIy butchered.
+ A short time before the attack was made, sew.
~ on of the crew had gone alof, and there remain
$ ed, viewing with unfeigned horror the carnage
going on below. Being destitute of weapons
= they resolved to let themselves down by the run
O ming ropes, and by that means get between
i decks. One fell in the attempt and was killed
r another received death blow in the back, ant
t and third was mortally wounded as he was
} getting down the hachway The remaining
four succeeded in reaching the cabin, wherC
0 they found Lewis, still alive, though severely
1 wounded. They borricaded the cabin, broke
= holes through the companion way, and opened q
G brisk fire upon the Indians, with muskets there
r procured, which soon cleared the decks of the
:, now alarmed savages, who huddled into their
0 canoes, and put off for the shore.
After the Indians had left the Tonquin, the
s four men lowered the long boat and pushed of