New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-04-07
DAILY CRESCENT
THE BLACK POND;
OR, THE CHIEFTAINs GRAVE.

c.
Few have visited the fourishing town of New
Baintree, in Massachusetts,, without becoming
acquainted with the beautiful and romantic vi
cinity of Black Pond.
Shortly after the expiration Of the French
and Indian War, hardy settler named Warner
built his little cot near the pond, on the banks of
the beautiful Ware River. On the morning
when the defenders Of Fort Edward sailed
forth under the command Of Colonel Williams
to meet the advancing enemy, led by Baron
Dieskan, when the former suffered death, War
ner, then private, was one of the last to seek
the retaining shelter of the fort, and distin-
guished himself short distance from its walls
by long and obstinate sc hand to hand with
gigantic chief of the Oneida tribe, whom he
killed, and according to the rude fashion of the
day, bore his scalp in triumph to the camp
During the war, by his courage and ability, he
won the then envable title of Captain.
One morning, few years afterwards, he sur
prised his wife by his speedy return from the
forest, where he had intended to remain during
the day. He entered the house without speak
ing, and hastily seized his rife. She noticed
the firm step, the unwonted flashing of his eyes
| and stern compression of his lips.
" Husband,'' she said, with an anxious look,
''what has occurred to move you thus p
''Moved,'' he replied, do I really appear
moved yet it may be so, but not with fear
fear cannot move me-
ssFearr' she exclaimed with alarm, shave
you been in danger speak, oh, entreat you p
He smiled, aud that smile served partially to
dissipate her apprehension, while she shrunk
back almost ashamed at the vehemence of her
alarm.
90 Do not agitate yourself my dear wife, he
replied, Sc you see am safe and with you
but bring me my box of tlints, and that quickly,
for require one that will not miss fire.
| When she returned with the box, he, after q
minute selection, affixed one to the hammer OF
his rife, and carefully cleaned the yent-hole and
| reloaded it.
'Now,' he said, as his eye glanced rapidly
along the barrel of his piece, ss am ready
| His wife, who had noticed all these precau-
tions, said in a calm but sad tone, '' fear you
deceive me.''
| =" If | have kept aught from you,'' he said,
sit was affection that prompted the act; but
now you shall know all. week since | learned
that an Indian had been lurking in our neigh
borhood. From inquiries he made of the neigh
bors, l found that was the object of his search.
This morning unexpectedly saw him. He re-
treated hastily, but turned for a moment with
look of deadly hatred and defiance. under
stood its language--the looks of an Indian are
more expressive than his words--it plainly said,
your life or mine.'''
"Oh, my husband, you surely will not go
| forth to meet this dreadful savage-it would be
unutterable madness Why cannot you fly from
this horrible place, and thus elude him.
"Fly--ah. it cannot be, poor trembler. By
heavens it shall never be said fled from sin
gle Indian besides know this blood thirsty
savage: it is Black Wolf, the celebrated chief
of the Onedias, and the brother of him slew
at Fort Edward. In revenge for his brother S
death he now seeks my life
''Then for my sake said the afflicted wife,
and for the sake of the poor little innocent-she
pointed to the cradle which contained a prattling
infant of two summers-do not go alone.''
cit must be so,'' he replied firmly, though
apparently moved by her affectionate appeal
'smy safety depends upon it, As a savage, i mus
meet him as such, and defeat him as such and
that in his own barbarous manner. Remember
you are the wife of soldier; be firm, or at least
he said with emotion he could not control, sd
not unman me. If falf'-he hesitated for a mo
ment, then suddenly caught his child, kissed
him again and again, pressed burning kiss OF
the cold brow of his wife, hastily embraced hel
and rushed from the house.
He had not been absent an hour before he dis
covered the lurking place of the Indian. The
wary eye of the savage was too busy not to see
as soon as he was seen.
Then commenced those fearful movements by
which the sons of the forest strive to induce theil
foes to leave some portion of the body exposed
to their deadly rifles
The Chief though the most renowned of his
tribe, found the captain in every respect his
equal, and after half an hour of intense Labor
and suspense, neither had gained any advantage
The Indian at this moment saw Warner leal
from his lurking place and disappear behind the
trunk Of large fallen tree. What was now tt
be DONE he scarcely knew--he was too wary moi
to apprehend some stratagem by Warner; h(
therefore neither advanced nor retreated, but
kept behind gigantic oak. At length to his
great joy he discovered the hat of his enemy
slightly emerging above the body of the tree
and quickly disappear. The Indian smiled Will
savage delight as he muttered. "'The pale face
is great warrior, but a fool.'' The sons of tn,
forest would not lie when he could stand h,
would not expose his head and feet at time
During the soliloquy he was slowly poisins
his rifle, ready to take the first advantage of tn
mprudent movements of his adversary. Th
hat was now so clearly visible that he fired.
quickly fell, and was silent for a few minutes
then a wild exulting war-whoop re-echoe
through the forest, and the Indian rushed for
} ward to secure the scalp of his fallen enemy
When within two rods of the fatal tree h
paused with amazement Before him, with
poised rifle, stood the powerful form of Warner
One look Of unutterable hate, it was the chief
tain's last. The report of the rifle resounde
through the forest, and the Black Wolf la
writhing among the fallen leaves.
The Captain was not the fool the Indian ha
supposed him. Feeling that neither had game
: any advantage, and being desirous of bringn
the combat to an issue, he resolved to hazar
all to a stratagem, which, if successful, woul
give him fatal advantage over the Oneida
He therefore threw himself behind the tree, an
slightly elevated his hat upon stick. This th
Indian saw, and afterwards fired at with the re
y suit we have shown above.
Warner looked upon his dead foe with tn
stern joy which warriors feel
GO You have been a great chief, but a crue
$ WARRIOR he soliloquized, yet your weapon
have been used with courage and skill yo
shall not be deprived of them even in DEATH
With cords he affixed the rifle that had prove
, fatal to so many, to the cold hand, placed til
: tomahawk and scalping knife in their wonte
d places, tied large stone to the feet and place
. the body in the canoe. When near the cente
of the pond, he lifted the inanimate form wit
his face towards the setting sun, and the smoot
waters became the Indians grave.
e Warner, though conqueror, returned wit
: sadness to his friends, whose joy can be bette
e imagined than described From that day tn
!; beautiful sheet of water has been known /
\ Black Pond
g REnEARsAL.-Did you ever, in the course
} your peregrinations around down, drop in
4 the theatre during rehearsal? If not, you ha'
treat in store. Now, don't make a rush fi