Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-03-07
SELECT VARIETY.
An American Tradition.

One OF the most interesting incidents in the
early history OF New England, is the deiverance
OF the frontier town of Hadley from an attack Of
| barbarous native tribe. The Indian war of King
| hilip-the saddest page in the annals of the colo
nIeS-had just commenced; and The inhabitants of
tiadley, alarmed by the threatening aspect Of the
times, had, on the first OF September, 1915, assem-
bled in their humble place Of worship, 10 mplore
the aid OF the Almighty, and 10 humble themselves
before Him in solemn fast. All at once the terri
ble war-whoop was heard, and the church sur
rounded by blood-thirSty band of SavageS; while
the infant, the aged, the bedridden-all who had
been unable TO attend service, were at the mercy
oi tomahawk and Scalping- knife. AT that PERIOD
so uncertain were the movements of the Indians,
that 1t was customary for select number of the
Stoutest and bravest among the dwellerS in the
1roniier towns to carry their weapons with them,
even TO the house of prayer, and now, in consier-
nation and confusion, these armed men OF Hadey
sailed forth TO defend themselves and families-
But, unfortunately, the attack had been too sud-
den and well planned; the Indians had partly
gained possession OF the town before they surround
ed the church; and posted on every spot OF want
age-grOund, their bullets told with fatal effect up
on the bewildered and disheaItened colonists. At
this crisis, there suddenly appeared amcng them
man, tall and erect of stature, calm and venera BILE
III aspect, with long gray hair falling his shoul-
derS. Rallyng the retreatIng townsmen, lie issued
brief and distinct orders in a commanding voice.
and with cool and soltiiery precision. The power
tul influence which, IN moments of peril and diff
ficulty, master mind assumes over his less gifted
fellows, was we'll eXemplified on this occaS Sion.-
The strangers commands were implicitly obeyct
by men who until that instant had never seen
him. He divided the coloniStS into two bodies;
placing one IN the most advantageous and sheltered
position; TO return the fire of the enemy, and hold
them in check, while the other, by a circuitous
coute, he led, under cover of the smoke, TO ieS-
perate charge on the Indian The red men,
| thus surprised in turn, and placed between two
fires, were Immediately defeated and put 10 flight
| leaving many of their painted warriors dead upon
| the field. and tht: TOWN of Hndlev
from confagration, and its inhabitants from mas
Sacre. The first moments after the unexpected
victory passed i'll anxious inquiries, affection
| ate meetings and heartfelt congratulations; then
| followed thanks and praise to God, and then the
deliverer was eagerly sought for. Where was he?
| All had seen him an instant before; but now he
had disappeared; nor was he ever seen again.
One or two among the people could have told who
he was, but they prudenuy held their peace.
| Amid the dense forests and mighty rivers of
America, the stern piety of the Puritans had ac-
CURED an imaginative cast, almost unknown in the
mother country; and thus unable 10 account for
the sudden adgeRtganl disappearance of the de-
| llverlng stranger, the people of Hadley believed
that he was an angel sent from God, in answer 10
their pra yeIs 10 rescue them from the heathen
my. With the traditions of the Indian war of
1915, that belief has been handed down to our
own day; and it was only few years ago, on the
banks OF the pleasant Kennebec, that fair deS-
cendant of the redoubtable Captain Church re-
lated 10 the writer of the foregoing legend an in
dlSputable instance nf supernatural dispensaton
OF Providence.
The story, however, is historical fact, and lat
te.lY has embelished more than popular work
of fiction. Sir Walter Scott, who allowed little
10 escape linn, alludes 10 it in "Peverll of the
Peake;" Cooper has made use of it in '''The Bor-
dcrerS;" and "OIiver Newman" the last poem of
Southey, partly founded on the eyentful history
of William Goffe, the delivering angel Of the in
hal bitants OF Hadiey. THE dellverer OF Hadey
ii believed to have been Goffe, of the English
''regicides' who fed from England upon the res
toration of Charles Ii, and lived the TEST oil :1s
life i'll concealment in this country.