Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-24
nlisteIlaneous.
THE LOST SISTER OF WYOMING.
OR, THE CAPTIVITY OF FRANCIS sLocUM.

Among the inhabitants of the beautiful val
ley of Wyoming, at the period Of its invasion
by the blood-thirsty band of tories and savages,
with barbarity seldom equalled, laid waste
and destroyed every vestge OF that lovely settle
ment, numbering the inhabitants and driving off
their cattle, was Quaker by the name of JON
athan Slocum, whose peaceful disposition and
many acts of kindness to the Indians saved his
dwelling from the torch, and his family from
annoyance, while his neighbors were butchered,
their houses burnt, and their children taken cap
tive. This impunity, however, was of short du-
ration. Mr.. Slocum had son, Giles, who was
in the battles, and it is supposed thct the Indi-
ans, becoming aware of the fact, determined on
bloody revenge.
In the family of Mr.. S. was the wife of q
neighbor, who had been taken captive by the
Indians, and her two sons, one fifteen, and the
other twelve years of age. One morning in
November, some four months after the bloody
massacre which made the valley a desolation, a
party of red-skin warriors was seen prowling
around the vicinity of Wilkesbarre Fort. The
two boys had gone to the grindstonc to sharpen
knife, and the women were engaged in their
domestic duties, when Mrs. Slocum was startled
by shot and a shrek from one of the boys.
Stepping to the door, she behold swarthy war
rior, in the act of scalping the Oldest boy with
the knife he had been grinding. Horror-strick-
en- at the sight, she staggered back, and was
followed by the Indian, with the still warm and
reeking scalp in his hands. Looking about him
for plunder, he discovered nothing to tempt hi'
cupidity, worth the risk of carrying off, but q
little son of Mrs. Slocum, who stood in his way
as he turned to the door. Seizing him in his
arms, he was about to depart, when Mrs. s..
with all a mothers feeling, caught him by the
arm and besought him, in tones of earnest en-
treaty, not to deprive her of her boy. See
said she, he can do thee no good, he is lame
Dropping the boy, he took up a little daugh'
ter of five years, who had crouched in fear be-
hind high-backed chair, and was making his
: way out, when the mother again stopped him
and plead for her child. In the most pathetic
} tones she implored him to leave her brisht-eyed
darling, the light of her home, and the joy o.
her household. AS well might she have WASTED
, her words on the stern rocks or the idle wind
the rugged nature of the savage was not to b
moved by the earnest applause of the pale face'
squaws Grasping with one hand the mantl
which enwrapped him. and with the other tn
. dress of the child, she clung to both with a te
= nacity which had well nigh accomplished he
:. complished her purpose. Finding himself i'm
# peded in his exit and fearful of approaching
,. sistance, the savage drew his tomahawk an
raised it to finish at blow her Importantly an
her lfe Reading in his eyes his stern determi
IF nation, and wrought to a pitch of agony beyon
es which her system refused to go, she yielded he
ns grasp, and sank in a swoon at his feet. III
ID Indian, relieved of her annoyance, now too
8, his departure with little Frances in his arm
e. and as he passed through the yard, seized upo
III the other son of Mrs. Kingsley, whom he all
in bore off a prisoner. All this was but the seer
was but the scene of o few moments, yet ho
much of terror and heart-breaking agony W,
y embraced in that short period of time lilo
We many years of terrible suspense and deep dc
al pair had their birth in those few brief moment
Mrs. Kingsley, who had stood terrified behol
,r- er Of the scene, when she saw her second al
,e- only living child torn from her and carri
off into captivity, sank under tho aliction and ga
IT. hers;lf up to a stolid apathy, little short
its despair. One of Mrs. Slocum's children ha
with sagacity beyond his years, at the first a
nd pearance of the savages snatched up the your
in est child and fled to the fort, where she ga
be the alarm, and party started at once for
wn house, but the Indians were already beyond
lay reach of successful pursuit.
nu- In short time after the above melancho
bereavement, Mrs Slocum was called upon
part with her husband and father, who W,
Ver both shot and scalped by party of India
'ral while foddering cattle near the house. Thus,
AN the short space of six weeks, was that haI
US household broken up and destroyed, and its S
my vlving members wrapped in misery as wit
10 mantle. Her religion sustained Mrs. Slocum
OF her day of trial, and she threw herself anil