Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-08-17

IN; horror, o. Iq9irn Uariar,. The fol.
lowing account Of desperate fight with a
party OF Indians, copied from the San Anio-
mo tPeNasl Ltdger, calls TO mind the days
Of old, when The frontiers Of the settled por-
ton o! New England we're the theatre Of
many such fatal conflicts and the scenes OF
many such Instances Of undaunicd courage:
"On Saturday evening. June 30, some
fifteen Indians surrounded the house OF Mr..
Wesifall, who u well known To most of our
CT zens, md who lives on the I.eona, sons
thiriy-iive miles below Fort lngp, snd IN
this county. The attack was mode on Mr..
Wesitall, while he WAS absent from his
house, leaving at the time no occupants
~ il bot Frenchman named Louis, aud
large dog. Ii seems that the Indians had
been lying IN wait for some tme, and took
this opportunity 10 attack HIM. Mr.. West
fall, however. succeeded in getting back 10
his house, wounded in dangerous manner,
the ball striking IN the lett breast high up,
and coming out at his back under the oppo.
site shoulder. He fastened the door, and
the indians then commenced an attack on
the house. Louis and Wes,iall now er-
changed shots with them in rapid succession.
but Westiall was fast failing from loss Of
wall IN order to make sure aim, and was shot
through the heart. fell and expired. Tho
faithful dog, on seeing Louis fall, and the
blood gushing from his body, became fran.
tic with rage and rushing out OF small. aper-
ture, sprang upon the Indians, seized one
and tore every garment from his body, and
was on the eve OF killing him, when he was
shot and oyerpowered by the demons in hui
mnn SHINE thar giIrrou ndpl hlg,
Westiall, overpowerel by the loss Of
blood, could only support himself now by
holding to the walls of the house but moth
ing daunled, he tore 4 large aperture IN the
wall and stuck his gun out, in order to keep
up appearances. he lndians, no doubt,
thinking they would have n long siege, and
many Of them being severely wounded, left.
taking with them all the horses belonging TO
the ranch, 1t was now night, and Westtsll
remembers of crawling 10 his bed, which
was the last consciousness he had until
Sunday evening, when he found himself ~
ing on his bed covered with blood that had
come from his wound and from his mouth;
hui lac was uui able 10 como from ms bed
until Monday, when from the stencil of the
dead body IN the room he found something
mus, be done. With great effort he sue
ceeded in dragging the body about twenty
feet, but could get 1t no farther. AT sunset
on Monday evening he started towards Fort
lnge for assistance; but succeeded that
night IN getting only four mies--and on
"Wednesday evening he arrived at hou-e IN
the vicinity of Fort Inge, where he procured
assistance, and Is still alive. and his pbysi-
clan has strong hopes of his recovery.
Mr.. Nestiall Is man of strong frame and
extraordinary Constitution, which accounts
for his remarkable escape. He is terror 20
The Indians, and is known on the frontier by
the name of Leather Stocking.' The In
dams without doubt were the Lipans, who
commit their murders, plundering, &c, and
then take shelter in Mexico"