The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-08-20

In the settlement OF Nortner ermon our
ing the long November evenings of 1854
when banishing from mind, as much as posi-
BILE the dogmas of the " learned commentator,
/ betook myself to the ireside, and gathered
profit and recreation from the old mans mar.
ratives.
"Just 6fty-nine years ago this very night,
began the old man one evening, on the iden.
teal spot where the Squire P's house
now stands, occurred a tragedy, the remember.
ance of which fills me with horror. 1t was
one of the most cold-blooded transactions that
in all my residence in the wilderness of seven
ty years, ever came to my knowledge ii
filled the region round about with consterna-
ton, causing mothers to hug more closely
their helpless infants, and the hardy men to
take up their arms and swear vengeance on
the heartless perpetrators. Listen, l will tell
it to you.
CA few of the more hardy and daring of
the early settlers of NJ, becoming a little
dissatisfied with their situation there, removed
into this then wild UNEMPLOYED region, distant
abou. thirty miles from any settlements and
finding a fertile soil and advantageous loca-
ton, built themselves log houses, and made
clear ngs. This went on prosperously with
them, and they lived with but little fear of
the indians, as none except a struggling hun
ter or two had been known to visit the vicin-
it, since a battle between a large party OF
settlers and the tribe which occasionally To-
Gated themselves there, occurred, In which
the Indians were signally defeated, and
more than half their number slain.
The settlement numbered some twelve
families, who were located within a circuit OF
two miles. My elder brother and sister were
among the number. Among them, as a mat
ter of course, was a fair sprinkling of lads
and ~lasses, of whom Mary S-was a
universal favorite of old and young, and the
belle of the old settlement. She was my
young friend, a girl that was a girl-not one
of your sentimental, pale-faced, wasp-waisted,
dainty figured Misses of the present time /;
but a bright-eyed, blooming brunette, who
| could skin, tow and weave the cloth out of
which her dress was made. Oh, she was a
charming girl, and wherever she went happi-
ness followed her footsteps. Her g~uileless
heart shed its kindly influence all around
her, imparting to all who came in contact
with her a kindred feeling.
Jack H--was exactly her counter
part brave, generous, intelligent and enter
prising a perfect model of a maoin charac-
ter as well as in form. And as there was al
ways a rival among the young beaux of the
settlement, in striving to gain the appreciation
and favor of Mary, so among the girls each
strove to gain the attention of Jack. The
knowing ones among the old folks planned
deep schemes for entrapping the young cou-
pie into alliance best suited to their own
particular interests but Jack and Mary, dis
regarding the wishes of others, had taken
the matter into their own hands, like sensible
young people, as they were, and In spite of
the plotting of the old ladies they had come
to a perfect understanding, and formed an
intimacy which nothing but death could SUM-
der.
At the time of which l speak this matter
had long been settled, and all the necessary
arrangements made for the wedding of the
"likeliest couple of the settlement" as the
old ladies said, which was to take place on
the annual thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving, according to the proclaim
alton of the worthy governor of the province,
came, and young and old gathered together
at the capacious flor the times) house of Capt.
s., to celebrate the nuptials of John
and Mary; and ample were the preparations
for the feast. The worthy parson from the
next settlement was there also, and by his
side sat another parsonage with whom, in
these fastidious times, it would be deemed
a sacrilege to associate the man of Cod
mean the fiddler. But things amt now as
they were then. All was Joy, all was gaiety.
All, little did those gathered there dream of
the awful fate that awaited them!
| was then Just twenty-five, and having
married my worthy wife-peace to her mouls
dering ashes-only a few months before, l
was unprepared to 60 with my brother and
sister at the outset, but was intending to fol-
low them as soon as my affairs could be
arranged. | had been out a week or two
trapping sable, and knowing that was to come
off, | made it in my way to be present. The
gaiety of the party was at its height. The
ceremony was Just being performed. The
minister had pronounced the solemn words,
whom God hath joined together let no man
put asunder," the kiss was exchanged, and
all were crowding round the happy pair with
congratulations, when a yell, wild and hideous,
rent the air-the deadly warwhoop of the
Indians. Terrible was the CONSERVATION of
all,-faces a moment before radiant with
happiness, were turned in agony of horror to
heaven. In an instant the doors were burst
open, and savage after savage, with glittering
knife and tomahawk, rushed in to the slaugh-
ter.
"The hideous yells of the savages, the
shrieks and groans of the dying, they ring in
my ears to the present day! l saw the
bloody tomahawk cleve the skull of poor
Jack, as he vainly endeavored to protect his
bride. | heard her wild shrek az The deadly
knife pierced the bosom of the lovely Mary;
| saw my sister fall dead at my feet. | saw
the savage's arm uplifted. l felt a stunning
blow, and knew no more.
''How long l remained insensible have no
means of knowing. | awoke as from a fearful
dream. was nearly crushed and covered en-
tirely by dead bodies. to which circumstance l
probably owed my life. With a struggle | ex-
tricated myself from the dead upon and
around me, and stood upon my feet. The
sun was shining high in the heavens. o,
horrors, what a sight met my eyes There in
their blood lay every one that had formed the
bridal party ; not a soul escaped! How was it