Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-11-10
INDIAN BRIDGE.
RELATED BY DANIEL WEBSTER.

/ COCK oy the name OF IbOrGn-- : Gter JooWeD---
not man of large substance. but still what
We would call IN New Hampshire, "a fore
handed man" Living on the frontier, he
necessarily came much in contact with the
/ lndiaus--somctimes in hostile contact. Fear
less, and abounding in resources. he had gained
a name among them, and there we're few of !
4tsrsves rle ssetltl have earsd 10 .es.cst
! him single-handed. Not naturally quarrel
some, he had avoided unnecessary hostilities
with the savages, aud, indeed. had gained no
| little of their good will by many acts of gem
erosity, for with no people more than with
them, were bravery and Gberality held in high
| estimation.
"Sabatis and Plausawa were the two princi-
pal chiefs Of the tribe, the smoke of whose
wigwam arose nearest the settlements of the
English colonists. The first was of a sullen
and vindictive disposition and when excited
! by drink, intractible and savage. Plausawa
was Of miidcr temperament, and felt better
! disposed towards the English. He had inter
changed kind Offices with them, and warned
them more than once of plots against their
safety.
4 this time there was truce between the
! Indians and the colonists, and both parties
had agreed to punish any violation Of it. If
an Indian should be killed by an EngIishman
the colonists promised to treat it as capital
crime and the Indians on their part, made
a corresponding stipulation. There was peace
! between the crowns of France and England,
and their respective colonies affected to keep
/ it Al least in naGe.
Relying upon this present good understands
! ing, Sabatis and Plusawa one day made
! hunting excursion upon the shores Of the
! Merrimac, il which they were very successful.
They were encountered, late in the afternoon,
! loaded with the skins ofthe animals they had
killed, By two Englishmcn, somewhere near
! Boscawen Ssbatis had procured drink from
the settlers, always toe eager to barter it for
furs, and was in qusrrasome humor. Piau-
sawa therefore, cautioned these men against
any attempt TO trade With him, and advised
them to 60 home. There are others of the
tribe about" he said who would support
Sabatis in any hostile demonstration" AS
they we're departing Sabatis cried ont to them.
''we want DO more Of you English here? l
have evil IN my h cart, and if you do not leave
our territories, and abandon them forever,
We will take land and life from you We will
drive the pale faces into the big water" One
of the men replied, there is no fighting how
between Us. English and Indians are al
brothers. They had not gone far on their
home ward road before they met Peter Bowen,
and telling him Of tho threats Of SahatiS. en-
uSaVOESU 10 pSiSUdlC ulIi tU dCCUII tI!SH
homo Bowen laughed. Threatened men"
he said, ''liVed long. would not prize a life
held ct the mercy of these savages. l will
meet them in friendship. or fight, as best
suits them The Indians had got into their
canoe before lie overlook them, and were go
; ing up the river, Bowen hailed them, and
urged them to 90 10 his house, where they
would have 4 frolic, and pass the night. Al
ter some reluctance on the part of Plausava,
they assented, and accompanied Bowen to
his house il Contocock. Bowen bad many a
deep csrouse with the Indians, and understood
hoy to manage them.
| He sat before them drinking cups and bot
, ties Of rum, and leaving bis w!ie-a woman
as fearless and courageous as himsef-to en-
entertain them, went cut of the room On pre-
text OF going to the well for water. But
while he was absent he drew the charges froGl
their guns, which they had unsuspectingl lJ
left behind the door in the entry. The night
wore On. and their potatioUs were deep and
eft rcDeatcd n first the Indians were great
" rleased-IausLed at Bowen's stories, an
called him brother; but by degrees, as the
drank more deeply, they began to grow quar-
relson,e. abused the English and threatened
their ext rmiuation. Bow, n ffected to treat the
thre ats as Jokes, but had all the while watch.
flI eve On their motions. At last the SUI
rose aud the Indians said it was time to g
home They had not 4 rank so much bat tha
they could walk as we'll ever-the rum had
only affec ted heir brains. Bowen consented
to take his horse and carry their baggage t.
the place where they had left their canoes
. On the way, Sabatis proposed to run race
/ against Bowen mounted; but the latter, Judg
, ing from Sabatis' eye anu manner that some
: mischief was intended, at f-st declined to run
). but fually, on much urging, consented Il
g run, taking however good care to let the In
/ dian outrun the horse. Sabatis seemed n,uci
F, pleased with his victory, and laughed heartily
3 at Bowen for owning so sorry an animal
j For while they travelled along after this il
4 apparently good humor, until SabariS, Us they
! were nearing the river, turned around t,
5 Bowen and said, ''the pale face must wall
e the woods with us"-that is go with them a
d a prisoner. Bowen replied, in seeming un
:, concern, that he could not walk the woods TO
5. Indians and Englishmen were now brothers
1T Whereupon SabatIS proposed second race
81 and that Bowen should unload his horse anC
lc start little before him, ''because," he SAT-
/, ssthe horse of the pale face could not run st
OF fast as Sabatis" This Bowen refused to do
but consented to start az the same time. The,
started, but the horse had not got far ahea'
rs Of the.Indian before Bowen heard gun snap
II and looking around, saw the smoke, and tia
o. o gun pointed at him. He turned, and burle'
IA his tomahaWk in the Indians head He thel
J. wen. back to meet Plau.awa who, seeing tn
fate of his friend took aim at Bowen an
fred his gun flashed Then he beggen Bow
en- to spare his life, pleaded his innocence
S.batis' intent, and called to mind the man