The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-03-21
Ethan Allen in Captivity.

er, Bayard, and Tom Hyer. He had
person like the Belgian giant, mountain mu.
sic like Swiss, and heart plump as Ceur
de Lion. Though born in New England,
he exhbitd no traces of her character, ex
cept that bis heart beat wildly for his coun
try's freedom. He was frank, bluff, COM
paniopable as a pagan, convivial as Ro.
man, hearty as harvest.
For the most part, Aliens manner while
in England was scornful and ferocious in
the last degree, although qualified at times
by heroic sort Of levity. Aside from that
inevitable egotism relatively pertaining to
pine trees spires and giants, there were, per-
haps, two special. incidental reasons for the
Tlantic Vermonter's singular demeanor
abroad. Taken captive while heading o
fororD hope before Montreal, he was treated
with inexcusable cruelty and indigitny. I'm
medately suffered to have been butchered
by the Indian allies in cold blood upon the
spot had he not with desperate intrepidi,y
availed himself of his enormous physica
strength by twitching British officer ard
using him for target. whrling him round
and round against the murderous tomahawks
of the savoges. Shortly afterwards, led into
the town fenced about with bayonets Of the
guard the commander of the enemy, one
Col. McCIouG, fourished his cane over his
captive's head with brutal nsuts, promising
him rebels halter at Tyburn. During his
passage TO Eng land in the same ship where
in went passenger Col. Guy Johnson, the
implacube Tory, he was kept heavily ironed
in the hold, and in all respects was treated
like a mutineer; or it may be, rather as a
lion Of Asia, which, though Gagged, was too
dreadful to behold without fear and tremb-
ling, and consequent cruelty. And, no
wonder, at least, for on one occasion, when
chained hand and foot, he was insulted by
an officer, with his teeth he twisted of the
nail that went through the mortice of his
hand cuffs, and so hOving his erms at liberty,
challenged the insulter TO mortal combat.-
Often when at Pendennis Castle, when no
other revengement was at hand, he would
hurI on his foes such bowling tempest ot
anathemas as fairly shook them into retreat.
Prompted by somewhat similar motives both
on shipboard and in England, he would Of.
ten make the most vocierous illusions to
Ticonderoga, and the part he played in its
capture, we'll knowing thatot all the Amer
lean names Ticondcrogs WAS, ot that period
bv far the m }st famous and Calling to Eng
lishmen.
Israel Potter, an exile American while
, strolIinp around Pendennis Castle, where
Allen was confined. CHANGED to hear hin
in one of his uu,bursts of indignation arc
madness, of which the following is spec
men.
"Brag no more, old England; consider
that you are only an island! Oder bael
your broken bat,alcns, and repent in ashes
, Long enough have you hired tories across
! the sea, forgotten the Lord your God, ant
bowed down to Howe and Kniphausen- -,h
I Hessian! Hands off, redskinned jackal
6 Wearing the Kings plate, as do, (meun
r ing, probably, certain manacles,) | hav
s treasures of wrath against you British"
Then came clanking, ss of chains, man
; vengetul sounds, all confusedly together
; Then again the voice.
| "Ye brought me out here from my dun
d geon, to this green, fronting yon Sabbat
It sun, to see how rebel looks. But +
r show YOU how q true gentleman and chris
o tan can conduct in adversely. Back, dogs
n respect q gentleman and christian, thoug
q he be in rags and smell of biigewster. Ye
s. shine on, glorious sun 'Tis the same th
?, warns the heart OF my Green Mounta
1t boys, and lights up with its rays the go!de
- hills Of Vermont!
Filled with astonshment at these word
which came from over q massive wall, i
IF cluding whst seemed an open parade spac
Israel pressed forward, and soon came to
black archway leading far within. unde
meath, to a grsssy tract, through tower
Like two boar tusks two sentries stood I
- guard at either side of the open jaws of Il
arch. Scrutinizing our adventurer q m
" ment, they signed him to enter.
Arriving at the end of the arched wa
10 where the sun shone, Israel stood transfx
~ at the scene.
" Like some baited bull in the ring crouc
~ ed the gigantic captive, handcuffed as b
=" fore; the grass of the green trampled a
"' gored up ell about him, both by his o'
." movement and those of the people aroul
A'' Except some soldiers and sailors, the
'eo seemed mostly towns people, collected hi
'h cut of curiosity. The stranger was outlaI
iehly arrnyed in the sorry remains OF h'
nn Indian, half. Canadian sort Of dress, consi
!" ing of fawn skin jacket-the fur outs
., 90 and hanging in rugged tufts-a half rot
bark like belt of wampum; aged breecI
of sagathy; the darned worsted stockll
= reaching to the knee; old moccasins, ridd
" with holes, their metal tags yellow with
water rust; faded red woollen bonnet,
:. unlike Russian night cap, or portent
~ ensangnined full moon, all soiled and stl
w. about with half rotten STRAW; unshu,
lie. beard, matted and Profuse as q Cornf
es- beaten down by, hailstones. His, VIII
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