Litchfield enquirer., 1860-12-13
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A CRUEL STRATAGEM.

CKU EL SIIGA TAU EM.
 Did you ever hear of "Old Smith," that nscd to live way down East, during the ear y settlement of the country now called Maine Old Smith lad lost several rela- tives by the hands of the Indians, aud he vowed eternal enmity to the whole race. He had been twice taken by the savage tribes, but contrived to escape from them, and had killed several of their number. He sought every opportunity to do them mischief in any way. By this course he had become so exceedingly. obnoxious to the rcd men, that they would not even kill him if they could, but were almost constantly on the watch to take him alive for the purpose of satisfying their revenge by the inniction of the utmost torture that barbarty cou'd invent Smith was aware of this disposition of the sava- gcs, and was the less afraid of their bullets.
 It is reported that Smith was at one time engaged in splitting some pine logs for fvnce rails, aud,in the ardor Of his employment he had neglected his ' look out" till six h. dians came upon him with yell of exulta- ,on.. Tlc chief of the party whose name was Wahoos, seized him by the arms ex claiming ~-sa
 "Now, Shit now Shit me got you' Smith saw that it would bs in vnin to re- sist, and assuming an air of composure, thus addressed his captor-
 "Now, ahoos, l will tell you what l will do. If you will help to split open this log, 1 will go with you without any resist .ance otherwise l will not walk step, and you will have to carry or kill me"
 The Indians now having him safe in their possession, and willing to save themselves the trouble, agreed to help split thealog, if he would show them how. Smith had al- ready opened one end of the log with a large wooden wedge, and renewing his blows on the wedge with a beetle, he directed them to take hold of the separated parts of the log, three on each side, and pull with all their might, while he should drive iu the wedge The red men were not without sus- picons, but kept their eyes on his motions, while they pulledat the suudred part of the log. Every blow of Smith opened the crev- ice wider, which enabled the Indians to re- new their holds by inserting their fingers deeper in the creyice, when Smith, slightly changing the direction of the beetle, struck on the side of the wedge, ksockiug it out of the log, which closing with great force, caught every foe by the hands, save one, who, seeing the predicament of his compan- ions, took to his heels, but was quickly brought down by Smiths long barrelled gun, which he had kept near him. The oth- CT five expected no mercy, and were not dis appointed Five blows from Mir. Smiths axe silenced their death-song. ~ | A year or more after this affair. Smith was returning one evening from an excur- sion, and passing near bend of the An droscoggin river about a mile above the fall, on which the Lewiston Mills are now loca- ted it was nearly dark, and he discovered an Indian making fire on rock by the river-bank. Smith saw through the busi- ness at once the fire was for a beacon to guide the landing of a strong party. With unerring aim, he shot the lone savage, who fell into the water, and Smith quickly threw the fire and frebrands after him, and then proceeded down to the falls, and there he soon kindled another fire on a projecting rock and then retiring up the river bank short distance, he awaited the result. He soon heard the songs of company of war. riors, who had then discovered the fire, and were steadily padding towards it, in high glee. Their songs were suspended by sur prise at the rapid motion of their canoes. and the hoarse roar of the falls revealed toe late the dreadful truth. A brief deatl song, uttered in savage yells, and the cries
 oI several squaws and papooses, were al
 tnae preceded their dreadful plunge oyel
 the perpendicular falls. .,.Ft
 SuBson1KG vs. DRoueHr-We have had
 an opportunity during the late season. o observing the benefits of subsoilinr on cor, Icrops The drought has been very r severe
 and subsoiled fields can be picked out as ia,
 las they can be seen, exhibiting corn in fnl
 vigor while on shallow ploWed land tn, crops were hardly worth the care nccessar, to maintain them Where lifting subsoi blow of the smaller size has been used i place of the hand hoe, and in place of tn
 small mould-board blow. in the cultivatio 1. of corn, the crop has been saved, even wher
 drought most prevailed. How long will take our farmers to learn that snbsoiled Ian