The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-03
OF THEWAR OF 1912.


About the middle of December, 1872. the
garrison in charge OF Fort Niagara, at the
mouth OF Niagara river, YVES surprised by 4
large party Of British and Indians, whereby
the American frontier, from Youngstown 10
Buffalo. was laid open 10 tho depredatons OF
the sayages.
One of the most fourshing American vii
lagos on tbe Niagara was LeWisto WI, situated
opposite to The Canadian village of Queens
town: and ar the inhabitants of I.ew,stowu
had been active In the defence of the frontier,
the enemy doomed the place TO speedy de-
structioH.
When the flames and smoke were ascending
from the wantOn conf grafton OF Young
town. and the parties Of villagers living from
the IA urdeTOus saVages notified the people OF
IeWistown OF what would soon be the fate of
their own homes and families, every one was
thrown into the utmost confusion and alarm,
and sought safety in flight.
Among the last to escape were two bro
theirs named LOthrop and Bates Cook, the
former of whom, Il few DAYS previous, had
had his right leg amputated above the knee,
and wasBow a helpless invalid.
Lothrop, who in his crippled condition had
no hope OF escaping the EcalpIng knife OF the
sIyagps, begged bis brother TO leave him and
lily for his life. But the generous man had 40
such intention.
With All the haste possible, Bates, after
getting the team and sleigh 10 the door. man.
aged to drag tbs bed on which his brother lay
upon the vehicle, and throwing in clothing
aad such other naeessaries as came nearast TO
mana, StlFtttl Oh III the TthT Oh bltb HyiDg III
gitives. But rough was the ground that
the wounded youth could endure other
than the sloWest motion.
Bates, therefore, found it necessary for him
to restrain his team TO the sloWest walk
while he could see in his rear the flames
bursting ont of the doors and windows of the
house they had just quilted, and the yells and
war whOops of the drunken Indians rang
with startling effect in his ears.
House after house was fired and before the
young men had reached the top Of the hill on
their way out of the place, the entire village
was wrapped in flames.
They could the painted warriors, wild
with drink, and bedecked with the plundpr Of
the stores, dancing and bowling in the streets
like 30 many lncarnate demons and mingled
here and there among them, and lodging in
and out of the burning buildings, their British
associates, as busiiy engaged in the work of
plumber as the sdvages, while obscene oaths
and drunken songs attested their Internal
joy.
On the other hand, as they moved slowly
along, they could see teams and groups OF
their neghbors and friends disappearing
rapidly III the distance, while they were
forced to move along slowly, and exposed 10
the frs party of drunken and Infatuated saw
ages who might espy them. Moving thus
along, they had proceeded something like a
half mile from the smoking village, when on
ascending an commence, Bates was rtled by
4 tercs war Whoop in the rear, and to his
horror discovered a band of savages In pursuit
OF them, and wildly gesticulating for him 10
stop.
In the excitement of the moment he urged
his team to a faster gait; but cry of pain
from Lothrop caused him to slacken speed
again; and catching up gun he had the lore
thought to throw into the sleigh, he pre-
pared to defend his helpless brother 10 the
last.
Lothrop now perceiviug the danger they
We're in, and knowing, in his feeble condition,
that escape was hopeless unless swifter pro
gress could be made, begged his brother to
drive on. AT least II could only be death 10
him; and If the motion of the sleigh over the
rough ground should kill him, he thought il
would certainly be better than to fall into The
hands of their merciless pursuers.
The Indians, dashing on, were soon in hail
ing dis lance, and i'll broken English threatened
Bates with the most cruel tortures il he did
not stop, but he refused TO obey.
Soon coming up with the sleigh, the saw
ages began to chase Bates round and round il,
bat from some oversight paid no attention 10
his helpless brother. At last Bates snatche q
the gun from the sleigh and ran of 10 one
side of the road, TO draw the Indians, if pos
sible, away from Lothrop. The par
TALLY succeeded; but as "A fierce looking In
dian pursued Bates more closely than was con-
sistent with his safety, he turned suddenly,
and leveiing his gun at the savage, fired. The
Indian gave a terrific yell, leaped in TO the air,
ran a few PAGES, and fell dead. The death of
their leader exasperated the savages to the
last degree, and they were about TO wreak
their vengeance on the brothers, when upon
their right, on the side of the mount tain, they
heard Il wild ringing war-whoop, and the
next instant voiley of rifle shots whistled
toward them, and several of the pursuers fell
killed and wounded to the ground.
The new party proved to be a band of friend
ly Tuscaroras, under Little Chief, who, hear
ing the the firing along the road, astened 10
reconnoire, and seeing the two brothers,
whom they Immediately recognized thus be-
set, ran down the hill TO their relief, and of
the htteen or twenty saylges who pursued
the villagers, scarcely one fourth returned TO
tell the fate OF their companions
Bates Cook afterward became Com ptrolter
of The State OF New York, and Lothrop occ IL
pied many positions of trust and distinc ton
but both now sleep their last sleep.