Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-03-05
A Narrow Escape.
AN INCIDENT OF Tue WAR OF 1872.


About the middle of December, 1918, the
garrison in charge Of Fort niagara, at the
mouth of the Niagara river, was surprised
by large party Of British and indians,
whereby the American frontier. from
youngstown to Buffalo, was laid open to
the depredatioDs of the savaces.
One of the most Furnishing American
villages on the Niagara, was Lewiston.
situated opposite to the Canadian village
of Queenstown and as the inhabitants of
Lewiston had been active in the defence Of
the frontier, the enemy doomed the place
to speedy destruction.
When the flames and smoke was as
cending from the wanton conhagration Of
Youngstown, and the parties of villagers
flying from the murderous savages, notofied
the people of Lewiston of what would soon
be the fate of their own homes and families
every one was thrown into the utmost cons
fusion and alarm, and sought safety b
fight.
Among the last to escape. were two
brothers named Lothrop and Bates Cook.
the former of whom, few days previous,
had had his right leg amputated above the
knee, and was now q helpless invalid
had no hope Of escaping the scalping knife
of the savages, begged his brother to leave
him, and fly for his life. But the generous
man had no such intention
With all the haste possible, Bates, after
getting the team and sleigh to the door,
managed to drag the bed, on which his
brother lay, upon the vehicle; and throw
ing in clothing, and such other necessaries
as came nearest to hand, started off in the
rear of the flying fugitives. But so rough
was the ground. that the wounded youth
could endure other than the slowest mo
ton.
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 out Of the doors and WIN
dows of the house they had just quilted,
and the yells and war whoops of the drunk
en- Indians rang with startling effect in his
ears.
House after house was fred, and before
the young men had reached the top of the
hill on their way out of the place, the en-
tire village was wrapped in flames.
They could see the painted warriors.
wild with drink, and bedecked with the
plumber of the stores, dancing and bowling
in the streets, like so many incarnate de
mons; and mingled here and there among
them, and lodging in and out of the burn
ing buildings, their British associates. as
busily engaged in the work of plumber as
the savages; while obscene oaths and
drunken songs attested their Internal ioy.
On the other hand, as they moved slowly
along, they could see teams and groups of
their neighbors and friends disappearing
rapidly in the distance, while they were
forced to move along slowly and exposed to
the first party of drunken and infuriateJ
savages who might espy them.
Moving thus along. they had proceeded
something like half mile from the smok.
ing village, when on ascending an emin-
ence, Bates was startled by fierce war
whoop in their rear, and to his horror
discovered band of savages in pursuit of
them, and wildly gesticulating for him to
stop.
In the excitement OF the moment.he urged
his team to faster gait but a cry of pain
from Lothrop caused him to sIacken speed
again and catching up a gun he had had
the forethought to throw into the sleigh, be
prepared to defend his helpless brother to
the last.
Lothrop, now perceiving the danger they
were in, and knowing in his feeble condi-
ton that escape was hopeless, unless swift
er progress could be made, begged his
brother to drive on. AT least it could only
be death to him and If the motion of the
sleigh over the rough ground should kill
him, he thought it would certainly be better
than to fall into the hands of their meici
less pnrsuers
The Indians, dashing on, were soon in
hailing distance, and in broken English
threatened Bates with the most cruel tor
lures if he did not stop, but he refused to
obey.
Soon coming up with the sleigh, the saw.
ages began to chase Bate round and round
1t, but from some oversight paid no atten-
ton to his helpless brother. AT last, Bates
snatched the gun from the sleigh, and run
off to one side of the road, to draw the In
dams, if possible, away from Lothrop. The
ruse partially succeeded; but as a fierce
looking Indian pursued Bates more closely
than was consistent with his safety, he
turned suddenly, and leveIling his gun at
the savage, fred. The Indian gave a ter
rife yell, leaped into the air, ran few
PAGES, and fell dead. The death of :heir
leader exasperated the savages to the last
degree, and they were about to wreak the
bloodiest vengeance on the brothers, when
to their right. upon the side of the noun
tain, they heard a wild. ringing war
whoop, and the next instant volley of
rifle shots whistled towards them and sew
eral of the pursuers fell killed and wounded
to the ground
This new party proved to be band of
friendly Tuscaroras, under Little Chief,
who. hearing the firing along the road,
FASTENED TO reconnOltre, and seeing the two
brothers, whom they Immediately recog-
nized. thus beset, ran down the hill to their
relief; and of the fifteen or twenty savages
who pursued the villagers. scarcely one
fourth returned to tell the fate Of their
companions.
Bates Cook afterwards became Controller
OF the State of New York. aud Lothrop
occupied mary positions of trust and dis
tinction, but both now sleep their last
sleep.