Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-05-16
From the Freeman.l
A His Of Romance of Vermont In
dian History.

tions OF extraordinary events connected
with extraordinary characters. These
events and characters, though not APP
pearing TO much extent in the ordinary
histories OF the countries where they &C.
CURED have yet generally all been
brought TO light among all civilized ma
tions through their different forms of
light literature. But all such kind of
history among unedrcated nations, who
have no writers TO relate their dongs
and deeds, are sealed book to the pub
lie and appear only in glimpses through
their accidental connection with the
annals of civilized people. Prominent
among the latter should doubtless be
placed the North American Indians,
whose history, If written, would proba-
bly, furnish materials for hundreds of
volumes Of exploits and adventures. ri
valling those OF the worlds most boast
ed heroes or most noted desperadoes.
Even the history Of the Vermont In
dams, as scant and meagre as it is, will
not be found wanting in its tragic
scenes of love, revenge, and their fearful
Accomplishments.
The beautiful and extensive meadows
around the Great OX.Bow in the Con.
neCtiCut river, in the town of Newbury,
was, beyond all other spots in this State
the Paradise OF the Vermont Indians.
Here, while their race was receding be-
fore the march of civilization, they long
est fingered; and here, accordingly a
small remnant of them were found by
the whites In their first settlement along
the banks of that magnificent river
Among this remnant were two noted
characters, known to the settlers under
the names of Captain John and lCaptain
Joe, with whom and their families the
tragic events am about to relate were
closely connected. Captain John had
been a fierce and bloody Indian warrior,
who had fought with the French against
the English in all the old French wars,
| having been one of their active Indian
foes at BraddOck's defeat and one OF
those who there vainly tried to shoot
the then young but heroic Colonel
Washington, who there won the first Of
those laurelS that marked his suisse
quent illustrios career. And yet in our
revolutionary war, he left the British,
joining the Americans and receiving a
captains commission, he led company
Of Indians to assist in the capture Of
Burgoyue. But this did not wholly re.
deem him in the eyes of the settlers,
who regarded him with distrust. Cap
tain Joe, on the contrary, was general
favOrite with the settlers; and he and
his wife, Molly, were ever welcome
guests among them. Captain Joe, how
ever, had q step,sOn named Toomalek,
who was the son Of Molly by former
husband she having been widow. and
who in character and feelings, was the
very reverse of his amiable mother and
peaceful step-lather causing them and
the whole Indian community tlere,
much trouble by his lawless con1uct
and feroCiOus and revengeful DISPOSE
ton.
In the process Of time, Toomalek fell
in love with a fair Indian maiden Of the
name Of Lewa, who not only rejected
his suit but soon gave him the addition
al offense of marrying another young
Indian Of the same community, called
Mitchell. This aroused the worst pas
stems OF the battled lover, and he secret
ly vowed revenge by taking the life OF
his favored rival. With this fell design
constantly uppermost in his mind, he
lurked, with loaded rife, hight after
night, round the camp Of the happy
couple eagerly watching for an oppor-
tunity to accomplish his deadly pur-
pose. And that opportunity at length
occurred. One evening he found the
door Of their cabin open, and discovered
the two unsuspecting occupants within,
sitting lovingly side by side before.
bright fire, which brought their persons
distinctly to view. With eyes cleaning
with fendish satisfaction, he instantly
raised his rife, and aiming at his hated
rival, hurriedly fired when, to his sur
prise and vexation, he beheld the in
tended victim bounding unframed to his
feet, and the fated Lewa, who had re-
ceived the bullet sintended for her hus-
band, sinking down in the agOnies Of
death. The murderer instantly fled but
not till he had been seen and Unidentified
by the bereaved and maddened Mitchell
who soon called a council of his people
to try and bring the murderOus wretch
to justice. The council accordingly
convened, and after a patient hearing of
the case, came to the curious decision
that the accused Toomalek must be ac-
quilted because he did not intend to kill
Lewa, whose death, therefore, was
wholly accidental.
Soon after this, Toomalek, who was
still bent on his revenge, met his Old
rival and purposely tainted him with
the loss Of his wife that he might pro-
woke an assault, when the luckless
Mitchell, thus goaded to desperation,
made the expected onset and was stabbed
to the heart by the deadly knife which
the other had concealed for the purpose.
Another council was held over the subtle
murderer, and another curious decision
was made, which was that he still must
be acquitted because he acted in selfde-
Tense. Thus this double murderer a
second time escaped the punishment his
crimes so richly merited. But he was
not always thus to elude justice. He
again became involved in q love affair
with another Indian woman, vhen,at her
instigation, or actuated by his own zeal
puG1u ba o1