National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-08-27
Aistorital.
Ecents in tie History Of WittidWs-
fOSyll.

We find the following in the Ar
gus and Patriot:
IL the early days of this towns
history there was year of great
scarcity. Late frosts cut down the
crops after they got a start i'll the
Spring, and very little of what was
afterwards sowed or planted ripen-
ed. The potato crop was almost a
total failure. and one man is men.
toned who gave six days work for
| buShel of potatoes, the largest of |
which were about the size of an !
English walnut, he carrying them |
/ home six miles on his back. 1t was !
with great difficulty that com and /.
beans were ripened for seed, by |
being covered up at night with bed
quilts and blankets, dunng the |
frosty Fall weather. There was |
great suffering, and many families
subSiSted mostly on bark and wild |
roots, during the fore part of the
next season, before any grain could
be harvested. Those who had
money found opportunities to pur
chase grain in some OF the more
southern and Eastern towns.
We will now relate one. or two
little anecdotes of Xcbulon Crane,
generally known as Lieutenant
Crane, who is remembered by the
older portions of the inhabitants as
man renowned for his ready wit,
and his ecccntlicity. He frequently
worked for Judge Paine, c,and his wit
sometimes was more that match
for that of the Judge, who, as is
well known, was n hard man to cor
ncr. He was not. however, so great
a tavoritc as hired man. from his
habit of telling stories. keeping hun
self and all hands idle while doing
50. Judge Paine generally had Il
gang of help and was in the habit
, OF going out into the field at atcd
, hours,and refreshing his hands with
: good liquor, the tithtul laboIcrs
generally timing it so as to be at
, work ON such occasions. 1t once
=, happened that the old man was a
p, little earlier than usual with his bot
=, lie of grog, and when lac got to the
!. field his men wer quietly seated ON
= the grass and lie tenant Crane was
- entertaining them with a yarn from
y, his experience when he WAS I'm tAe
" wars They were SO attentive tt
=, the story that thcy did not perceive
the approach of the Judge until ht
: was upon them. what does this
g meanr he exclaimed, evidently il.
- ritatcd, why are yOa all idle 4!
=" ', Crane was the only man who was
" not confused we was arguin' Il
80 very important question. Judge he
= remarked, perfectly seltpoSscSsed
= .Wha. question ? asked Paine, rath
~ er hastily. 1T was whether the
= devil was ever in pain 2 The judge
" bit his lips. Perhaps he has beel
~ -, in agony he exclaimed, 'bnt so t'
~ work boys, 90 to work!
:" Those who recollect old Lieutcnan
~ ~ Crane remember his having an ugl,
:" scar across his forehead, and, alSo'
:" sadly Scared hand, which indicate'
.o that he must have some ilme me
' with sad experience ;and it seems h
" did when lac was in the wars III
,,1 company had had Il brush with tn
mI lndiauS.and Crane. with two orthrc
~ others, was sent Out TO see II any
:'' the red skins were lurking IN III
~, vicinity. While rcconnOiterlng
,H some distance from camp, they Su
~ pYiscd and took an Indian, who ev
C.o o IDENTIFY belonged to the party th'
~ had given them trouble. He w
i " dressed after tie Indian iaShion,Wlt
-" merely covering about his IONS
~, but he was armed with a gun al
~ several knives, which were stuck
' ,I' sheathS attached 70 his Scanty clot
'II inc. lie offered no resistance, ";
~ diSarmed, and left in charge OF Gram
~ while the others went TO look ait
.1a some other matter, intending soon
W. ~, return. Crane apprchcndcd no tro
.''a "a BILE with the Indian, for he suppoS'
49,. his arms were all taken from III
,no "no Hence he iuiudiciouSlv allowed hl
81" ,Ts to step back two or three PAGES, III
~. suffered his attention to he divert
IT, ,',I u for moment. The native impr,
Ivy, Irn'. ed his opportunity. lie had Stlll
,u", ,I, other knife concealed about his p
Nv! son. and he rushed at Crane, c,catchl
,"n ,", him by the hair,with the intention
4" 49,, tn drawing his head back, and cutIi
:; ;,o, his throat; but, aS fortune wot
'"e have it. Crane had Just had his Ii
a,, clipped, and the native dld rot
~ ',''o a rood hold. He however iniilct
r"s, "S severe wound upon the forehead
anni the scout. who turned iiercely NJ
,n"n him. The Indian then stabbed /
,, n"I in the bowels; but Crane eau!
~ CIV the knife 10y the blade, and wres
-. il from his hand. In doing this
,J"' VIZ" own hand was badly cut. The Ind
S,hn then run, but Crane brought
,im, 10 halt with charge from the
,,' .'Ii,, they had taken from him u few
Ivy ments before. Feeling his siren
va failing, Crane then called londll
% AND "" his companions. and, although
,'n"a "" only was his call heard, but also
''s,,r m.,u report of the gun, they suspected
'''''' the scout had fallen in with more
dians,and they cowardly abando
him TO his fate. The uniortuI
what man was bleeding protuscly, an,
law. realized that no time should be
lie therefore made his way towi
the camp as fast as possible, bu