National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-02-12
John Kilburn s Fight with the
Indians.

that eventful summer during which
the Indian depreeatiOns along the
banks of the Connecticut, both in
New Hampshire and Nermo mt, were
so frequent, and so many either fell
victims to the tomahawk and scalp
ing-kniie, or were torn from their
friends and homes, and borne away
into a more Dire AIDED captivity, that a
lone Indian, lean and hungry in APP
/ pearancc, raped at the door of John
kllburn, who was one of the first
settlers of Walpole, New Hampshire.
The door was opened by Mrs. Kill
1urn, but on seeing the native she
uttered faint exclamation of alarm
and surprise, and was on the point
of closing it Immediately when the
| friendly tones of the man dispelled
| her fears.
"Ilumph,' he exclaimed, "squaw
shouldn't be scare. Ingin do no
/ harm"
"What do you want" asked Mrs.
X ilhurn.
"Ingin be very faint, and he want
/ bread.
The kind woman invited the
/ strange visitor to walk in, and set
/ before him some. food. He spoke
/ bnt little English yet he was very
T diIect iE MS questions and rcpl es.
I He said iSname was Philip; that he
lived to the Westward that he WAS
/ friendly to the whites, and that they
very kind to him.
Daring his short stay he so enlist
ed the sympathies of the hoUshold
that he was loaded with provisions,
aud was invited, by Mr.. Kilburn to
come again. After asking many
questions about the troubles with
! the Indians. and their means of de
/ trlcr, and. expressing his thanks for
/ the favorS he had received, took his
/ departure.
After he had gone, Mr.. Kiiburn
reflected more critically upon his
appearance, and upon the questions
he had asked, and some slight mis-
givingS arose in his mind in relation
to the sincerity of his visitor: and
although he did not regret the hos.
/ pitality he had shown him. he felt
very glad that he had not underStat,
ed their ability to cope with the en-
/ cmV.
/ His app,chcuSionS were very
( much strengthened when. on the
following day, he received iutclh-
gencc from more southern settle
ments, and learned that t same
/ Philip had visited several u ceS
along the river. asking the same
questions, aHd telling a similar sto
f rN.
Mr.. Hilbum's household consist.
ed at this time OF himself and VI te,
his son John, and his daughter Hat
ii, and two men. Mr.. Peak aud
his son, resided with him. His DIV ! =
ng was strong block house. | TO
I yidcd with loop holes, and they were
well armed.
ia a tcg, days after this event in
formation was received from COY.
4 Shirley That a large aumbcr Of lndi-
ans were collecting IN Canada, with
the supposed intention Of maxim Z an
attack upon the frontier Srttlcmr utS.
aud Mr.. kjlhurn could but coniee.
ture that Philip was a SPY, sent out
TO ascertain thrir situation and theI
means Of d'.r1"2.
Il fear, Rlth, he said 10 his wife
4 fcN days after their visit from the
Indian. "that W may see tro Ih'c
think that i'h Hip who made IL,
such Il gracious call was bird ofill
omen"
81 am surprised to hear You say
so, =" answered the woman; "You are
not subject to dubious miSglNings.
ait aut hrSt to be alarmed, only
be prepared. John and me, with
MIR. Peck and his son, assisted by
! two brave womcnilryou and ilatty,
in house like ours, can rcpel some
thing of an attack
"Supposing you go down to Bel
lows Fort and procure Il few extra
guns" said the heroic woman. "li
tdSt VI an dlld'N N lihtNN ''A' ''''''
do something perhaps.
Il will do so, Ruth. We will show
them that we can defend our owl
; iircsidc."
The fort alluded to by Mrs. Xii
burn was the strong house of Col
BENJAMIN Bellows, about halfmil,
south of kilburn's, which was wei
constructed to withstand an attack
and was at that time garrisoned b,
thirty men.
The male members of Mr. Kilourn'
household had been in the field a
tending to the laL ors of the seasol
and were returning to the house io
their dinner, when Mr.. Peek chanc
ed to glance in .he direction of %
alder meadow, that being the nam
&c by which they desigated u small
swalc of land near the house, an,
was surprised toperceive the bushe
in Il state of agitation as though me-
or animals were rushing througl
them. He called the attention 4
his companions to the circumstance
e and, on looking low, they saw th
feet and legs of Indians in grea
|, Numbers, as they were huddled to
h. gcthcr among the alders.
N "Therc are the wild savaees!
p' shouted Mr.. Kilburn in alarm, IAN
thnv nrc thick as prasshOppcrs i