Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-11-18

Some OF the other Indians were placed on
cushions.
With trumpet blowing and drum beat
ing, and followed by musketeers, entered
Governor Carver, wan and feeble-for a
deadly sickness had already laid hold on
him-but keeping stately department.
He seated himself by the Indian king,
upon the rug, kissing his hand to him by
way of salute and being in return en-
braced and kissed. Captain Miles Standish
ran his eye anxiously along his men, some
OF whom were so feeble that the heavy
breastplate and musket severely taxed
their strength to carry.
After drinking and eating together, a
treaty of friendship and alliance was made,
which lasted while those who made it
lived. With ceremonies like those with
which the meeting was begun it was now
ended, and the Inians took their de-
parture, glad enough to get out of the
company of the fearful weapons that sent
invisible death to any distance, and which
they eyed with trembling fear during the
whole conference.
Towards the middle of March the birds
sang sweetly in the woods,-a joyful
sound, for it told Of the coming spring.
AT noon came their first experience of an
American thunderstorm, -" strong and
great claps, but short, but after an hour
it rained very sadly till midnight" A few
days later every man that could handle
spade was breaking ground to prepare for
the first crop.
From the Indians they had obtained
some corn, and, under the guidance of an
Indian, twenty acres were set with this /;
six acres more were sown with barley and
peas, the whole being MANFRED with fish
scooped up from the stream. The seed
was sown with many prayers, for on the
success OF that crop depended the fate
of the colony. The supply brought from
England would have soon been exhausted,
but for the reduction of their numbers by
the pestilence The game which they eX-
peeled to kill proved at first very shy, and
they were but indifferent hunters Owing
to an unfortunate omission to bring small
hooks their success in fishing was equally
poor. A failure of the crop, in the posi-
bic event of inability to get supplies in
time from England, would result in starva-
ton.
With the coming of spring the sickness
decreased. OF the hundred and one
Pilgrims who arrived in Cape Cod harbor
in November about half were dead by
April. The Mayflower lay in port with
but half her crew, the pestilence
having treated crew and passengers
alike. But now the mortality ceased.
The sick and lame recovered,
and dependency gave way to hope.
Whatever thoughts were INDUCED in dur
ing the height of sickness were now ban
ished The sails of the Mayhower were
hoisted once more, and from his battery
on the hilltop Captain Miles Standish
gave her a parting salute, as she sailed
away with cheering letters for England,
but with not single passenger.
The summer months passed quietly by,
the colonists busily engaged in building,
clearing land, and watching the crops.
The peas were a failure They came up
well, blossomed, and then were parched
under the fierce July sun. The barley
was thin, but moderately thrifty. The
corn was strong, green, and promised well.
There was reason to hope for good har-
vest.
In August the peace of the colony was
rudely disturbed. Word came that the
friendly Indian king, Massasoit, had been
driven from his home by rebel chief
named Corbitant, and that the Indian
messengers sent by the Pilgrims had been
imprisoned by Corbtant, who threatened
them with death. A solemn council Of
the colonists was called. Elder Brewster,
the leader of the flock pleaded earnestly
against bloodshed He thought an APP
peal To the conscienceS Of the rebellious
Indians would be effective. William
Bradford, who had been elected Governor
ON the death of Carver, hesitated to coun-
sci war, yet doubted the efficacy of Elder
Brewster's policy. Each Of the members
of the council spoke his mind, some coun-
selling this, some that, out all shrinking
from advising warlike action. Then Cap
tain Miles Standish started to his feet in
anger "You are men of the Bible"
said he, "but ] am man Of the sword.
| will talk to these savageS through
my muskets, and they will then listen qui-
city to your sermons. Give me a dozen
men, and the rest can pray for our sue
cess whilst we march and fight
Next morning ne started out with lour-
cen men, well armed, in a heavy rain.
At night they lost their way, and wet,
weary of marching all day in cumbrous
armor and carrying heavy arms, they sat
down in the woods greatly discouraged.
But the trail was again found, and they
made sudden attack on the Indian vii
lage, capturing or putting to flight all the
rebellious Indians, and from the centre of
the village Miles Standish proclaimed the
intention of the Pilgrims to reinstate
Nlassasoit, and to protect all those who
should prove the friends of the white
men. The news of this successful attack
and the proclamation of the dreaded white
chief soon spread and before many days
the chiefs of all the surrounding country
came in, protesting friendship and asking
for treaties of alliance.
Under these favorable circumstances
the first harvest was gathered. With joy.
mi hearts they secured the bOuntiful CrOp