Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-11-19
FALLS, VT, FRIDAY,

now gave promise OF being more popu-
lous than the street. Then tie pestilence
ragged with full sway. Two q three died
in a day. Those who escpad death
were mostly stretched helpessly sick,
many withSheir limbs stifenel and rack
ed with excruciating pains. 1t one time
but seven out Of the Who'll company
were able to move about.
Never in his Flanders Campaigning
had Miles Standish been SO )usy man
as now. Hewing down huge sees rend-
ing and chopping them ino building
logs and frewood snatchiig up arms
and armor and gathering lis few COM
rades in fighting order at eery suspic-
ious sound; passing from houe to house,
with the venerable Elder lrewster, to
tend the sick, with the defines acquired
on the battlefield, or to prepare for the
burial of the dead toiling with the few
able to aid him in landing and mounting
the cannon for the protection of theset-
tlement: and taking advantake of The
first pleasant days to break ground
around his house and plant few garden
seeds for pot-herbs, the sturdy soldier
had no leisure moments for his own per
sonal sorrows. He never desponded, and
his bluff cheeriness was better than med
icine to many sick comrade.
All this time they were unmolested by
Indians. Since the fight between row.
ing band and the exploring party from
the ship, before the landing at Plymouth,
there had been no hostile demonstration.
Indians hovered about, watching with
curiosity and dread the work of building
the village, but fearing to come near,
and fleeing on the approach of white
man. A superstitious belief was the
cause of this terror.
Three years before the landing of the
Pilgrims, French ship was cast away
on Cape Cod. The crew reached land
only to meet worse fate than drowning
The Indians stood on the shore and kill
ed them as they were thrown up by the
waves, all but three, whom they made
slaves. Two were ransomed by an Eng
lish explorer; the third was retained in
captivity until death ended his sufferings.
As he lay dying, he told the Indians
that God was angry with them for their
wickedness; that he would destroy them
and give their land to a strange people,
beasts as they did. They mocked him
and derided his prophecy. "It is false
said they. "We are great and power
ful. We are not afraid of the Great
Spirit. He cannot kill US. We are toe
many" But the Frenchman said Goo
was powerful, and though they were il
number as the sands of the sea or thu
trees in the forest, he had many ways t
destroy them they knew not Of, ant
, could kill them all.
He was scarcely dead when dreadful
: pestilence broke out among them, thu
> like of which they had never seen. Will
/ the falling leaves they fell in great mum
: bers, and when winter came but mis-
. erable remnant was left of the powerful
: tribe. Then came the Englishmen. A
. the first meeting the Indians thought b
- sweep them away, and with loud yell
:, shot their arrows at the strangers. Blu
. the weapons passed harmlessly by. The
- some of the English fred their match
e locks, but without effect. The Indian
were astonished at their adversariesb bring
ing thunder and lightning to their aid
- but they were not to be driven back b
j thunder that cracked feebly, and ligh
!; ming that did not strike. They fire
;. another volley of arrows. Then Mill
N Standish stepped forward few pace
= rested his musket on its staff and toe
: aim at the chief, who was partially hi
ks den by tree. The shot struck the 1
ba dams arm, and with loud yell of te
bo ror he fled, followed by the whole ban
ed Now they remembered the predicti'
A. of the Frenchman, and we're filled wi
. dread that these people who were to pc
:. sess their land. The medicine-men,
- conjurors, of the tribe were called
"A gether, and for three days they perforl
- ed their horrid incantations in da
nd and dismal swamp, cursing the strange
and calling on their gods and demons
od drive the intruders from the land. B
h the incantations were in vain, and
In wards spring the medieine-men told
II chiefs it was the will Of the Great Spi
nv they should be friends with the VIII
IN men.
ad 1t was well for the sick and enfeebl
I'D settlers that during their worst weakn
liza. the Indians were prevented by super
ob tious terror from coming near and {
ter covering their true condition. 1t '
b,a we'll, too, that when the Indians resolV
bo. to be frisnds with them, the sick
IA mostly recovered so far as to be alb