Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-11

never be any wiser for it" ''They will
be revenged," said Capt. Hill,
and shudder that you should entertain
anv such notion. I. hope you may lind
wild oame enough to shoot without in
curing 40 dangerous foe, as l know the
Indian to be-" Night had again settled
upon this weary pioneer band. They had
nitched their tents within sound of the
river, and ere the screech Of owl, or the
howl of the wolf had broken the stiffness
of that lonely spot. Most of the camp
were wrapt in weary, dreamy slumber.
Phil who always slept with one eye open,
answered as sort OF sentinel on the
occasion of each encampment, but Capt.
Hill had suggested that if he would ex-
hibit a little watehfulness that night, per-
haps his opportunity to shoot something
might occur. AS the distant howl of the
wolf seemed to grow more distinct, Pills
idea was that they might be coming al
little nearer. Accordingly he placed his
hand upon his gun, and raising upon his
elbow, peered forth into the thick dark
ness. Now the distinct howl, now the
distinct growl, and now two flashing eye
balls glare at the sleepless Phil before the
camp door, his partial triumph had come,
leveling his rifle he sent him good shot
right between his eyes. With one I'M.
earthly howl of pain huge wolf sprang
full amid an awakened terrified camp, but
it was dead. Pills ecstacy knew no
bounds as he exhibited to the astonished
group the "hugest animile on arth except
an Iuiun." Far, far, in the distant east,
the king of day broke forth upon weary
camp with unusual beauty and grandeur.
Like friend they hailed its coming rays,
on wood and plain and fowery vale. A
new beauty took possession OF weary
hearts and aching limbs, as they made
preparations for their last days march,
for reconnaissance had pointed out the
spot destined to be their future home.
Home. a sweet, dear word to many a
weary traveller, and so it was to them.
They reached their home-far distant
home-just as the sun was apparently
sinking beyond the Mississippi. Without
shelter save their tents and wagons they
camped, as many nights before, all too
weary, to look out upon the beautiful
groves or far reaching prairie, 80 soon to
be their own. faded and worn though
the teams had become, yet the next morn
ing they were hitched to the plough per-
forming "pre-emption acts" which con-
sisted in ploughing one furrow around,
what was desired to 'pre-empt." As
this colony consisted of several distinct
families each must have farm marked
out, and it was no small days work to
make this prior claim. This done and
the land secure, of course, log houses and
barns were the next in order, SO that the
time passed swiftly while thus busily en-
gagged. A few days after their arrival,
Phil with the "Captain" and several 9TH
ers strolled along the southern bank of
Rock River prospecting for wood and
water, and to take note of the country,
when suddenly they came upon camp of
Indians, making as they should judge
| from their huts hundred or more, who
seemed to be perfectly friendly, IS they
had often seen white men in that vicinity
before. But Phil swore vengence upon
them, and said: "They hadn't any bust
ness to inhabit decent country, and if
shutting few would start 'em, he's the
boy that could git 'em out of thar"
Captain Hill told Phil, that they number
ed many hundreds more than the whites,
and it would be utter folly and madness
to shoot even one. "But Phil" continued
the Captain, What makes you have such
INC AhuAahc w OH
Captain, I jes' tells YES said Phil.
got no father,) but he'd one, he come off
out West to look up home, and when be
got out here or somewhere else, them red
Gus lis shot him, and sed then if I ever
got chance, I'd fix 'em for it, and guess
by the looks of that are camp the climax
IL happen fore long, if they take this
oh th tvo,k d. l10 b.,
"Do what ?" exclaimed Captain Hill in
Captain ct 1ef I'm
sane Phil, they will burn our houses and
massacre, without mercy the whole
camp, now settled upon their farms" eff
I shute one, you tell did it,snd they won't
hurt you Captain" "You if not all of us
will pay the penalty for such rashness,"
continued Captain Hill, others Joining in
the warning to Phil, but his mind seemed
made up, that he must revenge the death
of his father. A thing which had so
long burdeued his mind, must be freed
although it should cost him his life. The
very next day. Phil took his rife from its
accustomed place, and stole along toward
the Indian camp, in an oak opening of
about an acre. A little distance toward
the white settlement WAS spring of
water lust under the hill. Just as Phil
had gained the brow of the hill, an Indian
merged from the spring carrying bucket
of water
Phil thought his hour of triumph had
come, and leveling his gun he took deadly
aim and brought the Indian to the ground
and returned to the camp "a satisfied
But bis triumph was of short duration,
for hardly an hour had passed before -
hundred warriors appeared around the
village of the whites, and demanded their
victim or all must suffer if be WAS not
given up. But Phil did not wait to see
the innocent suffer. He had revenged
his fathers death, and was ready TO suffer
death if need be, rather than have bis f. =
ly rest upon any one else. Accord rely
he made one request of the Indiaps, that
if he was given up as the guilty one,
the rest of the village should not he mo-
Tested, to which they assented, with this
provision that all must witness the execu
ton. Thus all with saddenea hearts took
up the march, arriving at the very spot
where lay the dead Indian. Phil was
stretched upon his lifeless remains and
his comrades compelled to witness the |
borrid, sickening, scene of skiDning alive. |
But the bloody work was not half accom-
plished before Phil breathed last breath
and was dead
In the spring of 1868 I cross d Rock
River upon dam of ice, making the
southern shore n ar where this scene oc
CURED. Many who witnessed Pills trag-
ic death live to point out the spot where
he paid the penalty of foolish act Neat,
white farm houses dot the country for
miles around, showing that this colony.
Notwithstanding their early privations.
have prospsred and grown wealthy in
their new found home, transplantinp
Oaksdale along the southern bank of the
beautiful and romantic stream, resembling
Otter Creek, as it does in its windings
and beautiful meadow lands The Indians,
true to their promise to Phil, never dis
turbed the white settlers afterwards.
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