National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-03-01
4 Thrilling Indian Story.


ter, OF Walpole, n, H. When Col. Benz
p lows great grandfather Of the Rev. Or
II W. Bellows of New York ! came to the
..wn to settle, he found kiburn IN gar
r-5uci house about two miles north Of
tap town. In the summer OF 1855, lthe
scar of the breaking out OF the old French
Wr two men were shot by Indians.
shortly before this, an Indian named
FlIlip had visited kIlburn's house in a
fenjh way, pretending TO be in want of
w,>iou,. He was supplied with fiints
Hl flour, and dismissed 1t was ascer-
-a'ncd that this >ame Indian had visited
81 the settlements on the river. doubtless
10 procure information OF the state os
t.r defcnse,. Word came from GOV
shirley that five hundred Indians were
Icciina in Canada, whose aim was the
-Itchery and execution OF the whole OF
t-e white population on the upper part of
Hc Connecticut river.
COL Bellows lad at this time about
ttifty men at a strong fort which he had
.ai't on a hill overlooking the Connect
It about half amile south of Kilburn's
-N too distant to afford him any aid.
loout noon on the l1th of August, 1855.
hlburn and his son named John, in his
ateenth year. and also man named
Peah aud his son were returning home to
rner, from the field when one Of them
discovered the red legs of Indians among
Tie ader "as thick as grasshoppers.n
Tie white men instantly made for the
ouNe, fastened the doors, and prepared
iar m obstinate defense. kilburn's wifi
Ruth, and has daughter Hetry, were al
.ridy in the house. In about fifteen
nDltes, the sayages were seen crawling
4p the bank east Of the house, and as they
,>ed a foot-path. one by one. one hun
tt and nlnety-seven were counted
ayolt the same number, it afterwards
Proved bad remained in an bush. but ion
Cd the attacking party ~os,
The savage, appeared to have learned
t't Col. Bellows and his men were at
work at his grlstnill, about a mile east.
"d they intended TO waylay and murder
om before attacking kilburn'> house.
lae Colonel and his men were now return
o. home urSuspicious Of danger when the |
dogs began to growl and betrav the /
a-ghborho"i OF an enemy The Colonel. .
showing tne language Of the dogs and the
vile, OF the Indians, instantly adopted 4
policy. He directed bis men, throwing
= the meal, to crawl carefully to the rise .
If land, and on reaching the top of the .
anh to spring together to their feet, give .
le whoop and instantly drop into the .
'Fert frrn. The movement had the de- .
Fed effect to draw the Indians from thelt
ambush At the sound OF the whoop.
'uymg themselves discovered the whole
9'1Y oi the sayages rose from the bushes
I'd aemlcircle around the path Col. Bel.
lows was to have followed. His men fired
10ol the Indians, who were SO diSconcert
-i that they darted into tue bushes and
appeared. The Colonel, sensible of his
equal iorce, hurried his men off bv the
rte~t cut to the fort and prepared for
Il, defence
The indians, finding their plan defeated.
-'h ietermned to take vengeance upon
weaker party, and soon appeared on the
nn'nce east Of Kilburn', house. Here
' ~ame treacherous Philip. who had Wis
'tI ann and partaken of his hospitality
snort time before, came forward under
r shelter ofa tree and summoned the
''ie garrison to surrender. 'Old John.
sung John" cried he, Il know ye; came :
VI. lere. We give you good quarters" :"
2larter. vociieratcd old kilburn, in a
lee of thunder, "you black rascals, be
me- or Wen quarter you 1t was a :
'''e reply for four men to make to near
ionr hundred. Philip returned, and
'l'I short consultation the war-w hoop :
aug ont, as IT. to use the language of AN
4,TitneSs, "all the devils in he'll had !.
'Ae loose kilburn was lucky and pru-
el' enough to get the first fire. before .
W. smoke of the bnttle perpleXed his aim,
.' was confident he saw Philip fall. The !,
rom the little garrison was returned
shower of balls from the savager, who !,
>Ht1 forward to attack. The roof next
'he emnence from which the attack a
'> made was a perfect riddle sieve" :.
ne OF the Indians fell at once to butch .
"- the cattle; others to a wanton d. a
.etlon of the grain, while the larger II
Kept up an lncessant fire at the house
1'n"hlle kilburn and his men-aye, and 4
No'nen-were all busily at work. Their
""T they poured into their hats for II
'''ei convenience the women loaded :,
Guns, o which they had several spare y
AL OF them being kept hot by in Il Il
,."t use. A. their stock of lead grew .
I they suspended blankets over their
5' 70 catch the balls OF their enemy.
Il penetrated one side of the roof and
lHort ot the Other. These were i'm <
iIaiely i'm run by these Spartan women in &
II I'u'ietS, and before they had time to v
we're sent back to the enemy from y
s.le -.'Ve they came. Several attempts a
ulaae to force the door. but the un- q
cb ann OF the narksmen within sent q
M. 1el'aln death to their assailants. that cl
! soon desisted from their efforts. Most e
"a .llne the Indians kept behind logs q
nl, u'ips and avoided as best thev 81
'ie hire of the little Gibraltar. The a
.t,I @i'ernoon, even until sundown the n
e 'e continued, until, as the sun set. the ii
tn. ages unable to conquer so small a h
/. discouraged and baffied. forsook oi
Csn"Lu and, rs was supposed, returned
hrh ~ abandoning the expedition on
had set out 1t 10 not unrea- Al