The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-07-30

birch glided swiftly over the quiet river,
portion Of the party, with ready guns,
keeping keen watch Of the shores for
lurking enemies No Indians were seen,
but game was very plenty, and offered
tempting marks for their guns; but or
dcrs had been given that no one should
fire gun unless Indians were seen, and
they we're forced to do 80 in self-defense.
As the party approached the place Of
their destination, they moved more eau
tiously, and kept more anxious watch
upon the shores. When near the bend
Of the river, nearly opposite the mouth
Of Seven Mile Brook, IL was thought
best for Weston and smith to leave the
canoe and approach the settlement by
land, undercover Of the trees and bushes
A few minutes later, rs the scouts
on shore pressed apprchensively forward,
a gun-shot was heard at the river, and a
cry from the canoe rang through the
wood. They knew it was the voice Of
Wilson. He was warning them, they
supposed, of danger. 1t would be folly
to attempt now the rescue Of those in
the canoe, and they could only hope
that it might float away from the shore,
and beyond the reach Of the savages.
The Indians, they concluded, must
have seen them land, and were lying in
ambush, to shoot them down. 1t was
necessary to act quickly. Should they
go forward to the cabins Of the settlers,
now near byY What IL there were only
ashes and calcined bones in the place Of
the houses in which they hoped for shell.
ter, and of the friends to be saved or TO
be succored?
With murderous Indians haunting the
shore below, il was clear 10 the two
scouts that the settlers must have al
ready come TO harm. The addition of
two men, IL their friends were besieged,
would be but very insufficient rein
forcement. They therefore decided to
return, as quickly as possible, to the
Point, and inform the inhabitants of
their danger, and of the calamity which
had befallen their own party. They lost
no time in starting, taking a direct line
through the woods to Norridgewock,
where they speedily made known the
occurrences of the day. A council of
the neighbors was held at once, and
messenger dispatched oPownalborough,
nearly sixty miles below, beseeching
Gen. Lithgow for aid, assuring him that
the settlers about Norridgewock we're in
momentary apprehension of being mas.
sacred.
The general ordered out his regiment,
and portion was on the march before
the incidents of the alarm were fully ex.
planned.
In the council held at the point, Mr..
Clark had dissented from the views Of
the other members, and advised them to
wait till they knew more about the mat
ter before sending for help, volunteering
to go himself to find the missing scouts.
His advice was not kindly received,
and he set out on the search alone. A
short distance up the river he met the
canoe, returning, weighed down with tse
carcass of fine, fat bear, and .jSyfully
learned from the wondering scout that
their friends at Seem Mile Brook had
not been NJ sted.
1t appeared hat shortly after the
vtfer scouts had een set ashore, Wilson
saw a bear in a. water, in fine position
for shot. The temptation was too
great, and hazarding an alarm to the
redskins, he fired, and killed his game
This farce was so ridiculous, the men
were heartily ashamed of their alarm.
Yet Mr.. Smith, half century after,
would hardly own that he was much
frightened.
In spite ofsome restlessness manifested
at first, the Maine Indians remained at
peace with the settlers throughout this