Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-03-04
The Story of an Indian Hunter

] ne story OF an Indian Hunter
The MOhawks were q fierce, blood
thirsty tribe of Indians; not slow il
their acknowledgment of a favor, bu
lifelong in the remembrance of an in
jury. Once aroused their anger cOulC
| only be appeased with blood. ShrewC
as well as savage and expert in the US,
of weapons of warfare their presenc,
always proved an inspiration of terror
Enjoying from time immemorial tht
uncontested occupancy and range O
the Valley of the Mohawk and the
hills and woods of Herkimer, when,f
nally the white man began to show hi:
face among them all the fiendish quail.
titles in their nature were excited; and
upon the slightest provocation, as also
quite frequently in the absence of any
provOcation whatever, the tomahawk
was buried in the brains of their hated
rivals. The hunting grounds of Her.
kimer belonged to them, 80 they con.
ceiyed; and the 'pale-face' must hands
Off, or make an unceremOniOus pill
grimage to that country where Indians
cease from troubling and the weary
are at rest
While the major portion of the Mo-
hawks followed Brant to Canada, yet
there were many remnants of the tribe
still scattered through the wilds OF
Northern Herkimer, unwilling to quit
the ancestral lurking-place and game
abounding forests Familiarity known to
all New Workers as the John Brown
Tract The writer remembers having
met many of these savages in the town
of Salisbury at different times, even so
late as 1888 and '34. They would fire.
quently call at his fathers residence
and not ask for, but demand, such ar
ticle5 of food, clothing and ornament
as they might chance to see or have
reason to suppose were among the fam
lily possessions. A hesitancy to COM
ply with their demands was attended
by such peculiar aboriginal contortiOns
of countensnce and such warlike. ges-
ticulations as would ordinarily Obviate
protracted parleying and insure the
qualification of their desires. Not only
were they consummate beggars, after
this style, but they were also most ac-
thieves, and had peculi-
ar penehant for fat lambs and calves,
which they would 'gobble up ad li6i-
tttn1.
old Foster as he was termed, was
a good hater of the red-man. That
where else. And he had reason for in
his hatred; so he used to say.
The Indians, according to his asserva-
tions, had sacked his earthly home and
and scalped its inmates.
He had barely escaped by dropping
through the trap-door,
crawling out of the cellar-window, and
taking refuge in the thick foliage of a
hemlock, where he remain
ed until the work of slaughter and pill
lage was completed, and the Indians
had departed for treeh scenes of perfidy
and blood. At that time Foster was a
mere stripping; but he was old enough
to form very yived conception of the
And he came down from
that hemlOck 'chockful of hatred and
Here said Foster, lis my life-work;
and l am in for.it. Those red devils
shall pay for this nights job, and a
good round price at that. The Inur-
der of my poor fathers family shall be
be terror whenever a Mohawk shall
hear it,
And these were not idle words utter
ed in haste and to be repented at lei
sure. They were only a faint refiec-
ton of the terribly reSOlute purpose
that fired young Fosters soul. He at
once began to familiarize himself with
the uses and capacities of the rifle.
Several pieces were tested by Foster
before finding one that would meet
the peculiar demands of the business
he had on hand. An English weapon
finally found its way into his hands
that appeared to possess the requisite
qualifications, and Foster passed con-
siderable portion of each day in 'prac-
.icing.' When he could drive nail
avery shot at seventy-fve yards, and
'plit bullet on the blade of jack
knife at sixty yards five shots out OF
'ix, he esteemed himself ready for 'bu-
'iness,' and prepared to enter upon it
without delay.
Il know he said, "a little Indian,
bigger than me, who sits all
lay on an old stump and fishes in
spruce Creek. He'll do to begin on.
Failing to report at the hut at the usu-
il time with fish for supper, the old
indian will come to see; and that'll be
nance No. g.
Creeping stealthily through the
pruce and hemlock that fringed the
reek Foster soon discovered his vic
i'm in his accustomed place. The tar
ret was sufficiently conspicuous, so far
S hitting itwa concerned; but the fail
would not be great enough to satisfy |
Fosters ambition. So resting one end |
# dead, dry limb on fallen tree, he |
umped suddenly upon it, and the
lOise of its breaking rang through |
he forest. The Indian sprang sudden
y to his feet and looked in the direc-
ion whence the noise proceeded, per-
laps expecting the approach of bear
n the way to the creek to slake its
hirst. The next moment the sharp |
rack of the rifle was heard, and the
indian fell backward into the creek,
nd disappeared beneath its turbid
waters. Reloading his rifle and retra-
ing his steps Foster proceeded down
he creek to the saw-mill, about a mile
listant. for the purpose of crossing the
tream on the mill-dam, and awaiting
pon the other side the appearance of
he old Indian upon the scene of the
'oung ones disappearance.
Hunting to-day, are you? said Mr..
luther, who met Foster at the mill.
Yes; looking around little. Seen
ny game down this way, Mr.. Luther'
Not to-day; but very large bear
wan the pond yesterday, and my ri
le was at the house. Find anything
bove? L heard you shoot
Game Is scarce on this side, Mr.. Lu-
her, and / thought I'd try 'tother side.
hot something up there, but it fell in
he creek and sunk; but don't care
nuch; guess it wasn't good to eat.'
Foster continued his tramp in the
ense forest. Reaching point direct
y opposite the 'Iddian strmp,' he qui-
tly took position near the body of an
immense tree and awaited events. All
t once game became unusually abun-