Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-09-12

Olo alternative. Should they ueslst lhey
must 90 TO Canada, where a long and
almost hopeless captivity awaited them.
Should they attempt to escape and fail,
death by toItnre would surely he their
fate. Nerved with desperation. they
provided themselves with hatchets, and
compcnced their work of death. Mrs.
Duslon despatched her master. and the
boy Leonardson slew the Indian who had
instructed him In the art of killing and
Scalpiug. They killed ten 10 all. One
squaw awoke and made her escape 10
The darkness. and n boy whom they
spared intending 10 take him away with
them, awokc aud also made his escape
The bloody work was all accomplished
before daylight. They then took what
provision there was in the wigwam, also
the gun and tc;uRhawk' which belonged
to The indians. aud having scultlod all
the canoes but one they embarked upon
the Meirmack, to seek their distant
home in llaycrhil. II linen occurred TO
Mrs. Duston that they had neglected TO
scalp the Indians, and fearing that
should they arrive home their story
would not hc credited they all returned
and took Cil The ten scalpS which they
wrapped in piece Of cloth which was
taken from Mrs Duston's house when
she WAS taken captive; they then reom-
barked. and with their bloody trophies
they started on their long aud weary
Journey. They were still beset with
dangers. They were thiuly clad, and
the season was inc,oment. There was
also great danger OF rccapture. in which
torture AMI cruel death awaited them,
Tor from the squaw who had escaped,
the ludiIus mad learned OF the death OF
the Indian family on the island. But
they had good courage, and continued
their course silently do%G the river,
keeping "a good lookout Tor the Indians
They finally after several days and nights
exposure, reached their homo aud friends
who received them ~ though risen from
The dead. Mr.. Dustun never expected
to see his wife again. kuowinG her
weak condition, he supposed she would
fail out by the way. in which case he
we'll knew what would be her fate. II
was Joy ful reunion. Alter remaining
at home until she had recovered from
h.r fatigue, Mrs DIslOn and her two
friends, accompanied by her husband.
went to Boston, carrying with her the
gun and lomahswk and the ten scalps,
DLslon. the sum vi twenty five pounds,
aud to Mrs. Mn and the boy Leonard
son, each. twelve pounds and ten
shillngs. Mary NcH was native oil
llayerhill, and was born there Sept. IS,
1910. She was the daughter OF George
aud Joanna COr,iss, and the widow of
William Nen' Mrs Duston had one child
after her return from captivity. The time
oil Mr.. and Mrs. Duston's death cannot
be told with certainty. He was alive
IN 1920. and there is "a tradition that MTs.
Dus,on. alt,r the death oi Ler husband.
lived " ilh her son jonathan until h.
was over ninety years OF age. In 1874
u monument which had been erected TO
her memory was unveiled with imposing
ceremonies.
The bravery OF Mrs. Dlston. as shown
b. the story which we have but imper-
fectly told, places her among the noted
heroines OF the world Her memory has
loqg been cmbalmed in song, aud has
now been immortalized in marble. But
the maine of Thomas Duston should be
remembered rs well as that OF his wife.
In all the stories which haye been writ
ten, giving a detailed account OF this
affair, his name has occupied aposition
subordinate to that of Mrs. Duston. DR..
Dwight pays the following fitting tribute
TO the husband and father:
"A finer succession OF scenes Tor the
pencil was hardly ever presented TO the
eye, than is furnished by the efforts of
this gallant man, with their interesting
appendages. The artist must be desti-
tute indeed OF talents who could not
engross every heart. rs well as every
eve, by exhibitions OF this husband and
father, flying 10 rescue his wife, her in
tant and her nurse from the approaching
horde OF savages; attempting on his
horse to select from his Il Vi ing family the
child which he was least able to spare.
and unable TO make the selection. facing
in their rear, the whole horde Of hell
hounds; alternately, and sternly retreat
ing behind his inestimab!e charge, and
fronting the enemy again; receiving and
returning their FIRE; and presenting him.
self equally as barrier against murder
ers and shelter to the flight ol inno-
cence and anguish. Ia the background OF
some or others Of these pictures, mi ight
be exhibited with powerful Impression,
the klndled d~elling; the sickly mother
the Terrified nurse with the new born in
fant in her arms aud the furious natives
surrounding them. driving them forward
and displaying the trophies of savage
victory and the insolence OF savage
triumph" INDEX.
Augusta, Ne. Aug. n. 1876.