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

""N'S'Oou tue uetcfmlnatlcn ol
Tue la'her aud did not deem it prudent to
approach very near, but they skulked be-
hind the trees aud fences and kept up a
constant ire upon the iugitives. Mr..
bdston dismoun,ed from his horse, placed
himself behind the children thus covering
'htir iligbt and replied to the fle of the
Indians with good success. In this way
he retreated over mile. alternately en-
couragiug his frightened children. and
loSdin% and firing his gun. until he lodged
them safely in garrison house, not one
at them having been injured. Il seems
almost miraculous that none of the little
party were hit. The Indians several in
number, lowered on their ilanks aud in
their rear, and kept a constant fusiIade
without effect. On the contrary every
time Mr.. Duston raised his gun to his
shoulder, an Indian Tell II may be
proper 10 state here that another account
says that Duston did not fire his gun al
all. but by making a barricade of hls
horse and reserviug his fire, he prevented
the red rascals from rushing upon hin as
they would have done, il he had dis
charged his gun.
While part OF the savage horde
pursued Duston aud his children, the
rest went ilto the house. The nurse
seized the infant and tired to escape. but
was easily taken. They then bade Mrs.
Duston rise Immediately. and in her
weak condition. Shc with other captivos.
was led away The babe. which gave
some trouble. was Drained against tro @
before is m>,her'S eyes. Several
other caoiivcs. as soon as they began to
tire Of the Journey. and were unable to
keep pace with the fleeing savagcS. were
killed and scalped Mrs. Duston had
been allowed hardly time 10 dress herself. Z.
and was compelled 70 start on the long
Journey. in this incement season with
onlv one shoe. They travelled all night
making about a dozen miles. aud contin-
ued the Journey the following dsy. Fore
warned bv the fate of those who Jagged
behind. Mrs. DuSton and her nurse, not
withstsnding her feeble condition. kept
along with the rest. and made the iour
ncy Of one hundred and fifty miles The
home OF the Indian who claimed
Mrs. Duston and Mrs Neir as his cap
iives was a small island at The junction
OF the Couloosook and Merrimack rivers,
few miles above the present CITY of
Concord n. II. This island is still
known as"Dustons' island The Indian
family consisted of twelve persons. viz {:
two able bodied men, three women
and seven children. and thev were all
sdhcrenis of the Catholic religion. which
had been taught them by The French.
The two captive women were obliged TO
work hard, while their food was scanty.
and of he coarsest Kind. They were
very much detected and cast down, in
in view OF their deplorablc condition. and
their Indian masters would ask them
why they were thus lroubled' II il WAS
The will Of God Tor them to bc delivered,
i would be so.
They renamed IN captivity Oh The
island about i've weeks, when the tribe
commenced preparations for journey 10
Canada. where they expected 10 sell
their captiyes 10 the French inhabitants,
and be rewarded Tor the damage they
had inflicted on the English. with whom
| the French were then nj war. The esp
iives were informed OF The proposed
Journey, aud were also told that when
they arrived there they would be made 10
run the gauntlet. for that was the Indian
fashion with capliyes when they were
/ taken To- an lndian town. Besides Mrs.
/ Duston and her nurse Mrs. Nefl, the In.
/ dian family on the island had q captive
/ boy. named Samuel Leonardson, who
| had been captured at or near Worcester,
Mass. year or two before. But little
is known of the history OF this boy, either
beiole his capture or after his escape. 1t
is certain. however. that he received q
reward from The Colonial government
for The part which he performed in effect
ing his escape.
Mrs. Duston determined not TO make
the Journey TO Canada. and while the
Indians were making preparations to
start. she was planning how to escape.
She finally hit upon plan, which she
communicated to her fellow prisoners,
but on account OF its boldness, they al
first hesitated, bat finally assented. The
indians kept no watch. Tor the boy had
lived with them so long that they re-
garded him almost as one OF their own
number, and they had no idea that
two women, unaided and unadvised'
would have the courage 10 attempt an
escape. They therefore. kept no watch
while they slep! at night. The pan ol
Mrs. Dus,on was to kill the Indians in
their sleep. The day previous to the
night when she intended to put her plan
into execution, Mis-. Duston wished TO
learn the spot where the Indians struck
their victims when they wished to des-
patch them suddenly. and how they
took off the scalp; and she Instructed