The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-15


---------------------
daring courage and physical hardhoo1 never cxcclled
In . similar body OF men.
II was under circumstances like these Of hardship
and peril that the OF Archibald Stark grew up to
manhood He had fouND OF them--wiusm, John,
Archibald and ShmucL They were all In the service
during the seven years. war. each OF them distsn-
gushed for daring courage and Skill Three Of the
four held commisnons-william and John that Of
captain Archibald that of the corps OF
hangers
STARK AMONG INDIANS
In 1876 Mr.. Stark removed from Londonderry TO
place called Dsrryhcd. on tho banks Of tho Merit
msc. and commenced o settlement upon tho Amos
keag Falls tho sito OF tho present manufactur
ing city Of Manchester Here John remained with his
father, engaged In alternate farming, bunting and FISH,
ing, until 1852 In tho spring OF that year no planned
hunting excursion mp the valley oftho Merru,ac to
Bakers River, some twenty miles beyond the English
settlements. Hts companions wore his cider brother
William, David Stinson and Amos Eastman. On tho
2Sth Of April they we're surprised NJ Bskcf's River by
party Of ton Indians Of tho St. Francis tribe Tho
hunters two days before had discovered trails OF the
Indians, and were making preparations 70 depart II
bong necessary collect together their traps toward
the evening Of that day John Stark separated from hts
companions for that purpose and tell into,
the hands Of the Indians. On being INTERCEPTED
TO tho course hts comrades had taken
he pointed in q contrary direction and succeeded in
drawing of bis captors some two mites, where thoy
mado halt Starks comrades. becoming alarmed at
his absence. nrcd guns inform him Of their where
abouts and thus unfortunately discovered TO the
enemy who, proceeding short distance below thcir
place OF encampmcnt laid in ambush intercept their
boat as IL camo down tho stream. suspocting what
had happened tho hunters proceeded cautiously down
tho river winm Stark and stipson in the canoc and
Eastman upon tho bank whom at about sunrise on tho
morning Of tho Goth Eastman was made prisoner.
Tho Indians now ordered John Stark to nail hts
brethren In tho Ho did So but instead Of call
ing them to tho shore, as hts cnptors intended, no
told them escape by pulling hard for the opposite
bank Of tho river. On their attempting 70 do 80
four Of the Indians fred upon tho canoe.
but at this critical Stark Knocked up two Of
their guns and whom two others Arei did the Same
second time shouting to his brother to escape tho
Indians had now discharged all their guns. stnson
was killed. at tho first volley, bot William Stark
oeeded In n ;ood his escape.
m,NMNo GASrLEr.
This bold conduct of their prisoner so irritaed tho
Indians that they beat him severely and away
traps and urs. Thcy retroated TO Coos, tho present
site OF Haverh, NJ H., where two OF tieT party had
bcen left collect provisions, and from thoncc pro-
ccedcd the Councoticut to tho present site Of Lam
caster. From this place they despatched thrce
OF their men with Eastman TO ST. Francis, choosing
to keep Stark under their moro immediate con-
troll Several days were spent In hunting at the Upper
Coos, Stark being allowed to accompany tho party
during tho day and being confined at night Crossing
tho Connecticut the Indians proceeded ST. Francis
where they arrived the 9th Of juno The prisoners
received at this place with tho parade Of baFbarc
triumph. All tho people Of the tribe were assembled
to witness the ceremony Of running tho gantlet 10
which the captives were to be subjected Tho young
warriors wero arranged two parallel lines, extend
ing long distance from the council house, all being
armed with sticks or clubs with which strike Mt tho
prisoners as they passed. Eastman first subjected
to trial. and severely whipped before reaching
the goal but Stark athletic and adroit snatched
club from tho first Indian he approached, and max
ing his way through tho limos. knocked down the
Indians right and lett wherever they camc within his
reach, aud escaped himself with scarcely blow Tho
scene witnessed with great delight by tho old men
OF the tribe, who sat at distance laughing the
ridiculous discontinue Of their young warriors
"woRK FOR souAws, NOT WARRIORS"
Another OF tho customs Of that day was that Of
compelling their captivcs aid the squnws perform.
ing the labor and drudgery of the trtbc. They or
dcred Stark to hoe their corn. He went TO work
rcudilv, cutting up tho by tho roots, carefully
avoiding tho weeds, and when they threatened TO
punish him he threw their hoes into the river telling
them sit the business Of squaws not WARRIORS to
hoe corn" Instead Of offending this bold conduct
eventually pleased the savages They discovered In
young Stark the bearing of an uudauntcd warrior
They now treated him with tho greatest respect,
initiated him into tho family Of thor decreased chief
gave him tho widow for his mother and offered him
her daughter In marriage 10 tho last days Of hts
life Stark used to relate with much humor the In
cidents OF his stay with the Indians at ST. Fruncs
He used to say that he experienced moro kindness
from them than he over knew prisoners Of to re-
cevo from a civilized nation. Ho cd nft er
three months Imprisonment. by Captain Stevens, of
Charlestown, N H., and Mr.. whoclwright Of Boston,
and returned by way of Albany to his home IN Derry
field
BEGINNING HIS MILITARY CAREER.
In 1854, upon report that tho French had entered
Coos and wore building fortilcatons upon tho from.
tiers of New Hampshire, the Colonial Governor ap-
pointed committee to repair thlher and ascertain It's
truth. stark received ensigns commission and
went as guido 10 the committee The report proved
to be w,hou. foundation. Tho colony, however, was
soon obliged 10 arm for defence. The great Seven
Years. War had commemorative final struggle
between the French and English for tho possession Of
North America Stark commissioned as lieuten-
ant in tho company OF Rangers commanded BY Robert
Rogers. other companies Of Rangers wero raised and
Rogers being advanced Stark took command of his
company. His courage and skill in battling tho on
tcrpriscs Of tho enemy attracted the notice OF tho
British generals particularly Of the gallant Lord
Howe whose friendship he enjoyed until the fall Of
that nobcman In tho act OF storming the French
lines at Ticondcrosa, on tho 9th July, 1883 No
servce could DO better calculated TO inure men TO
hardship danger and constant vigilance than that Of
tho Rangcra The army never moved beyond their in
trsnchmcnts without a corps Of Rangers to guard
their TANKS And wbilo tho body reposet within
the lines or marched in column the daring Rangers
were always kept in advance, watching the move.
ments OF the cnomy and checking the stoathy prog.
ress of the savages who generally foqnd hover
ing about tho encampmcnts. Frequent skirmishcs,
and sometimes prolonged aud bloody encounters with
tho Indians, the inevitable consequence Stark
was ever foremost In duty pressing forward where
deeds Of valor to be done, and such the con.