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

daring courage and physical hardhooa cxcsllsd
In similar body OF men.
1t was under circumstances like these OF hardship
and peril that the OF Archibald Stark grew up to
manhood He had tour OF them--willian, John,
Archibald and samuel They were al iu tho service
during the scven years war. zach OF them distin-
eushed for daring courage and skill. Three of Lhe
four held commiss,ons-williain and John that OF
captain aud Archibald OF tho corps OF
Rangers
In 1885 Mr. Stark removed from Londonderry to
place called DerryAeld. the banks Of the Merrt'
mac and commenced q settlement upon the Amos
keag Falls, the site. OF the present manufactur
ing city Of Manchester Here John remained with his
father engaged In alternate farming, bunting and FISH,
ing, until 1852 In the spring that year he planned
hunting excursion up the valley of the Merrimac to
Bakers River, some twenty miles beyond the English
settlements His companions were his elder brother
William, David Stinson and Amos Eastman. On tho
2sth OF April they surprised at Bskcrs River by
party OF ten Indians OF the st. Francis tribe The
hunters days before bad discovered trails OF the
Indians, and were making preparations depart IL
being necessary collect ogsther their traps toward
tho evening OF that day John Stark separated from
companions for that purpose and tell into
the hands Of she Indians. On being Intercepted
he pointed in q contrary direction. and succeeded in
drawing of his captors two miles, where they
made halt. Stnrk's comrades, becoming alarmed at
his Absence fred guns TO inform him Of their where
sbous, aud were thus unfortunately discovered 10 the
cnemy, who, proceeding short distance below their
place OF encampment laid In ambush intercept their
boat as IL came down the stream. Suspecting what
had happened tho hunters proceeded cautiously down
the river, wiliam Stark Stinson the and
Eastman upon the bank when at about sunrise the
morning Of the Goth Eastman made prisoner.
the Indians ordered John Stark to nail his
brethren In the He did So but instead of call
ing them 10 the shore, his captors intended, no
told them to escape by pulling hard for the opposite
bank Ut the river. On their attempting to do
four Of tho Indians fred upon tho canoe,
but al this critical moment Stark knocked up two of
their guns, and whom two Others fred did the n
second time shouting to his brother escape tho
Indians had now discharged all their guns. stinson
killed at the nrst voloy, but William Stark
oeeded in making good his escape.
RUNNING GASrLET.
This bold conduct their prisoner 30 irrtated the
Indians that .hoy beat him severely and away
traps and frs. They retreated TO Coos the present
site Of Hsverh,l N H., where two OF their party had
been left 70 collect provisions, and from thence pro-
cecded up the Connect,cut the present Of Lam
caster. From this place they despatched three
OF their with Eastman to st. Francis, choosing
to keep CLARK under their immediate
troll Several days were spent In hunting ut the Upper
Coos, Stark being allowed to accompany the party
during the day and being confined night Crossing
the Connecticut the Indians proceeded to ST. Francis
where they arrived the 9th Of June The prisoners
received tbs place with the parade Of barbarc
triumph. All the people OF the tribe were assembled
to witness the ceremony of running the gantles. to
which the captives to be subjected. The young
warriors arranged parallel lines, extend
ing long distance from the council house, all being
armed with sticks clubs with which strike at the
prisoners they passed Eastman nrst subjected
TO the trial. severely whipped before reaching
the goal but Stark, athletic and adrot snached
club from the first Indian he approached, aud, max
ing his way through tho lines knocked down the
Indians right and LETT wherever they came within his
reach and escaped himself with scarcely blow. The
witnessed with great delight by the old men
Of the Tribe, who at a distance laughing the
ridiculous discontinue Of their young WARRIORS
'woRK sQUAws, NOT WARRIORS"
Another Of the customs of that day was that Of
compelling their cap,ives aid the squnws PERFORM
ing the labor and drudgery of the tribe. They
dered Stark to hoe their corn. He won't to work
readily, cutting up the by the roots carefully
avoiding tho weeds, and when they threatened to
punish him he threw their hoes the river telling
them ut was the business Of squaws not WARRIORS
hoe corn'' Instead of offending this bold conduct
eventually pleased the savages They discovered In
young Stark the bearing Of undaunted warrior
They now treated him with the greatest respect,
initiated him into the family Of their deceased chief
gave him the widow for his mother and offered him
her daughter In marriage. 10 the last days of his
life Stark used to relate with much humor the In
cden.s OF his stay with the Indians at st. Francis.
ha
them than he knew prisoners Of war to re-
ceive a civilized nation Ho was ransom cd after
thrco months Imprisonment by Captain Stevens, Of
Charestown, N. H., and Mr.. Whcelwrighs, OF Boston,
aud returned by way OF Albany his home In Derry
field
BEGINNING MILITARY CAREER.
In 1854, upon report that the French had entered
Coos and building fortacations upon the from
tiers Of New Hampshire, the Colonial Governor ap-
pointed committee to repair thither ascertain it's
truth. stark received ensyn's commission and
went guide 20 the committee. The report proved
to be without foundation. The colony however was
soon obliged to arm for defence. The great Seven
Years. War had commenced-the final struggle
between the French aud English for tho possession Of
North America Stark was commissioned lieulen.
ant in the 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
terprises OF tho enemy attracted the notice OF the
British generals particularly OF the gallant Lord
Howe, whose friendship he enjoyed until the fall OF
that nobleman In the act Of stormng the French
lines ut TiconderoRa, on the 9th July 1853 No
service could be better calculated to inurs men TO
hardship danger and constant vigilance than that Of
the Rangcrs. Tho army moved beyond their in
trenchineuts without corps Of Rangers to guard
QacE Avdt will fha mn hndu
the lines or marched IN column the daring Rangers
were always Kept in advance, watching the move
ments OF the enemy and checking the stcatny prog.
ross OF tho savages who generally found hover
ing about the encampments Frequent skirm,shcs,
and sometimes prolonged and bloody encounters with
the Indians, we're the inevitable consequence Stark
was over foremost In duty, pressing forward where
deeds OF valor be DONE and such the con.
ldsnce hls In his courAge and discretion that