Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-07-27
THE TORY'S DEATH.

OF all the grades of Tories with
which this country was afflicted,
that which herded with the savages
was the worst. So long as the man
of Saxon blood kept among his own
kind, and was conscientious in his
adherence to the cause he prOfeSSed
to embrace, there was no damning
error to be attached to him save
one of judgment, or of unfortunate
physical conformation. But the
moment he attached himself TO saw
ages, and became their leader or
one of their councillors, he lost his
individuality as a descendant of the
Saxon race, and became even more
despicable than the common traitor
or the petty spy.
This grade Of the Tory was more
numerous in the State of New York
than in any other, and of them was
one Donald Mcdonald, who did
not hesitate-as in fact few of his
kind did-to perpetrate every enor-
nifty, providing the existing pOliti-
cal troubles gave the shadow of
legitimate excuse fer it. In reality
it seemed that the greater the out
RACES he committed the better he
was pleased. 1t was a task of no
difficulty to incite the Indians to
acts of the most barbarOus nature,
and many was the miniature Wy
oming in which Donald Mcdonald,
and such as he, revealed.
OF course the odium of these hOr-
rifying transactions was instantly
accorded to the '1infernal saVages,"
while the pale-skinned demons who
stood, the authors of all, in the
background, escaped both general
public condemnation and personal
injury. But in the end these gentle
men usually found bloody graves,
to which they were sacrificed by
vengeance. Among the chivalrOus
feats of Donald Mcdonald were
those of holding "rebeis' on pitch
forks over fiTes-feeding the quad
ruped deniZens of the forest with
"rebel" Misunderstanding persons
who did not hurrah for the king run
the Indian gauntlet-OccasiOn
tarring and feathering the wife of
patriOt-TObbing farm-hOuseS, and
many other glorious doings that
served His Majesty and pleased
those who directly represented the
power of the crown in the colonies.
Like the rest, Mr.. Mcdonald carried
the pitcher to the well once too
often, and, sad to say, it was broken.
At a place called Shells Bush,
which was situated near Herkimer,
in New York, was the house of
Wing named John Christian Shell,
who was a stern and courageous
man, ready to shed the last drop of
his blood in favor of liberty, and
willing to face any danger when it
became necessary for him to do so.
The miserable and cOwardly Tories
who knew him were exceedingly
afraid of him. He made no secret
of his hostility to their welfare, and
kept an eye so watchful upon the
movements of the doubtful ones,
that they were efectually held in
check. 1t may be reasonably sup
posed that they were exceedingly
anxious to rid the country of him,
and To do this they denounced him
ut headquarters as one of the kings
most inveteTate enemies. He was
accordingly marked for sacrifice.
These circumstances threw him into
q
and served to make for him q null
titude of personal enemies. Among
the enemies most hostile to Shell
was Donald Mcdonald, who had
twice e5sayed to take his life, and
had sworn to have it eventually.
1t was in the autumn of 1871 that
Mcdonald determined to execute
this vow, he being then near Herk-
inner with a small band or party of
cut-thrOats, equally composed of In
dianS and white scOundrels.
We should have mentioned that
Shells wife was as Staunchly in ia
VOr of liberty as her husband, and
that his children, of whom he had
several chow many the source of our
information does not specify, were
also thoroughly alive to the import
ance of the contest, and, of course
ranked under the same banner as
their prOgenitOrs. lie always kept
his family armed as well as the CN-
igencies of the times would permit.
The house was small but compact,
and capable of enduring a heavy
assault. 1t was built of rough-hewn
logs strengthened by mortar plugs
in the ChinkS, and pierced by loop
holes large enough to permit the
cgreSs of firearms. Our readers need
not wonder at this. Many of the
houses that stood i'm the time of the
Revolution We're decorated in this
style, and not few of them were
we'll SCaritied by bullets. Balls have
been extracted in any quantity
from some of the old tenementS in
this city.
Having settled to assault and
murder Shell and his whole family,
Mcdonald ordered his satellites to
follow him, and started for the place
of his enemy's abiding, which he
reached in due time. lie had eX-
planned to his comrades the motives
which actuated him. There was lit
tie plumber but plenty of revenge to
be had, and no doubt the lOyaliSts
would pay well for the contemplated
slaughter, if it was accomplished.
Arrived before Shells dwelling,
McDUnald's first step was to en-
deavOr to surprise the inmates, but
that was impossible, and the attempt
failed. He then demanded their
instant surrender. Shell wanted to
"
aid Savagely answered
at is l, Donald Mcdonald, half
Indian and half White-Indian in
my feelings and white in blood"
"Why do you wish my surrender?"
asked Shell. "If you have any old
scores to settle with me, why not
deal with me alone? What have
NV family to do with our affairs ,"
II will settle with you" answered
Mcdonald; "but my companions
ure the kings servants, and they
viii punish your family for rebel
tKing's devils ~ grOwled Shell,
who was not particular in his choice
of phrases and epithets; eff you
want plunder you may as we'll
travel further, for here there is nonei
If Won want to shed our blood, and
a,in favor with the foes OF the Con
tinentallers, you must tght' ti'aV ;
u" .aThen YOU won't give in?'' said
ATeDonaId. as if he wanted 90 De
satisfied beyond doubt ere he struck
q blow of hostility. ~
: ssSn vbody that knows John
Christian Shell wouldn't ask ~, Iil IN
0neStion twice" replied Mrs. Sheli
i'm loud voice. r.ad;.;onal