Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-02-01
THE RESCUE.
ATaIe of Lake VVinnipiseogec
RUB.


or hear of the great sufferings and
dangers of his fOrefathers in the
early settlement of that country.
He is familiar with the localities
where occurred the desperate con-
fiict, or the hOrrid massacre-thOUgh
now, perhaps, the spot is the site of
8 pretty village, or the pillow of the
husbandman has leveled the green
mounds that marked the resting
place of the dead.
Honor to the memory of those
stern spirits, before whom the red
man disappeared, the wilderness
melted away, and New England
became what she now is, and what
we hope she will ever be-the land
of intelligence, happiness and sterl-
ing worth. Sometimes a shade of
romance is cast over their deeds and
history, and
''dany a legend wild or stately story"
is reared upon those foundations.
New Hampshire is styled the
"Granite State"-the Switzerland
of America" and the traveller who
views her wild and romantic seen
cry, acknowledges the prOpriety of
titles. Here are found the loftiest
mountains in the Eastern States,
and lakes and rivers combining the
beautiful and picturesque. The
West may boast of the valleys of the
Ohio and Mississippi, but though
they excel in fertility, they cannot
equal in scenery the valley of the
Connecticut. Viewed from neigh
boring hill, the river resembles a
broad silver thread winding its way
through carpet of green; in some
places fOaming and dashing over its
rocky bed, and then gliding smooth
~ through verdant meadows here
passing a pleasant village and be-
yOnd flowing through the dark for
eSt-the tall pines shutting the sun
light from its. waters. One OF our
New England poets has said
No brighter waves through happier village
shine,
Nor drinks the sea a purer stream than
mine.
But the lakes of the Granite State
are perhaps its lOveliest feature, and
it was on the shores of one of them
Lake Winnipiseogee-that the
incidents of our story occurred.
The name of this sheet of water,
in the figurative and mysterious
language of the Indians, signifies
the "smile of the Great Spirit. !"
From the summit of Red Hill, an
elevation of about two thousand
feet, a fine view may be obtained.
At the base lies the lake, twenty
miles in length and from two to
twelve miles in breadth. Three
hundred and siXty-fve islands dot
its surface, here and there one of
many acres inhabited and highly
cultivated, while the majority are
but 4 few rods in circumference,
covered with trees, grass and a few
wild flowers. In the north is seen
the great range of the White Noun
tainS, with the snOw-clad summit OF
Mt. Washington rising more than
mile above the level of the sea. In
other directions we may see many
villages and a cultivated country,
and we picture to ourselves that
Long years have passed since the first
pioneer
And willy trapper built their camp first here :;
Then the lone woods in primal grandeur
And rolled the lake its dark UNDECIDED flood.
No laden barge upon its breast was seen,
Nor towns, nor farms, adorned its shores of
green;
Then, wild and high, the savage warriors
shout
Above the battles din rang shrilly out,
And in his rude magniticeHce arrayed,
The Indian reigned sole monarch of the
shade:
With deadly bow pursued the flying chase,
or sought in war the foeman of his race.
But like a vision that has passed away,
And frlil. and htful, scarce its mem 'TieS stay.
In the autumn of 177j, Il party of
about thirty whites made a settle
ment on the shore of the above
mentioned lake. 1t was pronounced
by the pioneers the most desirable
location in that part of the country.
Moose and deer were plenty; the
lake furnished not only the finest
fish, but its bays end islands We're
the resort for thousands of wild fowl.
The first care of the settlers was
to build a blOck-hOuse, as a defense
against the Indians, with whom
they expected to have much trouble.
During the winter they felt some
what secure, knowing that the saw
ages, at that season, seldom VeRtured
far from their camps, on account of
the deep snow and intense cold.
But as spring approached, greater
caution was necessary; and while
engaged in the labor of the field, a
strict watch was maintained. Sew
eral months passed aWay-large
clearingS had been made, and the
first crop of the settlers va, spring
ing up. But the Indian scouts had
not been idle-eVery movement of
the whites had been observed, and
IL E. l,l 10.
opportunity to make a successful
attack.
At length the time arrived, and
Paugus, the celebrated chief of the
TarTateens, Il powerful tribe of In
dians occupying the country in the
vicinity of the White Mountains.
collected a band of warriors and
prepared to destroy the little settle
ment. Having seen no trace of In
dams, the vigilance of the pioneers
relaxed, and as the warm weather
came on, several of the families had
left the shelter of the block-hOuse
and dwelt in their own cabins,
thinking that in case of surprise
they could easily reach the fort.
Among the number was an old man,
his wife and only child, beautiful
Girl of seventeen named Louisa.
irbou0h reared in the wilderness,
She had been carefully instructed by
her Darents, and her winning man
ner and lively disposition made her
the nride and Joy 81 the little colony;
The old man had often been warned
IF his imprudence in remaining OUT
Of the biock-house after nlght-l2ll,
b,,t he persisted, saying that the
savaoes would never harm pe0PlS
Ed ~ himself and wife, or child
He his little daughter. But the
indian. when on the war pain,
i-pows neither age nor sex, ms sole
object being the number OF scalps ne
After carefully reconnolterlng,
Paugus determined to use canoes III Il
making the attack and retreatlng'
Tins leaving no trail, and destroy
mo the boats of the settlers, pre-
Venting pursuit. The night was
dark and gloomy, but savage IN.
Stinct Guided them towards the
loaned settlement, and about MD
night they silently landed at a snort