The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-11-02
An Indian Story.

BEAUTIFUL the green meadows,
ID the surrounding bills and the dis
tant mountains forming the landscape
in Walpole, N. H., which Colonel BEN
jamin Bellows and John Kilburn gaxed
upon the banks of the Connecticut river
in l749. They had built their log houses
with loop-holes in the walls through
which they would fire upon the Indians
in case they were attacked. Though
peace had been agreed upon between
France and England, the people who
lived along the frontier felt no security,
for the French in Canada were contlnu-
ally urging the Indians to commit dep
relation on the English. 1t was short
and easy journey from Crown Point, on
Lake champlain, to the valley of the
Connecticut, and the Indians who sold
their furs to the French were frequent
visitors to the settlements along the
Connecticut.
One of the Indians who visited John
Kilburn was called Captain Philip. He
had been baptised and chrlstened by the
Jesuits priests at the Indian village of
st. Francis, on the banks of the st.
Laurence, halfway from Montreal to
Quebec. The st. Francis tribe were
called Christian Indians. There were
rumors that war would break out again
between England and France. Before
war was declared hostllities began.
II was in the spring of 1755 that Cap.
tain Philip made visit to John Kill
burns house with some beaver skins
for sale. He wanted powder, bullets and
ilints for pay. While he was trading,
Captain Philip was running his eyes
over the house, looking at the thick
timbers, and the loop holes in the walls.
When he had finished his trade he visit
Ell the other houses In the settlement.
He was kindly treated. The settlers
never mistrusted that he was taking
observations for future use.
August came. The settlers heard that
war had begun, and knew that the
French and Indians might be upon
them at any moment. They strength
ened their block.houses. No one went
into the field to work alone. They
always carried their guns with them.
They had some faithful watch-dogs
which always growled when Indians
were about. There were nearly forty
men in the settlement. They were
stout-hearted, and were determined not
to be driven out by the French and
Indians. They appointed Colonel Bel
lows to be their leader. He had sus-
picion that Indians were about.
''We must have supply of meal, so
that in case that we are attacked we
shall have something to eat" he said.
The settlers filled each a sack with
corn, shouldered them, and then, in
single file, each man carrying his gun,
they marched to the grist-mill which
they had erected, ground the corn into
meal, shouldered the sacks once more,
and started homeward, their faithful
watch-dogs trotting in advance, paying
no attention to squirrels or partridges,
or game of that sort.
Suddenly the dogs came back, growl-
ing, the hair on their backs in ruff.
"There are Indians about. Throw
down your Sacks" said Colonel Bel
tows.
The men threw their sacks on the
ground, dropped into the ferns, and
looked to the priming of their guns.
The ferns were tall, and completely
concealed them. Colonel Bellows sus-
pected that the Indians had laid an
smbuscade at narrow place in the path
which they must pass. He crept slowly
forward to see what he could discover,
careful not to break twig or make any
noise. He crept to the top of little
hill, peeped through the ferns, and dis
covered great number of Indians,
nearly two hundred, crouching behind
trees, or lying on the ground, waiting
fer the white men to enter the trap. He
made his way back to his men, issued
his orders in whisper, and all crawled
through the ferns toward the Indians
till they were only few rods from
them.
All We're ready. Every man sprang
to his feet, and yelled as loud as he
could, " Hiya-hi-yal" 1t was terrific
howl.
The next moment not settler was to
be seen; all had dropped upon the
ground, and were concealed by the
ierns.
In an instant every Indian was on
his feet, firing his gun, but hitting no.
body.