The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-11-12
John Kerxar. Hannah Dustin and the In
diana.

0assua.
1t was in August, 1862. John Kerzar.
who lived on the banks of the Merrimac.
few miles from the sea, went out into
his meadow with his scythe TO cut grass.
he took his gun along with him to shoot
bear II he saw one in his corn, or an In
dian If one made his appearance. He
leaned his gun against tree, and went
OH with his moving, not knowing that
an Indian was crawling through the tall
grass toward him. The Indian reached
the tree, seized the gun and cooked it.
Me kill you now" said the Indian.
John kerzar was brave. He was quick
to think. He could yell louder than any
Indian. No use for him to run that
would be certain death. With a veil
like the blast of trumpet, and uplifted
scythe, he rushed upon the Indian, who.
instead of firing, dropped the gun and
took TO his heels. Kerzar was upon him
III an instant, swinging his scythe, and
making such fearful cash that the In
dian fell dead ut his feet.
herzar lived in Haverhill. It was a
frontier settlement, and the Indians
either had "a spite against it, or else it
was more convenient for them to attack
than other settlements, for they made
many attempts to destroy the place.
Thomas Dustin was at work in his
field one day, when he saw q large num-
Der of Indians coming toward him from
the woods. He had eight children. the
youngest week old. The mother was
IN bed with the infant, tended by her
nurse, Mary NeH Run to the garri-
son." he shouted. 4
The children started, the Oldest boys
and girls carrying the youngest Mr..
Dustin rushed To the stable aud bridled
his horse, intending to take Mrs. Dustin :;
but the Indians were so close upon him
that he could not. He leaped upon the
horse with his gun, and galloped away,
leaving his wife, baby, and Mary Neff.
The Indians entered the house, drag
ged Mrs. Dustin from the bed, and
seized the nurse. One caught up the in
FAINT by the legs, and dashed its head
against rock.
Mr.. Dustin overlook his children. tt
would be impossible, he thought, to save
them all which should he leave? All
were equally dear. How could he make
selection Hewould not he would
die in defending them, and do what he
could to save all &
Run !" he shouted, urging them on
then leaped from his horse, and fired.
sprung upon the animal, again loading
his gun while upon the gallop, overlook
his children, dismounted, fired again,
and SO. keeping the Indians at BAY.
brought all his children in safely to the
garrison.
Not so fortunate his neighbours In a
few minutes the Indians massacred
twenty-seven men, women and children.
set several houses on fire, and with a
number of captives started for Canada.
1t was the middle of March. The riy-
ers and streams were swollen. There
was snow on the ground. Mrs. Dustin
had but one shoe; the other foot was
bare it was torn by the stones, chilled
by the cold. Every step was marked
with blood. Her fellow-captives tainted
and fell one by one, ard the tomahawk
and scalping-knife finished them. All
except Mrs. Dustin and Mary Neff were
killed. For four days they travelled
through the dark forest toward the north
west The Indians gave them little to
eat. The third day brought them to the
rendezvous of the Indians, on little
island where the Contoocook falls into
the Merrimac.
" There the old smoked in silence their pipes, and
To the rsc and the white perch their baited lines
hung;
There the boy shaped his arrows and there the shy
wove her Hany-hued baskets and bright wampuIn
braid"
There were fertile intervals along the
Merrimac where the deer found pasture.
The Indians could spear salmon in
abundance.
They had captured little boy named
Samuel Leonardson, near Worcester,
Massachusetts, and he had learned to
talk with them. SN#k III
Having been successful in their raids,
all except twelve of the Indians started
out to make another attack somewhere
upon the English, expecting to return
with captives, which they would sell to
the French. Upon their return the
whole party would go to Canada.
The woman who had seen her infant
dashed upon the rock, and who had en-
dured such hardships, had n brave spirit,
and preferred death to captivity.
They who would be free must them
selves strike the blow. She determined
to make the attempt to be free.
ASK the INDIANS Wnere tney Strlke
with the tomahawk when they want to
kill person quick ?" she said to Samuel.
Strike em here" said the Indian,
putting his finger on Samuels temple.
Mrs. Dustin saw where he placed his
finger.
"This is the way to take off scalp"
said the Indian, showing the boy how to
run n knife around the head and separate
he scalp from the skull.
The strong-hearted woman turns over
her plans. Uhey are on an island. There
are twelve Indians in all some are
women. some children. Their canoes
are drawn up beneath the alders. They
are so far from any danger of surprise
that no one keeps watch at night. The
thought never comes to them that their
captives-two feeble women and boy
can escape.
Night comes. The fires burn low. All
are asleep, lulled by the music Of the
falling waters. No-all are not asleep.
The woman of brave spirit never before
,vas 40 wide-awake. Hannah Dustin