Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-05
John herzar, Hannah Dustin, and
the Indians.

\ -d0fperS WeeEty.
John kerzar, Hannah Dustin. and
the Indians.
1t was in August, 1922, that John Ker-
Ear, who lived on the banks Of the Mer.
rimac, 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 a bear ii he saw one in his corn,
or an Indian If one made his appearance.
He leaned his gun against tree and
went on 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 yell like the
blast of a 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 in an
instant, swinging his scythe and maxim
such fearful cash that the Indian fell
dead at his feet.
| Kerzar lived in Haverh1ll. It was a
frontier settlement, and the Indians eth
er had spite against it, er 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 large num-
Der of Indians coming toward him from
the woods. He ha6 eight children. the
youngest week old. The mother was
in bed with the infant, tended by her
nurse Mary Neff. sRun for the garri-
son. he shouted.
The children started, the oldest boys
and girls carrying the youngest. Mr..
| Dustin rushed to the stable and 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,
the bullets flying around him, leaving
his wife, baby, ana Mary Neff.
The Indians entered the house, drag
cling Mrs. Dustin from the bed, and
seized the nurse. One caught up the
infant by the legs and dashed its head
against rock.
Mr.. Dustin overlook mis- children. It
would be Impossible he thought to save
them all; which should he leave? All
were equally dear. How could he make
selection9 He would not, he would
die in defending them, and do what he
could to save ell
"Run!" he shouted, urging them on,
then leaped from his horse and hred
sprung upon the animal, again loaded
his gun while upon the gallop, overlook
his children, dismounted, nred again, and
SO, keeping the Indians at bay, brought
all his children in safety to the garrison.
Not so fortunate his neighbors. In a
few minutes the Indians massacred twen-
| ty-seven men, women and children, set
several houses on fire, and with num-
Der of captives started for Canada.
1t was the middle Of March,. The riv-
ers and streams were swollen. There was
snow on the ground. Mrs. Dustin had
but one shoe; the other foot was bare; 1t
was torn by the stones, chilled by the
| cold. Every step was marked with
blood. Her fellow captives tainted and
fell one by one, and the tomahawk and
scalping- knife finished them. All ex-
cept Mrs. Dustin and Mary Neff were
killed. Fer 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 IS
land where the Contoocook falls into the
Merrimac.
There the old smoked in silence their pipes,
and the young
To the pike and the white perch their
baited lines flung;
There the boy shaped his arrows, and there
the shy maid
Wove her many hued baskets and bright
wampum braiad."
There were fertile intervals along the
Merrimac where the deer found pasture.
The Indians could spear salmon in album
dance.
They had captured little boy named
Samuel LeOnardsOn near Worcester Mas
sachusetts, and he had learned to talk
with them.
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 60 to Canada.
The woman who had seen her infant
dashed upon the rock, and W had en-
dured such hardships, had brave spirit,
and preferred death to captivit
sThey.who would be free, must them
selves strike the blow. There was none
but God to lean upon. She determined
to make the attempt to be free.
ssAsk the Indians where they strike
with the tomahawk when they want to
kill person quick, she said tot Samuel.
"Strike 'em here" said the Indian.
putting his finger on SamLel's temple
Mrs. Dustin saw where he placed his
finger.
This is the way to take scalp" said
the Indlan, showing the boy how to run
the knife around the head and separate
the scalp from the skull.
The strong minded woman turns over
her plans. They are on an island, and
there are twelve Indians IN all; some are
women and some are children; their ca
noes are drawn up under the alders, and
| thov orc IN for from anv Hapoor of cur