Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-04-14
VOL. 75.-3S35. NO. 27.

and daughters shot down by skulking saw.
ages. They could venture their own lives,
but they could not permit the women and
girls to rush upon destruction.
But the idea of Deborah Reynolds was
popular with her own sex. The older women
spoke in favor of it, and so many and such
good reasons were urged in support of the
undertaking that Captain Reynolds and the
men at last assented TO the plan.
In order that there should be no partial.
ity every woman in the stockade able to
carry pail OF water was TO engage in the
perilous task. 1t was also decided that they
should not rush out in crowd but should
file along by twos or threes, as naturally as
possible, so as to excite no suspicious among
the Indians.
In order TO run the faster If they had
need, the women took off their shoes or moe
casins and went barefooted. The strongest
OF them carried two pals, but large num-
ber took only one.
Before the gate was opened the minister
knelt aud prayed, and they all knet, strong,
rough men, and pale fair women. When
they arose there were tears in the eyes of the
bronzed frontiersmen, and the faces of the
women were paler than ever, but they looked
very brave and solemn.
Then there were hand-shakings and hur-
red farewels said for none knew whether
they would ever meet again. Captain Rey-
nolds kissed his wife and daughter, and with
broken voice said;
"Look out for mother, Debby. She is not
so spry as you are. Take good care of her,
and may God save you ALL
One by one, two by two, they began to slip
through the gateway and start for the spring
1.-Two of the strongest pioneers stood by the
gate to close it if rush was made. The
rest of the men were gathered along the
stockade at the portfolios, each with loaded
rifle near him, besides the one he held in
his hands, ready to fire on the savages if
they offered to attack the women.
Some of the latter could not help glancing
timidly toward the tall woods and thick un.
derbrush, but most of them walked care
lessly, as if they suspected nothing, though
their pale faces aud swiftly beating hearts
told of the fear and suspense they were in.
Young Deborah Reynolds was the bravest
of them all, she whom the captain had asked
of the gate the heroic girl placed herself be-
fore her older companion.
"Don't do so Debby," said the mother,
"walk behind me, then if the Indians fire
they will have 10 kill me before they can
hit you"
"No, told father would look out for
you, and for his and the children's sakes
you will let me-" replied Deborah. al
should not be missed half so much as YOU"
And so the brave young woman kept be-
tween her mother and the savages, both go
ing and coming from the spring. A glimpse
of red legs in the shrubbery and the CLINT of
tomahawk when a sunbeam shone upon it,
did not serve to make her more assured, but
in few minutes they were all back in the
stockade, and not shot had been fired.
Some of the buckets were not very full it
is true, but the poor women did their best,
and it was an heroic deed. In all history
we know of no more daring deed than the
women of Bryant Station performed on the
borders of the western wilderness almost
hundred years ago.
The Indians kept hid until night, when
nearly a thousand of them attacked the
stockade, hoping to surprise it, But they
found the garrison ready for them, and
they were met so resolutely and vigorously,
that they had to fall back, leaving many
dead and wounded.
The next day the surrender of the fort
was demanded, but a spirited refusal was re-
turned, and as the savages had already ex'
perlenced the determined resistance of the
whites, they molested them no further, and
stole away through the great forest.
Before the second night strong body of
settlers from Lexington and adjacent settle
ments arrived at the stockade, conducted by
the two brave men who had rode away the
previous morning for succor. Bryant Sta
tion was saved.
The little stockade fort is now large and
furnishing town, in the midst of populous
and highly civilized region. Many years
have passed since the last Indian left the
spot but the visitor there will be told the
story of the heroism Of the Bryant Station
women, and on the outskirts of the town he
will be shown ruined cellar, above which
stood the house where brave Deborah Rey-
nolds aud her brave husband lived for many
years, and where they died more than forty
years ago.-B0StOn Budget.