Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-08
NO. 2l2.
miscellaneous.
An INDIAN STORY OF l69s.
Hannah Dustin and the Indians.

Thomas Dustin was at work in his field
one day. when he saw large number of
Indians coming toward him from the
woods. lie had eight children. the young
est week old. The mother was in bed
with the infant tended by her nurse Mary
Neff "Rnn for the garrison" he shouted.
The children started. the Oldest BOYS and
girls carrying the Youngest. Mr. Dustin
rushed 10 the stable and hridled his horse,
intending 10 take Mrs Dustin: but the In
dians were So close upon him that he could
not. He leaped upon his horse with his
gun. and gallop-d away. the bullets fiying
around him, leaving his wife. baby, and
Mary Neff
The Indians entered the house, dragged
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 his children. II
would be impossible, he thought, to save
them all which should he leavep All
were equally dear. How could he make
a selection? He would die in defending
them, and do what he could to save them
all.
Rum he shouted, urging them on;
then leaped from his horse, and fired,
sprang upon the animal, again loaded his
gun while upon the gallop, overlook his
children. dismounted. fired again, and so.
keeping the Indians at bay, brought all
his children in safety to the garrison.
Not so fortunate his ncighbors. In
few minutes the Indians massacrcd twenty
seven men. women and children, set sew
cral houses on fire. and with a number of
captives started for Canada.
II was the middle of March. The rivers
and streams were swollen. There was
snow on the ground. Mrs. Dustin had
but one shoe; the other foot was bare; il
was torn by the stones. chilled by the
cold. Every step was marked with blood.
Her fellow cap,ives tainted and fell one by
one. and the tomahawk and scalping-
knife finished them. All except Mrs.
Dustin and Mary Netf were killed. For
four days they travelled through the dark
forest toward the northwest. The Indians
gave them little to eat. The third day
br mght them to the rendezvous of the
Indians. on a little island where the Con-
toocook falls into the Merrimac.
There the old smoked in silence their pipes, and the
To the PIKE and the white perch their baIted lines
There the boy shaped his arrows. and there the
sly inaid
wove her many-hu-d baskets and bright wampum
braid
There were fertile intervales along the
Merrimac where the deer found pasture.
The Indians could spear salmon in abun-
dance.
They had captured II 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 twelvs of the Indians started
out to make another attack somewhere up
on 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 brave spirit
and preferred death TO captivity.
They 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.
"Ask the Indians where they strike with
the tomahawk, when they want to kill
person quick ?'' she said to Samuel
"Strike 'em here" said the Indian, put
ting his finger on Samuel's 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 a knife around the head, and separate
the scalp from the skull.
The strong hearted woman turns over
her plans. They 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
nj sht.
The thought never comes 10 them that
their captiyes--two feeble women and a
bov-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 be-
fore was 80 wide-awake. Hannah Dustin
awakes Mary Neff aud Samuel Leonard
son, and informs them Of her purpose,
gives each tomahawk. Each selects a
victim.
"Strike hard
a signal. and the hatcbets crush through
the skulls of the sleeping Indians, blow
after blow in quick succession. It is the
WIN vi ~ III tHdC DT1cI Lln1e
ten of the twelve Indians are killed; two
only escape in the darkness
The prisoners no longer
gather the provisions, take the guns Of
the Indians. and place them in a canoe.
The thoughtful women, to prevent pur-
suit, quickly cut holes in all the other
canoes and set them adrift. They take
their seats in the remaining canoe, and
push out into the stream
A thought comes. II thew are spared to
reach their home, will their friends be-
licve their story? They will have evi-
dence that cannot be disputed. They
paddle back to the island Mrs. Dustin
runs knife around the scalp-locks of the
dead Indians, and takes them from the
skulls. They start once more in the dark
ness. They know thatthe river will bring
them to their homes.
The current bears them on. Soon they
are amid the rapids of Pennacook, but the
thought OF home, of liberty, cools their
brains and steadies their nerves. The in
trepid women handle the paddles dexter