The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-10-08


THE SETTLERS OF WALPOLE AND
THE INDIANS.
BEAUTIFUL the green meadows, the
surrounding hills and the distant noun
tains forming the landscape in Walpole,
N. H., which Colonel Benjamin Bellows
and John Kilburn gazed upon on the
banks of the Connecticut River In 1749.
They had built their log houses with
loop-boles in the walls through which
they could fire upon the Indians in case
they we're 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 continually
urging the Indians to commit depreda-
tons on the English. It was q 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 baptized and christened by
the Jesuit priests at the Indian village
of St. Francis, on the banks of the
St. Lawrence, 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 hostilities began.
1t was in the spring Of 1855 that Cap
tain Philip made a visit to John Kill
burns house with some beaver skins
for sale. He wanted powder, bullets
and flints for pay. While he was trad
ing, Captain Philip was running his
eyes over the house, looking ct the
thick timbers, the loop-holes in the
walls. When he had finished his trade
he visited the other houses in the settle
ment. 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
Bellows to be their leader. He had q
suspician that Indians were about.
1--WE must have q supply OF meal, so
that in case we are attacked we shall
have something to eat" he said.
The settlers filed each q bag with
corn, shouldered them, and then, in sim
gle 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 cartridges,
or game of that sort.
Suddenly the dogs came back, growl-
ing, the hair on their backs in a ruff.
''There are Indians about. Throw
down your sacks" said Colonel Bel
lows.
The men threw their sacks on the
ground, dropped into the ferns, and
looked to the printing Of their guns.
The ferns were tall. and completely
concealed them. Colonel Bellows sus-
pected that the Indians had laid an
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 discovered q great number OF In
dams, nearly two hundred, crouching
behind trees, or lying on the ground.
waiting for the white men to enter the
trap. He made his way back to his
men, issued his orders in a whisper, and
all crawled through the ferns toward
the Indians till they we're only few
rods from them.
All were ready. Every man sprang
to his feet, and yelled as loud as he
could. ..Hi-ya hi-ya!" twas terrific
howl.
The next moment not q settler was to
seen; all had dropped upon the ground,
and were concealed by the ferns.
In an instant every Indian was on his
feet, firing his gun, but hitting nobody.
There was an answering flash from the
ferns, each settler taking aim, and the
Indians sprang into the air, or fell head
long before the bullets.
The red men outnumbered the set