Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-08-09

uclls iioiii alt the stccplcS III tiic boNu' ~
five O'Clock this morning. The procession
began 10 form, about nine o'clock. under
the direction OF Maj. Il. A. Hastings, q
soldier, who thoroughly understood his
/ duties.
The ORDER OF PROCESSION.
was as follows
| Mounted Rangers, Capt. Dwight Rose.
Marshal OF the Day, Maj. q. \. Hastings.
! Police escort, Capt :. y. Gibson.
! Bethel Cornet Band
| Gorham Cadets. capt. J. T.. Meals.
! Sclectmcn of Bethel and other towns.
| Committee OF Arrangements.
| President ofthe Day. u +. Brown, esq: Chap
lain. Rev. Jarvis h. Mason, ID. Orator, y. 4.
True. NJ. u Poet, Hon. \. : rwichell.
| Citizens.
Mai. Hastings was mounted on a pranc-
| ing bay aud wore a marsha.'s scarf. lie
calamity headed the parade.
The cavalcadc OF mounted rangers was
| received with great enthusiasm aud hand
/ clapping. Twenty of the farmers aud
/ farmers sons OF the town, were equipped in
I pioneer costume, aud mounted ON stout
uags. They wore SLOUGH hats with HAM
/ ing Streamers or feathers. and farmers
/ frocks and leggings. Their rides were slung
| over their backs. aud fierce powder horns
were hung AZ their waists. They rode
with genuine ranger dash and put great
spirit into their part OF the celebration.
! Capt. Dwight Rose rode n handsome geld
/ Ing and headed the rangers.
| when the procession reached the head
/ OF Church Street they were met boy \
mounted settler riding AZ great speed, who
announced In very ssitatcd tone that he
/ had discovered war party OF Indians
approaching the settlement. The captain
I Of oar AZ a. Itf
mounted attachments To recounoiter. with
orders il the Indians were discovered 10
/ fall back 70 the block house. Three OF
/ these detaohmcnts were surprised and
driven hy the Indians, who followed them
closely as they retreated, and getting posi-.
/ tions behind trees and fences. opened Dire
upon the block house. The fourth detach-
ment WAS cut of, and only succeeded amer
sharp struggle. In which two OF them
I were killed. In cutting their way through
the Indians aud reaching the fort. AMER
ten minutes OF rapid ilring on both sides.
I the Indians withdrew under cover OF \
grove and held hurried consultation,
which was Immediately followed hy "A
l charge from the main body OF the Indians,
who advanced very rapidly, yelling and
I firing, but were driven back by the hot
/ fire. Charging again more herccly than
/ before, they rushed up 10 within ID or 20
/ feet OF the block house, and again retreat
ell under the heavy are. Daring this
attack, which was made 10 cover another
I operation, i've Indians approached the fort
/ upon the opposite side, and stealing up
Uuobscryed by the garrison, battered in
the door OF the fort and securing a pris-
oner, hastily retrcated. The prisoner was
hurried away and securely bound 10 tree.
and the whole band OF sayages gathered
about him and held council, sitting In a
circle on the grass, 10 determine the fate
| OF the prisoner IL was decided that he
should die by fire, and while part of the
band surrounded the tree, braudishlng their
tom ahawks and executing war dances, the
rest collected brush and piled about the
prisoner, and torch was got ready. At
this moment the settlers filing quietly out
OF the fort, made a sudden dash, and pour
! ing two volleys into the Indians, scatter
Ing them In all directions, cut the ropes
and rescued the prisoner. The Indians,
however, succeeded in hanking the garri-
son before they could regain the fort, and
the sharpest hand-to-hand conflict OF the
whole battle took place in the attempt or
the settlers 70 open passage. The
Indians were finally driven OF, leaving
several dead upon the field, but capiur-
ing another prisoner; the settlers re
gained the fort, carrying their killed an
wounded with them. The Indians again
retired out OF sight, and presently an In
dian scout carrying a hag OF truce APP
! preached the fort, proposing an armistice
for burying the dead. This Is granted by
Capt. Rose, and the Indians collect their
dead and go through the ceremony or an
Indian burial, after which the battle Is
opened again, and the fire on the fort re-
sumed from all sides. Presently the chief
OF the Indians, with two followers con-
Quoting the prisoner between them ad-
vanced into the open ground Ia front OF
the fort, without any weapons, and the
chief with both hands upliited (the Indian
iiag of truce with his two followers and
4 the prisoner behind him, with slow steps
and stately bearing drew near 10 the fort.
About half way across the open space ne
halts, the whole band Of Indians drawn up
10 line OF battle within firing distance be-
hind him, Just on the edge OF the clearing.
Capt. Rose orders his men 10 draw up In
line outside the block house, in similar
position and facing the Indians, and then
with two followers, and without weapons,
bearing q nag OF truce, advanced TO the
conference with the chief. The interview
is short. Tomhegan wishes to compel a
surrender OF the garrison by threats OF
torture upon the prisoner he has secured.
Capt Rose declines 10 surrender, but oilers
;. five bear skins, two pounds OF tobacco,
and two gallons OF fire water, If the chief
will release the prisoner. This offer is
declined, and Capt. Rose and his men retire
from the conference. As he turns TO come
back the Rangers raise their rifles TO their
shoulders and cover Tomhegan, who re-
mains erect and motionless until Capt.
Rose and his men have again entered the
block house, when he slowly retires. The
attack again commences with great vtgor,
and is concentrated upon the south side OF
the fort, a continuous firing being kept up
for ten or fifteen minutes. During this
attack an Indian brave, creeping very
stealthily and lodging from tree TO tree,
approaches the fort from the north side.
He carries only q tomahawk and scalping
knife for weapons, and = torch. Very
slowly and cautiously he works his way
up TO the corner OF the block house, undis.
covered by the garrison, and climbing up
the side, gets upon the roof and runs up
rapidly. across the rafters to the ridge pole.
Arriving there, he swings his torch about
his head, and giving q ringing war whoop
which is answered by the whole band OF
Indian. he fires the thatch on both sides
of the fort, throws away his torch and
: leaps to the ground. No sooner does he
reach It than one Of the garrison who has
been lying In wait for him, pounces upon
him, and q fierce hand-to-hand struggle