The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-07-21

WHICH they hau put on MIN and, as ne did
so, one of the Indians who had looked so
earnestly at him stepped to him hastily and
buried tomahawk in his head When he
fell, the child was quickly dispatched by the
same individual.
One of the women captives screamed at
this butchery, and the same bloody ipstru-
ment and ferocious hand Immediately ended
her agony of spirit. God tempers the wind
to the shOrn lamb and be enabled Mrs.
Brownlee to bear that scene in speechIess
agony of woe. Their bodies were found the
next day by the settlers and inferred where
they fell. Fhe spot is marked to this cav in
Mechling's field. AS the shades of evening
began to fall, the marauders met again on
the plains OF Hannastown. They retired
into the low grounds of the Crabtree creek,
and there regaled themselves on what they
had stolen. 1t was their intention to attack
the fort next morning before the dawn of
| day.
| At nlghtfall thirty yeomen, good and true,
had assembled at Georges farm. not far from
Miller's determined to give, that night, what
succor they could to the people in the fort.
They set off for the town. each with his trustv
rife, some on horseback and some on foot.
estcaution and circpmspection was observed.
Experienced woodmen soon ascertained that
the enemy was in the Crabtree bottom, and
that they might enter the fort. Accordingly,
they all marched to the gate. and were most
joyfully welcomed by those within After
some consultation. it was the general opinion
that the Indians intended TO make an attack
the next morning and as there were bat
about as rifles in the fort and about IS or so
men, the contest was considered extremely
doubtful, considering the great superiority of
numbers on the part of the savages 1t be-
came, therefore, matter of the first impor.
tance to impress the enemy with belief tn at
large reinfOrcements were arriving. For that
reason the horses were mounted bv active
men and brought at full trot over the bridge
Of plank that was across the ditch which sur
rounded the stOckadin9. This was frequent
iy repeated. Two old drums were found in
the fort, which were new braced, and music
on the fife and drum was kept occasionally
going during the night. While marching and
counter arching. the bridge was frequently
crossed on foot by the whole garrison. These
measures had the desired effect. The mill
tary music from the fort, the tramping of the
were borne on the silence OF night over the
low lands of the Crahtree, and the sounds
carried terror into the bosoms Of the coward
lv savaees. They feared the retribution
which they deserved, and fed shortly after
midnight in their stealthy and wolf-lik habit
Three hundred Indians and about sixty white
savages in the shape of refugees. Gas they
were then called, ) crossed the Crabtree that
day with the intention of destroying Han
nastown and MiIler's station.
The next day number of the whites puT-
sued the trail as far as the Kiskiminetas
without being able to Overtake them.
The little community, which had now no
homes but what the fort supplied, looked out
on the ruins of the town with the deepest
SORROW. 1t had been to them the scene of
heartfelt joys-embraeing the intensity and
tenderness of all which renders the domestic
hearth and family altar sacred. By degrees
they all sought themselves places where they
might, like NOah's dove, find rest for the
sOles Of their feet. The lots of the town,
either by sale or abandonment, became
merged in the adjoining farm and the labors
of the husbandmen soon effsced what time
might have spared. Many tall harvest have
/ seen growing upon the ground but never
did 1 look upon its waving luxuriance with
out thinking of the severe trials, the patient
fortitude. the high courage, which character
lied the early settlers.
The prisoners were surrendered by the
Indians to the British in Canada. The beau
ty and misfortune of the Misses H-at-
tracted attention; aud an English officer
perhaps moved by beauty in distress to love
her for the dangers she had passed-wOoed
and won the fair and gentle Marian. after
the peace of'S3, the rest of the captives were
delivered up, and returned to their own
country