The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-11-27
YOUNG FOLKS COLUMN.
MRS. HENDEE SAVES NINE BOYS
FROM THE INDIANS.

"a Dangerous Dog "-GoOd story OF .
Mothers Bravery ut the burning of
Royalton, VT, During the Revolu-
tionary War.
During the Revolutionary war the Indians
were generally on the side of the British md
made sad trouble for the young colonies that
were fighting to be states. Hardly any chill
dren in the eastern states have ever seen an
Indian except in show or circus. But at
that time they were plentiful enough. In the
war of independence tho Indians did the most
destruction when they were led by white
men, Us they sometimes were.
Wide Awake tells good story Of how a
woman saved nine little boys from being put
to death or taken captive by Indians. A
party Of savages led by a white man sudden
ly appeared before the village Of Royalton,
Vt, Oct. l6, 1880. They burned it to tho
ground. Tho farmers had gathered their
harvest, and their barns were full Of hay
and grain. They killed the cattle and stole
the horses All was destroyed. A number
Of settlers were killed and others were car
ried into captivity to Canada.
Among the women who were left free was
Mrs Hendee. But the Indians tore her little
boy, years old, from her hands and started
away with him. But would a mother thus
escape and see her only son led away help
less little prisoner before her eyesl Never.
The boy screamed to his mother to save
him, and she followed on after the Indians as
fast as she could. If the child was to DO
killed, then she would not escape But she
thought she could save him.
A river ran past there, and the Indians,
with their white leader, took their way along
down by this, brave Mrs. Hendee after them.
She had her little girl dragging with her.
too, and was obliged to carry her much Of
the way.
She waded a stream Of water which was
up to her waist, and tho current was very
swift. But she did not stop moment. On
she went, and on. At length she reached the
Indian camp. She was in momentary danger
of death, but she saw in the midst white
man, with a red coat on and to him she
went boldly She begged for her son, and
the sons Of her neighbors whom the Indians
had captured. The officer, Lieut.. Horton,
told her the boys were to be taken to Canada,
to be reared and trained for British soldiers.
They meant to make them fight against their
own country, if the war should last till they
were large enough But Mrs. Hendee said:
"You know as well as do that these chill
dren cannot endure such march as you will
mako through the wilderness. And when
they cannot walk any more, what will you
do? The Indians will tomahawk and scalp
them to prevent them from being hindrance
in your flight, for every man in the settle
ments will pursue you to revenge us. II you
do not kill them you will leave them to die
and to be torn to pieces by wild beasts. They
will be of no use to you, and unless you are
wild beast yourself you will give me my
child, that these savagcs have taken away
from me- Do one good turn before you die"
1t is said that tears came to the officers
eyes, and he replied: "You shall have your
child"
But he had hard work to get her son and
the other boys from the savages. Once an
old Indian pulled the little boy away from
her after she had got him, and raised toma-
hawk over her head. Both mother and son
thought they were gone then, and the boy
screamed out loud.
At last though, she got her own little boy
and eight others, and started homo. They
had to ford river. 1t was so deep that
the smallest boys could not wade it. 1t
was stream 200 yards wiio 1T the ford, but
this heroic woman went back and forth in the
swift, ice cold water several times, carrying
the small boys upon her back. The others
put their arms around each others nccks,