St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-08-12
THE RIVER LA-PLOT.
An Interesting Incident i'm the Early
History of Vermont.

History of Vermont.
This is small stream in Chittenden
county. 1t rises in the south western
part of Hinesburgh and running north
westerly through a corner of Charlotte
and through Shelburne, falls into the
head of Shelburne bay. 1t is Is miles
nected with this stream which though
not generally known to the present
generation must posses great interest
to the inhabitants of this state dealing
as it does with the stirring incidents
of her early history and which gave to
the stream the name by which it has
always been known. The inUidSnt is
well authenticated by the early settlers
who participated in it as we'll as by
their descendants who still reside in
the vicinity. 1t is well known that the
hostilities of the Indians instigated as
they were by the French in Canada
rendered the first settlement of Yer
mont very difficult and dangerous, es
pecially along the borders of Lake
Champlain, and the constant exposure
to be attacked and plundered by
blood thirsty foe, greatly retarded the
progress of the settlements for many
81
Indians compelled the settlers to arm
in self defense and to hold themselves
in readiness to march at moments
warning to the assistance of their
friends. 1t was in this state of things
Indians were discovered making their
way up Shelburne bay in their bark
canoes. Their motions were watched
IL I,ar
to the number of ten. The Indians
having proceeded to the head of the
bay entered the mouth of the stream
and landed on the west bank about 100
rods above it. Here they drew their
canoes ashore and having artfully con-
cealed them proceeded to the small
settlement half a mile distant where
they began the work of plumber. Those
10 resolute men held a consultation as
to what was best to be done. Believ-
ing that the Indians if vigorously as
sailed would retreat to their canoes for
safety, they formed La-Plot 1.-THE plan)
which resulted in the destruction of
the entire party. Three of the men
were despatched to scuttle and thus
render useless the canoes which the
Indians had concealed under the bank
of the river, not knowing that they
were watched by the eagle eyes of the
settlers. The other seven now made |
a furious attack upon the Indians who |
were engaged in the work of plumber |
ing the settlement rightly suppOsing |
that they would rush to their canoes
which would fill with water, and thus
discomfort and render them an easy
prey. The plot succeeded perfectly.
The furious onset of the seven rendered |
more favorable by the approach of
night led the Indians to suppose that
they were assaulted by superior force
and that their only chance of escape
was in hasty retreat to their canoes.
They accordingly betoOk themselves
to hasty flight, closely pursued by
the seven settlers and hurrying their
canoes into the river embarked with
the utmost haste. But in an instant
they found that their canoes were filling
with water. 1t was now the turn of the
settlers TO take ample vengeance. The
lnerring bullets of the three men in
ambush who had scuttled the canoes
we're rapidly laying them low, while
to this was added the fierce fire of the
seven who had now come to the assist
ance of their comrades. Not one of the
party escaped to tell of their fate.
They were all shot or drowned, and
the deep and quiet stream soon closed
over their bodies and formed their
graves. 1t is not many years since and
possibly even now occasional relics of
ibis party may be found at low water
On or near the shore where this fierce
took place. These relics
consist of the bones and arrow-heads
IF these savages upon whom a just ret
-ibutiOn so swiftly fell. The farmer
low merrily swings his scythe and the
;attle feed quietly upon the banks of
his beautiful little stream which in all
he ages to come will probably be
Inown as "River La-Plot."-[ Christian
VI essenger.
On the whole the nrosnect of the