Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-07
Tales aud Sketehes.
THE HERoIsM OF MRS. HENDEE.
THE STORY OF THE BURNING OF ROYAL
TON.
CONTINUED from Yesterday

as the house OF Capt Gilbert In Sharon
where they captured his son, Nathaniel
boy about fifteen years old. and ther
they too turned back and Joined thu
other party. As they went back they
burned every building they CAME
to-houses with all the household
goods they did not choose to carry away ant
barns which had Just been filled with thu
winters stock of grain and fruits. They
shot and killed IA fat oxen in one yard
Cows, sheep. hogs-all were killed al
they found them They had many cap
tives-men ard BOYS and little children
The women with their younger children
were in the woods which were part o.
the absolute wilderness about them. They
were in many cases hardly clothed. as the
surprise came before they had left theil
beds; they had no food. their homes were
burned and their husbands and father:
were captives. To add to their misery
snow began to fall.
The third party of indians had mean
while been fully plundering the house:
that the first parties had passed through
When they came TO the house of Gen
Stevens they found Mrs. Stevens standing
in the middle of the floor with her child
in her arms She had been Weakened by
Daniel Havens. who after hiding a while
under the log, ran as fast as he could to
her house to warn her and then ran on to
save himself. Mrs. Stevens had jus,
jumped out of bed when the Indian,
rushed in at The door. Mrs. Stevens
begged them to give her clolhe.
for herself and her child. but
no al tn bI,r
her up, and glad enough TO escape even
in her night clothes she ran off into the
wilderness and stayed until they had left
the town. A brave boy named Daniel
Walker who lived with Mrs. Stevens
heard Mr.. Havens give the alarm OF
Indians and ran as fast as he could to tell
Gen. Stevens, but he met the Indians and
they took him prisoner and to Canada.
The Indians set fire to Gen. Stevens
house, and then went to spot IN
the woods near by where they saw
smoke. A man named Prince Haskell
was chopping down trees to build house
when he heard a rustling in the leaves
and, looking round, saw two Indians with
in three feet OF him, one pointing gun at
him and the other seeming about to throw
a tomahawk. He surrendered and they
took him to Canada He escaped in a
year and found his way home after dread
iul sutferings in the wilderness.
A man named Chaffee who lived with
Mr.. Hendee went very early that morning
to the blacksmith to get his horse shod
but neghbor named Kent had started on
the same errand and passed and rode be-
fore Chafft to put in his claim before
him. He jumped off in front of the house
and to the horror of Chatfee he saw the
indians rush out and pull him over back
wards by his hair. Mr.. Chaffee didn't
want to see what they were going to do,
but jumped oil his horse and ran behind
the shop and back to Mr. Hendee's, keep
ing the shop between him and the Indians
He reached the house safely and Mr.
Hendee told his wife to take their little
boy seven years old and little girl who
bors while he should mount his horse and
60 to Bethel to give the alarm at the fort
Mrs Hendee had gone but a very little
way when she met several Indians who
took her little boy, Michael. from her
They pulled him away from his mother as
they held fast to each other and told her
that they would make a soldier OF him.
and with the poor little fellow screaming
and crying to his mother to save him they
ran off and out of sight. But Mrs. Hem
dee was brave woman, with wonderful
presence of mind and a tremendous will.
aud she determined not to lose her only
son. SO although not knowing that the
Indians were all about her, and that her
life was not safe for one instant unless she
should hide from them. she kept on down
the river after the indians, to get her
child if possible. She soon met several
white men. tories. She asked them what
they were going to do with the boys they
should take captive and they said. kill
them" She was then more determined
than ever to find her son and kept on al
though her little daughter impeded every
step by hanging about her, screaming
with terror and imploring her mother not
to go alter the Indians.
After walking some distance she saw
quite large body of Indians on the OPP
posite bank. Something in their group
ing made her think that the commanding
officer was there and. as she had met to-
ries in the parties. she felt sure he must
be a white man. So she started to ford
the river at place where it did not seem
too deep for her. She was trying to per
suade her little girl to sit down on the
bank and wait for her while she went over
to see the commander, when an old In
dian came up to her. He did not look so
savage as the rest aud as he was not able
to speak English he made signs to her to
know where she was going. She pointed
across the river and he. probably
supposing that she meant to give
herself up as prisoner, stepped
down into the water and bending
his back made signs to her that he would
carry her and her child across. She
shook her head but lifted her child to put
her on his back. but the poor little
thing cried and said, No, no. won't
ride the old Indian" but when she saw
her mother step down into the water she
cried Il will go, will. don't leave me
alone" So they waded across until they
came to deep and swift current which
Mrs. Hendee could hardly stand against.
and The old Indian patted her on her
shoulder and pointed to large rock near
and made signs by which she knew he
meant he would take her child over and
then come back for her and as she felt un-
able to keep her footing any longer she
sat down on the rock. He carried over
the child and then came back for her and
put her safely on the opposite bank
Wet to the waist with the cold water
and trembling with fear of death, or cap
tivity worse than death. she took her