The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-29

them with ideas Of the wealth and pow
er of the English monarch.
The French were not idle. Jealous of
the growing power and influence of the
English colonies, and de'iruus of mOnop.
olzing the Indian trade. they adopted
various plans to detach the Ircquois
from their alliance with the English.
They endeavored to break up the con.
federacy of the tribes. that they might
conquer the nations in detail. They at
tackled the Enplish, in hopes thai, by
gaining some splendid victories over
them, they would convince the Indians
OF the weakness of their allies and of
the strength of their enemies. They
sent missionaries among them. more de
sirous of making allies for France than
converts to christianity; in this they
partially succeeded; and in 1871 per-
shaded the Clughnauagas to remove
from their settlements on the Mohawk,
and to establish themselves in Canada.
In 1888 the vengeance of the lrOquOis
was again aroused by stratagem OF the
Denondadies, tribe at war with them,
and in alliance with France. The De-
nondadies killed several of their ambas-
sadOrs, while going to hold conference
IN Canada and falsely pretended that
they had been informed of their journey
by the French governor. lncensed at
what they considered great breach of
faith, about 200 warriors of the lro-
quoiS killed about 200 French-men,
women and children, and carried away
twenty-siX prisoners, whom they after
wards burned alive. The French retail
lated for these aggressions by making
incursiOns into the Indian country and
burning their village'
On the night of February 9th, 1890,
party of French and Canadian Indians
made an attack upon Schenectady: took
the place by surprise, as it was in the
dead of winter, ana no danger was ap
pretended, the whole village was de
strOyed about so of the inhabitants were
killed and most of - remainder perish
ed, as they fled naked through the snow
to Albany.
On the 25th of March, 1890, after the
destruction of Schenectady, the Mo
hawk chiefs addressed the Magistrates
at Albany as follows:
Brethren--The murder OF our breth
rem at Schenectady by the French,
grieves us almost as If it had been done
yourselves, for we,are in the same chain;
and no docbl our brethren of New Eng
land will be likewise sadly affected with
this cruel action of the French The
French on this occasion have not acted
like brave men, but like thieves and rob
bers. Be not therefore discouraged -
We give this belt to wipe away your
tears
Brethren! We lament the death of 80
many of our brethren. whose blood has
81, G-L No \
think that what the French have done
can be called a victory, it Is only fur
lher proof of their deceit, The Cover.
nor of Canada sends to Onondaga, and
talks to us of peace with our whole
house, but war is in his heart, as you
may now see by woeful experience. He
did the same in Seneca county. This is
the third time he has acted deceitfully.
He has broken up our houses at both
ends, formerly in Seneca county and
now here. We hope, however, to be re
venged on them. One hundred of our
bravest young men are in pursuit Of
them; they are brisk fellows. and they
will follow the French to their doors.
We will beset them so closely at not
man in Canada will dare to step out Of
doors to cut a stick of wood; but now
we gather up our dead to bury them by
this second belt.
Breihren! We came from our castles
with tears in our eyes. to bemoan the
blood shed at Schenectady by the per
| tidious French. While we bury our
dead murdered at Schenectady, we know
not what may have befallen our own
people that in pursuit of the enemy;
they may be dead What has befallen
you may happen us; and therefore we
come to bury our brethren at Schnecta
dy. with this third belt.
Great and sudden is the mischief, as il
it had fallen from Heaven upon us. Our
forefathers taught us to go with all
speed to bemoan and lament with our
brethren when any disaster or misfor-
tune happens in our chain. Take this
belt of vigilance; that you may be more
watchful in the future. We Civ g our
brethren water to make them sharp
sighted. Giving fourth belt
We now come to the house where we
usually renew the chain; but, alas! we
find the house polluted with blood. All
the five nations have heard of this, and
we are come to wipe away the blood I,
and clean the house. We come to in
vite Corlaer, and every one of you, and
Quider Calling to every one Of the prln-
cipal men present by their names) to he
reyepged of the enemy by this fifth
belt.
Brethren, Be not discouraged; we are
not strong enough. This IL the begin
ming of your war, and the whole house
haye their eyes fixed upon you at this
time, to observe your behavior. They
wait your motion and are ready to join
in any resolute measures.
Our chain IS a strong chain; it is a sill
yer chain: it can neither rust nor be
broken. We,ss to our parts, are resolute
to continue the war.
We will never desist 80 long as man
Of us remains. Take hea /: do not pick
up and go away; this will give heart to
a dastardly enemy. We are Of the race
of the bear: and bear, you know never
yields, while one drop of blood is left
We must all be brave. (giving a sixth
belt.)
Rrethrenl Be patient; this disaster Is
an sfflicton which has fallen from hea-
ven upon us, The sun, which has been
cloudy, and sent this disaster, will shine
again with its pleasant beams. Take
courage, courage. (Repeating the word
several times as they gave seventh
belt)
This massacre was the first intimation
the colony of New York received that a
war was medtated on the part of the
French. 1t was the more perfidous, as
negotiations were then pending in Eu-
rope for the purpose Of settling the
claims OF the governments in America.
During this war the confederates re
nIaiI ed attached TO the English, and
rendered important services by barrass
ing the frontiers of their enemies. About
1901 a general treaty Of peace was made
between the French and FIVE Nations,
which put an end to these long and con
fiicting wars, in which both parties had
been sufferers. From the commence
ment of the 18th century down to 1850
the French missionaries and agents
we're very successful. That body of
men, the French priests. who, by their
gal. entered upon this field Of labor
with great ardor, at one time doffed the
classical habit and put on the Indian
garb, accompanied the warriors on dis
Iant and hazardous expeditions, and at
another as tonished their savage au-
dience with the splendid and imposing
rites and ceremonies of the Roman
church. They spoke in glowing terms
of the resources and maRnificence of its
grand monarque, as they termed the
king of Frarcs.
They obtained permission for the
French 10 build forts in their territory ;
and in short, when the last French war
broke out in 1854, all the tribes but the
Mohawk went over to the French, and
took up the Ratchet against the English
This was terminated by the complete