Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-25
A MONUMENT TO A HERO.

the deaf mutes of the country. On the
same day, but in very different section,
there is to be unveiled another statue, and
one commemorative of the heroism of an
early period of our history. The cere-
monial is to be that of consecrating to
patriotism and history the statue of Major
John Mason, the conqueror of the Pequots.
The figure, which is already in place and
yelled ready for the ceremony, stands
upon the summit of what is known as
Pequot Hill, overlooking the beautiful
valley of the Mystic, just mile from the
prosaic town of Mystic, in Connecticut.
In 1887 the Legislature of Connecticut
appropriated large sum of money to pay
for monuments to the illustrious men of
the State, and on the list stood the name
of Mason. Two hundred and fifty wears
ago he destroyed on Pequot Hill an Indian
fort, into which he had driven the Pc
quots. All who are familiar with the his
tory of the country will recall the romantic
story of Mason's terrific fighting with the
Indians, and how by the aid of Uncas and
two hundred Mohegans and but seventy
white soldiers, he drove the savages from
point to point, and finally into the valley
of the Mystic, where they took refuge on
the hill that has since borne the name of
the tribe. On this hill the Indians
had two forts, and these Mason
assailed. His Indian allies held the
Pequots in such terror that he was COM
PEELED, with but few besides his white
soldiers, to begin the assault. All knew it
was to be death struggle-that the In
dians must be exterminated, or the whites
all perish. The feeling was very bitter,
for these Pequots had massacred the men,
women and children of Wethersfeld, and
1t was Mason's task, under cover Of
authority given by the General Court of
the colony, to follow and punish the
savages to the bitter end in retalia-
ton for their cruelties At daybraak
on the 26th of May, 1857, sword
in hand, he fell upon the first
fort and set fire to the wigwams, the allies
encircling the place and preventing the es-
cape of the Indians. Between 600 and 700
of the savages were thus killed, while Ma
son lost but two men and had twenty
wounded. He then retired to the mouth
of Pequot river, and met his vessels with
reinforcements. Here the Indians from
the second fort attacked him, but he re-
pulsed them, with slight loss to his band
and disaster to the enemy Putting his
wounded on board the vessels, he organized
new force of picked men, and took up
the pursuit of the Pequots, whom he drove
over into New York, where most of them
were killed and the remainder taken
prisoners. These were divided up among
the Muhegans and Narragansetts, and it
was stipulated with them that even the
name of Pequot should become extinct
Under Mason, therefore, a handful of
whites literally exterminated a large tribe
of ferocious Indians, who were the terror
of the whole country and a menace to all
life and property, and with whom it was
impossible to treat. But after the final
battle described a treaty of peace was
made with all the tribes of New England,
that remained unbroken for forty wears.
Mason's achievements made him the great
hero of the northeast, and he was every
where looked up to as the savior of the
country. He was made Major of the
Colonial forces, an Office he held for thirty
years, and which was the highest military
title of the time His salary was but 5000
a year, but on this he lived, and by his in
dustry made such addition to it that he
was enabled to maintain the position of a
gentleman of the time, and to give due at
tention to the military defenses of the
section. He was also Indian Agent, In
dian umpire, and the counselor of the
Government in all Indian affairs, Cap
tain of the fort, Justice of the Peace.
and Court Judge, member of the Con-
nectlcut Legislature and the Board of
Commissioners of the United Colonies,
Major of the militia at home, and the act
ing commander in all expeditions abroad.
In 1860 he was elected Deputy Governor,
an Office which he held for twelve wears.
and during the two years absence of Gov.
Winthrop to England to negotiate with
that Government for the charter, he per-
formed all the duties of the Chief Magis-
trate of the colony. He died on January
30, 1872. His homes lie in the old Post
and eager burial ground Of Norwich 1t
is spot which for more than century
up to 1859, say the local chroniclers, was
rarely visited, and where the last inter
ment, that of an Indian of the Mohegan
tribe, occurred during the early part of
the Revolution. 1t is the resting place
not only Of Mason, but of all the old set
tiers of that ancient city. The Yantic, a
romantic stream, flows by. No tombstones
mark the spots where the graves are, and
the earth has grown level with years. In
the center of the cemetery stands mon
ster oak, say the local press, and near by is
a plain granite shaft engraved with the
names of Mason and his companions in
death, which was erected in 1871 by the
citizens of Norwich. The monument to
be unveiled in his memory at this late day
is of bronze, heroic, and presents the
sturdy figure of the old Indian fighter
upon base of granite 1t overlooks one
of the loveliest bits of scenery on the con-
tinent. Isaac H. Bromley, member OF
the famous Yale Glass of SO, and we'll
known speaker and journalist, will deliver
the Grafton. The Governors of Rhode
Island and Massachusetts, will be present,
as will also many representatives of vari-
Gus historical societies. Governor Bulke-
ley will accept the statue in behalf of thu
State OF Connecticut, and thus will be
commemorated, after the lapse of two and
half centuries, the heroism of John
| Mason.