Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-05-08
Mr.. Editor

I
since, was one Of several events Of the
war of the Revolution, which was selected
from an old newspaper published in Phila-
delphia more than 70years ago. The ar
ticle seems to havs been well received
with some of the readers Of the AMERICAN.
as have received several letters request
ing me to continue some more reminis-
cences from those old papers, which will
endeavor to do. should it be agreeable TO
you, Mr.. Editor.
Many were the crimes of unparalleled
cruelty committed by British goths and
vandals in their endeavors to rob our an
cestors of liberty. Many Of those bloody
deeds that were perpe,rstei by the savage
allies of the English We're most atrocious
and barbarous, Many of the British Of
tlcers were like CORVALLIS and one of his
sanctioned the savages to murder and scalp
the defcnceless women and children.
The following ex.r1'ct is from one of
those old papers, called the Philadelphia
murder Of Miss Macres in my early days,
but have no recollecti0ns of seeing 1t in
print in any paper but the !Soureair Miss
Maria Macrea was the daughter Of an
American loyalist; she was celebrated for
her beauty and talents. and had the repu-
tation Of her many bewitching charms
which induced an English officer TO seek
and Obtain the proinise Of her hand in
wedlock
| At that time the situation between the
colorics and the Canadas was such that
| it was exceedingly dangerous for him TO
have communication with his betroth
| ed. He was an officer of more than ordi-
| nary rank and had distinguished himself
| in several battles on the continent. He
was wellformed. dignifed and imposing,
| and Maria loved him and pledged herself
that she would we'd him and him only In
| his last interview with her he promised TO
| return In the course Of few weeks and
make good his plghtcd vow before
| heaven.
Soon after he Joined his regiment; they
| were stationed on the Canada line and an
order was issued foFhiddiug any one TO
cross the line into thc colonies under the
| penalty Of death This cnt OF all intercourse
with her he loved perhaps not wisely
| but too wciI-and II vas soon learned that
| Cornwallis had issued orders whereby the
4 g..
| burning the scattered buildings and mur-
derng the unprotected inhabitants. which
the brutal and inhuman CORVALLIS said,
would make the rebels soon beg for
peace and close the war in a very short
time" Many of the British officers were
much opposed 70 this fendish act.
Capt. billiard aware of the danger that
| attended his alliance while she remained
in the colonies secretly offered barrel of
rum to two noted Indian chiefs as re
ward If they would procure Miss Macrea a
safe passage across the wilderness to his
place, or those Indians one was called
kitefoot the other Eaglehead. They were
eager 10 undertake the task, and the inno-
cent and conhding g.rl submitted herself
70 their protection little dreaming Of the
w. t.tc TIA, awaited her 1.titir journey and
she had received from her guides every
mark Of Kindness and II was now drawing
near the end, and In few more hours she
would be safe and all would be well.
They had struck path, and for some
hours as they passed along kitefoot pre-
served dull and snllcn aspect until they
had arrived within a mile OF their destina-
tion, when suddenly he stopped and seizing
EagIehead by the throat exclaimed: Il
have heen thinking which Of Us shall have
the barrel Of rum for the delivery OF the
maiden to Capt. iIilliard; il Eaglehesd has
1t then kitefoot cannot Say, shall cut
your throat or will you cut mine:' There
was a wild and feroclous look in his
weather beaten countenance that display
ell the contending passions that were rag
ing in his mind. Eaglehead was not in
tmidated by his boisterous manner, but
he dreaded the storm Of mortal contest
Eaglehead dashing back the hand of Kite
foot with scorn, coolly aud firmly replied
"kitefoot, did not expect this from
warrior so renowned as you and from one
who has been the boast of his tribe for
examples Of truth and justice The re-
ward viii be paid and divided equally be-
tween us; kitefoot will have no more than
Eagehead and Eaglchead no more than
Kitefoot." II will have none Of It," said
kitefoot, "or will have the whole; Ea-
glehead shall have 1t all or none; here Is
my bosom as bare as it was when first my
mother mantled it with the oak leaves of
the forest lay thine as bare and contend
with me for life and victory" Eaglehead
drew back, not with fear, but with con-
tempt. Fight thee, thou ungrateful one?
! Nay, will not stain my hands with blood
so base as thine; despise such wretch
as thou art will not disgrace my people
| BY fighting one SO infamous. Cover thy
| vile bosom lest thy rapacious and sordid
heart escapes its vile boundary" Kite
foot had worked himself up to such eli
max of rage and madness he would have
assailed Eaglehead, but he burst not, and
grasping his tomahawk, he sang out in a
voice of thunder Neither of US shall re-
ceiye the white mans reward" and in an
instant he turned, and with one fell blow
plunged his tomahawk into the head of
the unsuspecting maiden, and laid her life
less on the spot, and, with horrid laugh,
seemed to glory in his hellish deed, as he
exclaimed: Nor shall the Englishman re-
ceive his treasure."
Glaring his ferocious eyes on Eaglehead,
he said: Now take the reward aud meet
thy foe arm to arm and breast to breast.
Eaglehead no longer capable Of control
ling his indignation, threw aside his vest
ment and sprang upon the murderer; a
fierce struggle ensned, and, for while, it
was uncertain which would triumph, but
at last justice awarded the victory to Ea-
glehead, and kitefoot lay bleeding and dy-
ing at his feet. He struggled moment.
but life was ebbing and the death eagle
was tapping his broad wings over the dy-
ing wretch, and he sunk to rise no more.
Eaglehead could not enjoy his triumph.
His sorrow for the murdered maiden filed
him with grief. He wrapped her body in q
blanket and placed 1t in q place Of securi-