The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-20
For the Times.


The historic facts as to the escape and adj
ventures OF tins family during the war If 1859
1891, commonly known as King William 5
war" are given accurately and fully and with
some facts only lately disclosed IN liowison 3
Students History OF the nlted states.
which has Just been published. The error re-
peated IN several histories Is corrected here.
No shot was fired by AIr. Dustin. Had he
emptied his rite single time his fleeing
children would have been Oyertaken and muir
dered 10y the savages He did better. On
pages 24J-2J0 the narrative will be found as
follows
One Of the episodes of these Indian attacks
deserves special notice. because 1t teaches TO
what resolution and courage the human soul
was trained by these dangers. In March, 1897,
a prOwling band OF sayages approached the
home of Mr. Dustin near Hayerhill. thirty
two miles north Of Boston. His wife Hannah
Dustin. had an infant seven days old. Warn
ell IN time the husband and father rode hastily
to the house and finding 1t impossible TO re-
move the wife and babe started the other
children. seven in number. before him. He
intended % save at least one by the iieetness
of his horse. But his heart could not make a
selection The savages pressed on behind.
but cautiously as Is their habit. Keeping be-
tween them and his fleeing children no turned
in his saddle from time 70 time and brought
his rifle 10 deadly aim. The Indians feared
The father had the JOY of seeing his seven
children IN "A place or safety.
But, meantime. the sayages set fire 20 his
house and carried of Hannah Dustin, with her
infant. nor nurse and q boy from Worcester
named Samuel leOnardsOn Hardly had they
entered the forest before an Indian snatched
the babe from the mother and dashed its
brains out against tree. But the remaining
captiyes bore up with wonderful resolution
on their weary march. They were led u en
island IN the MerrImac Just above Concord.
They were informed that in April they would
be conducted O. an Indian settlement still
further in the wilderness whe,e they would
have tho torture OF the gauntlet. Ihey
planned an escape The boy Leonardson.
who seems 10 have acquired influence with
his Indian master. asked him Where would
YOU strike with the tOmahawk 20 Kill IN
stantly." The savage instructed him, and he
gave the lesson to the two women.
At midnight the captive rose. Each arm
was neryed by the desperate exigency. There
were twelve sleepers warriors. a squaw
and a child. At one blow each man was
killed The squaw. though stunned and
wounded. was not killed: the child was
spared Hannah Dustin secured the gun.
scalping-knife and tOmahawk OF the murderer
of her child and being determined 10 have
evidence of her deed of daring. sealped the
victims and bore away the scalps. In bark
canoe the three resolute avengers descended
the Merrmac aud safely reached the white
settlements Their escape filed the minds OF
the people with nder and triumph. The
general court OF Massachusetts voted them a
reward in money. and granite monument
erected in the spot in Boscawin.
New Hampshire. commentaries their
deed. The tomahawk used by Hannah Dus-
tin il IN a museum in the State. and the knife
used by her was presented IN 1890 by Charles
Dustin. her greatgreat- grandson, % a mill
tary post of nited states veterans"
References 10 Centennial United States
by G. D. Taylor. 9i-95 Bancroft III. 1888:
Derry. 1915: Barnes. note, 1913; Hayerhill
Gazette, Washington Post, December /, 1880