Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-11-16
AN INDIAN wAR-wEooP.

III one oA tHe IufSe, piSaSnS Ps~-
turesque valleys of eastern Connec-
ticut nestles the pretty, old-fash-
toned village of Windham. A Gen.
tury ago this was one of the most
important towns in the State east
of the Connecticut River. Here
were located the county jail, the
county courthouse, and other pub
lie institutions, which, with its
prominent public men, raised the
the town to a position of influence
and wide reputation.
= During the last .half-century, or
little over, these institutions, one
by one, have been removed to more
thriving centres; bright and ambi-
tious young men have sought other
and more promising fields of activ-
ity, and the town, once so impor-
tant, has been shorn of its old fame
and power, until it has become sim
ply relic of the "good old times"
"A typical New England village,
the everyday existence of which has
become dreamy and monotonous,
and which lives chiefly in its tradi-
tionary history.
A century-and-a-half ago, Squire
Elderkin and Colonel Dyer were the
two most prominent men of Wind
ham, and were well known through
out the State. Both were lawyers;
both were prominent in public af-
fairs; both were wealthy for the
times in which they lived; both had
large social followings, and both
were intensely jealous of each
other.
Squire Elderkin was tall, lean
bilious-looking man, with heavy,
raven black hair and piercing dark
eyes. He was of aristocratic line
age, and in manner cold, selfish,
and ambitious. He was a learned
lawyer, an able advocate, and
merciless wit. Few could give a
more rapier-like thrust than he-a
thrust that never failed to reach
its mark, and always left ranking
wound and an ugly scar.
Colonel Dyer was different kind
of man in every respect. In per-
son he was short and stout. He
had a merry blue eye, a beaming
countenance, and a good word for
every one. Few could tell better
story or more surely make one
laugh without knowing the reason
why. Genial, happy, sociable. al
ways bubbling over with fun and
good -humor, he never was happier
than when surrounded with COM
pany, and his wide circle of friends
always found him royal entertain
er. AS a result, he became one of
the most popular men in the State.
His magnetic, winning qualities
were more than q match for the
Squire's learning and brilliancy.
Colonel Dyer was prominent, too,
in military as well as political mat
ters. Windham, in those days, was
a frontier town, and the trouble
some red men caused a great deal
of anxiety at times. Whenever the
situation became threatening, Col
onel Dyer was called to lead, and he
always proved willing soldier and
a skillful commander.
Squire Elderkin was very envious
of the Colonels popularity, and
made him the butt of many a keen,
piercing shaft of wit. The Colonel
in time became very sensitive to
these wounds, and, although hatred
was foreign to his nature, he con-
ceived a thorough dislike for the
Squire, and frequently, in defense,
made sharp, stinging retort. The
situation went from bad to worse,
until finally there was many a sharp
encounter between the friends of
the contending parties. The little
town which had hitherto been bless
ed with happiness and contentment,
became a factious, quarrelsome COM
munity.
Where these divisions would have
ended, if an event, destined to make
cold Windham" famous, had not
intervened, no one can tell.
The spring and early summer of
1858 was a season of intense anxiety
for the settlers of New England.
The memorable French-and Indian
War, with its unparalleled atrocities
was at its height. Massacres, in
which whole villages were destroy
ed, were of frequent occurrence.