Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-04-05
WHITE MANS WINGS.

Y ' - Il l. -
I.aban Whitaker was boy Of nearly 10
when his father, Deacon Whitaker, moved
up from Salem to the banks of the Merri-
mac at what ia now Concord, N. H. The
new country was fertile, and on broad
plain in bend of the great river pros
porous little hamlet was growing.
The home Of the Whitakers was one of
the ~ garrison houses of Penacook. Dur
ing colonial times houses in new settle
ment were built so as to be easily defended
in case of an attack from savages. Strong
walls of hewn timber, carried up as high
as the roofs, were erected around each
house, and at the corners were sentry box
es where some one Of the family watched
when an Indian raid was apprehended.
Sometimes number of dwellings were in
closed in such fertilization.
Laban was the youngest of a family of
nine. One of his elder brothers was grown
up and married, but the young couple
made their home with his father In SO
large household it usually devolves on
one of the younger members to do the
chores. This part of the labor fell gener-
ally upon Laban.
But he was stout, sturdy boy, quite
willing to perform the duties that fell u
him. These were to go to the mill when
ever the family supply Of frye and In
dian" was exhausted, to cut and carry in
the flrewood, and in summer time to weed
the garden and to herd the COWS.
fay,oaI sno fnr
turage purposes in early Penacook. The
COWS of the settlers ran at large in the
woods ard meadows, and the boys took
turns in guarding them through the day
and driving them up at night. AS two
boys watched at a time, and as there were
about dozen lads In the settlement, it
consequently became Labans turn once u
week to be out with the cows.
It was not hard work, and when It was
not stormy weather Laban rather liked it.
The danger attending 1t was just sufficient
to give certain zest to the employment,
for it was in the time of the French and
Indian war. Two or three years before
this band of Indians had lain in ambush
in the forest and shot down seven Of the
settlers as they were passing from the town
to garrison few miles distant. Sinrs
then, although other settlements had felt
the sco,lrge, Penacook had not been mo-
Tested. Still the settlers were not uncon-
scious of the danger that any day might
sweep down upon them.
Sentries stood on guard day and night.
Every pioneer carried his musket to his
work in the fields, and on Sunday the con-
gregation went armed to man to the lit
tie log meeting house. Even the minister
kept his firelock by his side in the pulpit
as he read from the word of God. Such
was life on the New England frontier $50
years ago.
One bright June day Laban and another
boy named Ezra Kimball went out togeth-
er to watch the cows. Both boys had their
fintlock muskets, and with them went
Rover, a large brindled mastitf that be-
longed to the Kimball lad.
The cows had fed farther than was usu-
al that day, and when the long afternoon
drew to close the boys were mile from
home. They had no thought Of danger,
however, as they drove their lowing charge
through the bosky glades and along the
forest paths toward the little settlement.
The soft, balmy air was full of charm.
The smoke rising from the ohimneys OF
the cabins down in the valley, where the
settlers wives were cooking their late sup
per- gave pleasant touch to the land
scape
A great hush had suddenly come over
the forest. Not birds note was to be
heard. The stiffness, like that of Sab
bath, struck the boys attention, and they
looked at each other with a sudden fear
blanching their tanned faces. Rovers
sharp bark in front treasured them, how
ever, and they hurried on through the
glimmering twilight.
Before them was little dell, through
which brook meandered with low, mu-
steal gurgles. Alders lined the valley, and
the trunk of fallen tree of huge dimen-
sions lay beside the narrow path.
Indians, Indiansl" rose from the white
lips of Ezra Kimball as he sprang back.
ward. He had caught the glimpse of red
legs behind the alder bushes.
Instantly dozen savages rose up from
their hiding place behind the fallen tree
trunk and the copse of alders. Before La
ban could spring out of the way or In any
way shrink from the encounter he was
seized.
A stalwart brave leaped after Ezra, who
had taken to his heels through the brush
wood. The pioneer boy heard his red fot
lust behind him. How should he escape
his clutches? He had but moment tc
think, but it was long enough to save him
He allowed himself to fall suddenly ar
inert body across the wild wood path. Il
was done so quickly that the Indian could
not turn or evade the stumbling block ir
his way. He pitched headlong over it and
fell PROSTATE upon the earth. With sharp
fierce yelp Rover rushed upon the fallen
savage, throttling and tearing him in q
terrible manner.
In the excitement Ezra sprang to his
feet and dashed off.
run to the fort and arouse the set
tlersl" shouted Laban after him.
But Ezra did not need the incentive. A
few shots were fired after him, but he es
capped without scratch to alarm the set
Element.
Not SO fortunate was Laban. He wal
led away through the wilderness. Hi
captors Travelled all that night, never halt
ing till they were miles from the little set
element on the Merrimac.
The band of warriors had been detached
from larger war party, and in the morn
ing the two bands united, halted wher'
two streams met and cooked hasty break
fast. They then continued their march
arriving at the end Of weeks time at al
Indian village on the northern extremity
Of Lake Champlain.
There, after time, the young captive
wAs formally adopted into the Indian
tribe, an old chief taking him into his owl
wigS~ As u son.
Those were dark days for Laban Whita