The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-11-05
The Rescue of
Henri De Blavier

connects the provinces of New Bruins.
wick and Nova Scotia. 1t was built by
the French who made the first settle
ments in this part of Canada.
A regiment, officered by enterpris-
ing young aristocrats, was sent from
France to hold il against all corners
and for nearly a hundred years battle
in some shape or other, ragged almost
necessarily around it's casemated
walls. French and English fought
each other for its possession, while the
Indians took a hand in the conflict
whenever and wherever plunder or re-
venge could be obtained, and tortured,
tomahawked and scalped alike settler
and soldier, French and English.
On a mild day in early spring, about
the year 1859, an Indian runner came
out of the great forest that surround
ed it, waving over his head a small,
square, white packet, which proved to
be a cry for help from the beleaguered
fort at Lanisburg, on the neighboring
island of Cape Breton.
1t was nobly responded to, and in a
few hours the runner was again cross
ing the clearing before the fort, with
of the gallant defenders of Beau Sejour
at his back; but almost before the last
of the column had disappeared into
the forest the Indian warwhoop rang
through its leafy shades.
Scattering shots told that the ubiqui
tous savage was dogging the rescuing
party, and great was the alarm and
anxiety among the scanty force left
behind, for young Henri de Blavier,
the sixteen-year-old son of the COM
mandant, was in the forest, accompan-
led only by Antoine Poirier, the hunt
. er of the fort, and Joel Anderson
New England hunter and trapper,
whose wanderings il search OF peltry
had brought him into the neighborhood
a few days previous.
In return for hospitable entertain
ment, he had made himself exceeding
iy useful, bringing in many a choice
bit of game for the officers mess that
their less skillful hunters were unable
80 capture.
The three had started shortly after
daybreak in search of game, and, as
no Indians had been seen on the 18TH
mus for some time, they might be ne
glecting the usual precautions.
In any case their situation was one
of extreme peril, and Col. de Blavier
Immediately organized rescue party;
but, just as they were leaving, Ander-
son sprang out of the woods, followed
by fight of Indian arrows, and they
waited to hear his report which was
by no means encouraging.
They had struck the trail Of a moose
almost under the walls Of the fort, and
followed 1t together until it crossed
some bear signs" when they separ-
sted, Henri and Antoine keeping on
in pursuit of the moose, while Ander-
son went after the bear.
About noon his experienced eye de-
tected indications that Indians were in
the neighborhood, and he Immediately
attempted to rejoin his companions;
but finding that impossible, he next
directed his energies to returning with
the tidings.
1.-THE woods is just alive with them
painted varmints, Colonel" he contin-
ued. 1T wouldn't do to venture in
them with less than regiment at your
command, and even then it would be
risky. Maybe Antoine and Henri have
found cover and been waiting for night
to come in. 1t would be their only
chance, anyhow; and if they amt here
soon I'll go out and see if / can dis
cover what's become OF them. It's
case where one can do better than fifty,
If he knows what he's about
The obvious good sense of this re-
mark compelled aceuiescence, and
while signal Tas being arranged by
which Anderson could summon help, in |
case OF need, an orderly came in to re-
port that something had been detected |
crawling through the clearing. It !
proved to be Antoine with an arrow |
sticking in his shoulder and almost !
dead from fatigue and loss of blood.
While the surgeon dressed his wound !
he told his story, which proved in
many respects o be 2 repetition of An
derson's. lie, too, had detected In
dian signs very soon after they sep
arated, and Immediately turned about
TO regain the fort; but while proceed
ing as carefully and cautiously as pos
sible they fell into an ambush.
Henri had been spirited from his
side and into the forest almost before
he realized that they were attacked.
He had managed to escape after kill
ing two of his assailants and wounding
a third, and had been lying for hours |
in the underground, within sight of
the fort, waiting for the friendly cover
Of night to get under it's guns.
His successful defense made young |
DE Blavier's position one of the great
est danger The scalp Of so important |
person as the son of the command !
ant would be considered a very fair !
set-o1 against the lives of the two
who rad fallen, and If he were not al !
ready dead every precaution would be !
taken against rescue or escape.
Nothing could be done until his posi-
tion was ascertained, and Anderson
Immediately set off on this dangerous
GRAND.
Clad in garments that even in broad
daylight could scarcely have been dis
tinguished from the underground
through which he must make his way,
he crept through low arched door in
the most inaccessible part OF the fort,