Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-07-01
Saint Maru's Beacon
Defense Of the Sugar House.
CONTINUED from ist Page. j

He rushed down stairs as though
the Seminoles we're after him, and
five minutes afterwards Frank heard
the sound Of saw and axe AID ham
mer below. At the same moment
he saw the flames creeping up from
the pile Of combustibles against the
door. The yells of the Indians
were renewed, but they seemed de-
sirous Of keeping at a proper dis.
lance.
Down stairs, meantime, Tom and
dozen Of the negroes we're busy at
work. There was plenty oflumber
in the sugar-house, and il was
brought forward By willing hands
aud fitted for the use designed.
In less than half an hour there
was a square apartment, dozen
feet across, erected just inside the
door. 1t was something after the
style of what il known in the North
az storm-door, only instead Of be-
ing placed outside it was built in
side Of the entrance. Ii was made
strong and secure, and assembled to
the floor of the second story, from
which there opened into it a wide
trap-door.
There if that isn't a perfect
eel-trap, then | never saw one, de-
clared Tom, as he wiped the perspi-
ration from his face. Perhaps
they won't get out as quick as they
get in. However, it's best to make
our remarks afterwards
lie now commanded a number of
the negroes to take buckets and fill
them with the boiling molasses and
carry them aloft. The trap-door
was then lifted, and men stationed
around it with orders to pour the
sealding syrup below at the word of
command.
Another relay OF buckets was
filled with the stesming fluid,and
carried up ready for use, and then
they waited.
The door had caught fire and was
burning, as they conld tell by the
cracking; but they knew the sava.
ges would not wait for it to burn
entirely down.
As it happened, Tom was not
much too early in prepsring his hot
bath.
Ten minutes after the negroes
had taken their PLACES, Frank whis.
pered
They're going to try the batter
ingram again. should like to
try my sight on one OF the rascals.
A group of dusky figures could
plainly DC seen getting ready to
'harge the sug: ir- house.
Well, lyon have another CD arge.
give it to th,,m,' answered Tom.
IL may serve, as an incentive. but
ION wsste your p owder.'
Ihe dark nrass dashed an against
he door,
Bang beng two riiles rang out
Franks and one of the negro's
and two Indians tosse d mn their
hands and reeled out OF the line.
desperately If not mortallv wounded.
But the rest kept on, and the crash
that followed told that the doors
bad given away.
Howling like demons, the Semi
noles crowded forward through the
entrance. Presently the trap was
full, and while the mass was surg
ing and struggling below, those in
the rear eagerly pressing the van,
Tom, with clenched teeth, gave the
:
Now =
Instantly the hage buckets were
upraised and their boiling contents
dashed down upon the unprotected
savages.
Terrible were the yells that arose.
and before they fully realized the
condition OF things, another boil
ing deluge was poured upon them.
The Indian can buI n at the stake
without q groan, it is said: but no
human being, half-naked could
withstand the agc,ny of such a
douche, which stuck to them. and.
like the shirt Of Nessus, seemed to
penetrate to their very bones.
realizing the impotency of any
defense, toe Seminole warriors
those who were able-rushed ont
from the jam. How many Of
them we're killed. or subsequently,
died from the effect of that fearful
baptism, was never known, but their
loss must have been considerable.
They did not seek a repetition of
their heroic treatment, bnt with
drew before tho morning dawned.
carrying their dead and wounded
with them.
Before Colonel Bulow returned.
the boys had repaired all the injury !
done to the sugar-house, and it was
ready for smother siege.