New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-30

lished for the Author
There are no more romantic episodes IN the
ea~ly period OF American history. "hich was
mil of romance. than those thlchy sca''7''
through the records Of that struggle "Nich HIS
.o-,.ns coll the French and Indian war. 1t was
a frontier war and was waged Win All ''
-,o,,or,,v and ruthlessness that characterize
suco contests everywhere. The perhs 10 which
INC SETTLERS on the outskirts Of New England
uvare exposed made their lives an exciting Su uS-
gle for existence A frequent incident OF 'ne
.ra.r u,rsare was the capture and abduction
OF their women-folk by the lndians' Oh 'i''',
,a s,.a,thilv made from Canada. Carried
cant,vs 10 Canada whence they came not bacK'
4. tho OF repeated entry in the early New-En
,ora rscords What was the fate of such pms
orers and what were the hardships they uhuer-
yent at tho hands Of their savage caplcrS :
History is generally too much ensrossed Win
The large movements Of the time that deter
mined the fate OF the provinces OF North Ai"el
ica 70 follow the qualifications Of these purely
personal experiences. interesting though they are
10 students Of this period OF storm ana stress
II has been done. however; Drake cio II MY
years ago and now comes 6 Anos pai-ei -
supplement- his curious researches. ana III h0'
hordeo,pa volume '"True Stories Of New-Eng-
,ora Csntives" 10 add most interesting foot
note to the history OF early New-Ensiand
She has undertaken to trace the fate OF
number of these unfortunates: 10 nnd where
they were taken and how they We're treated
and 10 exhibit the subsequent course OF 'her
lives It was arduous task, lnVoiNihs
minute research In records Of New England aii0
Canada but It was extremely interesting
one. and the narrative that the author mas re-
constructed from soanty and widely scAl''e'eu
data Is singularly complete in many respeo's'
T, 10 .rne that from time 70 time she has not
he~'-~, % 10 assist history with imagination IN
:, where the former confesses Itself made
ana. but Il Ia only fair 20 say that she never
allows the line Of demarcation between the two
10 become uncertain. Miss Baker modesty or
,ers her present contribution as a sequel TO
brakes but. If II be such II is none the less All
original work. performed not only with pains
,or,g rare hut with keen appreciation OF
the opportunities for picturesque and vivac'ous
narrative of curious interest often tinged with
q deeply romantic color.
7, ,s nsrbsns not necessary 10 be concerned too
deen,v with the ethical questions that are IN
volved IN these savage outbursts; the sins OF our
own forefathers are still being visited on inc
heads of their descendants. The intimate con-
nection is known 10 the superficial reaaer
~ early American history. and Is continually
shown In these excerpts out OF our colonial REQ
ords In view Of the savagery that had such
free play on both sides. II seems remarkable
that the captive women were on the whoie 20
we'll treated In all the instances set rorth III
this book they were taken TO Montreal ana
Quebec II not at first at least oerore many
months They were apparently not matrea'eo
by their Indian captors on the way. Al their
arrival they put IN care OF the religious
sisterhoods there Persistent efforts were mace
invariably 10 convert them to the Roman Cain
Ole faith and. IN the case of the younger slriS'
these seem often 20 have been successful some
times the youthful captives We're reclaimed ana
restored to their New-England homes. Some
times the efforts to restore them were unsuo-
cessful on account OF the efforts - the priests
TO keep their newly made cow u. In other
case, the efforts were nullfed by the wishes
of the oaptives themselves TO remain in their
new surroundings and to continue under the
new religious influences to which they had sub
mittsd.
One OF the most interesting stories. exhibiting
the ast-named outcome Ia that OF Esther
Wheelwrght Captain John Wheelwrisht
one Of the bravest pioneers Of Maine a settler
In the old town Of Wells. The hamlet was at
tackled by the allied French and Indians in 1903.
and his daughter Esther. then years old.
was captured and with Mary Storer. aged eish-
teen and others Of the inhabitants taken
away by the attacking party. There Is no rec
ord Of how they Jared toward Canada Word
came more than once in the next two years Of
the others. but OF Esther Wheewrght
She was discovered after some six years by a
French priest. Father Bigot. living as a mem
Der Of the family Of the Indian who had captured
her. in the wilderness at the headwaters Of the
dropping the forest life too hard for her" He
resolved 10 transplant her to Canada where she
would thrive better under the nurture OF the
nuns. The Indian objects desires to retain the
child Meanwhile the Governor Of Canada,
De vaudf-uil hears Of her through the priest.
and the news finally reaches Boston that Esther
Wheewright. long since given up for dead is
living In 170S word came from Lieutenant
Josiah Littefeld. Of Wells himself prisoner
of In Canada. that he has liberty granted
him to rite 10 my friends and TO the governor
and for my retention and for Wheelrtte's child
to be redeemed by two Indens prisoners
and have been with the Governor this morn
ing and hee have promised that II our governor
Will send them wee shall be redeemed for tho
Governor have sent man TO redeem Wheele
rites child and do look for him In now avery,
day with the child to Moriel where am and
would pray Whilrtte to be very brief in the mat
ter. that we may come home before winter~
The news was welcome. and the spelling and
grammar doubtless escaped criticism IN view ~
the Importance Of the matter demand was
at once made for the release OF Esther Wheel.
wright. The French however did no more than
to take her from the Indians and carry her 70
Quebec. where she was received into the CIV
ernor's own family. No effort was made % -.
store her to her family. and in a shor, Tim.
she was sent to the Ursuline Convent vb,c,
she entered In 17O9. Esther had already vIsdod
TO the religious Influences that Pere Riso, h..
brought to bear upon her in the wilderness GA
was already a professed Catholic She took b.r
irst communion In the school with anp.u,