The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-30
HISTORICAL PICTURE OF A
GREAT AND GOOD MAN.

During my recent visit to Rhode
Island l saw a new crayOn drawing,
seven by nine feet, representing the
great Roger Williams at the council Of
the NarraGansett and PequOt Indians
in the year 1887, at the moment when
the final result of the council was to
settle thc decision of the paramount
chief of the Naragansetts. The two
prominent figures IN the picture are
Roger Williams and Miantanoma, the
chief. The drawing is the work of Mr.
Calvin Thurber of Westerly, who soon
intends presenting it in an enlarged
form as an oil painting. AS a work OF
art I believe it reflects great credit on
the artist.
1t is generally known that Roger
Williams was one of the most distln-
gushed of that body Of men who laid
deep and broad the foundations of the
constitution of the United States of
America. 1t is also extensively known
that he was one of the most doughty
champions of religious liberty in that
age of intellectual giants and Christian
chivalry. Moreover, there are millions
who are pleased to embalm the memory
| of Roger Williams because he was the
| father and founder of the Baptist
| church in this land of the Stars and
| Stripes, but there are comparatively
| few who are cogniZant of the fact that
he was the direct human cause of pre-
| venting the entire English colonies OF
| New England from being completely
exterminated in those early days. Ir
the year 1857 a spirit of disaffectior
was generated among the Indians along
| the coast of New England, and q
scheme for wiping out the hated anC
dreaded English settlers had been ma
| tured by the PeQuots. The scheme was
| for a simultaneous rising on a giveI
| day by the Naragansetts, the Pequot'
| and some half-dOzen smaller tributary
| tribes, and to strike one united blow
and thus instantaneously clear thei
| land of the new settlers. 1t is sale
that those tribes could put into tn,
field no less than ten thousand war
riors. The most warlike of these tribes
was the Pequots, with whom the plal
of determination originated, but TIL
most powerful were the Narragan
setts. Before such a scheme, involv
ing such a horrible massacre, could b.
carried into effect 1t would be neces
sary to have the consent, If not tn
cooperation of the most powerful
tribe. For the purpose of debating thi
question and with the hope of gettin
the acquiesCence and cO-opEatiOn o
the Narragansetts a special council wa
| called. Roger Williams heard of tn
intentions of the Pequots and the oh
ject of the meeting of the chiefs an
some Of the leading Indian warrior:
| and he forced himself into the COun
ell, and there reasoned with those fierc
men for three days and three night!
bending all his energies to dissuad
them from their diabolical intention
to massacre the white cOlonists. S
incensed were some of the blood thirst
| PequOts on account of the presence an
influence of Roger Williams that the
; urged MiantanOma to take away hi
life. At the close of a debate, whic
had been extended through seventy
! two long hours, the fate of the Enc
lish colonists hung on the decision {
Miantanoma, and to the chagrin an
bitter disappointment of the Pequot
the decision was TO spare the lives {
the whites and to allow them TO prose
cute their several avOcations i'm peaC
and without molestatiOn. Now, III
moment represented in the picture
that I'm which the mighty chief mad
known his decision. The drawing itse
is very good and the historical fact rel
resented therein is of thrilling intel
est, This picture was ON view in II
public library of Westerly, and prove
/ no small attraction to the many ol
jects of interest i'm that well kept an
well stocked institution.
, The town of Westerly with its SUI