Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-06-14
Betrayal OF the Mohawks.

Tobique and Micmac Indians is held
during the week following the new
moon of April, at which time the
braves, squaws and papooses of both
tribes, together with invited guests
from the Abenaki aud Passamaauod-
dy tribes assemble on the Tobique
reservation and celebrate the ami
versary of the day when more than
1000 dead bodies of Mohawk war
riors came to the surface of the st.
John River, below Grand Falls.
thereby furnishing scalps enough to
keep both tribes in powder and rum
for two years. History and Indian
tradition both agree that the Mo-
hawks were the dominant tribe in
eastern North America for more than
200 years. The early part of the
eighteenth century was marked by
frequent wars between the Mohawks
and the tribes of the east. The great
tribe from New York state had over
run Massachusetts, Vermont and
New Hampshire. 1t had raided the
Iroquois of Canada and exterminated
the Norridgwocks of central Maine,
but when it encountered the tribes
along the st. John river the issue
was doubtful one.
The last great invasion was under
taken in September, 174S, when more
than 5000 warriors embarked in ca
noes for the purpose of sweeping the
last hostile Indian from New Bruins
wick and Nova Scotia. When near
the head of Lake Champlain the Iro
quois ambushed the invaders aud
killed more than 800, including the
son of the chief. From here thev
made easy journeys to the head wa
ters of the st. John, reaching the
junction of Aroostook river aboat
November 1st. The st. John was
swollen by heavy autumn rains, COM
pelling the party to use great care.
When thirty miles south of Fort Kent
a party of six Micmacs, three braves
and three squaws, was overtaken.
The men were scalped and the wo-
men pressed into service as guides
down the river.
For two days and two nights the
invading army drifted down the riv-
er without seeing a person on the
shores. On the third night the river
drew into a narrow channel and be-
gan to rush and roar. The Mohaw Ks
asked their Micmac guides the cause.
and the .squaws replied that there
was no occasion for fear, as it was an
old habit of the st. John river to
roar and rush at that place. Ten
minutes later the squaws had Jump.
ed overheard and were swimming fol-
the shore under the storm of arrows
The pursuing Indians were so anx.
ious to catch the prisoners that they
did not notice the rushing storm and
did not hear the roar of the water.
below. Shooting around bend OF
the river at great risk of upsetting
they came to the brink of Grand
Falls, over which nearly ali the Ca
noes were swept. The next morning
when the survivors were mustered
there were less than 400 braves. A:
there were too few to think of battle
the Mohawks turned back, losing hall
OF their number on their way home.
The women made their way to To
bique village, bringing the glad It'd
ings that the Mohawks had perished
in the river. The tribe held a pow
WOW and war dance for a week. The
next spring, when the bodies of the
dead Mohawkes fioated, the Micmac.
and the Tobiques took more thar
1000 scalps, which they sold to tn,
English garrison at Louisburg at ter
shillings each, taking their pay il
gunpOwder and New England rum
On their return TO Tobique tn.
chiefs recognized the services of tn,
three squaws and issued deere,
that no woman in the two tribe.
should ever do any more work. A,
the men never did any work and a.
the women ceased from labor in ] 749
both tribes have fallen into decay, SC
that the population today is less thar
500.-New York Sun.
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