Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-10-12


for herself. for John has asked her
to be his wife.
While Elizabeth sat there spinning.
Mrs. Drummer I'm the house was laying
the cloth for tea and MIR. Trimmer
and the boys were at work pfowing
In a nearby field. when they discov-
cred Indians approaching. They bad
never been molcsted by the Indians. \
but many of their neighbors had re-
Gently been called upon TO take pre- !
cautions against them, for they were
becoming very troublesome and even
dangerous. The Brimmers had car
ried their guns with them 20 the
field. but with little thought OF using
them.
As the Indians moved forward in n
slv and cautious way they feared
trouble. and Mr.. trimmer started at
| once for the house. telling his sons
so unharness the horses and follow
| quickly. Before they could comply
with their fathers request the In
dams, four in number, were upon
them. The boys at once graspcd
! their guns. and Just as they were
/ about TO get on the horses md make
( dash for the house an Indian fired
and Godfrey fell dead. This was the
firing that had startled Elizabeth.
John. seeing his brother fall. left
his horse and unobscrved 10y the In
dianS crept toward some bushes,
where he succeeded in hiding himself
from their view, though he was in
, easy range Of them. lie drew up his
gun 20 fire and was taking aim ut one
OF the leaders when unfortunately n
leaf falling from the tree above him
lodged upon the sight of his gun. SO
that e was necessary TO change his
position. In doing so he was discov-
cred He and one of the Indians
then stepped out and deliberately
fired at each other. hut without ef-
feet. The discharges were so stimuli
taneous that he. thinking the Indian
had not fred. but would immediately
do SO. dropped the butt of his gun on
the ground. placed one hand over the
muzxlc and extended the other in
token of surrender
This pleased the Indians. who were
, now upon him with terrific ycils OF
victory. One of them graspcd hin
T. 10y the collar and passed around hin
4 three times. signifying you arc on
I prisoner" Happily they did not e
- near the house. Having secured God
frey's scalp and his clothing. and taxi
=, ing possession OF the horses they lee
= John through the river and away.
: As the days went by John wa
4 taken from one Indian encampmen
n 20 another. all through the Gree
r. mountains of Vermont. often suffer
y ing great hunger and barbaric tor
n ture Torn with grief and sorro'
q over the death Of his only brothcl
q and distracted over the thoughts q
" the unknown fate of his beloved h'
ir trothed and his parents. his agon
In was intense. II was impossible +,
p. him 20 escape from the Indians. an
~ after several months he was take
n 60 St. Johns Can. where there Vi
III very large Indian cncampmen
About 300 Indians would form ia
~ great circle and dance and yell uni
81 the unhappy young man would
IS. fairly exhausted. lie knew not VIII
or they intended 90 do with him. and h'
s. II not been Tor the uncertain fate
he Elizabeth he would have longed 4
.ir death They kept him a prisoner
is ST. Johns for six weeks. then So
err him 70 the French. by whom lac "
ca treated as n slave. In fact. he was
no slave and obliged 20 endure many
.ir suits and much suffering. while
nd 1 constantly planned for escape.
ar After a scrvitude of more th
IT'S five years John secured his freed,
pii, upon the surrender of Quebec TO Z
ed English ia 1852. llc Immediately
out for home. travelling night "a
day. So anxious was he 90 reach
'ua tersburgh that he was not cautio
r a enough for his personal safety. a
led in the Adirondack woods, near Ia
Or George. he was again taken pl
tie oncr. this time 10y the British, W
an- were then in possession Of that "
in, territory. and he was thrown il
nus prison.
req When Elizabeth Manchester +
M into the house at the sound of {
'"V she was frightened. hut she did
i"' think OF the awful tragedy and :
hnv ness awaiting that household. WI
rec Mr.. Brimmer came and told them
Indians had arisen they were in
in- spair. But the Indians did not
tack the house. Mr.. and Mrs. Br
mer and Elizabeth were safe. but
p death of Godfrey, where they fol
ne him in the field with his ghai
bloody crown. and the unknown
=, of John proved death blow 20 Il
parents. and only a few weeks a.
the tragedy Elizabeth stood alone
'ui the bedside of her dying frie
'""' The ncighbors who had been spa
~ BY the Indians were few, for IN
had 49,, ,l..,, f.,,sl., -,