Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-10-25

Mrs. Brimmer'S rocking chair, silver
tea set used in England and other
very precious household articles. As
this May day was warm and sunny
Elizabeth had carried her wheel out
of doors, where she could work In
stheopen air and listen to Johns COM
ing. She intended to make a great
supply of linen for their home and
for herself, for John has asked her
to Gbe his wife.
While Elizabeth sat there spinning,
Mrs. Brimmer in the house was laying
the cloth foretea aud Mr.. eBrimmer
and the boys were at work blowing
in a nearby field, when they discov-
cred Indians approaching. They had
never been molested By the Indians,
but many of their neighbors had re-
Gently been called oupon to take pre-
cautions against them, for they were
Becoming very troublesome and even
dangerous. The Brimmerso had car
ried their guns with them to- the
field, but with little thought of using
thema
As0the Indians moved forward in a
sly and cautious way they feared
trouble, and Mr.. Brimmer started at
once. for the house, telling his sons
to unharness the horses and follow
quickly. Before they could comply
withe their fathers request the I'm
CLANS, four i'm number, were eupon
them. The boys at once grasped
their guns, and just as they were
about to get on the horses and make
a dash forothe 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 unobserved by the In
dams crept toward some bushes,
where he succeeded in hiding. himself
from their view, though he was in
easy range of them. He drew up his
gun to fire and was taking aim at one
of the leaders when unfortunately a
leaf, falling" from the tree above him
lodged upon the sight of his gun, $50
that it was necessary to change his
position. In doing SO he. was discov-
erred. He and oone of the Indians
sthen stepped out and deliberately
fired at leach other but without eff
fect.o The discharges were so stimuli
taneous that he, thinking the Indian
had not fred but would Immediately
do sossdropped. the butt of his gun on
the ground, placed one hand overgtl1e
muzzle and extended the other in
token of surrender.
This pleased the Indians, who were
now upon him with terrific eye1ls of
victory One of them grasped him
by. the collar and passed around him
three times, signifying "You are our
prisoner!" Happily they did not go
near the house. Having secured God
frey's scalp and his clothing, and TAX
ing possession of the horses, they led
John through the river and away. o
b AS the days events by John was
taken from one Indian encampment
to. another, all through the Green
mountains of Vermont, often suffer
ing great hunger and barbaric tor
ture. Torn with grief and sorrow
over the death of his only brother,
and distracted over the thoughts of
the unknown fate of his beloved be-
trothed and his parents, his agony
was intense It was impossible for
him to escape from the Indians, and
after several months he was taken
to ST. Johns, Can, where there was
a very large Indian encampment.
About 800 Indians would form in a
great circle and dance and yell until
the unhappy young man would be
fairly exhausted He knewenot what
they intended to do with him, and had
it not been for the uncertain fate Oh
Elizabeth he would have 1onged fol-
death. They kept him a prisoner at
ST.. Johns for six weeks, then sold
him to. the French, by whom he was
treated as slave. In fact, he was a
slave and obliged to- endure many in.
suits and much suffering, while he
constantly planned for escape.
After a servitude of more thar
five years John secured his freedom
upon the surrender of Quebec to the
English IN 1889. He Immediately sci
out for. home, travelling night an6
| day. So anxious was he to reach Pc
| tersburgh that he was not caution:
enough for his personal safety, an6
/ in the Adirondack woods, near Lake
George, he was again taken pris
oner, this time by the British, who
/ were then in possession of that wild
| prisons
| When Elizabeth Manchester fet
Pinto the house at the sound of gun
she was frightened, but she did no
think Of the awful tragedy and sad
ness awaiting that household. Whel
Mr.. Brimmer came and told them TIL
Indians had arisen they were in de
spair. But the Indians did not at
j tack the house. Mr.. and Mrs. Brim
mer and Elizabeth were safe, but tn
death of Godfrey, where they fount
him in the field with his ghastl,
bloody crown, and the unknown fat
of John proved a death blow to thei
parents, and only few weeks ate
the tragedy Elizabeth stood alone b.
! the bedside of cher dying friends