The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-11-15

supply of linen for their home and
for herself, for John has asked her
to be his wife.
While Elizabeth sat there spinning,
Mrs. Brimmer in the house was laying
the cloth for tea and Mr.. Brimmer
and the boys We're 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 upon to take pre-
cautions against them, for they We're
becoming very troublesome and even
dangerous. The Brimmers had car
ried their guns with them to the
field, but with little thought of using
them.
AS the Indians moved forward in
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
with their fathers request the In
dams, four in number, were upon
them. The boys at once grasped
their guns, and just as they were
about to get on the horses and make
a 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 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, so
that it 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, but without eff
feet. The discharges were so stimuli
taneous that he, thinking the Indian
had not fired, but would Immediately
do so, dropped the butt of his gun on
the ground, placed one hand over the
muzzle and extended the other in
token of surrender.
This pleased the Indians. who were
now upon him with terrific yells 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.
AS the days went 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. 1t was impossible for
him to escape from the Indians, and
after several months he was taken
| to st. Johns, Can, where there was
very large Indian encampment.
| About 300 Indians would form in a
great circle and dance and yell until
the unhappy young man would be
| fairly exhausted. He knew not what
| they intended to do with him, and had
| it not been for the uncertain fate of
| Elizabeth he would have longed for
death. They kept him 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 than
five years John secured his freedom
upon the surrender of Quebec to the
English in 1859. He Immediately set
out for home, travelling night and
day. So anxious was he to reach Pc
tersburgh that he was not cautious
enough for his personal safety, and
in the Adirondack woods, near Lake
George, he was again taken pris-
oner, this time by the British, who
We're then in possession of that wild
territory, and he was thrown into
prison.
When Elizabeth Manchester fled
into the house at the sound of a gun
she was frightened, but she did not
think of the awful tragedy and sad.
ness awaiting that household. When
Mr.. Brimmer came and told them the
Indians had arisen they were in de-
spair. But the Indians did not at
tack the house. Mr.. and Mrs. Brim
mer and Elizabeth were safe, but the
death of Godfrey, where they found
him in the field with his CHASTITY
bloody crown, and the unknown fate
of John proved a death blow to theil
parents, and only a few weeks after
the tragedy Elizabeth stood alone by
the bedside of her dying friends
The neighbors who had been spared
by the Indians were few, for man,
of the settlers had been tortured
but now and then a family escaped