Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-10-28

hunger and barbaTic torture. Torn with
grief and sorrow over the death of his
only brother, and distracted over the
J thoughts Of the unknown fate of his be-
loved betrothed and his parents. his
agony was intense. It was impossible
| for him to escape from the Indians, and
after several months me 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
knew not what they intended to do with
him, and had it not been for the uncer-
tain fate of Elizabeth he would have
longed for death. They kept him pris-
oner at st. Johns for six weeks, then
| sold him to The French. bv whom he was
! treated as slave. In fact. he was a
slave and obliged to endure many insults
and much suffering, while he constantly
! planned for escape.
After q servitude of more than FIVE
years John secured his freedom upon the
surrender Of Quebec to the English in
l159. He Immediately set out for home
was he to reach Petersbureh that he
was not cautious enough for his personal
safety, and in the Adirondack woods,
near Lake George, he was again taken
prisoner, this time by the British, who
were then in possession of that wild ter
ritory. and he was thrown into prison
When Elizabeth Manchester fled into
| the house at the sound of gun she was
frightened, but she did not think of the
awful tragedy and sadness awaiting tina.
household. When Mr. Brimmer came
and told them the Indians had arisen
did not attack the house. Mr.. and Mrs.
Brimmer 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 death blow to their 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 many of the settlers had been
tortured, but now and then family es-
capped, and some kind souls came to
| Elizabeth, but none could comfort her
it seemed as if she had lost all at "a single
blow. For them all she mourned, but
for John the most, and she was indeed
heart broken. The following May found
her all alone at the Brimmer place.
In those early days all settlers who
bought or took up land IN Rensselaer,
county paid rental to the Van Rens-
selaer family. The Van Rensselaer,
manor was situated near Albany. which
was then quite a town ON the Hudson
| river.
The country Latter had settled down in
to q quiet aTfQ aOrQoIlV SCsttc.
had had IT'S great Indian mlaSsacres, and
was ait last in peace. The Indians had
long ago left that part of the country, for
it was NOW four years since J0hM Brln-
mer:s capture.
Am along the Hoosick valley substan-
tial farm houses dotted the rivers banks.
Petersburgh had become quite a village.
Jacob Van Rensselaer,, to whom the
farmers paid their rentals, sometimes
made tour of the country ON horseback,
accompanied by a man servant, to look
after his property, taking as it Were an
inventory of the land.
Mr. Van Rensselaer, was kind and
courteous old gentleman, and after know
ing Eliza beth's sad story he felt very
sorry for her. He would always stop to
see her when he passed through Peters
burgh and one day In summer he brought
his daughter to visit her. The girls Were
| about the same age, and they took to
each other at once. Both had passed
their childhood in England and they had
Rensselaer's life had been gay and
happy, while Elizabeth had known great
sorrow They became very dear friends.
and the following year Mr.. Van Rens-
selaer found another tenant for the farm
and Elizabeth went to live with them in
Albany.
The man who took the farm of Mr..
van Rensselaer, was Dutchman, who
knew nothing of Elizabeth or the Brim-
mers, SO six years after John Brimmer's
capture the tragedy was quite forgotten
in Petersburg and the place was occupied
by strangers.
In the manor house of the Van Rens-
selaers Elizabeth was surrounded by
wealth and luxury. but she was not han
Ply. She still mourned for John Brinl-
mer. and would often sigh when She
would think Of her loss and Of the great
happiness that might have been hers but
for the Indians Miss Van Rensselaer,
was very fond of society and liked to en-
terrain her friends. and although Eliza
beth loved her dearly and was anxious 70
please her she seldom participated in the
social events of the house. One evening
in early spring as she was watching the
sunset, dreaming as she often did of an
other sunset years before when John
had asked her to be his wife, Miss Van
Rensselaer, rushed into the room, saving:
DRESS quickly. Elizabeth and come down
TO dinner. Papa has invited an officer