The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-10-15

IN MS ADDRESS, MT. f1erce SAID IN part
This is historic ground. II is the scene
of one OF the most tragic and most heroic
events in early New England history.
Here IN 1876. Just a hundred years before
the Declaration OF American Independ-
ence. with a vslor az distinguished as
that OF the Greek heroes at old Thermo>
pyiae. although unvictorious. our an
cestors. undaunted. fronted inevitable de-
feat and certain death in hand TO hand
conflict with an outnumbering savage
foe. Here they died upon the Bed OF
Honor
Here we. their descendants, come, rs
years after the day of blood and battle
on which they painfully laid down their
lives for their countrymen and for pos
terity. to celebrate their brave sacrifice.
> 20 erect here a memorial OF their heroic
devotion.
The day OF Pierces light was Sunday.
March 26th. 1876 II was In the midst of
Philips war. That war, the bloody and
decisive struggle between the English
colonists and the Indians, had been
raging for nearly q year. The Nara
gansetts. that proud and powerful tribe
with whom Roger Williams and the
Rhode Island and Providence colonists
friendship. had at last been drawn into
hostilities towards the colonists. In De-
cember. 1915. the Narragansetts had been
attacked In their strong fort In South
Kingstown, defeated, slaughtsd by hun.
dreds, and their power forever broken
With the courage OF despair. the sun
formidable remnant OF the Narragansett
warriors took the war path early In the
spring Of 1876. under their brave chief
who knew not fear. Nanunteeno. better
known as Canonchett, son OF the famous
Miantonomi.
PURSUED THE INDIANS
The duty OF leading In the pursuit md
attack OF the Narragansetts was assigned
10 Captain Michael Pierce OF scituate,
that beautiful town on the Massachusetts
bay northward from Plymouth
Acting under orders from the Plymouth
colony. Captain Pierce with company
comprising about 80 Englishmen and 20
friendly Cape Indians. started In pursuit
of the maraudlng Narragansetts. The
Plymouth band proceeded without en-
counter with the foe as far as the re
hoboth settlement which was on the ex'
treme western boundary OF the Plytnoush
colony, separated from the froViu@hce
colony by the Seekonk
The men OF Rehoboth were living In
constant expectation OF attack from the
hostile Indians. and the arrival OF Cap
tain Pierce's company must nave peen
most welcome.
Making his temporary headquarters AT
rshoboth Caotain Pierce on Saturday,the
25th OF March. sailed forth with
small party of his men in search OF the
bostiles Discovering the Narragansetts
in considerable force the colonials at
tackled and without loss to themselves
inflicted considerable losses upon the
enemy. Captain Pierce on this day does
In nrnGenCf. Kew.
Noah Newman OF Rehoboth In letter
written the next day, says that capt.
Pierce upon discovering the enemy.
Fought him, without damage TO himself'
and Judged that he had considerably
damniied them goes on to say:
NO HELP COME.
The, Plymouth captain, however. did not
omit 10 summon all the force upon which
ne could call Before leaving Rehoboth 20
march 10 the attack, he despatched
messeaer TO Capt Andrew Edmunds, OF
Providence. With a letter asking Ed
Ynunds 10 meet him at a spot above Paw
tucket on the river. and assist him IN
the enterprise. The messenger reached
Providence on sunday morning but eith'
or there was delay In the delivery of the
letter or the Providence men were not
willing TO leave Providencs undefended.
AT any rate no reinforcement from
Providence reached the Plymouth cello
nies.
An experienced Indian hghter like Cap
tain Church would doubtless have sent
his spies upon the hills on the east bank
before entering the ravine,
MASSACRE BEGUN
AT any rate. Captain Pierce led his
eompany into the ravine and approached
the river probably following the advance
marty Of his men which had crossed IN
safety. Suddenly the silence was rent
with savage cries. and springing from
their concealment on the encompassins
hills. the Narragansetts directed their
deadly and painfully wounding arrows
upon the colonials who were thus entrap-
ped Canonchet with ell his warriors was
upon them.
instantly the colonial captain realized
that his only chance lay In getting out OF
the defle by crossing the river on tne
west bank there was an open, OF AT
least not heavily wooded. plain In wnicn
his men would be out OF arrow shot from
the hills and whore they could at least
make n better defence than was possible
in the ravine.
while the enemy was swarnlng down
the ravine and across the river In not
pursuit. n hand OF az least 200 Narragan-
.etts rushed upon the colonials from their
roncealment on the west side, 80 that the
colonlais were now completely surrounded
Capt. Pierce now threw his men into
circle placing his men IN ranks. back TO
back. and facing the foe they thus fought
20 the death.
No banners waved. no martial music
stimulated their srdor no sounds ex-
rept the rsvereerstions OF muskstry and
the terrifying wells OF the infuristed war
sors who encompsssed them about The
rolonials were indeed better supplied with
Arsarms than the enemv. but they we're
~ N. ancient slow nrins sort While the
sr-ops ~ The foe we're directed against
fharn frnn nahind frses and rnrkt Win