Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-02-01
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Anxious Night.

land was the little hamlet of Casco
Neck-just 100 years before the first
shot of the revolution.
Naturally the Indians resented the
encroachments of civilization, but the
final incentive to the outbreak known
as king Philips war; is not definite
ly settled. Neither is the reason
known why that chief chose to change
the Indian name to Philip" That
does not matter. Certain it is, how
ever, that after his death atrocities
were committed by his followers for
which he was not responsible.
At that time-1676-the territory
lying between the Piscataqua and the
Kennebec rivers was at the mercy of
hostile Indians. The colonists found
themselves outnumbered, outwitted
and outgeneraled by enemies used to
fighting under cover of the forest
which was their home. In the sum-
mer of that year a farmer called An
thony Bracket, living at Back Cove"
on Casco Neck, lost fine cow. He
suspected that a neighboring band of
Indians had taken it, and reported his
loss to Simon, chief of rather doubt
full reputation, but who professed
friendliness. Simon agreed very
readily to discover the offender and
one morning he presented himself at
the farm in company with several
other Indians. Here are the fellows
who killed your cow" he said. There
upon the band rushed into the house
and seized the firearms and weapons
of every kind. That Mr. Bracket did
not give them up without remcn-
STRANGE one may be sure; but Simon
only answered: $50 it must be-" and
Informed him that they were all his
captives, and that resistance meant
death.
OF course hey chose the lesser evil,
and submitted with what patience was
possible. Mr.. Brackets arms were
securely bound to his side, but his
wife was spared that painful ordeal
because she was obliged to carry her
baby. The negro servant, Jared, was
made a sort Of packhorse for the
plumber which was taken. The chill
dren trotted along beside them It
was a s-i.ry August morning The
sun was hot and the path rough. as
they slowly and YEARLY skirted the
cove.
When they reached the north shore.
they encountered another Indian band
in high glee over the recent capture
OF a house on the Kennebec, we'll
stored with provisions and spirits. AS
they boosted of their booty Simon be-
came impatient to share the prize He
began to regret the encumbrance of
his prisoners, whose progress was
very slow. After consultation with
his friends, therefore, Simon proposed
to his captives that they follow by
themselves, and even offered them a
part OF the spoils If they would also
bring the loads they were now carry
ing. He assured them that escape
was impossible since the forest was
infested with spies to prevent such
an attempt. Mr.. Bracket accepted
the suggestion with eagerness, but his
wife was more wary. She seemed
reluctant to be left without an escort
and hesitated to close with the offer
Simon grew the more urgent and
finally consented to leave them some
1000, and also to allow Jared to re-
main with them. Impatient to be
gone, Simon hastily assented to this
arrangement, and soon the sorry lit
tie family was left alone to pursue
their way at their leisure.
They had not travelled very far
when they came upon an old canoe
or rather the remains o. canoe, for
many OF its seams were gaping, and
there were cruel rents in its sides. At
first sight they hailed it joyfully as
means Of escape, but upon examina-
ton the idea was given up. 1t had
evidently belonged to deserted housa
near by, in which the tired travellers
were glad to rest awhile, and which
had apparently been abandoned in
haste. Traces of the former inmates
were many. A pot still hung upon
the crane over the dead embers. I'm
washed dishes stood upon the dresser
A baby's shoe lay on the floor. Near
a rude cradle was a table on which
a woman's work-basket was over
turned. Mrs. Bracket sighed, as she
righted 1t mechanically, her thoughts
far away. Suddenly she uttered a lit
tie cry. Here was the way of escape,
she nao round a needle and Skein of
thread, and she could mend the old
canoe. True. the needle was rusty and
the thread knotty-perhaps rotten;
but at least there was the chance.
and she could try.
X No time was lost In beginning.
Jared was sent to fetch the boat, with
little Anthony and Seth to help him,
while Mr.. Bracket spliced a broken
paddle which he had found, binding it
securely with thongs of birch bark
freshly stripped from the trees, thus
making 1t quite strong. Meantime
Mrs. Bracket set about repairing the
canoe. 1t was slow work. Over and
under, through and through, with
neither thimble nor wax, her thread
often breaking, she sewed and sewed
till her fingers were sore, and thread