The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15

might make plans. General Arnold
surprised one of these meetings and
took prisoners all of the men whom he
found there. Among the rest was a
good for nothing named Hon YoSt AS
one of the prisoners he was tried and
condemned TO death as a spy. His old
mother and his brother Nicholas came
to General Arnold to beg for his life
and General Arnold finally consented to
spare him upon one condition This
was that he should go to the British
camp and create such an alarm there
that Colonel St Leger would be forced
to raise the siege Hon Yost promised
10 do this and his brother consented
to place himself in the hands of Gen
ersl Arnold as a hostage and to die
if Hon Yost failed TO carry out his
promise.
Hon Yost had the soldiers shoot at
his coat until there were several holes
in it, Then he set out for the British
camp. He was usually looked upon as
weak minded and the Indians were
rather afraid of him. as they are of all
persons whose minds are peculiar. be-
cause they believe such persons can talk
with the Great Spirit. on his way to
the camp Hon YOst met an Indian and
told him what TO do. Then he went on
and first visited the part of the camp
where the Indians We're He let them
know that General Arnold was coming
with more soldiers at his back than
there were leaves on the trees
This greatly alarmed the Indians. who
were already discouraged. and they be-
gan to think that they could hear the
approaching troops. While they were
talking about it the Indian who had
been instructed by Hon YOst arrived
from another direction and told the
same story that Hon Yost had told. This
Indian on his way had told several
other Indians. who reached the camp
one after another all telling OF the
American army which was close at
hand and might arrive at any minute
The savages were by this time IN a
panic They began TO get ready for i'm
mediate flight Colonel ST. Leger heard
of what was going on and sent for Hon
Yost, who told him what he had al
ready told the Indians showing the bull
let holes in his coat and explaining that
they had been made by shots fred at
him by the Americans while he was
running away.
1t was impossible to keep the Indians
longer. They were already starting on
their way back to Canada. and their
alarm spread to the British soldiers.
There was nothing for il but to retreat.
and on they all went.
Colonel Gansevoort and the garrison
in the fort were astonished the next
IHOl HIH6 HOl ~ see any signs OF lie In
the camp of the enemy. At first they
suspected that the enemy was PLAYING
trick upon them to get them out OF
the fort and then fall upon them.
Lightfoot, however. went out to learn
the truth. and he soon brought back
the news that the English and the In
dams really had gone. And, in fact.
they went in such a hurry that thsy left
behind them great part OF their can
non, stores and ammunition. which the
Americans were glad enough to get
And in this way. after the fierce hat
tie OF Oriskany where so many were
killed on both sides, the siege OF Fort
Schuyler was ended without another
shot or another blow. The valley Of me
Mohawk was saved, for Colonel ST
Leger never came back.