Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-18
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! tightly that he could not move some
what. A. the flames darted at him on
| one side ne would strain at his bonds
| and slip away as far as possible. But
| soon the fire on the other side let no
alternative TO choose between and he
| was despairing OF his life, when sud-
| denly n French officer named Marin.
! better known among the Indians az
Molang. came dashIng up. He heard
from an Indian boy of the plan to
burn Putnam and had fastened to
prevent the barbarity. He kicked the
faggots to one side, released Putnam
ANA threatened the Indians with death
II they maltreated him further. But
although Putnam was relieved from
immediate danger OF death he was in
a very serious way. He had been ter
ribly burned and his wounds had left
him SO weak and exhausted that he
could hardly stand. In addition to
that his broken jaw prevented him
from eating. Caughnawaga. the Indian
chief who had captured him, nursed
him back TO health. He soaked big
!, cult so that Putnam could swallow
the food without trouble. Throughout
the remainder OF the long march to
Montreal he was as careful Of his
prisoner as though he had been
babe
For five or six months Putnam was n
captive in Montreal and then was re-
leased and returned 10 his homo I'm
Connecticut But in a few months he
was given a command and once more
was n forest ranger. He had been pro-
NOTED to the rank Of major when
the blunderers Londouu and Aber-
crombie were supplanted by Amherst
the whole phase Of the war was
changed and Putnam came into
good deal OF prominence. He had the
confidence 81 Amherst and was one OF
the most useful men among his leu
tenants. He took part In the capture
Of TiCondcroga and In the invasion OF
Canada by way Of Lake ontario. When
Amherst made his attack on Montreal
Putnam's services were Invaluable.
\ French warship appeared at the
eastern end of Lake ontario and AM
hoTst's forces were in serious Wight.
Putnam proposed 20 Amherst that II
he would give him a few men and
Few wedges no would put the war;
shin out Of com mission. Amherst
laughed AT tho idea, but that night
Putnam and three picked men in
small boat Crept stealthllv under the
stern OF the warship. with the wedges
he so foulod her ruddor that the
next dav the vessel was uumanaEeable.
After that Amherst believed that
anything Putnam proposed was POSI-
bic.
with the close Of the French and In
dian war Putnam was able to give at
tentipn 10 MS fufn tor n year or So
but ~ the first sign Of hostilitics he
was back at the front once more. This
time Il WAS IN an invasion Of cuba.
He was second in command Of the Con-
nccticut force that Joined with the reg
ulars in the siege OF Havana. Tho ship
In which ne sailed was wrecked by a
hurricane on the coast Of Cuba, and ne
and his command drifted about on RATS
for days. narrowly escaping becoming
food FOR sharks. For three days they
were marooned near Cartagena without
food or water. Then the storm subsid-
ed and they were picked up by the
fleet The siege Of Havana cost more
lives through disease than bv bullets,
nearly one-third OF the English force
dying from smallpox or yellow FOYER
before the surrender Of the city There
never was an emptier and poorer vic
tory, Tor Great Britain gave up Cuba
soon after the taking Of Havana.
Putnam returned To Connecticut
poorer than when he departed, but that
did not prevent him from promptly en-
listing for service in the Pontiac war
He spent nearly two years In this. most
of tho time in the neighborhood of De
troit Then followed a period Of peace.
once ne led a party Of adventures to
the Mississippi, going by sloop from
New York TO Cuba, thence to Pensacola