Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-18

| was his birthplace. II is strange 10
think that he should have been so odd
a writer and so atrocious a speller
when his people were among the lead
ers i'm that ancient settlement, well TO
| do, well educated and cultured But
II he did not learn to read and write
we'll In old Salem town he certainly
did learn how TO be healthy and strong.
He was n massive, powerful man, with
q great head, and delighted in feats
Of strength. Just after he reached his
majority he emigrated 10 Pomfret.
Conn. and It was there that he
achieved distinction by a wolf hunt
that has become one OF the classic
stories OF New England
In the French and Indian wars that
began In 1855 and lasted for seven years
Putnam got his first military exper-
ience. He went out as Lieutenant in
a Connecticut company and served al
first as a ranger under those intrepid
commanders Lord Londoun and Gen.
Abercrombie. Putnam fought the Ind
lans. fought the French did a little
scalpiug now ana then just as did the
enemy, was caught in ambush several
times and had some marvellous escapes
from death, but II was not until he had
been in the service three years that
he passed through one Of the most
remarkable adventures that a man
ever has undergone and lived 10 mar
rate.
In a fight near Lake George. Putnam
was attacked by an Indian chief. As
the Indian rushed upon him with tom
ahawk uplfted, Putnam lcVeled his
gun and pulled the trigger. but IL
missed fire. The next instant the
Indian was upon him and bore him to
the earth. with the assistance OF sew
eral other Indians Putnam was bound
to tree, so that during the remainder
Nf hot #s.wsN
as one side or the other gained as
cendencv the tree to which Putnam
was tied was near the center OF the
hostilitics. Hair dozen times Put
mans friends got within 10 or 20 feet
Of him, hut they were ALWAYS borne
back by the tide Of battle. In one Of
the stages Of the fight the English
were driven far back ana French Of
nCcr approached the tree where Put
nam was bound ana tainted him with
the defeat OF his party and amused
himself bv throwing his tomahawk
at the helpless prisoner. seeing how
close ne could come without hitting
him and testing his nerve Putnam
begged the FrcuChman To- kin him N
he intended 10 do so and put him out
Of his misery, bat the Frenchmau re-
piled 10y striking the captive "a terrific
blow on the jaw with the butt Of his
muskct Then ne loft him. Putnam's
Jaw was broken. A little later an
Indian came along and amused him
self by throwing his knife at the VIC
tim. Then another Indian appeared
and wantonly drove "a tomahawk into
Putnam's cheek, soaring him for life
At last when the French and Indians
saw that the fight was going against
them they released Putnam and took
him with them on their retreat They
loaded him with heavy burdens. lie
had nothing 20 eat for long time. His
captors stripped him Of his moccasins
and ne marched with bleeding feet an
that night.
They continued their retreat until
they were well away from the scene
Of battle. The next day the chief who
had captured Putnam appeared. and
Putnam asked that, n death We're To
be his portion, he might be Killed
at once, and thus be spared need
less torture. The chief relieved the
half-dcad man Of his burdens, promls-
ed him better treatment and acted
toward him in the most humane man
ner. After he had departed. however
some OF the other savages determin-
al to burn the prisoner. They tied
him to a tree. brought faRgots and
set them afire A shower came up and
eNtinguished the flames When the
rain had passed the Indians rekin-
died the FIRE. Putnam was not tied so