Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-02-11
Appreeiatlve Words by jamaica Pastor
Sterling Character Of Early Settlers
Tragedy Of Salmon Pond.

and the bear, the panther the deer and
the turkey seek their homes farther back
in the mountains. The toll Of the hunter
however. is still well rewarded, and 1t
is rarely that he returns empty handed
after a tramp through the forests. And
should one prefer the fishing rod to the
rifle he may still. during the fishing
season, find enough Of the spunky little
trout to load his table upon his return
and make the eyes of wife, children and
guests sparkle with pleasure. one need
not wonder, indeed. that so many from
New York, Boston and Philadelphia,
seeking recreation. delightful scenery and
health giving air, spend their summer
vacations in the towns and villages of
the Green mountains.
Cheerfully the enterprising white men
and women who first dared to plant
homes in the forests of Vermont endured
the loneliness privations and hardships
Of their lot before, by industry and toll,
they began to make the wilderness bios
som as the rose. Should a company OF
them now pass down the streets OF
Brattleboro or Rutland dressed in goods
Of their own manufacture, the women in
gowns made without patterns, the men
in homespun shirts and trousers and
shoes Of untanned leather and In sum
mer, the boys and girls barefooted the
citizens would look in wonder and say.
one to the other: can these be- our
forebearsr" Yes, gentle lady, Yes, we'll
groomed beau! Such were your fore
bears. and as YOU have manhood and
womanhood you will be proud OF it, BY
their courage. their fortitude their in
tellgence, their perseverance, they built
up, in face IF grave and trying diff
culties. a state that has shared in all
the trials and perils Of our great republic
and. side by side with the greatest states
Of our country, has ever bravely held
it, own and has gallantly set an example
Of loyalty. Of patriotism and Of self
sacrifice for right and for country.
Encouraged by the wonderful fertility
of the soil found along the streams and
valleys, and even up the sides OF the
mountains which were generally covered
by valuable forests they cleared their
farms. built their log houses and barns.
and felt as independent as any proud
lairds in the land they had left behind
them In those mountain forests. where
they had no one to rely upon but God.
they grew in self-reiance, the sagaCity
Of the Indian and in a courage that
feared not man nor wild beast. 50 were
the Green Mountain Boys developed into
a sterling manhood. and from their ranks
sprang great leaders like Ethan Allen
and Seth Warner When the governor
of New York, by the authority OF some
royal charter. attempted to rob them of
their farms he found that he had caught
Tartars And after his sherlffs got a
taste OF the "twgs OF the wilderness"
laid briskly on their naked backs, they
hurried to return across the border loud
~ promising to follow the eviction bust
ness no more in the New Hampshire
grants amongst the Green mountains
When the storms OF the Revolution
burst upon the country they FASTENED 10
enroll on the side OF liberty. and at
Ticonderoga and Bennington. the names
of Allen, Stark and the Green Mountain
Boys were immortalized. Not only in
that first great struggle for freedom
were they with the foremost. but today
you may meet everywhere in the towns
and villages old veterans who followed
Grant, sherman and Sheridan through
the terrific struggle of the war for the
Union. When you meet them take on
your hats 10 them.
In my intercourse with the people /
have listened to many romantic and ira
gical stories, handed down by the early
settlers to their descendants In the
vicinity Of the beautiful village OF jam
aica the West river flows peacefully
along to join the Connecticut river far
ther down. Passing the railroad station
at Jamaica and making the railroad
track. which runs along the bank of the
river | was presently in the midst Of
mountains which press down close to the
river on both sides. The grandeur and
loneliness of the scene as the track
pressed its way through the gorges, i'm
pressed me greatly.
Balls Blum. where deer sometimes herd
in winter and where they find shelter
and tender sprouts and mountain grass.
which they secure by paving up the
snow, to feed upon | passed at its base
On my return | went into the station
and had a friendly chat with the intel
ligent and genial agent, Mr.. Boyden.
Perhaps you noticed" said ne, that
where the river turns to the left il is
made deeper by the water turned from
its straight course suddenly. That place
is called Swimming Pond. but In olden
times, when fish frequented the river. It
was called Salmon Pond 1t was right
there that a tragedy occurred After the
erection of Fort Drummer a company OF
men was sent out to drive back a troop
of Indians from Canada The company
divided into two parties. The party
under command of Captain Melvin after
time came upon a strong force of
Indians and fired upon them, Quickly
the wild whoop of the savages rang
through the woods and reenforcements
from all directions came rushing to their
aid Seeing that they would surely be
overwhelmed the white men retreated
and crossed the mountains to West river.
Upon reaching Salmon Pond they thought
themselves secure. and carelessly setting
their rifles aside they prepared to fish
flight over the mountains and through
the wilderness. Plenty of fish were
caught and the poor fellows prepared to
enjoy feast when suddenly they were
startled by the report of many rifles
Captain Melvin, to get a better view Of
his surroundings. had in the meantime
retired to a little knoll. and now upon
looking around he saw six of his men
fall dead and others stagger about
wounded, Quickly raising his voice he
shouted, Make for Fort Drummer. Every
man fly to Fort Dummer The crafty
Indians lay in ambush and no foe could
be seen. Obeying their Captains order
the poor fellows fed down the river
leaving six of their number dead behind
them The enemy pursued them no
farther, and, bringing their wounded
with them, they reached Fort Dummer
in safety"
When the white men retreated at
Crown Point the Indians marked the
route they took, and seeing they were
making for West river, and knowing the
country better than they they took them
selves more direct way and upon reach
Ing Salmon Pond lay in ambush and
watched them fishing and cooking their
dinner, but before they could partake
| fired the death dealing rifles, as above
related.
DANIEL STEPHENSON MULHERN.
man fools himself when he imagines