The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-19

to think that he should have been so
odd writer and so atrocious
speller when his people were among
the leaders In that ancient settlement,
we'll to do, well educated and cultured.
But II he did not learn to read and
write we'll in old Salem town he GER
tainly did learn how to be healthy
and strong. He was massive, power
full man, with a great chest, big arms,
strong hands. great nead, and de-
lighted in feats OF strength Just at
ter he reached his majority he emil
grated to Pomfret Conn, ard ii 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
experience He went out as a lieu
tenant in Connecticut company and
served at srst as ranger under those
stupid commanders, Lord Loudon and
General Abercrombie. Putnam fought
the Indians. fought the French. did a
little scalping now and then. just as
did the enemy. was caught in ambush
several times and had some marvellous
escapes from death, but 1t was not
until he had been in the service three
years that he passed through one of
the most remarkable adventures that
man ever has undergone and lived to
narrate.
In a fight near Lake George, Putnam
was attacked by an Indian chief. As
the Indian rushed upon him with TOM
ahawk upltfted Putnam leveled his
gun and pulled the trigger, but it
missed fire. The next instant the In
dian was upon him and bore him to
the earth. With the assistance of sew
T,5 o,,t,,
to tree, so that during the remain
der Of the battle. that swept to and
fro as one side or the other gained
ascendency, the tree to which Putnam
was tied was near the centre of the
hostilities. Half Hiozen times Put
mans friends got within ten or TWEEN
ty feet Of him, but they were always
borne back by the tide Of battle. IN
one of the stages of the fight the Eng
lish were driven far back and French
officer approached the tree where Put
nam was bound and tainted him with
the defeat of his party and amused
himself by throwing his tomahawk at
the helpless prisoner. seeing how close
he could come without hitting him,
and testing his nerve. Putnam begged
Nthe Frencilnlan to kill him II he In
tended to do so and put him out of his
misery, but the Frenchman replied by
striking the captive terrific blow on
the jaw with the butt of his musket,
Then he left him. Putnams jaw was
broken A little later an Indian came
along and amused himself by throw
ing his knife at the victim. Then an.
other 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, He had
nothing to eat for a long time. His
captors stripped him of his moccasins
| and he marched with bleeding feet all
that night.
They continued their retreat until
they were we'll away from the scene
Of battle. The next day the chief who
had captured Putnam appeared. and
Putnam asked that If death were tV
be his portion, that he might be killed
at once. and thus be spared needless
torture. Tho chief relieved the half
dead man OF his burdens, promised
him better treatment and acted toward
him in the most humane manner. After
he had departed. however, some of the
other sayagea determined to burn the
\ prisoner. They. tied him to-, trsA