Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-29
ODE INCIDENTS IN AMERICAS
 HISTORY
ISRAEL PuTNAMs CHARMED LIFE

ISRAEL PUTNAM'S CHARMED LIFE,
 At various times during the Revofu- tonary war Israel Putnam, the brave | Connecticut soldier, underwent such try l ing and extraordinary experiences that | It might almost be considered that he | possessed charmed life. But the mar rowest escape he had from death Was | during the French. and Indian waf ffi I l75S, when he was captured near Fort Anne, New York. which had been built by the British, thethe previous year.
 Putnam was in command of a cor5s of five hundred Rangers, English and Prov incials. about mile from the fort, in August Of the year named. They were attacked by an equal number of French and Indians under the famous par- tisan. Molang. Putnam and his men had been sent to watch the Indians in the neighborhood of Ticonderoga He was accompanied by Major Rogers. When they arrived at South Bay. an | expansion of Lake Champlain near Whitehall. the two leaders separated. | taking with them their respective divi- | sons but being discovered by the watch full Molang, they deemed it exnedient to | reuuite and return immediately to Fort | Edward.
 Their troops were marched in three 1 divisions; the right commanded by Rog- 1 >AS' lHefficil Dy fulnaufy@aAQ the cef- I ter by Captain Dalzel. They halted at evening on the border of Clear River, fork of Wood Greek and Within d fHfie
 Of Fort Anne. Early in the morning while the lines were forming, Major 1 Rogers, regardless of the teachings of the Rangers great virtue. pfscauti6n. amused himself by firing at target with d British officer. Tte sound reached the vigiiant ears of MofanE Snd | his Indian ollins Txibo 4t
 Americans, were then encamped within
 a mile of them. He had Leen searching for the Rangers to intercept them, and
 the firing was a. sure guide. His men
 were posted in ambush along the paths
 which he knew they must take, and as
 the Americans, just at sunrise, emerged
 from 4 dense thie'Set into the. open woods with great fury
 Rogers seemed to ne appalei by the fierce onslaught and fell back. but Put nam and Dalzell sustained their posi-
 ton and returned the fire The con
 hiet became desperate At length Put: nan's fuse missed fife when the mus gle was within a few inches of the l breast of 2 giant savage, who thrust 2 it aside and fell upon the major with F the fierceness of panther. made him a prisoner, bound him firmly to a tree and then returned to the battle Capt Dalzell now assumed command.
 c The Provinciais fell back fitti. a but. rallying. the fight continued Witf \ great vigor. The tree to which Put ' nam was bound was about midway be l. tween the combatants' and he stood ir e the center of the hottest fire of both
 Utterly unable to move body Or limb : so firmly had the sava:e secured him a His garments were riddled by bullets l h11f at I,ie IT,,
 an hour he remained in this terribl,
 position, until the enemy was obligei I, to retreat. when he was unbound ant Il carried of by his savage capters.
 At one time when the Provincial
 fell back. and the Indians were riea l. him, young warrior amused himsel IS by trying his skill in throwing hi
 tomahawk as near Putnann's head a
 possible without hitting him. whe h French subalte1, more savage tina
 the Indian. leveIied his nnusket at Put
 nam's breast, but it missed fire. Tn II, major claimed the consideration due | III a prisoner of war, but the barboreu IS Frenchmen was unineved and aftt
 striking him a violent blow upon hi
 cheek with the butt end of his fnti to ket, left him to die. as he thought. in Wounded, exhausted and dispirite st Putnam was forced to make a wear
 march over a rough country, led on t
 the savases, who had fed cords $ :, tightly around his wrists that h
 hands were swollen and drsadf,iily to ca tired. He begged for feieas4, ei.hI n- from the pain or from fife A Frenc
 officer interposed and unbau1l u
 cords, and just then lis captor can ,'s up supplied him with rnocassine al e. expressed great indignation bscadse ,s the harsh treatment his prisoner h:
 endured
 Deep in the great forest Putnam VI :, stripped naked. and with green with was bound fast to a saplins. The Wo ou vas piled high around him, and t 'xt wild death-sonss of she savag.s sii
 gied with fierce yells vera chan
 The torch was applied, i.nd the crac ew ling flames began to curl around f ne fargots, when a black cloud that for ,ar hour had been rising in the we
 poured down such volume of vat
 that the flames were heafly ext :. gu!shed. But they burst fofth ags Ia in fierce intensity and PutnAm lest lat hope of escape, when a French ofie ar- dSshed through the crowd 6f savaE is scattered the burning wood, ahd c
 the cords of the victim.
 It was Molangs himself; Some relei ng ing savage had told him of the hori os orgies In the forest, and he flew to t s.s rescue of PN.nan, just in time to ga l. him.. After enduring much suffering. ak was delivered te MeAtealtn at Tfco
 derega and By hfM sent te Mentre