White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-03-09

s5s:. "
"Mercy! You'd Think That Was
Panther"
voice. "There is no one that likes
peace and goodwill more than l do"
"Why do you want protection?
Afraid of bears?"
"Shucks, no! Injuns! They've raid
ed two places west of here. Stole
lot of horses and all the loot they
could lay their hands on. They're
stirred up by the war. A massacre
would be fun for them. When they
get drunk We don't know what they'll
do. They're expecting the British to
come down from Canada. It's sure
the redcoats were planning to be here
before now"
'"The siege of Quebec has held them
back" said Colin.
81 wouldn't wonder, but the Injuns
don't know it. They've got mighty
grudge and are looking for the British.
rowing band of braves is out in the
big woods. They're liable to fall on
US any night"
The old men went to their homes.
Colin loaded his gun. The woman
lighted two candles and led the way
to his bedroom on the first floor. The
young man carried his gun with him.
His record of the history of that day
ends with the statement that he slept
in his day dress, ready to leap out of
the open window and run to his mare
at the first sign of trouble. 1t was a
young man set out at an early hour
In the morning, when. a number of
children were slylarking in the bar
room.
Ticonderoga was then wild, shape
less tumble of rocks and hills. 1t was
a saying that God must have made
it in the dark. Arriving at the fort,
he found Colonel Brentwood, deliv-
cred his letter from Washington and
received full report for the General
of the work progressing in the noun
tain valleys of Vermont. Colin told
the colonel of the helpless condition of
the little settlement of Skenesborough
and of the fear of it's people.
"They are in DANGER" said the col
onel. "a drunken band of Mohawks
went north few miles to the west a
week ago. They expect the British to
be coming down from Canada. My
scouts are watching them. If they
bool +ou,ord Cl>opochororrb cord
down a squad of men to keep the right
| look onstheir faces. They're7a bad lot.
| They worry me-"
| On his way back to Skenesborough
| Colin met some three hundred soldiers
| coming up from Albany to the fort all
drunk and singing and yelling. With
supplies from the Dutch city they
were having merry march.
He arrived at the little settlement
| long after dark.
Having eaten his supper Colin was
sitting by the fire with the old mill
hands and Mrs. Bowlby when they
| heard the hoofbeats of galloping
horse 1t halted in front of the door.
The woman opened it. A man shouted:
"a band of bad Injuns is comm
down the road. They're not above a
mile away. Hide yer liquor an gtt
ready to fight"
The men jumped to their feet.
"Don't lose your heads" said Mrs
Bowlby. "Most of the liquor is hid in
the haymow."
She hauled two heavy sacks from
behind the bar. Colin seized them and
| toiled toward the barn. The woman
followed him with a basket filled with
bottles. Their burdens were quickly
buried in the hay. They hurried back
to the inn. where Mrs. Bowlby began
to organize well-considered plan Of
defense She ordered the men to
build big fire of dry wood few
feet in front of the door. That done
she blew on her conch she'll. Imme-
dately all the men, women and chill
dren of the place came running toward
the inn. The children were shut in
side of it. A line of men and women
covered it's front and the lane that led
to the stable. thickly hedged with
thorn bushes. They were armed with
pitchforks, pickaxes, scythes. crow
bars, pixies, bows and arrows.
The redoubtable female gave her or
ders: Captain, you stand here with
your gun and pistol. Give me that
sword.
"Now you all keep quiet and let me
do the talking. If tell We To charge,
pitch into 'em. guess we Kan scratch
'em up some before they get our
scalps."
tTo BE CONTINUAL