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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:48:34 -0700 |
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diff --git a/16298-h/16298-h.htm b/16298-h/16298-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e2d1185 --- /dev/null +++ b/16298-h/16298-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12564 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg etext of HISTORICAL TALES by Charles Morris +</title> + <style type="text/css"> + body {margin-left:8%; margin-right:7%;} + p { margin-top: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; } + body > p { text-align: justify; text-indent: 1em; } + h1, h2 , h3, h4 { text-align: center; clear: both; font-weight:normal; } + h2 {letter-spacing:2px;font-style:italic;}/*antique look on chapter heads */ + h2+p { text-indent: 0; } /* No indent after chapter head */ + hr { width:45%; margin: 1.5em auto 1.5em auto; clear:both; } + hr.major { width:75%; } /* NGG eg, above chapter head */ + div.ctr { text-align: center; } + div.ctr table { margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left; } + div.ctr img { margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } + img { border: /* 1px solid black*/ none; padding: 6px; } + img.plain { border: none; padding: 0; } + ul.TOC { list-style-type:none; position:relative; width: 85%; } + .TOC li {margin-top: 0.5em;} + span.ralign { position:absolute; right:0; top:auto;} + .floatl { + float: left; + text-align: center; /* img, caption centered in box */ + border: /*1px solid black; thin border */ none; + margin-right: 4px; /* keep body text away from border */ + padding: 3px; /* keep caption text from touching border */ + } + div.poem { + text-align: left; + margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; + position: relative; /* basis of .linenum positions */ + } + .poem .stanza { margin-top: 1em; } + .poem span { /* default line -- s.b. div but what can we do? */ + display: block; /* each stanza a new line in CSS browsers */ + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em; + } + .poem br { /* br's in CSS browsers? */ display: none; /* invisible! */ } + .poem .i0 {margin-left: 2em;} /* indents */ + .poem .i2 {margin-left: 4em;} /* indents */ + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .caption { margin-top: 0; font-size: smaller; } + ins.correction { + text-decoration:none; /* replace default underline.. */ + border-bottom: thin dotted gray; /* ..with delicate gray line */ + } + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Historic Tales, Vol. 1 (of 15), by Charles Morris + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Historic Tales, Vol. 1 (of 15) + The Romance of Reality + +Author: Charles Morris + +Release Date: July 15, 2005 [EBook #16298] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIC TALES, VOL. 1 (OF 15) *** + + + + +Produced by David Kline, David Cortesi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div style="margin:0 10% 1em 10%;padding:1em 1em 1em 1em; border:thin solid; border-color:#888;"> +<span class="smcap">Transcriber's Note</span>: In this HTML edition, +nine apparent typographical errors have been corrected. The corrected +words are marked with the HTML tag <ins>, +and this tag is styled so that the corrected words have a light underline, +thus: <ins class="correction" title="'comected' in original">corrected</ins>, +and when the cursor hovers over such a word, an explanation pops up. +</div> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a> +<table style="width:100%;border:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> + <tr> + <td style="border:3px solid black;"> +<h3 style="font-size:120%;letter-spacing:2px;"> +Édition d'Élite +</h3> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style="border:3px solid black;"> +<h1 style="font-size:200%;letter-spacing:4px;"> +Historical Tales +</h1> +<h3> +The Romance of Reality +</h3> +<h3 style="margin-top:2em;"> +By +</h3> +<h2 style="letter-spacing:3px;"> +CHARLES MORRIS +</h2> +<p style="text-align:center;font-style:italic;"> +Author of "Half-Hours with the Best American Authors," +"Tales from the Dramatists," etc. +</p> +<h3 style="margin-top:2em;font-size:90%;letter-spacing:3px;"> +IN FIFTEEN VOLUMES +</h3> +<h3 style="font-size:200%;letter-spacing:2px;">Volume I</h3> +<h2 style="font-style:normal;">American<br /> +I +</h2> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style="border:3px solid black;"> +<h2 style="font-style:normal;font-size:90%;letter-spacing:3px;">J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY</h2> +<h3 style="font-size:90%;letter-spacing:3px;">PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON</h3> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style="border:3px solid black;"> +<p style="text-align:center;font-size:75%;"> +Copyright, 1893, by J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.<br /> +Copyright, 1904, by J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.<br /> +Copyright, 1908, by J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.</p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> + +</div> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a> +<a name="image000" id="image000"></a> +<a href="images/image000h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image000.jpg" + alt="WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE" + title="WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE" + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE</p> +</div> + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2 style="font-style:normal;"> +<a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a> +<a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a> +PREFACE. +</h2> + + +<p>It has become a commonplace remark that fact is +often stranger than fiction. It may be said, as a +variant of this, that history is often more romantic +than romance. The pages of the record of man's +doings are frequently illustrated by entertaining +and striking incidents, relief points in the dull monotony +of every-day events, stories fitted to rouse +the reader from languid weariness and stir anew in +his veins the pulse of interest in human life. There +are many such,—dramas on the stage of history, life +scenes that are pictures in action, tales pathetic, +stirring, enlivening, full of the element of the unusual, +of the stuff the novel and the romance are +made of, yet with the advantage of being actual fact. +Incidents of this kind have proved as attractive to +writers as to readers. They have dwelt upon them +lovingly, embellished them with the charms of rhetoric +and occasionally with the inventions of fancy, +until what began as fact has often entered far into +the domains of legend and fiction. It may well be +that some of the narratives in the present work have +gone through this process. If so, it is simply indicative +<a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a> +of the interest they have awakened in generations +of readers and writers. But the bulk of +them are fact, so far as history in general can be +called fact, it having been our design to cull from +the annals of the nations some of their more stirring +and romantic incidents, and present them as a +gallery of pictures that might serve to adorn the +entrance to the temple of history, of which this +work is offered as in some sense an illuminated +ante-chamber. As such, it is hoped that some pilgrims +from the world of readers may find it a +pleasant halting-place on their way into the far-extending +aisles of the great temple beyond.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2 style="font-style:normal;"> +<a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a> +<a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a> +CONTENTS +</h2> + +<ul class="TOC"> +<li><span class="smcap">Vineland and the Vikings</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Frobisher and the Northwest Passage</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Champlain and the Iroquois</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Sir William Phips and the Silver-Ship</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Story of the Regicides</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">How the Charter Was Saved</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">How Franklin Came to Philadelphia</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_90">90</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Perils of the Wilderness</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Some Adventures of Major Putnam</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">A Gallant Defence</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Daniel Boone, the Pioneer of Kentucky</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_138">138</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Paul's Revere's Ride</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Green Mountain Boys</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The British at New York</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_180">180</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">A Quakeress Patriot</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Siege of Fort Schuyler</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">On the Track of a Traitor</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_211">211</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Marion, the Swamp-fox</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_223">223</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Fate of the Philadelphia</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_237">237</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Victim of a Traitor</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_249">249</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">How the Electric Telegraph was Invented</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_259">259</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Monitor and the Merrimac</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_275">275</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Stealing a Locomotive</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_285">285</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">An Escape from Libby Prison</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_298">298</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Sinking of the Albemarle</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_314">314</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Alaska, a Treasure House of Gold, Furs, and Fishes</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_327">327</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">How Hawaii Lost its Queen and Entered the United States</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_338">338</a></span></li> + +</ul> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<h2 style="font-style:normal;"> +<a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a> +<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a> +<a name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"></a> +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.<br /> +<span class="font-size:90%;">AMERICAN. VOLUME I.</span> +</h2> + +<ul class="TOC"> + +<li><span class="smcap">Washington Crossing the Delaware.</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#image000"><i>Frontispiece.</i></a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Viking Ships at Sea.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Lake Champlain and its Surroundings.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image041">41</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Pond Island, Mouth of the Kennebec.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image054">54</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Cave of the Regicides.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image076">76</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Charter Oak, Hartford.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image085">85</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Printing-press at Which Franklin Worked when a Boy.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image090">90</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Washington's Home at Mt. Vernon.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image098">98</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Shore of Lake George.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image118">118</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Indian Attack and Gallant Defence.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image128">128</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Old North Church, Boston.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image158">158</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Spirit of '76.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image166">166</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Ethan Allen's Entrance, Ticonderoga.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image172">172</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Old State House, Philadelphia.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image191">191</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Benedict Arnold Mansion.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image220">220</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Monitor and the Merrimac.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image280">280</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Libby Prison, Richmond.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image298">298</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Sinking of the Albemarle.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image319">319</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Muir Glacier in Alaska.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image328">328</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">A Native Grass Hut, Hawaii.</span> <span class="ralign"><a href="#image340">340</a></span></li> + +</ul> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<h2> +<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a> +<a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a> +<a name="VINELAND_AND_THE_VIKINGS" id="VINELAND_AND_THE_VIKINGS"></a> +VINELAND AND THE VIKINGS. +</h2> + +<p>The year 1000 A.D. was one of strange history. +Its advent threw the people of Europe into a state +of mortal terror. Ten centuries had passed since +the birth of Christ. The world was about to come +to an end. Such was the general belief. How it +was to reach its end,—whether by fire, water, or +some other agent of ruin,—the prophets of disaster +did not say, nor did people trouble themselves to +learn. Destruction was coming upon them, that +was enough to know; how to provide against it +was the one thing to be considered.</p> + +<p>Some hastened to the churches; others to the +taverns. Here prayers went up; there wine went +down. The petitions of the pious were matched by +the ribaldry of the profligate. Some made their +wills; others wasted their wealth in revelry, eager +to get all the pleasure out of life that remained for +them. Many freely gave away their property, +hoping, by ridding themselves of the goods of this +earth, to establish a claim to the goods of Heaven, +with little regard to the fate of those whom they +loaded with their discarded wealth.</p> + +<p>It was an era of ignorance and superstition. +Christendom went insane over an idea. When the +year ended, and the world rolled on, none the worse +for conflagration or deluge, green with the spring +leafage and ripe with the works of man, dismay +<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a> +gave way to hope, mirth took the place of prayer, +man regained their flown wits, and those who had +so recklessly given away their wealth bethought +themselves of taking legal measures for its recovery.</p> + +<p>Such was one of the events that made that year +memorable. There was another of a highly different +character. Instead of a world being lost, a world +was found. The Old World not only remained unharmed, +but a New World was added to it, a world +beyond the seas, for this was the year in which the +foot of the European was first set upon the shores of +the trans-Atlantic continent. It is the story of this +first discovery of America that we have now to tell.</p> + +<p>In the autumn of the year 1000, in a region far +away from fear-haunted Europe, a scene was being +enacted of a very different character from that just +described. Over the waters of unknown seas a +small, strange craft boldly made its way, manned +by a crew of the hardiest and most vigorous men, +driven by a single square sail, whose coarse woollen +texture bellied deeply before the fierce ocean winds, +which seemed at times as if they would drive that +deckless vessel bodily beneath the waves.</p> + +<p>This crew was of men to whom fear was almost +unknown, the stalwart Vikings of the North, whose +oar-and sail-driven barks now set out from the +coasts of Norway and Denmark to ravage the shores +of southern Europe, now turned their prows boldly +to the west in search of unknown lands afar.</p> + +<p>Shall we describe this craft? It was a tiny one +in which to venture upon an untravelled ocean in +<a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a> +search of an unknown continent,—a vessel shaped +somewhat like a strung bow, scarcely fifty feet in +length, low amidships and curving upwards to high +peaks at stem and stern, both of which converged +to sharp edges. It resembled an enormous canoe +rather than aught else to which we can compare it. +On the stem was a carved and gilt dragon, the figurehead +of the ship, which glittered in the bright rays +of the sun. Along the bulwarks of the ship, fore +and aft, hung rows of large painted wooden shields, +which gave an Argus-eyed aspect to the craft. Between +them was a double row of thole-pins for the +great oars, which now lay at rest in the bottom of +the boat, but by which, in calm weather, this +"walker of the seas" could be forced swiftly +through the yielding element.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image011" id="image011"></a> +<a href="images/image011h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image011.jpg" + alt="VIKING SHIPS AT SEA." + title="VIKING SHIPS AT SEA." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">VIKING SHIPS AT SEA.</p> +</div> + +<p>Near the stern, on an elevated platform, stood the +commander, a man of large and powerful frame and +imposing aspect, one whose commands not the +fiercest of his crew would lightly venture to disobey. +A coat of ring-mail encircled his stalwart frame; by +his side, in a richly-embossed scabbard, hung a long +sword, with hilt of gilded bronze; on his head was +a helmet that shone like pure gold, shaped like a +wolf's head, with gaping jaws and threatening teeth. +Land was in sight, an unknown coast, peopled perhaps +by warlike men. The cautious Viking leader +deemed it wise to be prepared for danger, and was +armed for possible combat.</p> + +<p>Below him, on the rowing-benches, sat his hardy +crew, their arms—spears, axes, bows, and +<a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a>slings—beside them, ready for any deed of daring they +might be called upon to perform. Their dress consisted +of trousers of coarse stuff, belted at the waist; +thick woollen shirts, blue, red, or brown in color; +iron helmets, beneath which their long hair streamed +down to their shoulders; and a shoulder belt descending +to the waist and supporting their leather-covered +sword-scabbards. Heavy whiskers and moustaches +added to the fierceness of their stern faces, +and many of them wore as ornament on the forehead +a band of gold.</p> + +<p>They numbered thirty-five in all, this crew who +had set out to brave the terrors and solve the mysteries +of the great Atlantic. Their leader, Leif by +name, was the son of Eirek the Red, the discoverer of +Greenland, and a Viking as fierce as ever breathed the +air of the north land. Outlawed in Norway, where +in hot blood he had killed more men than the law +could condone, Eirek had made his way to Iceland. +Here his fierce temper led him again to murder, and +flight once more became necessary. Manning a +ship, he set sail boldly to the west, and in the year +982 reached a land on which the eye of European +had never before gazed. To this he gave the name +of Greenland, with the hope, perhaps, that this inviting +name would induce others to follow him.</p> + +<p>Such proved to be the case. Eirek returned to +Iceland, told the story of his discovery, and in 985 +set sail again for his new realm with twenty-five +ships and many colonists. Others came afterwards, +among them one Biarni, a bold and enterprising +<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>youth, for whom a great adventure was reserved. +Enveloped in fogs, and driven for days from its +course by northeasterly winds, his vessel was forced +far to the south. When at length the fog cleared +away, the distressed mariners saw land before them, +a low, level, thickly-wooded region, very different +from the ice-covered realm they had been led to +expect.</p> + +<p>"Is this the land of which we are in search?" +asked the sailors.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Biarni; "for I am told that we +may look for very large glaciers in Greenland.</p> + +<p>"At any rate, let us land and rest."</p> + +<p>"Not so; my father has gone with Eirek. I shall +not rest till I see him again."</p> + +<p>And now the winds blew northward, and for seven +days they scudded before a furious gale, passing on +their way a mountainous, ice-covered island, and in +the end, by great good fortune, Biarni's vessel put +into the very port where his father had fixed his +abode.</p> + +<p>Biarni had seen, but had not set foot upon, the +shores of the New World. That was left for bolder +or more enterprising mariners to perform. About +995 he went to Norway, where the story of his +strange voyage caused great excitement among the +adventure-loving people. Above all, it stirred up +the soul of Leif, eldest son of Eirek the Red, then +in Norway, who in his soul resolved to visit and explore +that strange land which Biarni had only seen +from afar.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>Leif returned to Greenland with more than this +idea in his mind. When Eirek left Norway he had +left a heathen land. When Leif visited it he found +it a Christian country. Or at least he found there +a Christian king, Olaf Tryggvason by name, who +desired his guest to embrace the new faith. Leif +consented without hesitation. Heathenism did not +seem very firmly fixed in the minds of those northern +barbarians. He and all his sailors were baptized, +and betook themselves to Greenland with this +new faith as their most precious freight. In this +way Christianity first made its way across the seas. +And thus it further came about that the ship which +we have seen set sail for southern lands.</p> + +<p>This ship was that of Biarni. Leif had bought +it, it may be with the fancy that it would prove fortunate +in retracing its course. Not only Leif, but +his father Eirek, now an old man, was fired with +the hope of new discoveries. The aged Viking had +given Greenland, to the world; it was a natural ambition +to desire to add to his fame as a discoverer. +But on his way to the vessel his horse stumbled. +Superstitious, as all men were in that day, he looked +on this as an evil omen.</p> + +<p>"I shall not go," he said. "It is not my destiny +to discover any other lands than that on which we +now live. I shall follow you no farther, but end +my life in Greenland." And Eirek rode back to his +home.</p> + +<p>Not so the adventurers. They boldly put out to +sea, turned the prow of their craft southward, and +<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a>battled with the waves day after day, their hearts +full of hope, their eyes on the alert for the glint of +distant lands.</p> + +<p>At length land was discovered,—a dreary country, +mountainous, icy; doubtless the inhospitable island +which Biarni had described. They landed, but only +to find themselves on a shore covered with bare, +flat rocks, while before them loomed snow-covered +heights.</p> + +<p>"This is not the land we seek," said Leif; "but +we will not do as Biarni did, who never set foot on +shore. I will give this land a name, and will call +it Helluland,"—a name which signifies the "land of +broad stones."</p> + +<p>Onward they sailed again, their hearts now filled +with ardent expectation. At length rose again the +stirring cry of "Land!" or its Norse equivalent, and +as the dragon-peaked craft glided swiftly onward +there rose into view a long coast-line, flat and covered +with white sand in the foreground, while a +dense forest spread over the rising ground in the rear.</p> + +<p>"Markland [land of forest] let it be called," cried +Leif. "This must be the land which Biarni first +saw. We will not be like him, but will set foot on +its promising shores."</p> + +<p>They landed, but tarried not long. Soon they +took ship again, and sailed for two days out of sight +of land. Then there came into view an island, with +a broad channel between it and the mainland. Up +this channel they laid their course, and soon came +to where a river poured its clear waters into the sea. +<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>They decided to explore this stream. The boat was +lowered and the ship towed up the river, until, at +a short distance inland, it broadened into a lake. +Here, at Leif's command, the anchor was cast, and +their good ship, the pioneer in American discovery, +came to rest within the inland waters of the New +World.</p> + +<p>Not many minutes passed before the hardy mariners +were on shore, and eagerly observing the conditions +of their new-discovered realm. River and +lake alike were full of salmon, the largest they had +ever seen, a fact which agreeably settled the question +of food. The climate seemed deliciously mild, +as compared with the icy shores to which they were +used. The grass was but little withered by frost, +and promised a winter supply of food for cattle. +Altogether they were so pleased with their surroundings +that Leif determined to spend the winter at +that place, exploring the land so far as he could.</p> + +<p>For some time they dwelt under booths, passing +the nights in their leather sleeping-bags; but wood +was abundant, axes and hands skilful to wield them +were at hand, and they quickly went to work to +build themselves habitations more suitable for the +coming season of cold.</p> + +<p>No inhabitants of the land were seen. So far as +yet appeared, it might be a region on which human +foot had never before been set. But Leif was a +cautious leader. He bade his men not to separate +until the houses were finished. Then he divided +them into two parties, left one to guard their homes +<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>and their ship, and sent the other inland to explore.</p> + +<p>"Beware, though," he said, "that you risk not too +much. We know not what perils surround us. Go +not so far inland but that you can get back by evening, +and take care not to separate."</p> + +<p>Day after day these explorations continued, the +men plunging into the forest that surrounded them +and wandering far into its hidden recesses, each +evening bringing back with them some story of the +marvels of this new land, or some sample of its productions +strange to their eyes.</p> + +<p>An evening came in which one of the explorers +failed to return. He had either disobeyed the injunctions +of Leif and gone too far to get back by +evening, or some peril of that unknown land had +befallen him. This man was of German birth, Tyrker +by name, a southerner who had for years dwelt +with Eirek and been made the foster-father of Leif, +who had been fond of him since childhood. He was +a little, wretched-looking fellow, with protruding +forehead, unsteady eyes, and tiny face, yet a man +skilled in all manner of handicraft.</p> + +<p>Leif, on learning of his absence, upbraided the +men bitterly for losing him, and called on twelve of +them to follow him in search. Into the forest they +went, and before long had the good fortune to +behold Tyrker returning. The little fellow, far +from showing signs of disaster, was in the highest of +spirits, his face radiant with joy.</p> + +<p>"How now, foster-father!" cried Leif. "Why +are you so late? and why have you parted from the +others?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>Tyrker was too excited to answer. He rolled his +eyes wildly and made wry faces. When words came +to him, he spoke in his native German, which none +of them understood. Joy seemed to have driven all +memory of the language of the north from his mind. +It was plain that no harm had come to him. On +the contrary, he seemed to have stumbled upon some +landfall of good luck. Yet some time passed before +they could bring him out of his ecstasy into reason.</p> + +<p>"I did not go much farther than you," he at +length called out, in their own tongue "and if I +am late I have a good excuse. I can tell you news."</p> + +<p>"What are they?"</p> + +<p>"I have made a grand discovery. See, I have +found vines and grapes," and he showed them his +hands filled with the purple fruit. "I was born in +a land where grapes grow in plenty. And this land +bears them! Behold what I bring you!"</p> + +<p>The memory of his childhood had driven for the +time all memory of the Norse language from his +brain. Grapes he had not seen for many years, and +the sight of them made him a child again. The +others beheld the prize with little less joy. They +slept where they were that night, and in the morning +followed Tyrker to the scene of his discovery, +where he gladly pointed to the arbor-like vines, laden +thickly with wild grapes, a fruit delicious to their +unaccustomed palates.</p> + +<p>"This is a glorious find," cried Leif. "We must +take some of this splendid fruit north. There are +two kinds of work now to be done. One day you +<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>shall gather grapes the next you shall cut timber to +freight the ship. We must show our friends north +what a country we have found. As for this land, +I have a new name for it. Let it be called Vineland, +the land of grapes and wine."</p> + +<p>After this discovery there is little of interest to +record. The winter, which proved to be a very mild +one, passed away, and in the spring they set sail +again for Greenland, their ship laden deeply with +timber, so useful a treasure in their treeless northern +home, while the long-boat was filled to the gunwale +with the grapes they had gathered and dried.</p> + +<p>Such is the story of the first discovery of America, +as told in the sagas of the North. Leif the Lucky +was the name given the discoverer from that time +forward. He made no more visits to Vineland, +for during the next winter his father died, and he +became the governing head of the Greenland settlements.</p> + +<p>But the adventurous Northmen were not the men +to rest at ease with an untrodden continent so near +at hand. Thorvald, Leif's brother, one of the boldest +of his race, determined to see for himself the +wonders of Vineland. In the spring of 1002 he set +sail with thirty companions, in the pioneer ship of +American discovery, the same vessel which Biarni +and Leif had made famous in that service. Unluckily +the records fail to give us the name of this +notable ship.</p> + +<p>Steering southward, they reached in due time the +lake on whose shores Leif and his crew had passed +<a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>the winter. The buildings stood unharmed, and the +new crew passed a winter here, most of their time +being spent in catching and drying the delicious +salmon which thronged river and lake. In the +spring they set sail again, and explored the coast +for a long distance to the south. How far they +went we cannot tell, for all we know of their voyage +is that nearly everywhere they found white sandy +shores and a background of unbroken forest. Like +Leif, they saw no men.</p> + +<p>Back they came to Vineland, and there passed the +winter again. Another spring came in the tender +green of the young leafage, and again they put to +sea. So far fortune had steadily befriended them. +Now the reign of misfortune began. Not far had +they gone before the vessel was driven ashore by a +storm, and broke her keel on a protruding shoal. +This was not a serious disaster. A new keel was +made, and the old one planted upright in the sands +of the coast.</p> + +<p>"We will call this place Kial-ar-ness" [Keel +Cape], said Thorvald.</p> + +<p>On they sailed again, and came to a country of +such attractive aspect that Thorvald looked upon it +with longing eyes.</p> + +<p>"This is a fine country, and here I should like to +build myself a home," he said, little deeming in what +gruesome manner his words were to be fulfilled.</p> + +<p>For now, for the first time in the story of these +voyages, are we told of the natives of the land,—the +Skroelings, as the Norsemen called them. Passing +<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>the cape which Thorvald had chosen for his +home, the mariners landed to explore the shore, and +on their way back to the ship saw, on the white +sands, three significant marks. They were like +those made by a boat when driven ashore. Continuing +their observation, they quickly perceived, +drawn well up on the shore, three skin-canoes turned +keel upward. Dividing into three parties, they +righted these boats, and to their surprise saw that +under each three men lay concealed.</p> + +<p>The blood-loving instinct of the Norsemen was +never at fault in a case like this. Drawing their +swords, they assailed the hidden men, and of the +nine only one escaped, the other being stretched in +death upon the beach.</p> + +<p>The mariners had made a fatal mistake. To kill +none, unless they could kill all, should have been +their rule, a lesson in practical wisdom which they +were soon to learn. But, heedless of danger and +with the confidence of strength and courage, they +threw themselves upon the sands, and, being weary +and drowsy, were quickly lost in slumber.</p> + +<p>And now came a marvel. A voice, none knew +whence or of whom, called loudly in their slumbering +ears,—</p> + +<p>"Wake, Thorvaldt! Wake all your men, if you +would save your life and theirs! Haste to your ship +and fly from land with all speed, for vengeance and +death confront you."</p> + +<p>Suddenly aroused, they sprang to their feet, looking +at each other with astounded eyes, and asking +<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>who had spoken those words. Little time for answer +remained. The woods behind them suddenly +seemed alive with fierce natives, who had been +roused to vengeful fury by the flying fugitive, and +now came on with hostile cries. The Norsemen +sprang to their boats and rowed in all haste to the +ship; but before they could make sail the surface +of the bay swarmed with skin-boats, and showers +of arrows were poured upon them.</p> + +<p>The warlike mariners in turn assailed their foes +with arrows, slings, and javelins, slaying so many +of them that the remainder were quickly put to +flight. But they fled not unrevenged. A keen-pointed +arrow, flying between the ship's side and +the edge of his shield, struck Thorvald in the armpit, +wounding him so deeply that death threatened +to follow the withdrawal of the fatal dart.</p> + +<p>"My day is come," said the dying chief. "Return +home to Greenland as quickly as you may. But as +for me, you shall carry me to the place which I said +would be so pleasant to dwell in. Doubtless truth +came out of my mouth, for it may be that I shall +live there for awhile. There you shall bury me and +put crosses at my head and feet, and henceforward +that place shall be called Krossanes" [Cross Cape].</p> + +<p>The sorrowing sailors carried out the wishes of +their dying chief, who lived but long enough to fix +his eyes once more on the place which he had chosen +for his home, and then closed them in the sleep of +death. They buried him here, placing the crosses at +his head and feet as he had bidden, and then set sail +again for the booths of Leif at Vineland, where part +<a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>of their company had been left to gather grapes in +their absence. To these they told the story of what +had happened, and agreed with them that the winter +should be spent in that place, and that in the +spring they should obey Thorvald's request and set +sail for Greenland. This they did, taking on board +their ship vines and an abundance of dried grapes. +Ere the year was old their good ship again reached +Eireksfjord, where Leif was told of the death of his +brother and of all that had happened to the voyagers.</p> + +<p>The remaining story of the discoveries of the +Northmen must be told in a few words. The next +to set sail for that far-off land was Thorstein, the +third son of Eirek the Red. He failed to get there, +however, but made land on the east coast of Greenland, +where he died, while his wife Gudrid returned +home. Much was this woman noted for her beauty, +and as much for her wisdom and prudence, so the +sagas tell us.</p> + +<p>In 1006 came to Greenland a noble Icelander, +Thorfinn by name. That winter he married Gudrid, +and so allied himself to the family of Eirek the Red. +And quickly he took up the business of discovery, +which had been pursued so ardently by Eirek and +his sons. He sailed in 1007, with three ships, for +Vineland, where he remained three years, having +many adventures with the natives, now trading with +them for furs, now fighting with them for life. In +Vineland was born a son to Thorfinn and Gudrid, the +first white child born in America. From him—Snorri +Thorfinnson he was named—came a long line +<a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>of illustrious descendants, many of whom made their +mark in the history of Iceland and Denmark, the +line ending in modern times in the famous Thorwaldsen, +the greatest sculptor of the nineteenth +century.</p> + +<p>The sagas thus picture for us the natives: +"Swarthy they were in complexion, short and +savage in aspect, with ugly hair, great eyes, and +broad cheeks." In a battle between the adventurers +and these savages the warlike blood of Eirek manifested +itself in a woman of his race. For Freydis, +his daughter, when pursued and likely to be captured +by the natives, snatched up a sword which had +been dropped by a slain Greenlander, and faced them +so valiantly that they took to their heels in affright +and fled precipitately to their canoes.</p> + +<p>One more story, and we are done. In the spring +of 1010 Thorfinn sailed north with the two ships +which he still had. One of them reached Greenland +in safety. The other, commanded by Biarni Grimolfson, +was driven from its course, and, being worm-eaten, +threatened to sink.</p> + +<p>There was but one boat, and this capable of holding +but half the ship's company. Lots were cast to +decide who should go in the boat, and who stay on +the sinking ship. Biarni was of those to whom fortune +proved kindly. But he was a man of noble +strain, fit for deeds of heroic fortitude and self-sacrifice. +There was on board the ship a young Icelander, +who had been put under Biarni's protection, +and who lamented bitterly his approaching fate.</p> + +<p>"Come down into the boat," called out the noble-hearted +<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>Viking. "I will take your place in the +ship; for I see that you are fond of life."</p> + +<p>So the devoted chieftain mounted again into the +ship, and the youth, selfish with fear, took his place +in the boat. The end was as they had foreseen. The +boat reached land, where the men told their story. +The worm-eaten ship must have gone down in the +waves, for Biarni and his comrades were never heard +of again. Thus perished one of the world's heroes.</p> + +<p>Little remains to be told, for all besides is fragment +and conjecture. It is true that in the year +1011 Freydis and her husband voyaged again to +Vineland, though they made no new discoveries; and +it is probable that in the following centuries other +journeys were made to the same land. But as time +passed on Greenland grew colder; its icy harvest +descended farther and farther upon its shores; in +the end its colonies disappeared, and with them +ended all intercourse with the grape-laden shores of +Vineland.</p> + +<p>Just where lay this land of the vine no one to-day +can tell. Some would place it as far north as Labrador; +some seek to bring it even south of New +England; the Runic records simply tell us of a land +of capes, islands, rivers, and vines. It is to the latter, +and to the story of far-reaching forest-land, and +pasturage lasting the winter through, that we owe +the general belief that the Vikings reached New +England's fertile shores, and that the ship of Biarni +and Leif, with its war-loving crews, preceded by six +centuries the Mayflower, with its peaceful and pious +souls.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2> +<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a> +<a name="FROBISHER_AND_THE_NORTHWEST_PASSAGE" id="FROBISHER_AND_THE_NORTHWEST_PASSAGE"></a> +FROBISHER AND THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.</h2> + +<p>Hardly had it been learned that Columbus was +mistaken in his belief, and that the shores he had +discovered were not those of India and Cathay, +when vigorous efforts began to find some easy route +to the rich lands of the Orient. Balboa, in 1513, +crossed the continent at its narrow neck, and gazed, +with astounded eyes, upon the mighty ocean that +lay beyond,—the world's greatest sea. Magellan, in +1520, sailed round the continent at its southern extremity, +and turned his daring prows into that world +of waters of seemingly illimitable width. But the +route thus laid out was far too long for the feeble +commerce of that early day, and various efforts were +made to pass the line of the continent at some +northern point. The great rivers of North America, +the James, the Hudson, and others, were explored in +the eager hope that they might prove to be liquid +canals between the two great seas. But a more +promising hope was that which hinted that America +might be circumnavigated at the north as well as at +the south, and the Pacific be reached by way of the +icy channel of the northern seas.</p> + +<p>This hope, born so long ago, has but died out in +our own days. Much of the most thrilling literature +of adventure of the nineteenth century comes from +the persistent efforts to traverse these perilous Arctic +<a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>ocean wastes. Let us go back to the oldest of the +daring navigators of this frozen sea, the worthy +knight Sir Martin Frobisher, and tell the story of +his notable efforts to discover a Northwest Passage, +"the only thing left undone," as he quaintly says, +"whereby a notable mind might become famous and +fortunate."</p> + +<p>As an interesting preface to our story we may +quote from that curious old +<ins class="correction" title="'tone' in original">tome</ins>, +"Purchas his Pilgrimage," the following quaintly imaginative +passage,—</p> + +<p>"How shall I admire your valor and courage, yee +Marine Worthies, beyond all names of worthinesse; +that neither dread so long either presense nor absence +of the Sunne, nor those foggie mists, tempestuous +windes, cold blasts, snowes and haile in the +aire; nor the unequal Seas, where the Tritons and +Neptune's selfe would quake with chilling feare to +behold such monstrous Icie Islands, mustering themselves +in those watery plaines, where they hold a +continuall civill warre, rushing one upon another, +making windes and waves give back; nor the rigid, +ragged face of the broken landes, sometimes towering +themselves to a loftie height, to see if they can +finde refuge from those snowes and colds that continually +beat them, sometimes hiding themselves +under some hollow hills or cliffes, sometimes sinking +and shrinking into valleys, looking pale with +snowes and falling in frozen and dead swounes: +sometimes breaking their neckes into the sea, rather +embracing the waters' than the aires' crueltie," and +<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>so on with the like labored fancies. "Great God," +he concludes, "to whom all names of greatnesse are +little, and lesse than nothing, let me in silence admire +thy greatnesse, that in this little heart of man +(not able to serve a Kite for a break-fast) hast +placed such greatness of spirit as the world is too +little to fill."</p> + +<p>Thus in long-winded meed of praise writes Master +Samuel Purchas. Of those bold mariners of whom +he speaks our worthy knight, Sir Martin, is one of +the first and far from the least.</p> + +<p>An effort had been made to discover a northwest +passage to the Pacific as early as 1527, and another +nine years later; but these were feeble attempts, +which ended in failure and disaster, and discovered +nothing worthy of record. It was in 1576 that +Frobisher, one of the most renowned navigators of +his day, put into effect the project he had cherished +from his youth upward, and for which he had sought +aid during fifteen weary years, that of endeavoring +to solve the ice-locked secret of the Arctic seas.</p> + +<p>The fleet with which this daring adventure was +undertaken was a strangely insignificant one, consisting +of three vessels which were even less in size +than those with which Columbus had ventured on +his great voyage. Two of these were but of twenty +tons burden each, and the third only of ten, while +the aggregate crews numbered but thirty-five men. +With this tiny squadron, less in size than a trio of +fishing-smacks, the daring adventurer set out to +traverse the northern seas and face the waves of the +<a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>great Pacific, if fortune should open to him its gates.</p> + +<p>On the 11th of July, 1576, the southern extremity +of Greenland was sighted. It presented a more icy +aspect than that which the Norsemen had seen +nearly six centuries before. Sailing thence westward, +the land of the continent came into view, and for +the first time by modern Europeans was seen that +strange race, now so well known under the name of +Eskimo. The characteristics of this people, and the +conditions of their life, are plainly described. The +captain "went on shore, and was encountered with +mightie Deere, which ranne at him, with danger of +his life. Here he had sight of the Savages, which +rowed to his Shippe in Boates of Seales Skinnes, +with a Keele of wood within them. They eate raw +Flesh and Fish, or rather devoured the same: they +had long black hayre, broad faces, flat noses, tawnie +of color, or like an Olive."</p> + +<p>His first voyage went not beyond this point. He +returned home, having lost five of his men, who +were carried off by the natives. But he brought +with him that which was sure to pave the way to +future voyages. This was a piece of glittering stone, +which the ignorant goldsmiths of London confidently +declared to be ore of gold.</p> + +<p>Frobisher's first voyage had been delayed by the +great difficulty in obtaining aid. For his new project +assistance was freely offered, Queen Elizabeth +herself, moved by hope of treasure, coming to his +help with a hundred and eighty-ton craft, the +"Ayde," to which two smaller vessels were added. +These being provisioned and manned, the bold +<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>navigator, with "a merrie wind" in his sails, set out +again for the desolate north.</p> + +<p>His first discovery here was of the strait now +known by his name, up which he passed in a boat, +with the mistaken notion in his mind that the land +bounding the strait to the south was America, and +that to the north was Asia. The natives proved +friendly, but Frobisher soon succeeded in making +them hostile. He seized some of them and attempted +to drag them to his boat, "that he might conciliate +them by presents." The Eskimos, however, did not +approve of this forcible method of conciliation, and +the unwise knight reached the boat alone, with an +arrow in his leg.</p> + +<p>But, to their great joy, the mariners found plenty +of the shining yellow stones, and stowed abundance +of them on their ships, deeming, like certain Virginian +gold-seekers of a later date, that their fortunes +were now surely made. They found also "a +great dead fish, round like a porepis [porpoise], +twelve feet long, having a Horne of two yardes, +lacking two ynches, growing out of the Snout, +wreathed and straight, like a Waxe-Taper, and +might be thought to be a Sea-Unicorne. It was +reserved as a Jewell by the Queens' commandment +in her Wardrobe of Robes."</p> + +<p>A northwest wind having cleared the strait of ice, +the navigators sailed gayly forward, full of the belief +that the Pacific would soon open to their eyes. +It was not long before they were in battle with the +Eskimos. They had found European articles in some +native kyacks, which they supposed belonged to the +<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>men they had lost the year before. To rescue or +revenge these unfortunates, Frobisher attacked the +natives, who valiantly resisted, even plucking the +arrows from their bodies to use as missiles, and, +when mortally hurt, flinging themselves from the +rocks into the sea. At length they gave ground, and +fled to the loftier cliffs, leaving two of their women +as trophies to the assailants. These two, one "being +olde," says the record, "the other encombred with a +yong childe, we took. The olde wretch, whom divers +of our Saylors supposed to be eyther the Divell, or a +witch, had her buskins plucked off, to see if she were +cloven-footed; and for her ougly hewe and deformitie, +we let her goe; the young woman and the +childe we brought away."</p> + +<p>This was not the last of their encounters with the +Eskimos, who, incensed against them, made every +effort to entrap them into their power. Their stratagems +consisted in placing tempting pieces of meat at +points near which they lay in ambush, and in pretending +lameness to decoy the Englishmen into pursuit. +These schemes failing, they made a furious assault +upon the vessel with arrows and other missiles.</p> + +<p>Before the strait could be fully traversed, ice had +formed so thickly that further progress was stopped, +and, leaving the hoped-for Cathay for future voyagers, +the mariners turned their prows homeward, +their vessels laden with two hundred tons of the +glittering stone.</p> + +<p>Strangely enough, an examination of this material +failed to dispel the delusion. The scientists of that +day declared that it was genuine gold-ore, and ex<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a>pressed +their belief that the road to China lay +through Frobisher Strait. Untold wealth, far surpassing +that which the Spaniards had obtained in +Mexico and Peru, seemed ready to shower into England's +coffers. Frobisher was now given the proud +honor of kissing the queen's hand, his neck was +encircled with a chain of gold of more value than +his entire two hundred tons of ore, and, with a fleet +of fifteen ships, one of them of four hundred tons, +he set sail again for the land of golden promise. Of +the things that happened to him in this voyage, one +of the most curious is thus related. "The Salamander +(one of their Shippes), being under both her +Courses and Bonets, happened to strike upon a great +Whale, with her full Stemme, with suche a blow that +the Shippe stood still, and neither stirred backward +or forward. The whale thereat made a great and +hideous noyse, and casting up his body and tayle, +presently sank under water. Within two days they +found a whale dead, which they supposed was this +which the Salamander had stricken."</p> + +<p>Other peril came to the fleet from icebergs, +through the midst of which they were driven by a +tempest, but they finally made their way into what +is now known as Hudson Strait, up which, filled +with hope that the continental limits would quickly +be passed and the route to China open before them, +they sailed some sixty miles. But to their disappointment +they found that they were being turned +southward, and, instead of crossing the continent, +were descending into its heart.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a>Reluctantly Frobisher turned back, and, after +many buffetings from the storms, managed to bring +part of his fleet into Frobisher Bay. So much time +had been lost that it was not safe to proceed. Winter +might surprise them in those icy wilds. Therefore, +shipping immense quantities of the "fools' gold" +which had led them so sadly astray, they turned +their prows once more homeward, reaching England's +shores in early October.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the "ore" had been found to be absolutely +worthless, the golden dreams which had roused +England to exultation had faded away, and the new +ship-loads they brought were esteemed to be hardly +worth their weight as ballast. For this disappointment +the unlucky Frobisher, who had been appointed +High Admiral of all lands and waters which he +might discover, could not be held to blame. It was +not he that had pronounced the worthless pyrites +gold, and he had but obeyed orders in bringing new +cargoes of this useless rubbish to add to the weight +of Albion's rock-bound shores. But he could not obtain +aid for a new voyage to the icy north, England +for the time had lost all interest in that unpromising +region, and Frobisher was forced to employ in other +directions his skill in seamanship.</p> + +<p>With the after-career of this unsuccessful searcher +for the Northwest Passage we have no concern. It +will suffice to say that fortune attended his later +ventures upon the seas, and that he died in 1594, +from a wound which he received in a naval battle +off the coast of France.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a> +<a name="CHAMPLAIN_AND_THE_IROQUOIS" id="CHAMPLAIN_AND_THE_IROQUOIS"></a> +CHAMPLAIN AND THE IROQUOIS.</h2> + + +<p>On a bright May morning in the year 1609, at the +point where the stream then known as the Rivière +des Iroquois—and which has since borne the various +names of the Richelieu, the Chambly, the St. Louis, +the Sorel and the St. John—poured the waters of an +unknown interior lake into the channel of the broad +St. Lawrence, there was presented a striking spectacle. +Everywhere on the liquid surface canoes, driven +by the steady sweep of paddles wielded by naked +and dusky arms, shot to and fro. Near the shore a +small shallop, on whose deck stood a group of armed +whites, had just cast anchor, and was furling its +sails. Upon the strip of open land bordering the +river, and in the woodland beyond, were visible great +numbers of savage warriors, their faces hideously +bedaubed with war-paint, their hands busy in erecting +the frail habitations of a temporary camp.</p> + +<p>The scene was one of striking beauty, such as only +the virgin wilderness can display. The river ran +between walls of fresh green leafage, here narrowed, +yonder widened into a broad reach which was encircled +by far sweeping forests. The sun shone broadly +on the animated scene, while the whites, from the +deck of their small craft, gazed with deep interest +on the strange picture before them, filled as it was +with dusky natives, some erecting their forest shel<a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>ters, +others fishing in the stream, while still others +were seeking the forest depths in pursuit of game.</p> + +<p>The scene is of interest to us for another reason. +It was the prelude to the first scene of Indian warfare +which the eyes of Europeans were to behold in +the northern region of the American continent. The +Spaniards had been long established in the south, +but no English settlement had yet been made on the +shores of the New World, and the French had but +recently built a group of wooden edifices on that +precipitous height which is now crowned with the +walls and the spires of Quebec.</p> + +<p>Not long had the whites been there before the +native hunters of the forests came to gaze with wondering +eyes on those pale-faced strangers, with their +unusual attire and surprising powers of architecture. +And quickly they begged their aid in an expedition +against their powerful enemies, the confederated +nations of the Iroquois, who dwelt in a wonderful +lake-region to the south, and by their strength, skill, +and valor had made themselves the terror of the +tribes.</p> + +<p>Samuel de Champlain, an adventurous Frenchman +who had already won himself reputation by an +exploration of the Spanish domain of the West +Indies, was now in authority at Quebec, and did not +hesitate to promise his aid in the coming foray, +moved, perhaps, by that thirst for discovery and +warlike spirit which burned deeply in his breast. +The Indians had told him of great lakes and mighty +rivers to the south, and doubtless the ardent wish to +<a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a>be the first to traverse these unknown waters was a +moving impulse in his ready assent.</p> + +<p>With the opening season the warriors gathered, +Hurons and Algonquins, a numerous band. They +paddled to Quebec; gazed with surprise on the +strange buildings, the story of which had already +been told in their distant wigwams, and on their +no less strange inmates; feasted, smoked, and debated; +and shrank in consternation from the piercing +report of the arquebuse and the cannon's frightful +roar.</p> + +<p>Their savage hearts were filled with exultation on +learning the powers of their new allies. Surely +these wonderful strangers would deal destruction on +their terrible foes. Burning with thirst for vengeance, +they made their faces frightful with the +war-paint, danced with frenzied gestures round the +blaze of their camp-fires, filled the air with ear-piercing +war-whoops, and at the word of command +hastened to their canoes and swept in hasty phalanx +up the mighty stream, accompanied by Champlain +and eleven other white allies.</p> + +<p>Two days the war-party remained encamped at +the place where we have seen them, hunting, fishing, +fasting, and quarrelling, the latter so effectually +that numbers of them took to their canoes and +paddled angrily away, scarce a fourth of the original +array being left for the march upon the dreaded +enemy.</p> + +<p>It was no easy task which now lay before them. +The journey was long, the way difficult. Onward +<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a>again swept the diminutive squadron, the shallop +outsailing the canoes, and making its way up the +Richelieu, Champlain being too ardent with the +fever of discovery to await the slow work of the +paddles. He had not, however, sailed far up that +forest-enclosed stream before unwelcome sounds +came to his ears. The roar of rushing and tumbling +waters sounded through the still air. And now, +through the screen of leaves, came a vision of snowy +foam and the flash of leaping waves. The Indians +had lied to him. They had promised him an unobstructed +route to the great lake ahead, and here +already were rapids in his path.</p> + +<p>How far did the obstruction extend? That must +be learned. Leaving the shallop, he set out with +part of his men to explore the wilds. It was no easy +journey. Tangled vines, dense thickets, swampy +recesses crossed the way. Here lay half-decayed +tree-trunks; there heaps of rocks lifted their mossy +tops in the path. And ever, as they went, the roar +of the rapids followed, while through the foliage +could be seen the hurrying waters, pouring over +rocks, stealing amid drift-logs, eddying in chasms, +and shooting in white lines of foam along every +open space.</p> + +<p>Was this the open river of which he had been +told; this the ready route to the great lake beyond? +In anger and dismay, Champlain retraced his steps, +to find, when he reached the shallop, that the canoes +of the savages had come up, and now filled the +stream around it.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>The disappointed adventurer did not hesitate to +tell them that they had lied to him; but he went on +to say that though they had broken their word he +would keep his. In truth, the vision of the mighty +lake, with its chain of islands, its fertile shores, and +bordering forests, of which they had told him, rose +alluringly before his eyes, and with all the ardor of +the pioneer he was determined to push onward into +that realm of the unknown.</p> + +<p>But their plans must be changed. Nine of the +men were sent back to Quebec with the shallop. +Champlain, with two others, determined to proceed +in the Indian canoes. At his command the warriors +lifted their light boats from the water, and bore +them on their shoulders over the difficult portage +past the rapids, to the smooth stream above. Here, +launching them again, the paddles once more broke +the placid surface of the stream, and onward they +went, still through the primeval forest, which +stretched away in an unbroken expanse of green.</p> + +<p>It was a virgin solitude, unmarked by habitation, +destitute of human inmate, abundant with game; +for it was the debatable land between warring tribes, +traversed only by hostile bands, the battle-ground of +Iroquois and Algonquin hordes. None could dwell +here in safety; even hunting-parties had to be constantly +prepared for war. Through this region of +blood and terror the canoes made their way, now +reduced to twenty-four in number, manned by sixty +warriors and three white allies. The advance was +made with great caution, for danger was in the +<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>air. Scouts were sent in advance through the forests; +others were thrown out on the flanks and +rear, hunting for game as they went; for the +store of pounded and parched maize which the +warriors had brought with them was to be kept for +food when the vicinity of the foe should render +hunting impossible.</p> + +<p>The scene that night, as described by Champlain +was one to be remembered. The canoes were drawn +up closely, side by side. Active life pervaded the +chosen camp. Here some gathered dry wood for +their fires; there others stripped off sheets of bark, +to cover their forest wigwams; yonder the sound +of axes was followed by the roar of falling trees. +The savages had steel axes, obtained from the +French, and, with their aid, in two hours a strong +defensive work, constructed of the felled trunks, +was built, a half-circle in form, with the river at its +two ends. This was the extent of their precautions. +The returning scouts reported that the forest in +advance was empty of foes. The tawny host cast +themselves in full security on the grassy soil, setting +no guards, and were soon lost in slumber, with that +blind trust in fortune which has ever been one of +the weak features of Indian warfare.</p> + +<p>They had not failed, however, to consult their +oracles, those spirits which the medicine-man was +looked upon as an adept at invoking, and whose +counsel was ever diligently sought by the superstitious +natives. The conjurer crept within his skin-covered +lodge, where, crouched upon the earth, he +<a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a>filled the air with inarticulate invocations to the +surrounding spirits; while outside, squatted on the +ground, the dusky auditors looked and listened with +awe. Suddenly the lodge began to rock violently, +by the power of the spirits, as the Indians deemed, +though Champlain fancied that the arm of the medicine-man +was the only spirit at work.</p> + +<p>"Look on the peak of the lodge," whispered the +awed savages. "You will see fire and smoke rise +into the air." Champlain looked, but saw nothing.</p> + +<p>The medicine-man by this time had worked himself +into convulsions. He called loudly upon the +spirit in an unknown language, and was answered +in squeaking tones like those of a young puppy. +This powerful spirit was deemed to be present in +the form of a stone. When the conjurer reappeared +his body streamed with perspiration, while the story +he had to tell promised an auspicious termination +of the enterprise.</p> + +<p>This was not the only performance of the warriors. +There was another of a more rational character. +Bundles of sticks were collected by the leading +chief, which he stuck in the earth in a fixed +order, calling each by the name of some warrior, the +taller ones representing the chiefs. The arrangement +of the sticks indicated the plan of battle. +Each warrior was to occupy the position indicated +by his special stick. The savages gathered closely +round, intently studied the plan, then formed their +ranks in accordance therewith, broke them, reformed +them, and continued the process with a skill and +<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>alacrity that surprised and pleased their civilized +observer.</p> + +<p>With the early morning light they again advanced, +following the ever-widening stream, in whose midst +islands leagues in extent now appeared. Beyond +came broad channels and extended reaches of widening +waters, and soon the delighted explorer found +that the river had ended and that the canoes were +moving over the broad bosom of that great lake of +which the Indians had told him, and which has ever +since borne his name. It was a charming scene +which thus first met the eyes of civilized man. Far +in front spread the inland sea. On either side distant +forests, clad in the fresh leafage of June, +marked the borders of the lake. Far away, over +their leafy tops, appeared lofty heights; on the left +the Green Mountains lifted their forest-clad ridges, +with patches of snow still whitening their tops; on +the right rose the clustering hills of the Adirondacks, +then the hunting-grounds of the Iroquois, +and destined to remain the game-preserves of the +whites long after the axe and plough had subdued all +the remainder of that forest-clad domain.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image041" id="image041"></a> +<a href="images/image041h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image041.jpg" + alt="LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND ITS SURROUNDINGS." + title="LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND ITS SURROUNDINGS." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.</p> +</div> + +<p>They had reached a region destined to play a +prominent part in the coming history of America. +The savages told their interested auditors of another +lake, thickly studded with islands, beyond that on +which they now were; and still beyond a rocky portage +over which they hoped to carry their canoes, +and a great river which flowed far down to the +mighty waters of the sea. If they met not the foe +<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a>sooner they would press onward to this stream, and +there perhaps surprise some town of the Mohawks, +whose settlements approached its banks. This same +liquid route in later days was to be traversed by +warlike hosts both in the French and Indian and the +Revolutionary Wars, and to be signalized by the capture +of Burgoyne and his invading host, one of the +most vital events in the American struggle for +liberty.</p> + +<p>The present expedition was not to go so far. Hostile +bands were to be met before they left the sheet +of water over which their canoes now glided. Onward +they went, the route becoming hourly more +dangerous. At length they changed their mode of +progress, resting in the depths of the forest all day +long, taking to the waters at twilight, and paddling +cautiously onward till the crimsoning of the eastern +sky told them that day was near at hand. Then the +canoes were drawn up in sheltered coves, and the +warriors, chatting, smoking, and sleeping, spent on +the leafy lake borders the slow-moving hours of the +day.</p> + +<p>The journey was a long one. It was the 29th of +July when they reached a point far down the lake, +near the present site of Crown Point. They had +paddled all night. They hid here all day. Champlain +fell asleep on a heap of spruce boughs, and in +his slumber dreamed that he had seen the Iroquois +drowning in the lake, and that when he tried to +rescue them he had been told by his Algonquin +friends to leave them alone, as they were not worth +the trouble of saving.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>The Indians believed in the power of dreams. +They had beset Champlain daily to learn if he had +had any visions. When now he told them his dream +they were filled with joy. Victory had spoken into +his slumbering ear. With gladness they re-embarked +when night came on, and continued their course +down the lake.</p> + +<p>They had not far to go. At ten o'clock, through +the shadows of the night, they beheld a number of +dark objects on the lake before them. It was a fleet +of Iroquois canoes, heavier and slower craft than +those of the Algonquins, for they were made of +oak-or elm-bark, instead of the light paper-birch +used by the latter.</p> + +<p>Each party saw the other, and recognized that +they were in the presence of foes. War-cries sounded +over the shadowy waters. The Iroquois, who preferred +to do their fighting on land and who were +nearer shore, hastened to the beach and began at +once to build a barricade of logs, filling the air of +the night with yells of defiance as they worked +away like beavers. The allies meanwhile remained +on the lake, their canoes lashed together with poles, +dancing with a vigor that imperilled their frail +barks, and answering the taunts and menaces of +their foes with equally vociferous abuse.</p> + +<p>It was agreed that the battle should be deferred +till daybreak. As day approached Champlain and +his two followers armed themselves, their armor +consisting of cuirass, or breast-plate, steel coverings +for the thighs, and a plumed helmet for the head. +<a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>By the side of the leader hung his sword, and in his +hand was his arquebuse, which he had loaded with +four balls. The savages of these woods were now +first to learn the destructive power of that weapon, +for which in the years to come they would themselves +discard the antiquated bow.</p> + +<p>The Iroquois much outnumbered their foes. +There were some two hundred of them in all, tall, +powerful men, the boldest warriors of America, +whose steady march excited Champlain's admiration +as he saw them filing from their barricade and advancing +through the woods. As for himself and his +two companions, they had remained concealed in +the canoes, and not even when a landing was made +did the Iroquois behold the strangely-clad allies of +their hereditary enemies.</p> + +<p>Not until they stood face to face, ready for the +battle-cry, did the Algonquin ranks open, and the +white men advance before the astonished gaze of the +Iroquois. Never before had they set eyes on such an +apparition, and they stood in mute wonder while +Champlain raised his arquebuse, took aim at a chief, +and fired. The chief fell dead. A warrior by his +side fell wounded in the bushes. As the report rang +through the air a frightful yell came from the allies, +and in an instant their arrows were whizzing thickly +through the ranks of their foes. For a moment the +Iroquois stood their ground and returned arrow for +arrow. But when from the two flanks of their adversaries +came new reports, and other warriors bit +the dust, their courage gave way to panic terror, +<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a>and they turned and fled in wild haste through the +forest, swiftly pursued by the triumphant Algonquins.</p> + +<p>Several of the Iroquois were killed. A number +were captured. At night the victors camped in triumph +on the field of battle, torturing one of their +captives till Champlain begged to put him out of +pain, and sent a bullet through his heart.</p> + +<p>Thus ended the first battle between whites and +Indians on the soil of the northern United States, +in a victory for which the French were to pay dearly +in future days, at the hands of their now vanquished +foes. With the dawn of the next day the victors +began their retreat. A few days of rapid paddling +brought them to the Richelieu. Here they separated, +the Hurons and Algonquins returning to their homes +by way of the Ottowa, the Montagnais, who dwelt in +the vicinity of Quebec, accompanying Champlain to +his new-built city.</p> + +<p>The Iroquois, however, were not the men to be +quelled by a single defeat. In June of the ensuing +year a war-party of them advanced to the mouth of +the Richelieu, and a second fierce battle took place. +As another vivid example of the character of Indian +warfare, the story of this conflict, may be added to +that already given.</p> + +<p>On an island in the St. Lawrence near the mouth +of the Richelieu was gathered a horde of Montagnais +Indians, Champlain and others of the whites being +with them. A war-party of Algonquins was expected, +and busy preparations were being made for +<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>feast and dance, in order that they might be received +with due honor. In the midst of this festal activity +an event occurred that suddenly changed thoughts +of peace to those of war. At a distance on the +stream appeared a single canoe, approaching as rapidly +as strong arms could drive it through the water. +On coming near, its inmates called out loudly that +the Algonquins were in the forest, engaged in battle +with a hundred Iroquois, who, outnumbered, were +fighting from behind a barricade of trees which they +had hastily erected.</p> + +<p>In an instant the air was filled with deafening +cries. Tidings of battle were to the Indians like a +fresh scent to hounds of the chase: The Montagnais +flew to their canoes, and paddled with frantic haste +to the opposite shore, loudly calling on Champlain +and his fellow-whites to follow. They obeyed, crossing +the stream in canoes. As the shore was reached +the warriors flung down their paddles, snatched up +their weapons, and darted into the woods with such +speed that the Frenchmen found it impossible to +keep them in sight. It was a hot and oppressive day; +the air was filled with mosquitoes,—"so thick," says +Champlain, "that we could hardly draw breath, and +it was wonderful how cruelly they persecuted us,"—their +route lay through swampy soil, where the water +at places stood knee-deep; over fallen logs, wet and +slimy, and under entangling vines; their heavy armor +added to their discomfort; the air was close and +heavy; altogether it was a progress fit to make one +sicken of warfare in the wilderness. After struggling +<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a>onward till they were almost in despair, they saw +two Indians in the distance, and by vigorous shouts +secured their aid as guides to the field of battle.</p> + +<p>An instinct seemed to guide the savages through +that dense and tangled forest. In a short time they +led the laboring whites to a point where the woodland +grew thinner, and within hearing of the wild +war-whoops of the combatants. Soon they emerged +into a partial clearing, which had been made by the +axes of the Iroquois in preparing their breastwork +of defence. Champlain gazed upon the scene before +him with wondering eyes. In front was a circular +barricade, composed of trunks of trees, boughs, and +matted twigs, behind which the Iroquois stood like +tigers at bay. In the edge of the forest around were +clustered their yelling foes, screaming shrill defiance, +yet afraid to attack, for they had already been driven +back with severe loss. Their hope now lay in their +white allies, and when they saw Champlain and his +men a yell arose that rent the air, and a cloud of +winged arrows was poured into the woodland fort. +The beleaguered Iroquois replied with as fierce a +shout, and with a better-aimed shower of arrows. +At least Champlain had reason to think so, for one +of these stone-headed darts split his ear, and tore a +furrow through the muscles of his neck. One of +his men received a similar wound.</p> + +<p>Furious with pain, Champlain, secure in his steel +armor, rushed to the woodland fort, followed by his +men, and discharged their arquebuses through its +crevices upon the dismayed savages within, who, +<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a>wild with terror at this new and deadly weapon, +flung themselves flat upon the earth at each report.</p> + +<p>At each moment the scene of war grew more animated. +The assailing Indians, yelling in triumph, +ran up under cover of their large wooden shields, +and began to tug at the trees of the barricade, while +other of them gathered thickly in the bushes for +the final onset. And now, from the forest depths, +came hurrying to the scene a new party of French +allies,—a boat's crew of fur-traders, who had heard +the firing and flown with warlike eagerness to take +part in the fight.</p> + +<p>The bullets of these new assailants added to the +terror of the Iroquois. They writhed and darted +to and fro to escape the leaden missiles that tore +through their frail barricade. At a signal from +Champlain the allies rushed from their leafy covert, +flew to the breastwork, tore down or clambered over +the boughs, and precipitated themselves into the +fort, while the French ceased their firing and led a +party of Indians to the assault on the opposite side.</p> + +<p>The howls of defiance, screams of pain, deafening +war-whoops, and dull sound of deadly blows were +now redoubled. Many of the Iroquois stood their +ground, hewing with tomahawks and war-clubs, and +dying not unrevenged. Some leaped the barrier +and were killed by the crowd outside; others sprang +into the river and were drowned; of them all not +one escaped, and at the end of the conflict but fifteen +remained alive, prisoners in the hands of their +deadly foes, destined victims of torture and flame.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>On the next day a large party of Hurons arrived, +and heard with envy the story of the fight, in which +they were too late to take part. The forest and +river shore were crowded with Indian huts. Hundreds +of warriors assembled, who spent the day in +wild war-dances and songs, then loaded their canoes +and paddled away in triumph to their homes, without +a thought of following up their success and +striking yet heavier blows upon their dreaded enemy. +Even Champlain, who was versed in civilized warfare, +made no attempt to lead them to an invasion +of the Iroquois realm. He did not dream of the +deadly reprisal which the now defeated race would +exact for this day of disaster.</p> + +<p>Of the further doings of Champlain we shall relate +but one incident,—a thrilling adventure which +he tells of his being lost in the interminable woodland +depths. Year after year he continued his explorations; +now voyaging far up the Ottawa; now +reaching the mighty inland sea of Lake Huron, +voyaging upon its waters, and visiting the Indian +villages upon its shores; now again battling with the +Iroquois, who, this time, drove their assailants in +baffled confusion from their fort; now joining an +Indian hunting-party, and taking part with them in +their annual <ins class="correction" title="'dear' in original">deer</ins>-hunt. +For this they constructed +two lines of posts interlaced with boughs, each more +than half a mile long, and converging to a point +where a strong enclosure was built. The hunters +drove the deer before them into this enclosure, where +others despatched them with spears and arrows. +<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a>It was during this expedition that the incident referred +to took place.</p> + +<p>Champlain had gone into the forest with the hunters. +Here he saw a bird new to him, and whose +brilliant hue and strange shape struck him with surprise +and admiration. It was, to judge from his +description, a red-headed woodpecker. Bent on possessing +this winged marvel, he pursued it, gun in +hand. From bough to bough, from tree to tree, the +bird fitted onward, leading the unthinking hunter +step by step deeper into the wilderness. Then, when +he surely thought to capture his prize, the luring +wonder took wing and vanished in the forest depths.</p> + +<p>Disappointed, Champlain turned to seek his +friends. But in what direction should he go? The +day was cloudy; he had left his pocket-compass at +the camp; the forest spread in endless lines around +him; he stood in helpless bewilderment and dismay.</p> + +<p>All day he wandered blindly, and at nightfall +found himself still in a hopeless solitude. Weary +and hungry, he lay down at the foot of a great tree, +and passed the night in broken slumbers. The next +day he wandered onward in the same blind helplessness, +reaching, in late afternoon, the waters of a +forest pond, shadowed by thick pines, and with +water-fowl on its brink. One of these he shot, kindled +a fire and cooked it, and for the first time since +his misadventure tasted food. At night there came +on a cold rain, drenched by which the blanketless +wanderer was forced to seek sleep in the open wood.</p> + +<p>Another day of fruitless wandering succeeded; +<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>another night of unrefreshing slumber. Paths were +found in the forest, but they had been made by other +feet than those of men, and if followed would lead +him deeper into the seemingly endless wild. Roused +by the new day from his chill couch, the lost wanderer +despairingly roamed on, now almost hopeless +of escape. Yet what sound was that which reached +his ear? It was the silvery tinkle of a woodland rill, +which crept onward unseen in the depths of a bushy +glen. A ray of hope shot into his breast. This descending +rivulet might lead him to the river where +the hunters lay encamped. With renewed energy he +traced its course, making his way through thicket +and glen, led ever onwards by that musical sound, till +he found himself on the borders of a small lake, +within which the waters of his forest guide were lost.</p> + +<p>This lake, he felt, must have an outlet. He circled +round it, clambering over fallen trees and forcing +his way through thorny vines, till he saw, amid roots +of alder-bushes, a streamlet flow from the lakeside. +This he hopefully followed. Not far had he gone +before a dull roar met his ears, breaking the sullen +silence of the woods. It was the sound of falling +waters. He hastened forward. The wood grew +thinner. Light appeared before him. Pushing +gladly onward, he broke through the screening +bushes and found himself on the edge of an open +meadow, wild animals its only tenants, some +browsing on the grass, others lurking in bushy +coverts. Yet a more gladsome sight to his eyes was +the broad river, which here rushed along in a +<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>turbulent rapid, whose roar it was which had come to +his ear in the forest glades.</p> + +<p>He looked about him. On the rocky river-bank +was a portage-path made by Indian feet. The +place seemed familiar. A second sweeping gaze; +yes, here were points he had seen before. He was +saved. Glad at heart, he camped upon the river-brink, +kindled a fire, cooked the remains of his +game, and passed that night, at least, in dreamless +sleep. With daybreak he rose, followed the river +downwards, and soon saw the smoke of the Indian +camp-fires ascending in the morning air. In a few +moments he had joined his dusky friends, greatly to +their delight. They had sought him everywhere in +vain, and now chided him gently for his careless +risk, declaring that thenceforth they would never +suffer him to go into the forest alone.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a> +<a name="SIR_WILLIAM_PHIPS_AND_THE_SILVER-SHIP" id="SIR_WILLIAM_PHIPS_AND_THE_SILVER-SHIP"></a> +SIR WILLIAM PHIPS AND THE SILVER-SHIP.</h2> + + +<p>The story of a poor boy, born on the edge of the +wilderness,—"at a despicable plantation on the river +of Kennebec, and almost the farthest village of the +eastern settlement of New England,"—yet who +ended his life as governor and nobleman, is what we +have to tell. It is one of the most romantic stories +in history. He was born in 1651, being a scion of +the early days of the Puritan colony. He came of +a highly prolific pioneer family,—he had twenty +brothers and five sisters,—yet none but himself of +this extensive family are heard of in history or +biography. Genius is too rare a quality to be spread +through such a flock. His father was a gunsmith. +Of the children, William was one of the youngest. +After his father's death, he helped his mother at +sheep-keeping in the wilderness till he was eighteen +years of age, then there came "an unaccountable +impulse upon his mind that he was born to greater +matters." The seed of genius planted in his nature +was beginning to germinate.</p> + +<p>The story of the early life of William Phips may +be told in a few words. From sheep-tending he +turned to carpentry, becoming an expert ship-carpenter. +With this trade at his fingers' ends he went +to Boston, and there first learned to read and write, +accomplishments which had not penetrated to the +<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>Kennebec. His next step was to marry, his wife +being a widow, a Mrs. Hull, with little money but +good connections. She lifted our carpenter a step +higher in the social scale. At that time, says his +biographer, "he was one tall beyond the common +set of men, and thick as well as tall, and strong as +well as thick; exceedingly robust, and able to conquer +such difficulties of diet and of travel as would +have killed most men alive. He was of a very +comely though a very manly countenance," and in +character of "a most incomparable generosity." He +hated anything small or mean, was somewhat choleric, +but not given to nourish malice.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image054" id="image054"></a> +<a href="images/image054h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image054.jpg" + alt="POND ISLAND, MOUTH OF THE KENNEBEC." + title="POND ISLAND, MOUTH OF THE KENNEBEC." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">POND ISLAND, MOUTH OF THE KENNEBEC.</p> +</div> + +<p>To this notable young man there soon came an +adventure. He had become a master workman, +and built a ship for some Boston merchants on the +river Sheepscote, a few leagues from his native +Kennebec. The vessel was finished, and ready to +be loaded with lumber; but its first cargo proved to +be very different from that which Phips had designed. +For Indians attacked the settlement; the +inhabitants, flying for their lives, crowded on board +the vessel, and Phips set sail with a shipload of his +old friends and neighbors, who could pay him only +in thanks. It is not unlikely that some of his own +brothers and sisters were among the rescued. Certainly +the extensive family of Phips must have +spread somewhat widely over the coast region of +Maine.</p> + +<p>William Phips's first adventure had proved unprofitable +except in works of charity. But he was +<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>not one to be easily put down, having in his nature +an abundance of the perilous stuff of ambition. He +was not the man to sit down and wait for fortune to +come to him. Rather, he belonged to those who go +to seek fortune. He was determined, he told his +wife, to become captain of a king's ship, and owner +of a fair brick house in the Green Lane of North +Boston. It took him some eight or nine years to +make good the first of these predictions, and then, +in the year 1683, he sailed into the harbor of Boston +as captain of the "Algier Rose," a frigate of eighteen +guns and ninety-five men.</p> + +<p>It was by the magic wand of sunken silver that +our hero achieved this success. The treasures of +Peru, loaded on Spanish ships, had not all reached +the ports of Spain. Some cargoes of silver had gone +to the bottom of the Atlantic. Phips had heard of +such a wreck on the Bahamas, had sailed thither, +and had made enough money by the enterprise to +pay him for a voyage to England. While in the Bahamas +he had been told of another Spanish wreck, +"wherein was lost a mighty treasure, hitherto undiscovered." +It was this that took him to England. +He had made up his mind to be the discoverer of this +sunken treasure-ship. The idea took possession of +him wholly. His hope was to interest some wealthy +persons, or the government itself, in his design. The +man must have had in him something of that silver-tongued +eloquence which makes persuasion easy, for +the royalties at Whitehall heard him with favor and +support, and he came back to New England captain +<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>of a king's ship, with full powers to search the seas +for silver.</p> + +<p>And now we have reached the verge of the +romance of the life of William Phips. He had before +him a difficult task, but he possessed the qualities +which enable men to meet and overcome difficulty. +The silver-ship was said to have been sunk +somewhere near the Bahamas; the exact spot it +was not easy to learn, for half a century had passed +since its demise. Sailing thither in the "Algier +Rose," Phips set himself to find the sunken treasure. +Here and there he dredged, using every effort to +gain information, trying every spot available, ending +now in disappointment, starting now with renewed +hope, continuing with unflagging energy. His frequent +failures would have discouraged a common +man, but Phips was not a common man, and would +not accept defeat.</p> + +<p>The resolute searcher had more than the difficulties +of the sea-bottom to contend with. His men +lost hope, grew weary of unprofitable labor, and at +last rose in mutiny They fancied that they saw +their way clear to an easier method of getting silver, +and marched with drawn cutlasses to the quarterdeck, +where they bade their commander to give up +his useless search and set sail for the South Seas. +There they would become pirates, and get silver +without dredging or drudging.</p> + +<p>It was a dangerous crisis. Phips stood with +empty hands before that crew of armed and reckless +men. Yet choler and courage proved stronger than +<a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>sword-blades. Roused to fury, he rushed upon the +mutineers with bare hands, knocked them down till +the deck was strewn with fallen bodies, and by sheer +force of anger and fearlessness quelled the mutiny +and forced the men to return to their duty.</p> + +<p>They were quelled, but not conquered. The daring +adventurer was to have a more dangerous encounter +with these would-be pirates. Some further time had +passed in fruitless search. The frigate lay careened +beside a rock of a Bahaman island, some eight or ten +men being at work on its barnacled sides, while the +others had been allowed to go on shore. They pretended +that they wished to take a ramble in the +tropical woods. What they wished to do was to +organize a more effectual mutiny, seize the ship, +leave the captain and those who held with him on +that island, and sail away as lawless rovers of the +deep.</p> + +<p>Under the great trees of that Spanish island, +moss-grown and bowery, in a secluded spot which +nature seemed to have set aside for secret counsels, +the mutinous crew perfected their plans, and signed +a round-robin compact which pledged all present to +the perilous enterprise. One man they needed to +make their project sure. They could not do without +the carpenter. He was at work on the vessel. They +sent him a message to come to them in the woods. +He came, heard their plans, affected to look on them +favorably, but asked for a half-hour to consider +the matter. This they were not disposed to grant. +They must have an answer at once. The carpenter +<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>looked about him; dark and resolute faces surrounded +him. Yet he earnestly declared he must +have the time. They vigorously declared he should +not. He was persistent, and in the end prevailed. +The half-hour respite was granted.</p> + +<p>The carpenter then said that he must return to +the vessel. His absence from his work would look +suspicious. They could send a man with him to see +that he kept faith. The enterprise would be in +danger if the captain noticed his absence. The +mutineers were not men of much intelligence or +shrewdness, and consented to his return. The carpenter, +who had at heart no thought of joining +the mutineers, had gained his point and saved +the ship. In spite of the guard upon his movements +he managed to get a minute's interview with +Captain Phips, in which he told him what was +afoot.</p> + +<p>He was quickly at his post again, and under the +eyes of his guard, but he had accomplished his purpose. +Captain Phips was quick to realize the danger, +and called about him those who were still in the +ship. They all agreed to stand by him. By good +fortune the gunner was among them. The energetic +captain lost no time in devising what was to be +done. During the work on the ship the provisions +had been taken ashore and placed in a tent, where +several pieces of artillery were mounted to defend +them, in case the Spaniards, to whom the island +belonged, should appear. Quickly but quietly these +guns were brought back to the ship. Then they and +<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a>the other guns of the ship were loaded and brought +to bear on the tent, and the gangway which connected +the ship with the land was drawn on board. +No great time had elapsed, but Captain Phips was +ready for his mutinous crew.</p> + +<p>To avert suspicion during these preparations, the +carpenter, at the suggestion of Phips, had gone +ashore, and announced himself as ready to join the +mutineers. This gave them great satisfaction, and +after a short interval to complete their plans they +issued in a body from the woods and approached the +ship. As they drew near the tent, however, they +looked at one another in surprise and dismay. The +guns were gone!</p> + +<p>"We are betrayed!" was the fearful whisper that +ran round the circle.</p> + +<p>"Stand off, you wretches, at your peril!" cried +the captain, in stern accents.</p> + +<p>The guns of the ship were trained upon them. +They knew the mettle of Captain Phips. In a minute +more cannon-balls might be ploughing deadly +gaps through their midst. They dared not fly; they +dared not fight. Panic fear took possession of them. +They fell upon their knees in a body, begged the +captain not to fire, and vowed that they would rather +live and die with him than any man in the world. +All they had found fault with was that he would not +turn pirate; otherwise he was the man of their +hearts.</p> + +<p>The captain was stern; they were humble and beseeching. +In the end he made them deliver up their +<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>arms, and then permitted them to come on board, +a thoroughly quelled body of mutineers. But Captain +Phips knew better than to trust these men a +third time. The moment the ship was in sailing +trim he hoisted anchor and sailed for Jamaica, where +he turned the whole crew, except the few faithful +ones, adrift, and shipped another crew, smaller, but, +as he hoped, more trustworthy.</p> + +<p>The treasure-ship still drew him like a magnet. +He had not begun to think of giving up the search. +Discouragement, failure, mutiny, were to him but +incidents. The silver was there, somewhere, and +have it he would, if perseverance would avail. From +Jamaica he sailed to Hispaniola. There his fluent +persuasiveness came again into play. He met a +very old man, Spaniard or Portuguese, who was said +to know where the ship lay, and "by the policy of +his address" wormed from him some further information +about the treasure-ship. The old man told +him that it had been wrecked on a reef of shoals a +few leagues from Hispaniola, and just north of Port +de la Plata, which place got its name from the landing +there of a boat-load of sailors with plate saved +from the sinking vessel. Phips proceeded thither +and searched narrowly, but without avail. The sea +held its treasures well. The charmed spot was not +to be found. The new crew, also, seemed growing +mutinous. Phips had had enough of mutiny. He +hoisted sail and made the best of his way back to +England.</p> + +<p>Here trouble and annoyance awaited him. He +<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>found powerful enemies. Doubtless ridicule also +met his projects. To plough the bottom of the Atlantic, +in search of a ship that had gone down fifty +years before, certainly seemed to yield fair food for +mirth. Yet the polite behavior, the plausible speech, +the enthusiasm and energy of the man had their +effect. He won friends among the higher nobility. +The story of the mutiny and of its bold suppression +had also its effect. A man who could attack a +horde of armed mutineers with his bare fists, a man +so ready and resolute in time of danger, so unflinchingly +persevering in time of discouragement, was +the man to succeed if success were possible. Finally, +the Duke of Albemarle and some others agreed to +supply funds for the expedition, and Captain Phips +in no long time had another ship under his feet, and +was once more upon the seas.</p> + +<p>His ship was now accompanied by a tender. He +had contrived many instruments to aid him in his +search. It is said that he invented the diving-bell. +There was certainly one used by him, but it may +have been an old device, improved by his Yankee +ingenuity.</p> + +<p>Port de la Plata was reached in due time, the +year being 1684 or 1685. Here Phips had a large +canoe or periago made, fitted for eight or ten oars. +It was hollowed out from the trunk of a cotton-tree, +he using "his own hands and adze" in the work, +enduring much hardship, and "lying abroad in the +woods many nights together."</p> + +<p>The shoals where search was to be made were +<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>known by the name of the "Boilers." They lay only +two or three feet below the surface, yet their sloping +sides were so steep that, says one author, "a ship +striking on them would immediately sink down, who +could say how many fathom, into the ocean?"</p> + +<p>The tender and the periago were anchored near +these dangerous shoals, and the work went on from +them. Days passed, still of fruitless labor. The +men, as they said, could make nothing of all their +"peeping among the Boilers," Fortunately they +had calm weather and a quiet sea, and could all day +long pursue their labors around and among the +shoals.</p> + +<p>A day came in which one of them, looking far +down into the smooth water, saw what is known as +a sea-feather, one of the attractive products of those +gardens of the seas, growing out of what seemed a +rock below him. He turned to an Indian diver, and +asked him to dive down and bring it up.</p> + +<p>"We will take it to the captain," he said. "It is +tiresome going back always empty-handed."</p> + +<p>The diver made the leap. In a minute he was +back with the sea-feather in his hand. There were +signs of excitement on his dusky face as he climbed +into the boat. He had indeed a surprising story to +tell.</p> + +<p>"I saw great guns down there," he said.</p> + +<p>"What? guns?" was the general cry.</p> + +<p>"Yes, great guns, as from some ship."</p> + +<p>"Guns!" The despondency of the crew at once +changed to ardent enthusiasm. Had they at length +<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>hit upon the spot for which they had so long sought +in vain? The Indian was told to dive again, and +see what could be found.</p> + +<p>He did so. When he came up, their eyes were +ready to start from their heads, for he bore with +him an object of infinite promise to their wealth-craving +souls. It was a lump of silver,—a "sow," +they called it,—worth some two or three hundred +pounds in money.</p> + +<p>The search was over! The spot was found! +Fortune lay within their reach! Marking the spot +with a buoy, they rowed back to the ship, on which +the captain had remained. Here they, disposed to +have some sport, declared with long faces that the +affair had better come to an end. They were wasting +time and labor; the sea had no treasure to yield.</p> + +<p>"If we were wise, captain," said the leading +speaker, "we'd pull up stakes and sail back for +merry old England. There's nothing but failure +here. As much work done in digging and drudging +at home would bring tenfold more profit."</p> + +<p>Phips listened in silence to him and the others, +looking from face to face.</p> + +<p>"Our disappointments have been many," he replied, +in a calm and resolute tone. "Yet I do not +despair. I am determined to wait patiently on +God's providence. We will find the treasure-ship +yet, my lads. Do not lose courage."</p> + +<p>Turning his gaze to one side as he spoke, he +started violently, and then asked, in a tone so constrained +that it seemed the voice of agony,—</p> + +<p><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>"Why, what is this? Whence comes this?"</p> + +<p>He had caught sight of the sow of silver, which +they had cunningly laid a little out of direct vision.</p> + +<p>"It is silver, Captain Phips," said the spokesman. +"We did but jest with you. That came from the +bottom of the sea. All is well; we have found the +treasure-ship."</p> + +<p>"Then, thanks be to God, we are made!" cried the +captain, clasping his hands in fervent thankfulness.</p> + +<p>There was no longer any lack of energy in the +labor. All hands went to work with a hearty good-ill. +Curiosity to learn what the sea had to yield +wrought upon them as much as desire for reward. +Up came the silver, sow after sow. In a short time +they had brought up no less than thirty-two tons +of this precious metal, with six tons besides that +were raised and appropriated by a Captain Adderly, +of Providence, whom Phips had engaged to help +him, and who took this means of helping himself. +His crew was small, but his diligence great.</p> + +<p>The silver was not all in sows. Much of it was +coined, and this coined silver was, in many cases, +covered with a crust, several inches thick, of limestone-like +material. It came out in great lumps, the +crust needing to be broken with iron tools, when out +would tumble whole bushels of rusty pieces of eight, +Nor was the treasure confined to silver. There +came up gold in large quantities, and also pearls and +other precious stones. The Spaniards had gleaned +actively in those days of old, when the treasures of +Peru were theirs for the taking; and the ocean, its +<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>secret hiding-place once found, yielded generously. +In short, the treasure recovered is said to have been +worth nearly three hundred thousand pounds +sterling. They did not exhaust the deposit. Their +provisions failed, and they had to leave before the +work was completed. Others who came after them +were well paid for their labor.</p> + +<p>The treasure on board, Captain Phips had new +trouble. The men, seeing "such vast litters of silver +sows and pigs come on board," were not content +with ordinary sailors' pay. They might even be +tempted to seize the ship and take its rich lading +for themselves. Phips was in great apprehension. +He had not forgotten the conduct of his former +crew. He did his utmost to gain the friendship of +his men, and promised them a handsome reward +for their services, even if he had to give them all his +own share.</p> + +<p>England was reached in safety, and the kingdom +electrified by the story of Captain Phips's success. +The romantic incidents of the narrative attracted +universal attention. Phips was the hero of the hour. +Some of his enemies, it is true, did their utmost to +make him a wronged hero. They diligently sought +to persuade James II., then on the throne, to seize +the whole treasure as the appanage of the crown, +and not be content with the tithe to which his prerogative +entitled him. James II. was tyrannical but +not unjust. He refused to rob the mariners. "Captain +Phips," he said, "he saw to be a person of that +honesty, ability, and fidelity that he should not +want his countenance."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>Phips was certainly honest,—so much so, indeed, +that little of the treasure came to him. His promises +to his men were carefully kept; his employers +were paid the last penny of their dues; in the end, +out of the whole, there remained to himself less than +sixteen thousand pounds. The Duke of Albemarle, +moved by admiration for his honesty, gave him, as a +present from his wife, a gold cup of the value of +nearly one thousand pounds. As for the king, he +was so pleased with the whole conduct of the adventurer, +and perhaps so charmed by Phips's silvery +speech, that he conferred on him the honor of +knighthood, and the plain Kennebec boy became Sir +William Phips, and a member of the aristocracy of +England.</p> + +<p>Every one acknowledged that the discoverer owed +his success to merit, not to luck. He was evidently +a man of the highest capacity, and might, had he +chosen, have filled high places and gained great +honors in England. But America was his native +land, and he was not to be kept from its shores.</p> + +<p>He became such a favorite at court, that one day, +when King James was particularly gracious to him, +and asked him what favor he desired, he replied that +he asked nothing for himself, but hoped that the +king would restore to his native province its lost +liberties, by returning the charter of which it had +been deprived.</p> + +<p>"Anything but that!" exclaimed James, who had +no idea of restoring liberty to mother-land or colony.</p> + +<p>He appointed Phips, however, high sheriff of +<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>New England, and the adventurer returned home as +a man of power and station. On his way there +he visited the silver-ship again, and succeeded in +adding something of value to his fortune. Then, +sailing to Boston, he rejoined his wife after a five +years' absence, and, to complete the realization of +his predictions, immediately began to build himself +a "fair brick house in Green Lane."</p> + +<p>We have finished our story, which was to tell how +the sheep-boy of the Kennebec rose to be high +sheriff of New England, with the privilege of writing +"Sir" before his name. His after-life was little +less memorable than the part of it told, but we +have no space left to tell it in.</p> + +<p>King James was soon driven from the throne, and +King William took his place, but Sir William Phips +retained his power and influence. In 1690 he led +an army against Port Royal in Acadia, took it, and +came back to receive the plaudits of the Bostonians. +He next attempted to conquer all Canada from the +French, attacked Quebec with a strong force, but +was repulsed, largely in consequence of a storm that +scattered his ships. The Bostonians had now no +plaudits for him. The expedition had cost New England +about forty thousand pounds, and there was +not a penny in the treasury. The difficulty was +overcome by the issue of treasury-notes, an expedient +which was not adopted in England till five +years afterwards. Charles Montagu, the alleged +inventor of exchequer bills doubtless owed his idea +to the sharp-witted Bostonians.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a>The beginning of 1692 found Sir William again +in England, whence he came back to his native +land as captain-general and governor-in-chief of the +colony of Massachusetts. From sheep-boy he had +risen to the title of "Your Excellency." Phips was +governor of Massachusetts during the witchcraft +delusion. The part he took in it was not a very +active one; but when, in 1693, he found that +grand juries were beginning to throw out indictments, +and petit juries to return verdicts of "Not +guilty," he ended the whole mad business by emptying +the prisons, then containing about one hundred +and fifty persons committed, while over two hundred +more were accused. In 1693 Governor Phips led +an expedition against the Indians of Maine, and +forced them to conclude a treaty of peace. In 1694 +he went to England, to answer certain accusations +against his conduct as governor, and here was taken +suddenly sick, and died February 18, 1695.</p> + +<p>The noble house of Phips, thus instituted, has +steadily grown in rank and dignity since that date, +bearing successively the titles of baron, viscount, +earl, until finally, in 1838, a Phips attained the rank +of marquis of Normandy. It is a remarkable development +from the life of that poor boy, one of a +family of twenty-six, whose early life was spent in +tending sheep in the wilderness of Maine.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a> +<a name="THE_STORY_OF_THE_REGICIDES" id="THE_STORY_OF_THE_REGICIDES"></a> +THE STORY OF THE REGICIDES.</h2> + + +<p>The years 1675 and 1676 were years of terrible +experience for New England. The most dreadful +of all the Indian outbreaks of that region—that +known as King Philip's War—was raging, and hundreds +of the inhabitants fell victims to the ruthless +rage of their savage foes. Whole villages perished, +their inhabitants being slain on the spot, or carried +away captive for the more cruel fate of Indian vengeance. +The province was in a state of terror, for +none knew at what moment the terrible war-whoop +might sound, and the murderous enemy be upon +them with tomahawk and brand.</p> + +<p>Everywhere the whites were on the alert. The +farmer went to his fields with his musket as an +indispensable companion. Outlying houses were +guarded like fortresses. Even places of worship +were converted into strongholds, and the people +prayed with musket in hand, and, while listening to +the exhortations of their pastors, kept keenly alive +to the sounds without, for none could tell at what +moment the foe might break in on their devotions.</p> + +<p>In the frontier town of Hadley, Massachusetts, +then on the northwestern edge of civilization, on a +day in the summer of 1676, the people were thus all +gathered at the meeting-house, engaged in divine +service. It was a day of fasting and prayer, set +<a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>aside to implore God's aid to relieve the land from +the reign of terror which had come upon it. Yet +the devout villagers, in their appeal for spiritual +aid, did not forget the importance of temporal +weapons. They had brought their muskets with +them, and took part in the pious exercises with these +carnal instruments of safety within easy reach of +their hands.</p> + +<p>Their caution was well advised. In the midst of +their devotional exercises a powerful body of Indians +made a sudden onslaught upon the village. They +had crept up in their usual stealthy way, under +cover of trees and bushes, and their wild yells as +they assailed the outlying houses were the first intimation +of their approach.</p> + +<p>These alarming sounds reached the ears of the +worshippers, and quickly brought their devotional +services to an end. In an instant all thought of +dependence upon the Almighty was replaced by the +instinct of dependence upon themselves. Grasping +their weapons, they hurried out, to find themselves +face to face with the armed and exultant savages, +who now crowded the village street, and whose cries +of triumph filled the air with discordant sounds.</p> + +<p>The people were confused and frightened, huddled +together with little show of order or discipline, and +void of the spirit and energy necessary to meet their +threatening foe. The Indians were on all sides, +completely surrounding them. The suddenness of +the alarm and the evidence of imminent peril robbed +the villagers of their usual vigor and readiness, +<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>signs of panic were visible, and had the Indians +attacked at that moment the people must have been +hurled back in disorderly flight, to become in great +part the victims of their foes.</p> + +<p>It was a critical moment. Was Hadley to suffer +the fate of other frontier towns, or would the recent +prayers of pastor and people bring some divine interposition +in their favor? Yes; suddenly it seemed +as if God indeed had come to their aid; for as they +stood there in a state of nerveless dread a venerable +stranger appeared in their midst, a tall, stately personage, +with long white hair, and dressed in +strange, old-fashioned garb, his countenance beaming +with energy and decision.</p> + +<p>"Quick," he cried, "into line and order at once! +The Indians are about to charge upon you. Take +heart, and prepare for them, or they will slaughter +you like sheep."</p> + +<p>With the air of one born to command, he hastily +formed the band of villagers into military array, +displaying such skill and ardor that their temporary +fright vanished, to be succeeded by courage and confidence. +Had not the Almighty sent this venerable +stranger to their aid? Should they fear when led +by God's messenger?</p> + +<p>"Now, upon them!" cried their mysterious leader. +"We must have the advantage of the assault!"</p> + +<p>Putting himself at their head, he led them on +with an ardor remarkable in one of his years. The +savages, who had been swarming together preparatory +to an attack, beheld with surprise this orderly +<a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a>rush forward of the villagers, and shrunk from their +death-dealing and regular volleys. And the white-haired +form who led their foes with such fearless +audacity struck terror to their superstitious souls, +filling them with dread and dismay.</p> + +<p>The struggle that followed was short and decisive. +Animated by the voice and example of their leader, +the small band attacked their savage enemies with +such vigor and show of discipline that in very few +minutes the Indians were in full flight for the +wilderness, leaving a considerable number of dead +upon the ground. Of the villagers only two or +three had fallen.</p> + +<p>The grateful people, when the turmoil and confusion +of the affray were over, turned to thank their +venerable leader for his invaluable aid. To their +surprise he was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished +in the same mysterious manner as he had +appeared. They looked at one another in bewilderment. +What did this strange event signify? Had +God really sent one of his angels from heaven, in +response to their prayers, to rescue them from destruction? +Such was the conclusion to which some +of the people came, while the most of them believed +that there was some miracle concerned in their +strange preservation.</p> + +<p>This interesting story, which tradition has preserved +in the form here given, has a no less interesting +sequel. We know, what most of the villagers +never knew, who their preserver was, and how it +happened that he came so opportunely to their +<a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>rescue. To complete our narrative we must go back +years in time, to the date of 1649, the year of the +execution of Charles I. of England.</p> + +<p>Fifty-nine signatures had been affixed to the +death-warrant of this royal criminal. A number of +the signers afterwards paid the penalty of that day's +work on the scaffold. We are concerned here only +with two of them, Generals Whalley and Goffe, who, +after the death of Cromwell and the return of +Charles II., fled for safety to New England, knowing +well what would be their fate if found in their +mother-land. A third of the regicides, Colonel +Dixwell, afterwards joined them in America, but +his story is void of the romance which surrounded +that of his associates.</p> + +<p>Whalley and Goffe reached Boston in July, 1660. +The vessel that brought them brought also tidings +that Charles II. was on the throne. The fugitives +were well received. They had stood high in the +Commonwealth, brought letters of commendation +from Puritan ministers in England, and hoped to +dwell in peace in Cambridge, where they decided to +fix their residence. But the month of November +brought a new story to Boston. In the Act of +Indemnity passed by Parliament the names of +Whalley and Goffe were among those left out. They +had played a part in the execution of the king, and +to the regicides no mercy was to be shown. Their +estates were confiscated; their lives declared forfeited; +any man who befriended them did so at his +own peril.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>These tidings produced excitement and alarm in +Boston. The Puritans of the colony were all warmly +inclined towards their endangered guests. Some +would have protected them at all hazards; others +felt inclined to help them to escape; a few thought +it might be their duty to take them prisoners.</p> + +<p>The illustrious fugitives settled this difficulty by +privately leaving Cambridge and making their way +overland to New Haven. Here they were well received. +In truth, the Rev. John Davenport, one of +the founders of the colony, did not hesitate to speak +to his congregation in their behalf. We quote from +his bold and significant words, whose slightly masked +meaning his hearers failed not to understand.</p> + +<p>"Withhold not countenance, entertainment, and +protection from the people of God,—whom men may +call fools and fanatics,—if any such come to you +from other countries, as from France or England, +or any other place. Be not forgetful to entertain +strangers. Hide the outcasts, betray not him that +wandereth. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, +Moab. Be thou a covert to them from the face of +the spoiler."</p> + +<p>Mr. Davenport was not afraid to live up to the +spirit of his words. For several weeks the regicides +dwelt openly in his house. But meanwhile a proclamation +from the king had reached Boston, ordering +their arrest as traitors and murderers. News of +its arrival was quickly received at New Haven. The +fugitives, despite the sympathy of the people, were +in imminent danger. Measures must be taken for +their safety.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a>They left New Haven and proceeded to Milford, +where they showed themselves in public. But by +night they covertly returned, and for more than a +week lay hid in Mr. Davenport's cellar. This cellar +is still in existence, and the place in it where the +fugitives are said to have hidden may still be seen.</p> + +<p>But their danger soon grew more imminent. Peremptory +orders came from England for their arrest. +Governor Endicott felt obliged to act decisively. He +gave commission to two young royalists who had +recently come from England, empowering them to +search through Massachusetts for the fugitives. +Letters to the governors of the other colonies, requesting +aid in their purpose, were also given them.</p> + +<p>These agents of the king at once started on their +mission of death. They had no difficulty in tracing +the fugitives to New Haven. One person went so +far as to tell them that the men they sought were +secreted in Mr. Davenport's house. Stopping at +Guilford, they showed their warrant to Mr. Leete, +the deputy-governor, and demanded horses for their +journey, and aid and power to search for and apprehend +the fugitives.</p> + +<p>Deputy Leete had little heart for this task. He +knew very well where the fugitives were, but managed +to make such excuses and find so many reasons +for delay that the agents, who arrived on Saturday, +were detained until Sunday, and then, as this was +Puritan New England, could not get away till Monday. +Meanwhile a secret messenger was on his way +to New Haven, to warn the fugitives of their danger. +<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>On hearing this startling news they hastily removed +from their hiding-place in Mr. Davenport's house, +and were taken to a secluded mill two miles away.</p> + +<p>The royal messengers reached New Haven and +demanded the assistance of the authorities in their +search. They failed to get it. Every obstacle was +thrown in their way. They equally failed to find +any trace of the fugitives, though the latter did not +leave the immediate vicinity of the town. After +two days at the mill they were taken to a hiding-place +at a spot called Hatchet Harbor, and soon +afterwards, finding this place too exposed, they removed +to a cavern-like covert in a heap of large +stones, near the summit of West Rock, not far from +the town. Here they remained in hiding for several +months, being supplied with food from a lonely +farm-house in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>The royal agents, finding their search fruitless +and their efforts to get aid from the magistrates +vexatiously baffled, at length returned to Boston, +where they told a bitter story of the obstinate and +pertinacious contempt of his Majesty's orders displayed +by these New Haven worthies. The chase +thus given up, the fugitives found shelter in a house +in Milford, where they dwelt in seclusion for two +years.</p> + +<p>But danger returned. The king demanded blood-revenge +for his father's death. Commissioners from +England reached Boston, armed with extraordinary +powers of search. The pursuit was renewed with +greater energy than before. The fugitives, finding +<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a>the danger imminent, and fearing to bring their +protectors into trouble, returned to their cave. Here +they lay for some time in security, while the surrounding +country was being actively scoured by +parties of search. On one occasion, when out of +their place of shelter, they were so nearly overtaken +that they only escaped by hiding under a bridge. +This was what is known as Neck Bridge, over Mill +River. As they sat beneath it they heard above +them the hoof-beats of their pursuers' horses on the +bridge. The sleuth-hounds of the law passed on +without dreaming how nearly their victims had been +within their reach. This was not the only narrow +escape of the fugitives. Several times they were +in imminent danger of capture, yet fortune always +came to their aid.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image076" id="image076"></a> +<a href="images/image076h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image076.jpg" + alt="THE CAVE OF THE REGICIDES." + title="THE CAVE OF THE REGICIDES." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">THE CAVE OF THE REGICIDES.</p> +</div> + +<p>A day arrived in which the cave ceased to serve as +a safe harbor of refuge. A party of Indians, hunting +in the woods, discovered its lurking occupants. +Fearing that the savages might betray them, to +obtain the large reward offered, the fugitives felt +it necessary to seek a new place of shelter. A promising +plan was devised by their friends, who included +all the pious Puritans of the colony. Leaving the +vicinity of New Haven, and travelling by night only, +the aged regicides made their way, through many +miles of forest, to Hadley, then an outpost in the +wilderness. Here the Rev. John Russell, who ministered +to the spiritual wants of the inhabitants, +gladly received and sheltered them. His house had +been lately added to, and contained many rooms and +<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a>closets. In doing this work a hiding-place had been +prepared for his expected guests. One of the closets, +in the garret, had doors opening into two chambers, +while its floor-boards were so laid that they could be +slipped aside and admit to a dark under-closet. +From this there seems to have been a passage-way +to the cellar.</p> + +<p>With this provision for their retreat, in case the +house should be searched, Mr. Russell gave harbor +to the hunted regicides, the secret of their presence +being known only to his family and one or two of +the most trusty inhabitants. The fugitives, happily +for them, had no occasion to avail themselves of the +concealed closet. Their place of hiding remained for +years unsuspected. In time the rigor of the search +was given up, and for many years they remained +here in safety, their secret being remarkably well +kept. It was in 1664 that they reached Hadley. +In 1676, when Colonel Goffe so opportunely served +the villagers in their extremity, so little was it +known that two strangers had dwelt for twelve +years concealed in their midst, that some of the +people, as we have said, decided that their rescuer +must be an angel from heaven, in default of other +explanation of his sudden appearance.</p> + +<p>There is little more to say about them. General +Whalley died at Hadley, probably in the year of the +Indian raid, and was buried in the cellar of Mr. +Russell's house, his secret being kept even after his +death. His bones have since been found there. As +for General Goffe, his place of exit from this earth +<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a>is a mystery. Tradition says that he left Hadley, +went "westward towards Virginia," and vanished +from human sight and knowledge. The place of +his death and burial remains unknown.</p> + +<p>It may be said, in conclusion, that Colonel Dixwell +joined his fellow-regicides in Hadley in 1665. +He had taken the name of Davids, was not known +to be in America, and was comparatively safe. He +had no reason to hide, and dwelt in a retired part +of the town, where his presence and intercourse +doubtless went far to relieve the monotony of life +of his fellows in exile. He afterwards lived many +years in New Haven, where he spent much of his +time in reading,—history being his favorite study,—in +walking in the neighboring groves, and in intercourse +with the more cultivated inhabitants, the +Rev. Mr. Pierpont being his intimate friend. He +married twice while here, and at his death left a +wife and two children, who resumed his true name, +which he made known in his last illness. His +descendants are well known in New England, and +the Dixwells are among the most respected Boston +families of to-day.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a> +<a name="HOW_THE_CHARTER_WAS_SAVED" id="HOW_THE_CHARTER_WAS_SAVED"></a> +HOW THE CHARTER WAS SAVED.</h2> + + +<p>Not until James II. became king of England was +a determined effort made to take away the liberties +of the American colonies. All New England, up to +that time, had been virtually free, working under +charters of very liberal character, and governing +itself in its own way and with its own elected rulers. +Connecticut, with whose history we are now concerned, +received its charter in 1662, from Charles +II., and went on happily and prosperously until +James ascended the throne. This bigoted tyrant, +who spent his short reign in seeking to overthrow +the liberties of England, quickly determined that +America needed disciplining, and that these much +too independent colonists ought to be made to feel +the dominant authority of the king. The New England +colonies in particular, which claimed charter +rights and disdained royal governors, must be made +to yield their patents and privileges, and submit to +the rule of a governor-general, appointed by the +king, with paramount authority over the colonies.</p> + +<p>Sir Edmund Andros, a worthy minion of a tyrant, +was chosen as the first governor-general, and arrived +at Boston in December, 1686, determined to bring +these rampant colonists to a sense of their duty as +humble subjects of his royal master. He quickly +began to display autocratic authority, with an offen<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a>siveness +of manner that disgusted the citizens as +much as his acts of tyranny annoyed them. The +several colonies were peremptorily ordered to deliver +up their charters. With the response to this command +we are not here concerned, except in the case +of Connecticut, which absolutely refused.</p> + +<p>Months passed, during which the royal representative +aped kingly manners and dignity in Boston, +and Connecticut went on undisturbed except by his +wordy fulminations. But in October of the next +year he made his appearance at Hartford, attended +by a body-guard of some sixty soldiers and officers. +The Assembly was in session. Sir Edmund marched +with an important air into the chamber, and in a +peremptory tone demanded that the charter should +be immediately placed in his hands.</p> + +<p>This demand put the members into an awkward +dilemma. The charter was in Hartford, in a place +easy of access; Sir Edmund was prepared to seize it +by force if it were not quickly surrendered; how to +save this precious instrument of liberty did not at +once appear. The members temporized, received +their unwelcome visitor with every show of respect, +and entered upon a long and calm debate, with a +wearisome deliberation which the impatience of the +governor-general could not hasten or cut short.</p> + +<p>Governor Treat, the presiding officer of the Assembly, +addressed Sir Edmund in tones of remonstrance +and entreaty. The people of America, he +said, had been at the greatest expense and had suffered +the most extreme hardships in planting the +<a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>country; they had freely spent their blood and +treasure in defending it against savage natives and +foreign aggressors; and all this had been done for +the honor and glory of the motherland. He himself +had endured hardships and been environed by perils, +and it would be like giving up his life to surrender +the patent and privileges so dearly bought and so +long enjoyed.</p> + +<p>Argument of this kind was wasted on Sir Edmund. +Remonstrance and appeal were alike in +vain. It was the charter he wanted, not long-winded +excuses, and he fumed and fretted while +the slow-talking members wasted the hours in what +he looked upon as useless argument.</p> + +<p>Night had been drawing near on his entrance. +Darkness settled upon the Assembly while the debate +went on. Lights were now brought in,—the +tallow candles of our colonial forefathers,—and +placed upon the table round which the members sat. +By this time Sir Edmund's impatience at their +procrastination had deepened into anger, and he +demanded the charter in so decided tones that the +reluctant governor gave orders that it should be +produced. The box containing it was brought into +the chamber and laid upon the table, the cover removed, +and there before their eyes lay the precious +parchment, the charter of colonial liberty.</p> + +<p>Still the members talked and procrastinated. But +it is not easy to restrain the hound when within +sight of the game which it has long pursued. Before +the eyes of Sir Edmund lay that pestiferous paper +<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a>which had given him such annoyance. His impatience +was no longer to be restrained. In the +midst of the long-drawn-out oratory of the members +he rose and stepped towards the table to seize the +object in dispute.</p> + +<p>At that critical instant there came an unexpected +diversion. During the debate a number of the more +important citizens had entered the room, and stood +near the table round which the members sat. Suddenly, +from the midst of those people, a long cloak +was deftly flung, with such sure aim that it fell +upon the circle of blazing candles, extinguishing +them all, and in a moment throwing the room +into total darkness.</p> + +<p>Confusion followed. There were quick and excited +movements within the room. Outside, the +crowd which had assembled set up a lusty cheer, +and a number of them pushed into the chamber. +The members stirred uneasily in their seats. Sir +Edmund angrily exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"What means this, gentlemen? Is some treachery +at work? Guard the charter! Light those candles +instantly!"</p> + +<p>The attendants hastened to obey; but haste in +procuring light in those days had a different meaning +than now. The lucifer-match had not yet been +dreamed of. The flint-and-steel was a slow conception. +Several minutes elapsed before the candles +again shed their feeble glow through the room.</p> + +<p>With the first gleam of light every eye was fixed +upon the box which had contained the charter. It +was empty! The charter was gone!</p> + +<p><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>Just what Sir Edmund said on this occasion history +has not recorded. Those were days in which +the most exalted persons dealt freely in oaths, and +it is to be presumed that the infuriated governor-general +used words that must have sadly shocked +the pious ears of his Puritan auditors.</p> + +<p>But the charter had vanished, and could not be +sworn back into the box. Where it had gone probably +no one knew; certainly no one was willing to +say. The members looked at one another in blank +astonishment. The lookers-on manifested as blank +an ignorance, though their faces beamed with delight. +It had disappeared as utterly as if it had +sunk into the earth, and the oaths of Sir Edmund +and his efforts to recover it proved alike in vain.</p> + +<p>But the mystery of that night after-history has +revealed, and the story can now be told. In truth, +some of those present in the hall knew far more +than they cared to tell. In the darkness a quick-moving +person had made a lane through the throng +to a neighboring window whose sash was thrown up. +Out of this he leaped to the ground below. Here +people were thickly gathered.</p> + +<p>"Make way," he said (or may have said, for his +real words have not been preserved), "for Connecticut +and liberty. I have the charter."</p> + +<p>The cheers redoubled. The crowd separated and +let him through. In a minute he had disappeared +in the darkness beyond.</p> + +<p>Sir Edmund meanwhile was storming like a fury +in the hall; threatening the colony with the anger +<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a>of the king; declaring that every man in the chamber +should be searched; fairly raving in his disappointment. +Outside, the bold fugitive sped swiftly +along the dark and quiet streets, ending his course +at length in front of a noble and imposing oak-tree, +which stood before the house of the Honorable +Samuel Wyllys, one of the colonial magistrates.</p> + +<p>This tree was hollow; the opening slender without, +large within. Deeply into this cavity the +fugitive thrust his arm, pushing the precious packet +as far as it would go, and covering it thickly with +fine débris at the bottom of the trunk.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image085" id="image085"></a> +<a href="images/image085h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image085.jpg" + alt="THE CHARTER OAK, HARTFORD." + title="THE CHARTER OAK, HARTFORD." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">THE CHARTER OAK, HARTFORD.</p> +</div> + +<p>"So much for Sir Edmund," he said. "Let him +now rob Connecticut of the charter of its liberties, +if he can."</p> + +<p>Tradition—for it must be acknowledged that this +story is traditional, though probably true in its +main elements—tells us that this daring individual +was Captain Joseph Wadsworth, a bold and energetic +militia-leader who was yet to play another +prominent part in the drama of colonial life.</p> + +<p>As for the Charter Oak, it long remained Hartford's +most venerated historical monument. It became +in time a huge tree, twenty-five feet in circumference +near the roots. The cavity in which the +charter was hidden grew larger year by year, until +it was wide enough within to contain a child, though +the orifice leading to it gradually closed until it was +hardly large enough to admit a hand. This grand +monument to liberty survived until 1856, when tempest +in its boughs and decay in its trunk brought +it in ruin to the earth.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>What followed may be briefly told. The charter +lost, Sir Edmund Andros assumed control, declared +the privileges granted by it to be annulled, and +issued a proclamation in which the liberties of the +colonies were replaced by the tyranny of autocratic +rule. The colonists were forced to submit, but +their submission was one of discontent and barely-concealed +revolt. Fortunately the tyranny of Sir +Edmund lasted not long. The next year the royal +tyrant of England was driven from his throne, +and the chain which he had laid upon the neck +of Britannia and her colonies was suddenly removed.</p> + +<p>The exultation in America knew no bounds. Andros +was seized and thrown into prison in Boston, +to preserve him from a ruder fate from the mob. +Early in the next year he was shipped to England. +Captain Wadsworth withdrew the charter from the +hiding-place which had safely kept its secret until +that hour, and placed it in the hands of the delighted +governor. Jurists in England had declared that it +was still in force, and the former government was +at once resumed, amid the most earnest manifestations +of joy by the populace.</p> + +<p>Yet the liberties of Connecticut were soon again +to be imperilled, and were to be save once more by +the intrepid daring of Captain Wadsworth.</p> + +<p>It was now the year 1693. William of Orange +had been for some years on the English throne. +While far more liberal than his predecessor, his acts +had somewhat limited the former freedom of the +<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>New England colonies. He did not attempt to appoint +royal governors over these truculent people, +but on Governor Fletcher, of New York, were conferred +privileges which went far to set aside the +charter rights of the neighboring colony.</p> + +<p>In brief, this royal governor was given full power +of command over the militia of Connecticut, an act +in direct contravention of the charter, which placed +the military control in the hands of the colonial +authorities. Fletcher pressed his claim. The governor +indignantly refused to yield his rights. The +people ardently supported him.</p> + +<p>Filled with blustering indignation, Governor +Fletcher left New York and came to Hartford, +determined that his authority should be acknowledged. +He reached there on October 26, 1693.</p> + +<p>He called upon the governor and other authorities, +armed with the royal commission, and sternly +demanded that the command of the militia should +be handed over to him.</p> + +<p>"You have played with me in this matter," he +asserted. "Now I demand an answer, immediate, +and in two words, Yes or No. And I require that +the militia of Hartford shall be instantly ordered +under arms."</p> + +<p>"As for the latter, it shall be as you wish," answered +the governor "As for the former, we deny +your authority. Nor will I, as you suggest, consent +to hold command as your representative."</p> + +<p>The train-bands were ordered out. The demand +had been expected, and no long time elapsed before +<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a>these citizen-soldiers were assembled on the drill-ground +of Hartford,—an awkward squad, probably, +if we may judge from the train-bands of later +days, but doubtless containing much good soldierly +material.</p> + +<p>At their head stood their senior officer, Captain +Wadsworth, the same bold patriot who had so signally +defeated a royal governor six years before. He +was now to add to his fame by as signally defeating +another royal governor.</p> + +<p>When the New York potentate, accompanied by +the governor and a number of the assemblymen, and +by the members of his staff, reached the place, they +found the valiant captain walking up and down +before his men, busily engaged in putting them +through their exercises.</p> + +<p>Governor Fletcher stepped forward importantly, +produced his commission and instructions, and ordered +them to be read to the assembled troops. The +person to whom he handed them unfolded the commission, +advanced to the front of the line, and prepared +to read. He did not know with whom he had +to deal.</p> + +<p>"Beat the drums!" cried Captain Wadsworth, +in a stentorian voice.</p> + +<p>Instantly there broke out a roar that utterly +drowned the voice of the reader.</p> + +<p>"Silence!" exclaimed Fletcher, angrily advancing.</p> + +<p>The drums ceased their rattling uproar. Silence +once more prevailed. The reader began again.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>"Drum! drum, I say!" thundered Wadsworth.</p> + +<p>Again such an uproar filled the air as only drum-heads +beaten by vigorous arms can make.</p> + +<p>"Silence! silence!" cried Fletcher, furiously. +The drums ceased.</p> + +<p>"Drum! drum, I say!" roared Wadsworth. Then, +turning to the governor, and handling his sword +significantly, he continued, in resolute tones, "If I +am interrupted again I will make the sun shine +through you in a minute."</p> + +<p>This fierce threat ended the business. Governor +Fletcher had no fancy for being riddled by this +truculent captain of militia. King William's commission +doubtless had its weight, but the king was +three thousand miles away across the seas, and +Captain Wadsworth and his trainbands were unpleasantly +near. Governor Fletcher deemed it unwise +to try too strongly the fiery temper of the +Hartford militiaman; he and his suite returned +hastily to New York, and that was the last that +was heard of a royal commander for the militia of +Connecticut.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a> +<a name="HOW_FRANKLIN_CAME_TO_PHILADELPHIA" id="HOW_FRANKLIN_CAME_TO_PHILADELPHIA"></a> +HOW FRANKLIN CAME TO PHILADELPHIA.</h2> + + +<p>To-day we may make our way from New York to +Philadelphia in a two-hour "Flyer," with palace-car +accommodations. To-morrow, perhaps, the +journey will be made in ninety minutes. Such, at +least, is the nearly-realized dream of railroad-men. +A century and a half ago this journey took considerably +more time, and was made with much less +comfort. There is on record an interesting narrative +of how the trip was made in 1723, which is +worth giving as a contrast to present conditions.</p> + +<p>The traveller was no less notable a personage than +Benjamin Franklin, who, much to the after-advantage +of the Quaker City, had run away from too +severe an apprenticeship in Boston, failed to obtain +employment in New York, and learned that work +might be had in Philadelphia. The story of how he +came thither cannot be told better than in his own +homely language, so we will suffer him to speak for +himself.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image090" id="image090"></a> +<a href="images/image090h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image090.jpg" + alt="PRINTING-PRESS AT WHICH FRANKLIN WORKED WHEN A BOY." + title="PRINTING-PRESS AT WHICH FRANKLIN WORKED WHEN A BOY." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">PRINTING-PRESS AT WHICH FRANKLIN WORKED WHEN A BOY.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Philadelphia was one hundred miles farther; +I set out, however, in a boat for Amboy, leaving +my chest and things to follow me round by sea. In +crossing the bay, we met with a squall that tore our +rotten sail to pieces, prevented our getting into the +Kill, and drove us upon Long Island. In our way +a drunken Dutchman, who was a passenger too, +<a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a>fell overboard; when he was sinking, I reached +through the water to his shock pate and drew him +up, so that we got him in again. His ducking sobered +him a little, and he went to sleep, taking first +out of his pocket a book, which he desired I would +dry for him."</p> + +<p>The book proved to be the "Pilgrim's Progress," +in Dutch, well printed, and with copper-plate illustrations, +a fact which greatly interested the book-loving +traveller.</p> + +<p>"On approaching the island, we found it was a +place where there could be no landing, there being +a great surge on the stony beach. So we dropped +anchor, and swung out our cable towards the shore. +Some people came down to the shore, and hallooed +to us, as we did to them; but the wind was so high, +and the surge so loud, that we could not understand +each other. There were some small boats near the +shore, and we made signs, and called to them to +fetch us; but they either did not comprehend us, or +it was impracticable, so they went off.</p> + +<p>"Night approaching, we had no remedy but to +have patience till the wind abated, and in the mean +time the boatman and myself concluded to sleep, if +we could; and so we crowded into the hatches, where +we joined the Dutchman, who was still wet, and the +spray, breaking over the head of our boat, leaked +through to us, so that we were soon almost as wet +as he. In this manner we lay all night, with very +little rest; but the wind abating the next day, we +made a shift to reach Amboy before night, having +<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>been thirty hours on the water, without victuals, or +any drink but a bottle of filthy rum, the water we +sailed on being salt."</p> + +<p>The story seems hard to credit. The travellers +had already spent fifteen times the period it now +takes to make the complete journey, and were but +fairly started; while they had experienced almost +as much hardship as though they were wrecked +mariners, cast upon a desolate coast. The remainder +of the journey was no less wearisome. The traveller +thus continues his narrative:</p> + +<p>"In the evening I found myself very feverish, +and went to bed; but having read somewhere that +cold water drunk plentifully was good for a fever, I +followed the prescription, and sweat plentifully most +of the night. My fever left me, and in the morning, +crossing the ferry, I proceeded on my journey on +foot, having fifty miles to go to Burlington, where I +was told I should find boats that would carry me +the rest of the way to Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>"It rained very hard all the day; I was thoroughly +soaked, and by noon a good deal tired; so I +stopped at a poor inn, where I stayed all night, beginning +now to wish I had never left home. I made +so miserable a figure, too, that I found, by the questions +asked me, I was suspected to be some runaway +indentured servant, and in danger of being taken +up on that suspicion. However, I proceeded next +day, and in the evening got to an inn, within eight +or ten miles of Burlington, kept by one Dr. Brown. +He entered into conversation with me while I took +some refreshment, and, finding I had read a little, +<a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a>became very obliging and friendly. Our acquaintance +continued all the rest of his life. He had been, +I imagine, an ambulatory quack doctor, for there was +no town in England, nor any country in Europe, of +which he could not give a very particular account. +He had some letters, and was ingenious, but he was +an infidel, and wickedly undertook, some years after, +to turn the Bible into doggerel verse, as Cotton had +formerly done with Virgil. By this means he set +many facts in a ridiculous light, and might have +done mischief with weak minds if his work had +been published, but it never was.</p> + +<p>"At his house I lay that night, and arrived the +next morning at Burlington, but had the mortification +to find that the regular boats were gone a little +before, and no other expected to go before Tuesday, +this being Saturday, wherefore I returned to an old +woman in the town, of whom I had bought some +gingerbread to eat on the water, and asked her advice. +She proposed to lodge me till a passage by +some other boat occurred. I accepted her offer, +being much fatigued by travelling on foot. Understanding +I was a printer, she would have had me +remain in that town and follow my business, being +ignorant what stock was necessary to begin with. +She was very hospitable, gave me a dinner of ox-cheek +with great good-will, accepting only of a pot +of ale in return; and I thought myself fixed till +Tuesday should come.</p> + +<p>"However, walking in the evening by the side of +the river, a boat came by which I found was going +towards Philadelphia, with several people in her. +<a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>They took me in, and, as there was no wind, we +rowed all the way; and about midnight, not having +yet seen the city, some of the company were confident +we must have passed it, and would row no +farther; the others knew not where we were; so +we put towards the shore, got into a creek, landed +near an old fence, with the rails of which we made +a fire, the night being cold, in October, and there +we remained till daylight. Then one of the company +knew the place to be Cooper's Creek, a little +above Philadelphia, which we saw as soon as we got +out of the creek, and arrived there about eight or +nine o'clock on the Sunday morning, and landed at +Market Street wharf."</p> + +<p>The closing portion of this naïve narrative is as +interesting in its way as the opening. The idea +that Philadelphia could be passed in the darkness +and not discovered seems almost ludicrous when we +consider its present many miles of river front, and +the long-drawn-out glow of illumination which it +casts across the stream. Nothing could be more indicative +of its village-like condition at the time of +Franklin's arrival, and its enormous growth since. +Nor are the incidents and conditions of the journey +less striking. The traveller, making the best time +possible to him, had been nearly five full days on the +way, and had experienced a succession of hardships +which would have thrown many men into a sick-bed +at the end. It took youth, health, and energy to +accomplish the difficult passage from New York to +Philadelphia in that day; a journey which we now +make between breakfast and dinner, with consider<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a>able +time for business in the interval. Verily, the +world moves. But to return to our traveller's story.</p> + +<p>"I have been the more particular in this description +of my journey, and shall be so of my first entry +into that city, that you may in your mind compare +such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have +since made there. I was in my working-dress, my +best clothes coming round by sea. I was dirty from +my being so long in the boat. My pockets were +stuffed out with shirts and stockings, and I knew no +one, nor where to look for lodging. Fatigued with +walking, rowing, and the want of sleep, I was very +hungry; and my whole stock of cash consisted in a +single dollar, and about a shilling in copper coin, +which I gave to the boatmen for my passage. At +first they refused it, on account of my having rowed, +but I insisted on their taking it. Man is sometimes +more generous when he has little money than when +he has plenty; perhaps to prevent his being thought +to have but little.</p> + +<p>"I walked towards the top of the street, gazing +about till near Market Street, where I met a boy +with bread. I had often made a meal of dry bread, +and, inquiring where he had bought it, I went immediately +to the baker's he directed me to. I asked +for biscuits, meaning such as we had at Boston; +that sort, it seems, was not made in Philadelphia. +I then asked for a three-penny loaf, and was told +they had none. Not knowing the different prices, +nor the names of the different sorts of bread, I told +him to give me three-penny-worth of any sort. +He gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls. +<a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a>I was surprised at the quantity, but took it, and +having no room in my pockets, walked off with a +roll under each arm, and eating the other.</p> + +<p>"Thus I went up Market Street as far as Fourth +Street, passing by the door of Mr. Read, my future +wife's father, when she, standing at the door, saw +me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most +awkward, ridiculous appearance. Then I turned +and went down Chestnut Street, and part of Walnut +Street, eating my roll all the way, and, coming +round, found myself again at Market Street wharf, +near the boat I came in, to which I went for a +draught of the river-water, and, being filled with +one of my rolls, gave the other two to a woman and +her child that came down the river in the boat with +us, and were waiting to go farther.</p> + +<p>"Thus refreshed, I walked again up the street, +which by this time had many cleanly-dressed people +in it, who were all walking the same way. I joined +them, and was thereby led into the great meeting-house +of the Quakers, near the market. I sat down +among them, and, after looking round a while and +hearing nothing said, became very drowsy through +labor and want of rest the preceding night, I fell +fast asleep, and continued so till the meeting broke +up, when some one was kind enough to arouse me. +This, therefore, was the first house I was in, or +slept in, in Philadelphia."</p> + +<p>There is nothing more simple, homely, and attractive +in literature than Franklin's autobiographical +account of the first period of his life, of which +we have transcribed a portion, nor nothing more +<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>indicative of the great changes which time has produced +in the conditions of this country, and which +it produced in the life of our author. As for his +journey from New York to Philadelphia, it presents, +for the time involved, as great a series of adventures +and hardships as does Stanley's recent journey +through Central Africa. And as regards his own +history, the contrast between the Franklin of 1723 +and 1783 was as great as that which has come upon +the city of his adoption. There is something amusingly +ludicrous in the picture of the great Franklin, +soiled with travel, a dollar in his pocket representing +his entire wealth, walking up Market Street with +two great rolls of bread under his arms and gnawing +hungrily at a third; while his future wife peers from +her door, and laughs to herself at this awkward +youth, who looked as if he had never set foot on city +street before.</p> + +<p>We can hardly imagine this to be the Franklin +who afterwards became the associate of the great +and the admired of nations, who argued the cause +of America before the assembled notables of England, +who played a leading part in the formation of +the Constitution of the United States, and to whom +Philadelphia owes several of its most thriving and +useful institutions. Millions of people have since +poured into the City of Brotherly Love, but certainly +no other journey thither has been nearly so +momentous in its consequences as the humble one +above described.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a> +<a name="THE_PERILS_OF_THE_WILDERNESS" id="THE_PERILS_OF_THE_WILDERNESS"></a> +THE PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS.</h2> + + +<p>On the 31st day of October, in the year 1753, a +young man, whose name was as yet unknown outside +the colony of Virginia, though it was destined to +attain world-wide fame, set out from Williamsburg, +in that colony, on a momentous errand. It was the +first step taken in a series of events which were to +end in driving the French from North America, and +placing this great realm under English control,—the +opening movement in the memorable French and +Indian War. The name of the young man was +George Washington. His age was twenty-one years. +He began thus, in his earliest manhood, that work +in the service of his country which was to continue +until the end.</p> + +<p>The enterprise before the young Virginian was +one that needed the energies of youth and the unyielding +perseverance of an indefatigable spirit. A +wilderness extended far and wide before him, partly +broken in Virginia, but farther on untouched by the +hand of civilization. Much of his route lay over +rugged mountains, pathless save by the narrow and +difficult Indian trails. The whole distance to be +traversed was not less than five hundred and sixty +miles, with an equal distance to return. The season +was winter. It was a task calculated to try the +<a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a>powers and test the endurance of the strongest and +most energetic man.</p> + +<p>The contest between France and England for +American soil was about to begin. Hitherto the +colonists of those nations had kept far asunder,—the +French in Canada and on the great lakes; the +English on the Atlantic coast. Now the English +were feeling their way westward, the French southward,—lines +of movement which would touch each +other on the Ohio. The touch, when made, was +sure to be a hostile one.</p> + +<p>England had established an "Ohio Company,"—ostensibly +for trade, really for conquest. The French +had built forts,—one at Presque Isle, on Lake Erie; +one on French Creek, near its head-waters; a third +at the junction of French Creek with the Alleghany. +This was a bold push inland. They had done more +than this. A party of French and Indians had made +their way as far as the point where Pittsburgh now +stands. Here they found some English traders, took +them prisoners, and conveyed them to Presque Isle. +In response to this, some French traders were seized +by the Twightwee Indians, a tribe friendly to the +English, and sent to Pennsylvania. The touch had +taken place, and it was a hostile one.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image098" id="image098"></a> +<a href="images/image098h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image098.jpg" + alt="WASHINGTON'S HOME AT MT. VERNON." + title="WASHINGTON'S HOME AT MT. VERNON." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">WASHINGTON'S HOME AT MT. VERNON.</p> +</div> + +<p>Major Washington—he had been a Virginian +adjutant-general, with the rank of major, since the +age of nineteen—was chosen for the next step, that +of visiting the French forts and demanding the +withdrawal of their garrisons from what was +claimed to be English territory. The mission was a +<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a>delicate one. It demanded courage, discretion, and +energy. Washington had them all. No better +choice could have been made than of this young +officer of militia.</p> + +<p>The youthful pioneer proceeded alone as far as +Fredericksburg. Here he engaged two companions, +one as French, the other as Indian, interpreter, and +proceeded. Civilization had touched the region before +him, but not subdued it. At the junction +of Will's Creek with the Potomac (now Cumberland, +Maryland), he reached the extreme outpost +of civilization. Before him stretched more than four +hundred miles of unbroken wilderness. The snow-covered +Alleghanies were just in advance. The chill +of the coming winter already was making itself +felt. Recent rains had swollen the streams. They +could be crossed only on log-rafts, or by the more +primitive methods of wading or swimming,—expedients +none too agreeable in freezing weather. +But youth and a lofty spirit halt not for obstacles. +Washington pushed on.</p> + +<p>At Will's Creek he added to his party. Here he +was joined by Mr. Gist, an experienced frontiersman, +who knew well the ways of the wilderness, and +by four other persons, two of them Indian traders. +On November 14 the journey was resumed. Hardships +now surrounded the little party of adventurers. +Miles of rough mountain had to be climbed; +streams, swollen to their limits, to be crossed; unbroken +and interminable forests to be traversed. +Day after day they pressed onward, through diffi<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>culties +that would have deterred all but the hardiest +and most vigorous of men. In ten days they had +accomplished an important section of their journey, +and reached those forks of the Ohio which were +afterwards to attain such celebrity both in war and +peace,—as the site of Fort Duquesne and of the +subsequent city of Pittsburgh.</p> + +<p>Twenty miles farther on the Indian settlement of +Logstown was reached. Here Washington called the +Indian chiefs together in conference. The leading +chief was known as Tanacharison (Half-King), an +Indian patriot, who had been much disturbed by the +French and English incursions. He had been to +the French forts. What he had said to their commanders +is curious, and worthy of being quoted:</p> + +<p>"Fathers, I am come to tell you your own +speeches; what your own mouths have declared. +Fathers, you in former days set a silver basin before +us, wherein was the leg of a beaver, and desired +all the nations to come and eat of it,—to eat in +peace and plenty, and not to be churlish to one +another; and that, if any person should be found to +be a disturber, I here lay down by the edge of the +dish a rod, which you must scourge them with; and +if your father should get foolish in my old days, I +desire you may use it upon me as well as others. +Now, fathers, it is you who are the disturbers in +this land, by coming and building your towns, and +taking it away unknown to us, and by force....</p> + +<p>"Fathers, I desire you may hear me in civilness; +if not, we must handle that rod which was laid down +<a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a>for the use of the obstreperous.... Fathers, both +you and the English are white; we live in a country +between; therefore, the land belongs to neither one +nor the other. The Great Being above allowed it to +be a place of residence for us; so, fathers, I desire +you to withdraw, as I have done our brothers the +English: for I will keep you at arms' length. I lay +this down as a trial for both, to see which will have +the greatest regard for it, and that side we will stand +by, and make equal sharers with us. Our brothers, +the English, have heard this, and I now come to +tell it to you; for I am not afraid to discharge you +off this land."</p> + +<p>The poor Half-King was to find that he had undertaken +a task like that of discharging the wolves +out of the sheep-cote. The French heard his protest +with contempt, and went on building their forts. +He thereupon turned to the English, whom he, in +the simplicity of his heart, imagined had no purpose +save that of peaceful trade. His "fathers" +had contemned him; to his "brothers" he turned +in amity.</p> + +<p>Washington told his purposes to his dusky auditors. +He had come to warn the French intruders +off the Indian lands. He desired a guide to conduct +him to the French fort, one hundred and twenty +miles distant. His statement pleased the Indians. +Their English "brothers" were in sympathy with +them. They would help them to recover their lands. +The generosity of their white brothers must have +seemed highly meritorious to the simple savages. +<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a>They had yet to learn that the French and the +English were the two millstones, and they and their +lands the corn to be ground between.</p> + +<p>The Half-King, with two other chiefs (Jeskakake +and White Thunder by name), volunteered to +guide the whites. A hunter of noted skill also +joined them. Once more the expedition set out. +The journey was a terrible one. Winter had set in; +rain and snow fell almost unceasingly; the forest +was next to impassable; great were their toils, +severe their hardships. On December 5 they reached +the French outpost at Venango (now Franklin), +where French Creek joins the Alleghany. Here +they were met by Captain Joncaire, the French commandant, +with a promising show of civility. +Secretly, however, the astute Frenchman sought to +rob Washington of his Indians. Fortunately, the +aborigines knew the French too well to be cajoled, +and were ready to accompany Washington when he +set out on his remaining journey. Their route now +led up French Creek to Fort Le Boeuf, on the head-waters +of that stream. This they reached on the +12th, after a wearisome experience of frontier travel. +Forty-one days had passed since Washington left +Williamsburg.</p> + +<p>The commandant here was M. de St. Pierre, an +elderly man, of courteous manners, a knight of the +order of St. Louis. He received Washington cordially, +treated him with every hospitality while in +the fort, did everything except to comply with Governor +Dinwiddie's order to leave the works.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>Washington's instruction were conveyed in a letter +from the governor of Virginia, which asserted +that the lands of the Ohio and its tributaries belonged +to England, declared that the French movements +were encroachments, asked by whose authority +an armed force had crossed the lakes, and demanded +their speedy departure from English territory.</p> + +<p>St. Pierre's reply was given in a sealed letter. It +declared that he was a soldier, his duty being to +obey orders, not to discuss treaties. He was there +under instructions from the governor of Canada, +here he meant to stay. Such was the purport of +the communication. The tone was courteous, but +in it was no shadow of turning.</p> + +<p>While the Frenchman was using the pen, Washington +was using his eyes. He went away with an +accurate mental picture of the fort, its form, size, +construction, location, and the details of its armament. +His men counted the canoes in the river. +The fort lay about fifteen miles south of Lake Erie. +A plan of it, drawn by Washington, was sent to +England.</p> + +<p>At the time fixed for their return, Washington +found the snow falling so fast that he decided to +make his journey to Venango by canoe, the horses, +which they had used in the outward journey, being +forwarded through the forest with their baggage. +St. Pierre was civil to the last. He was as hospitable +as polite. The canoe was plentifully stocked +with provisions and liquors. But secretly artifices +were practised to lure away the Indians. The Half-King +<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a>was a man whose friendship was worth bidding +for. Promises were made, present were given, the +Indians were offered every advantage of friendship +and trade.</p> + +<p>But the Half-King was not to be placated by fine +words. He knew the French. Delay was occasioned, +however, of which Washington complained, +and hinted at the cause.</p> + +<p>"You are certainly mistaken, Major Washington," +declared the polite Frenchman. "Nothing +of the kind has come to my knowledge. I really +cannot tell why the Indians delay. They are +naturally inclined to procrastinate, you know. Certainly, +everything shall be done on my part to get +you off in good time."</p> + +<p>Finally, the Indians proving immovable in their +decision, the party got off. The journey before them +was no pleasure one, even with the advantage of a +water-route, and a canoe as a vehicle of travel. +Rocks and drifting trees obstructed the channel. +Here were shallows; there, dangerous currents. +The passage was slow and wearisome, and not without +its perils.</p> + +<p>"Many times," says Washington, "all hands were +obliged to get out, and remain in the water half an +hour or more in getting over the shoals. At one +place the ice had lodged and made it impassable by +water, and we were obliged to carry our canoe +across a neck of land a quarter of a mile over."</p> + +<p>In six days they reached Venango, having journeyed +one hundred and thirty miles by the course +<a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a>of the stream. The horses had preceded them, but +had reached the fort in so pitiable a condition as to +render them hardly fit to carry the baggage and +provisions. Washington, Mr. Gist, and Mr. Vanbraam, +the French interpreter, clad in Indian walking +costume, proceeded on foot, the horses following +with their drivers. After three days' journey the +poor animals had become so feeble, the snow so +deep, the cold so severe, that Washington and Gist +determined to push forward alone, leaving Mr. Vanbraam +as leader of the remainder of the party.</p> + +<p>Gun in hand, and knapsack—containing his food +and papers—on back, the intrepid explorer pushed +forward with his companion, who was similarly +equipped. Leaving the path they had been following, +they struck into a straight trail through the +woods, purposing to reach the Alleghany a few miles +above the Ohio.</p> + +<p>The journey proved an adventurous one. They +met an Indian, who agreed to go with them and +show them the nearest way. Ten or twelve miles +were traversed, at the end of which Washington +grew very foot-sore and weary. The Indian had +carried his knapsack, and now wished to relieve him +of his gun. This Washington refused, whereupon +the savage grew surly. He pressed them to keep +on, however, saying that there were Ottawa Indians +in the forest, who might discover and scalp them if +they lay out at night. By going on they would +reach his cabin and be safe.</p> + +<p>They advanced several miles farther. Then the +<a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>Indian, who had fallen behind them, suddenly +stopped. On looking back they perceived that he +had raised his gun, and was aiming at them. The +next instant the piece was discharged.</p> + +<p>"Are you shot?" cried Washington.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Gist.</p> + +<p>"After this fellow, then."</p> + +<p>The Indian had run to the shelter of a large white +oak, behind which he was loading as fast as possible. +The others were quickly upon him, Gist with his +gun at his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Do not shoot," said Washington. "We had +best not kill the man, but we must take care of +him."</p> + +<p>The savage was permitted to finish his loading, +even to putting in a ball, but his companions took +good heed to give him no further opportunity to +play the traitor. At a little run which they soon +reached they bade the Indian to make a fire, on +pretence that they would sleep there. They had no +such intention, however.</p> + +<p>"As you will not have him killed," said Gist, "we +must get him away, and then we must travel all +night."</p> + +<p>Gist turned to the Indian. "I suppose you were +lost, and fired your gun," he said, with a transparent +affectation of innocence.</p> + +<p>"I know the way to my cabin," replied the Indian +"It is not far away."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, do you go home. We are tired, but +will follow your track in the morning. Here is a +<a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a>cake of bread for you, and you must give us meat in +the morning."</p> + +<p>The savage was glad enough to get away. Gist +followed and listened, that he might not steal back +on them. Then they went half a mile farther, where +they made a fire, set their compass, and, after a +short period of rest, took to the route again and +travelled all night.</p> + +<p>The next night they reached the Alleghany. Here +they were destined to experience a dangerous adventure. +They had expected to cross on the ice, but +the river proved to be frozen only for a short distance +from the shores. That night they slept with +the snow for a bed, their blankets for a covering. +When dawn appeared the same dubious prospect +confronted them. The current of the river still +swept past, loaded with broken ice.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing for it but a raft," said Washington. +"And we have but one hatchet to aid us in +making it. Let us to work."</p> + +<p>To work they fell, but it was sunset before the +raft was completed. Not caring to spend another +night where they were, they launched the raft and +pushed from shore. It proved a perilous journey. +Before the stream was half crossed they were so +jammed in the floating ice that it seemed every moment +as if their frail support would sink, and they +perish in the swift current. Washington tried with +his setting-pole to stop the raft and let the ice run +by. His effort ended unfortunately. Such was the +strength of the current that the ice was driven +against the pole with a violence that swept him from +<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a>his feet and hurled him into water ten feet deep. +Only that chance which seems the work of destiny +saved him. He fell near enough to the raft to seize +one of its logs, and after a sharp scramble was up +again, though dripping with icy water. They continued +their efforts, but failed to reach either shore, +and in the end they were obliged to spring from +their weak support to an island, past which the current +was sweeping the raft.</p> + +<p>The escape was almost like the proverbial one +"from the frying-pan to the fire." The island was +destitute of shelter. As the night advanced the air +grew colder, and the adventurers suffered severely. +Mr. Gist had his hands and feet frozen,—a disaster +which Washington, despite his wetting, fortunately +escaped. The morning dawned at length. Hope +returned to their hearts. The cold of the night had +done one service, it had frozen the water between +the island and the eastern bank of the stream. The +ice bore their weight. They crossed in safety, and +the same day reached a trading-post, recently +formed, near the ground subsequently to be celebrated +as that of Braddock's defeat.</p> + +<p>Here they rested two or three days, Gist recovering +from the effects of his freezing, Washington improving +the opportunity to pay a visit to Queen +Aliquippa, an Indian princess, whose palace—if we +may venture to call it so—was near by. The royal +lady had been angry that he had neglected her on +his way out. This visit, an apology, and a present +healed her wounded feelings, and disposed her to a +gracious reception.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a>Nothing could be learned of Vanbraam and the +remainder of the party. Washington could not wait +for them. He hurried forward with Gist, crossed +the Alleghanies to Will's Creek, and, leaving his +companion there, hastened onward to Williamsburg, +anxious to put his despatches in Governor Dinwiddie's +hands. He reached there on January 16, +having been absent eleven weeks, during which he +had traversed a distance of eleven hundred miles.</p> + +<p>What followed is matter of common history. Dinwiddie +was incensed at St. Pierre's letter. The +French had come to stay; that was plain. If the +English wanted a footing in the land they must be +on the alert. A party was quickly sent to the Ohio +forks to build a fort, Washington having suggested +this as a suitable plan. But hardly was this fort +begun before it was captured by the French, who +hastened to erect one for themselves on the spot.</p> + +<p>Washington, advancing with a supporting force, +met a French detachment in the woods, which he +attacked and defeated. It was the opening contest +of the French and Indian War.</p> + +<p>As for Fort Duquesne, which the French had +built, it gave rise to the most disastrous event of the +war, the defeat of General Braddock and his army, +on their march to capture it. It continued in +French hands till near the end of the war, its final +capture by Washington being nearly the closing +event in the contest which wrested from the hands +of the French all their possessions on the American +continent.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a> +<a name="SOME_ADVENTURES_OF_MAJOR_PUTNAM" id="SOME_ADVENTURES_OF_MAJOR_PUTNAM"></a> +SOME ADVENTURES OF MAJOR PUTNAM.</h2> + + +<p>The vicinity of the mountain-girdled, island-dotted, +tourist-inviting Lake George has perhaps +been the scene of more of the romance of war than +any other locality that could be named. Fort Ticonderoga, +on the ridge between that beautiful sheet +of water and Lake Champlain, is a point vital with +stirring memories, among which the striking exploit +of Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain boys is of +imperishable interest. Fort William Henry, at the +lower end of Lake George, is memorable as the +locality of one of the most nerve-shaking examples +of Indian treachery and barbarity, a scene which +Cooper's fruitful pen has brought well within the +kingdom of romance. The history of the whole +vicinity, in short, is laden with picturesque incident, +and the details of fact never approached those of +romantic fiction more closely than in the annals of +this interesting region.</p> + +<p>Israel Putnam, best known to us as one of the +most daring heroes of the Revolution, began here his +career, in the French and Indian War, as scout and +ranger, and of no American frontiersman can a +more exciting series of adventures be told. Some +of these adventures it is our purpose here to give.</p> + +<p>After the Fort William Henry massacre, the +American forces were concentrated in Fort Edward, +<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a>on the head-waters of the Hudson; Putnam, with +his corps of Rangers, occupying an outpost station, +on a small island near the fort. Fearing a hostile +visit from the victorious French, the commander, +General Lyman, made all haste to strengthen his +defences, sending a party of a hundred and fifty +men into the neighboring forest to cut timber for +that purpose. Captain Little, with fifty British +regulars, was deputized to protect these men at their +labors. This supporting party was posted on a narrow +ridge leading to the fort, with a morass on one +side, a creek on the other, and the forest in front.</p> + +<p>One morning, at daybreak, a sentinel who stood +on the edge of the morass, overlooking the dense +thicket which filled its depths, was surprised at what +seemed to him, in the hazy light, a flight of strange +birds coming from the leafy hollow. One after +another of these winged objects passed over his +head. After he had observed them a moment or +two, he saw one of them strike a neighboring tree, +and cling quivering to its trunk. A glance was +enough for the drowsy sentinel. He was suddenly +wide awake, and his musket and voice rang instant +alarm, for the bird which he had seen was a winged +Indian arrow. He had been made a target for ambushed +savages, eager to pick him off without alarming +the party which he guarded.</p> + +<p>A large force of Indians had crept into the morass +during the night, with the hope of cutting off the +laborers and the party of support. The sentinel's +alarm shot unmasked them. Whooping like discov<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>ered +fiends, they flew from their covert upon the unarmed +laborers, shot and tomahawked those within +reach, and sent the others in panic flight to the fort. +Captain Little and his band flew to the rescue, and +checked the pursuit of the savages by hasty volleys, +but soon found themselves so pressed by superior +numbers that the whole party was in danger of +being surrounded and slain.</p> + +<p>In this extremity Captain Little sent a messenger +to General Lyman, imploring instant aid. He failed +to obtain it. The over-cautious commander, filled +with the idea that the whole French and Indian +army was at hand, drew in his outposts with nervous +haste, shut the gates of the fort, and left the little +band to its fate.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, the volleys of musketry had reached +the ears of Major Putnam, on his island outpost. +Immediately afterwards his scouts brought him word +that Captain Little was surrounded by Indians, and +in imminent danger of destruction. Without an +instant's hesitation the brave Putnam plunged into +the water, shouting to his men to follow him, and +waded to the shore. This reached, they dashed +hastily towards the scene of the contest. Their +route led them past the walls of the fort, on whose +parapets stood the alarmed commander.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" cried General Lyman. "Come into the +fort. The enemy is in overwhelming force. We +can spare no more men."</p> + +<p>To these words, or similar ones, spoken by General +Lyman, Putnam returned a vague reply, in<a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a>tended +for an apology, but having more the tone of +a defiance. Discipline and military authority must +stand aside when brave men were struggling with +ruthless savages. Without waiting to hear the general's +response to his apology, the gallant partisan +dashed on, and in a minute or two more had joined +the party of regulars, who were holding their ground +with difficulty.</p> + +<p>"On them!" cried Putnam. "They will shoot us +down here! Forward! We must rout them out +from their ambush!"</p> + +<p>His words found a responsive echo in every heart. +With loud shouts the whole party charged impetuously +into the morass, and in a minute were face to +face with the concealed savages. This sudden onslaught +threw the Indians into a panic. They broke +and fled in every direction, hotly pursued by their +revengeful foes, numbers of them being killed in the +flight. The chase was not given up until it had extended +miles into the forest.</p> + +<p>Triumphantly then the victors returned to the +fort, Putnam alone among them expecting reprimand. +He had never before disobeyed the orders +of his superior. He well knew the rigidity of military +discipline and its necessity. Possibly General +Lyman might not be content with a simple reprimand, +but might order a court-martial. Putnam +entered the fort, not fully at ease in his mind.</p> + +<p>As it proved, he had no occasion for anxiety. The +general recognized that alarm had led him too far. +He welcomed the whole party with hearty commen<a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>dation, +and chose quite to forget the fact that Major +Putnam was guilty of a flagrant disregard of orders, +in view of the fact, of more immediate importance +to himself, that his daring subaltern had saved him +from public reprobation for exposing a brave party +to destruction.</p> + +<p>It was not long after this scene that Putnam took +the leading part in another memorable affair, in +which his promptitude, energy, and decision have +become historical. The barracks within the fort +took fire. Twelve feet from them stood the magazine, +containing three hundred barrels of powder. +The fort and its defenders were in imminent danger +of being blown to atoms. Putnam, who still occupied +his island outpost, saw the smoke and flames +rising, and hastened with all speed to the fort. +When he reached there the barracks appeared to be +doomed, and the flames were rapidly approaching +the magazine. As for the garrison, it was almost in +a state of panic, and next to nothing was being done +to avert the danger.</p> + +<p>A glance was sufficient for the prompt and energetic +mind of the daring ranger. In a minute's +time he had organized a line of soldiers, leading +through a postern-gate to the river, and each one +bearing a bucket. The energetic major mounted a +ladder, received the water as it came, and poured +it into the flaming building. The heat was intense, +the smoke suffocating; so near were the +flames that a pair of thick mittens were quickly +burned from his hands. Calling for another pair, +<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a>he dipped them into the water and continued his +work.</p> + +<p>"Come down!" cried Colonel Haviland. "It is +too dangerous there. We must try other means."</p> + +<p>"There are no means but to fight the enemy inch +by inch," replied Putnam. "A moment's yielding +on our part may prove fatal."</p> + +<p>His cool trepidity gave new courage to the colonel, +who exclaimed, as he urged the others to renewed +exertions,—</p> + +<p>"If we must be blown up, we will all go together."</p> + +<p>Despite Putnam's heroic efforts, the flames spread. +Soon the whole barracks were enveloped, and lurid +tongues of fire began to shoot out alarmingly towards +the magazine. Putnam now descended, took +his station between the two buildings, and continued +his active service, his energy and audacity giving +new life and activity to officers and men. The outside +planks of the magazine caught. They were +consumed. Only a thin timber partition remained +between the flames and fifteen tons of powder. This, +too, was charred and smoking. Destruction seemed +inevitable. The consternation was extreme.</p> + +<p>But there, in the scorching heat of the flames, +covered with falling cinders, threatened with instant +death, stood the undaunted Putnam, still pouring +water on the smoking timbers, still calling to the +men to keep steadily to their work. And thus he +continued till the rafters of the barracks fell in, the +heat decreased, and the safety of the magazine was +insured.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a>For an hour and a half he had fought the flames. +His hands, face, almost his whole body, were +scorched and blistered. When he pulled off his second +pair of mittens the skin came with them. Several +weeks passed before he recovered from the +effects of his hard battle with fire. But he had the +reward of success, and the earnest thanks and kind +attentions of officers and men alike, who felt that to +him alone they owed the safety of the fort, and the +escape of many, if not all, of the garrison from +destruction.</p> + +<p>Among Putnam's many adventures, there are two +others which have often been told, but are worthy +of repetition. On one occasion he was surprised by +a large party of Indians, when with a few men in a +boat at the head of the rapids of the Hudson, at +Fort Miller. It was a frightfully perilous situation. +To stay where he was, was to be slaughtered; to +attempt crossing the stream would bring him under +the Indian fire; to go down the falls promised instant +death. Which expedient should he adopt? +He chose the latter, preferring to risk death from +water rather than from tomahawk or bullet.</p> + +<p>The boat was pushed from the shore and exposed +to the full force of the current. In a minute or +two it had swept beyond the range of the Indian +weapons. But death seemed inevitable. The water +rushed on in foaming torrents, whirling round rocks, +sweeping over shelves, pouring down in abrupt falls, +shooting onward with the wildest fury. It seemed +as if only a miracle could save the voyagers.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>Yet with unyielding coolness Putnam grasped the +helm; while his keen eye scanned the peril ahead, his +quick hand met every danger as it came. Incessantly +the course of the boat was changed, to avoid +the protruding rocks. Here it was tossed on the +billows, there it shot down inclined reaches, now it +seemed plunging into a boiling eddy, now it whirled +round a threatening obstacle; like a leaf in the +tempest it was borne onward, and at length, to the +amazement of its inmates themselves, and the astoundment +of the Indians, it floated safely on the +smooth waters below, after a passage of perils such +as have rarely been dared. The savages gave up +the chase. A man who could safely run those rapids +seemed to them to bear a charmed life.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image118" id="image118"></a> +<a href="images/image118h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image118.jpg" + alt="SHORE OF LAKE GEORGE." + title="SHORE OF LAKE GEORGE." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">SHORE OF LAKE GEORGE.</p> +</div> + +<p>The other story mentioned is one indicative of +Putnam's wit and readiness. The army was now +encamped in the forest, in a locality to the eastward +of Lake George. While here, the Indians prowled +through the woods around it, committing depredations +here and there, picking off sentinels, and doing +other mischief. They seemed to have impunity in +this work, and defied the utmost efforts at discovery. +One outpost in particular was the seat of a dread +mystery. Night after night the sentinel at this +post disappeared, and was not heard of again. Some +of the bravest men of the army were selected to +occupy the post, with orders, if they should hear +any noise, to call out "Who goes there?" three +times, and if no answer came, to fire. Yet the +mysterious disappearances continued, until the men +<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a>refused to accept so dangerous a post. The commander +was about to draw a sentinel by lot, when +Major Putnam solved the difficulty by offering to +stand guard for the coming night. The puzzled +commander promptly accepted his offer, instructing +him, as he had done the others,—</p> + +<p>"If you hear any sound from without the lines, +you will call 'Who goes there?' three times, and +then, if no answer be given, fire."</p> + +<p>Putnam promised to obey, and marched to his +post. Here he examined the surrounding locality +with the utmost care, fixed in his mind the position +of every point in the neighborhood, saw that his +musket was in good order, and began his monotonous +tramp, backward and forward.</p> + +<p>For several hours all remained silent, save for the +ordinary noises of the woodland. At length, near +midnight, a slight rustling sound met his keen ears. +He listened intently. Some animal appeared to be +stealthily approaching. Then there came a crackling +sound, as of a hog munching acorns. Putnam's +previous observation of the locality enabled him to +judge very closely the position of this creature, +and he was too familiar with Indian artifices, and +too sensible of the danger of his position, to let even +a hog pass unchallenged. Raising his musket to his +shoulder, and taking deliberate aim at the spot indicated, +he called out, in strict obedience to orders, +"Who goes there? three times," and instantly pulled +the trigger.</p> + +<p>A loud groaning and struggling noise followed. +<a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>Putnam quickly reloaded and ran forward to the +spot. Here he found what seemed a large bear, +struggling in the agony of death. But a moment's +observation showed the wide-awake sentinel that +the seeming bear was really a gigantic Indian, enclosed +in a bear-skin, in which, disguised, he had +been able to approach and shoot the preceding sentinels. +Putnam had solved the mystery of the +solitary post. The sentinels on that outpost ceased, +from that moment, to be disturbed.</p> + +<p>Numerous other adventures of Major Putnam, +and encounters with the Indians and the French +rangers, might be recounted, but we must content +ourselves with the narrative of one which ended in +the captivity of our hero, and his very narrow escape +from death in more than one form. As an illustration +of the barbarity of Indian warfare it cannot +but prove of interest.</p> + +<p>It was the month of August, 1758. A train of +baggage-wagons had been cut off by the enemy's +rangers. Majors Putnam and Rogers, with eight +hundred men, were despatched to intercept the foe, +retake the spoils, and punish them for their daring. +The effort proved fruitless. The enemy had taken +to their canoes and escaped before their pursuers +could overtake them.</p> + +<p>Failing in this expedition, they camped out on +Wood Creek and South Bay, with the hope of cutting +off some straggling party of the enemy. Here +they were discovered by French scouts, and, having +reason to fear an attack in force, it was deemed most +<a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a>prudent to return to head-quarters at Fort Edward.</p> + +<p>The route proved difficult. It lay through dense +forest, impeded by fallen trees and thick undergrowth. +They were obliged to advance in Indian +file, cutting a path as they went. When night came +they encamped on the bank of Clear River. The +next morning, while the others were preparing to +resume the march, Major Rogers, with a foolhardy +imprudence that was little less than criminal in +their situation, amused himself by a trial of skill +with a British officer in firing at a mark.</p> + +<p>The result was almost fatal. Molang, the celebrated +French partisan, had hastily left Ticonderoga +with five hundred men, on hearing of the presence +of this scouting party of provincials, and was now +near at hand. The sound of the muskets gave him +exact information as to the position of their camp. +Hastening forward, he laid an ambuscade on the line +of march of his foes, and awaited their approach.</p> + +<p>Onward through the thicket came the unsuspecting +provincials. They had advanced a mile, and +were on the point of emerging from the dense +growth into the more open forest, when yells broke +from the bushes on both sides of their path, and a +shower of bullets was poured into the advance ranks.</p> + +<p>Putnam, who led the van, quickly bade his men to +return the fire, and passed the word back for the +other divisions to hasten up. The fight soon became +a hand-to-hand one. The creek was close by, but it +could not be crossed in the face of the enemy, and +Putnam bade his men to hold their ground. A sharp +<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a>fight ensued, now in the open, now from behind +trees, in Indian fashion. Putnam had discharged +his piece several times, and once more pulled trigger, +with the muzzle against the breast of a powerful +Indian. His piece missed fire. Instantly the warrior +dashed forward, tomahawk in hand, and by threat of +death compelled his antagonist to surrender. Putnam +was immediately disarmed and bound to a +tree, and his captor returned to the fight.</p> + +<p>The battle continued, one party after the other +being forced back. In the end, the movements of the +struggling foes were such as to bring the tree to +which Putnam was bound directly between their +lines. He was like a target for both parties. Balls +flew past him from either side. Many of them +struck the tree, while his coat was pierced by more +than one bullet. So obstinate was the contest that +for an hour the battle raged about him, his peril +continuing extreme. Nor was this his only danger. +During the heat of the conflict a young Indian +hurled a tomahawk several times at his head, out of +mischief more than malice, but with such skilful +aim that the keen weapon more than once grazed his +skin and buried its edge in the tree beside his head. +With still greater malice, a French officer of low +grade levelled his musket at the prisoner's breast +and attempted to discharge it. Fortunately for +Putnam it missed fire. The prisoner vainly solicited +more merciful treatment. The heartless villain +thrust the muzzle of his gun violently against the +captive's ribs, and in the end gave him a painful +blow on the jaw with the butt-end of his piece.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a>The battle ended at length in the triumph of the +provincials. They drove the French from the field. +But they failed to rescue Putnam. Before retiring, +the Indian who had made him captive untied him, +and forced him to accompany the retreating party. +When a safe distance had been reached, the prisoner +was deprived of his coat, vest, shoes, and stockings, +his shoulders were loaded with the packs of the +wounded, and his wrists were tied behind him as +tightly as they could be drawn. In this painful condition +he was forced to walk for miles through the +woodland paths, until the party halted to rest.</p> + +<p>By this time his hands were so swollen from the +tightness of the cord that the pain was unbearable, +while his feet bled freely from their many scratches. +Exhausted with his burden and wild with torment, +he asked the interpreter to beg the Indians either to +loose his hands or knock him on the head, and end +his torture at once. His appeal was heard by a +French officer, who immediately order his hands to +be unbound and some of his burden to be removed. +Shortly afterwards the Indian who had captured +him, and who had been absent with the wounded, +came up and expressed great indignation at his +treatment. He gave him a pair of moccasins, and +seemed kindly disposed towards him.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately for the captive, this kindly savage +was obliged to resume his duty with the wounded, +leaving Putnam with the other Indians, some two +hundred in number, who marched in advance of +the French contingent of the party towards the +<a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a>selected camping-place. On the way their barbarity +to their helpless prisoner continued, culminating in +a blow with a tomahawk, which made a deep wound +in his left cheek.</p> + +<p>This cruel treatment was but preliminary to a +more fatal purpose. It was their intention to burn +their captive alive. No sooner had they reached +their camping-ground than they led him into the +forest depths, stripped him of his clothes, bound +him to a tree, and heaped dry fuel in a circle round +him. While thus engaged they filled the air with +the most fearful sounds to which their throats could +give vent, a pandemonium of ear-piercing yells and +screams. The pile prepared, it was set on fire. The +flames spread rapidly through the dry brush. But +by a chance that seemed providential, at that moment +a sudden shower sent its rain-drops through +the foliage, extinguished the increasing fire, and +dampened the fuel.</p> + +<p>No sooner was the rain over than the yelling +savages applied their torches again to the funeral +pile of their living victim. The dampness checked +their efforts for a time, but at length the flames +caught, and a crimson glow slowly made its way +round the circle of fuel. The captive soon felt the +scorching heat. He was tied in such a way that he +could move his body, and he involuntarily shifted +his position to escape the pain,—an evidence of +nervousness that afforded the highest delight to his +tormentors, who expressed their exultation in yells, +dances, and wild gesticulations. The last hour of +<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>the brave soldier seemed at hand. He strove to +bring resolution to his aid, and to fix his thoughts +on a happier state of existence beyond this earth, +the contemplation of which might aid him to bear +without flinching, a short period of excruciating +pain.</p> + +<p>At this critical moment, when death in its most +horrid form stared him in the face, relief came. A +French officer, who had been told of what was in +progress, suddenly bounded through the savage band, +kicked the blazing brands to right and left, and +with a stroke of his knife released the imperilled +captive. It was Molang himself. An Indian who +retained some instincts of humanity had informed +him of what was on foot. The French commander +reprimanded his barbarian associates severely, and +led the prisoner away, keeping him by his side until +he was able to transfer him to the care of the +gigantic Indian who had captured him.</p> + +<p>This savage seemed to regard him with feelings +of kindness. He offered him some biscuits, but +finding that the wound in his cheek and the blow he +had received on the jaw prevented him from chewing, +he soaked them in water till they could be +swallowed easily. Yet, despite his kindness, he took +extraordinary care that his prisoner should not escape. +When the camp was made, he forced the +captive to lie on the ground, stretched each arm at +full length, and bound it to a young tree, and +fastened his legs in the same manner. Then a +number of long and slender poles were cut and laid +<a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a>across his body from head to foot, on the ends of +which lay several of the Indians.</p> + +<p>Under such circumstances escape could not even +be thought of, nor was a moment's comfort possible. +The night seemed infinitely extended, the only relief +that came to the prisoner, as he himself relates, being +the reflection of what a ludicrous subject the +group, of which he was the central figure, would +have made for a painter.</p> + +<p>The next day he was given a blanket and moccasins, +and allowed to march without being loaded +with packs. A little bear's meat was furnished him, +whose juice he was able to suck. At night the party +reached Ticonderoga, where he was placed in charge +of a French guard, and his sufferings came to an +end. The savages manifested their chagrin at his +escape by insulting grimaces and threatening gestures, +but were not allowed to offer him any further +indignity or violence. After an examination by +the Marquis de Montcalm, who was in command at +Ticonderoga, he was sent to Montreal, under charge +of a French officer, who treated him in a humane +manner.</p> + +<p>Major Putnam was a frightful object on reaching +Montreal, the little clothing allowed him being miserably +dirty and ragged, his beard and hair dishevelled, +his legs torn by thorns and briers, his face +gashed, blood-stained, and swollen. Colonel Schuyler, +a prisoner there, beheld his plight with deep +commiseration, supplied him with clothing and +money, and did his utmost to alleviate his condition.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a>When shortly afterwards an exchange of prisoners +was being made, in which Colonel Schuyler +was to be included, he, fearing that Putnam would +be indefinitely held should his importance as a +partisan leader become known, used a skilful artifice +to obtain his release. Speaking to the governor with +great politeness and seeming indifference of purpose, +he remarked,—</p> + +<p>"There is an old man here who is a provincial +major. He is very desirous to be at home with his +wife and children. He can do no good here, nor +anywhere else. I believe your excellency had better +keep some of the young men, who have no wives +or children to care for, and let this old fellow go +home with me."</p> + +<p>His artifice was effective. Putnam was released, +and left Montreal in company with his generous +friend. He took further part in the war, at the end +of which, at the Indian village of Cochuawaga, near +Montreal, he met again the Indian whose prisoner +he had been. The kindly savage was delighted to +see him again, and entertained him with all the +friendship and hospitality at his command. At a +later date, when Putnam took part in the Pontiac +war, he met again this old chief, who was now an +ally of the English, and who marched side by side +with his former prisoner to do battle with the +ancient enemies of his tribe.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a> +<a name="A_GALLANT_DEFENCE" id="A_GALLANT_DEFENCE"></a> +A GALLANT DEFENCE.</h2> + + +<p>The relations between the Indians and the European +colonists of America were, during nearly the +whole colonial and much of the subsequent period, +what we now suggestively entitle "strained." There +were incessant aggressions of the colonists, incessant +reprisals by the aborigines, while the warring whites +of America never hesitated to use these savage auxiliaries +in their struggles for territory and power. +The history of this country is filled with details of +Indian assaults on forts and settlements, ambushes, +massacres, torturings, and acts of duplicity and +ferocity innumerable. Yet every instance of Indian +hostility has ended in the triumph of the whites, +the advance of the army of colonization a step +further, and the gradual subjugation of American +savagery, animate and inanimate, to the beneficent +influences of civilization.</p> + +<p>These Indian doings are frequently sickening in +their details. The story of America cannot be told +without them. Yet they are of one family, and +largely of one species, and an example or two will +serve for the whole. In our next tale the story of +an Indian assault on the Daniel Boone stronghold in +Kentucky will be told. We purpose now to give +the interesting details of an attack on Fort Henry, +a small frontier work near where Wheeling now +stands.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>This attack was the work of Simon Girty, one of +the most detestable characters that the drama of +American history ever brought upon the stage. He +was the offspring of crime, his parents being irredeemably +besotted and vicious. Of their four sons, +two, who were taken prisoner by the Indian at +Braddock's defeat, developed into monsters of wickedness. +James was adopted by the Delawares, and +became the fiercest savage of the tribe. Simon grew +into a great hunter among the Senecas,—unfortunately +a hunter of helpless human beings as much +as of game,—and for twenty years his name was a +terror in every white household of the Ohio country. +He is spoken of as honest. It was his one virtue, +the sole redeeming leaven in a life of vice, savagery, +and cruelty.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image128" id="image128"></a> +<a href="images/image128h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image128.jpg" + alt="INDIAN ATTACK AND GALLANT DEFENCE." + title="INDIAN ATTACK AND GALLANT DEFENCE." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">INDIAN ATTACK AND GALLANT DEFENCE.</p> +</div> + +<p>In the summer of 1777 this evil product of +frontier life collected a force of four hundred Indians +for an assault on the white. His place of +rendezvous was Sandusky; his ostensible purpose to +cross the Ohio and attack the Kentucky frontier +settlements. On reaching the river, however, he +suddenly turned up its course, and made all haste +towards Fort Henry, then garrisoned by Colonel +Sheppard, with about forty men.</p> + +<p>The movements of Girty were known, and alarm +as to their purpose was widely felt. Sheppard had +his scouts out, but the shrewd renegade managed to +deceive them, and to appear before Fort Henry +almost unannounced. Happily, the coming of this +storm of savagery was discovered in time enough +<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a>to permit the inhabitants of Wheeling, then composed +of some twenty-five log huts, to fly for refuge +to the fort.</p> + +<p>A reconnoitring party had been sent out under +Captain Mason. These were ambushed by the cunning +leader of the Indians, and more than half of +them fell victims to the rifle and the tomahawk. +Their perilous position being perceived, a party of +twelve more, under Captain Ogle, sallied to their +rescue. They found themselves overwhelmingly outnumbered, +and eight of the twelve fell. These untowards +events frightfully reduced the garrison. Of +the original forty only twelve remained, some of +them little more than boys. Within the fort were +this little garrison and the women and children of +the settlement. Outside raged four hundred savage +warriors, under a skilful commander. It seemed +absolute madness to attempt a defence. Yet Colonel +Sheppard was not one of the men who lightly surrender. +Death by the rifle was, in his view, better +than death at the stake. With him were two men, +Ebenezer and Silas Zane, of his own calibre, while +the whole garrison was made up of hearts of oak.</p> + +<p>As for the women in the fort, though they were +of little use in the fight, they could lend their aid in +casting bullets, making cartridges, and loading +rifles. Among them was one, Elizabeth Zane, sister +of the two men named, who was to perform a far +more important service. She had just returned +from school in Philadelphia, knew little of the +horrors of border warfare, but had in her the same +<a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a>indomitable spirit that distinguished her brothers. +A woman she was of heroic mould, as the events +will prove.</p> + +<p>It was in the early morning of September 26 that +Girty appeared before the fort. A brief period +sufficed, in the manner related, to reduce the garrison +to a mere handful. Sure now of success, Girty +advanced towards the palisades with a white flag, +and demanded an unconditional surrender.</p> + +<p>Colonel Sheppard was ready with his answer. +He had already felt the pulse of his men, and found +that it beat with the same high spirit as his own. +He mounted upon the ramparts, stern and inflexible, +and hurled back his reply,—</p> + +<p>"This fort shall never be surrendered to <i>you</i>, nor +to any other man, while there is an American left to +defend it."</p> + +<p>"Are you mad, man?" cried Girty. "Do you +know our force? Do you know your own? Resistance +is folly."</p> + +<p>"I know <i>you</i>, Simon Girty. That is enough to +know. You have my answer."</p> + +<p>In a rage, Girty hurled back a volley of dark +threats, then turned away, and ordered an instant +attack. Unluckily for the garrison, some of the +deserted log-huts were sufficiently near to shelter +the Indians, and enable them to assault the fort +under cover. They swarmed into these houses, and +for six hours kept up an incessant fire on the works, +wasting their bullets, as it proved, for none of them +did harm to fort or man. As for the defenders, they +<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a>had no ammunition to waste. But most of them +were sharp-shooters, and they took good care that +every bullet should tell. Nearly every report from +behind the walls told a story of wound or death. As +good fortune willed, the savages had no artillery, +and were little disposed to hazard their dusky skins +in an assault in force on the well-defended walls.</p> + +<p>At midday the attack temporarily ceased. The +Indians withdrew to the base of Wheeling Hill, and +the uproar of yells and musketry was replaced by a +short season of quiet. It was a fortunate reprieve +for the whites. Their powder was almost exhausted. +Had the assault continued for an hour longer their +rifles must have ceased to reply.</p> + +<p>What was to be done? The Indians had withdrawn +only for rest and food. They would soon be +at their threatening work again. Answer to them +could not long be continued. When the fire from +the fort ceased all would be over. The exultant +savages would swarm over the undefended walls, +and torture and outrage be the lot of all who were +not fortunate enough to die in the assault.</p> + +<p>Ebenezer Zane looked wistfully at his house, sixty +yards away.</p> + +<p>"There is a keg of powder within those walls," +he said. "If we only had it here it might mean the +difference between safety and death."</p> + +<p>"A keg of powder!" cried Colonel Sheppard. +"We must have it, whatever the danger!" He +looked out. The Indians were within easy gunshot. +Whoever went for the powder ran the most immi<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a>nent +risk of death. The appearance of a man outside +the gates would be the signal for a fierce fusillade. +"But we must have it," he repeated. "And we +can spare but one man for the task. Who shall it +be? I cannot <i>order</i> any one to such a duty. What +man is ready to <i>volunteer</i>?"</p> + +<p>Every man, apparently; they all thronged forward, +each eager for the perilous effort. They +struggled, indeed, so long for the honor that there +was danger of the Indians returning to the assault +before the powder was obtained.</p> + +<p>At this interval a woman stepped forward. It +was Elizabeth Zane. The fire of a noble purpose +shone on her earnest face.</p> + +<p>"But one man can be spared to go, you say, +Colonel Sheppard," she remarked. "In my opinion +no man can be spared to go. Let me go for the +powder. My life is of much less importance to the +garrison than that of a man."</p> + +<p>Colonel Sheppard looked at her with eyes of admiration, +and then peremptorily refused her request. +This was work for men, he said, not for women. +She should not sacrifice herself.</p> + +<p>It was every one's duty to do their share, she +replied. All were alike in danger. The walls were +not half manned. If she fell, the gap would be +small; if a man fell, it would be large.</p> + +<p>So earnest were her solicitations, and so potent +her arguments, that Colonel Sheppard finally +yielded a reluctant consent. It was given none too +soon. There was little time to spare. The gate was +<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>opened and the brave woman walked fearlessly out.</p> + +<p>She had not gone a step beyond the shelter of the +fort before the Indians perceived her. Yet the suddenness +of her appearance seemed to paralyze them. +They stood and watched her movements, as she +walked swiftly but steadily over the space leading +to her brothers' house, but not a gun was lifted nor +a voice was raised. So far the expedient of sending +a woman had proved unexpectedly successful. The +savages gazed at her in blank amazement, wondering +at her purpose.</p> + +<p>She entered the house. An anxious minute or two +passed. The Indians still had not stirred. The +eyes of the garrison were fixed with feverish anxiety +on the door of that small hut. Then they were relieved +by the reappearance of the devoted girl, now +clasping the precious keg of powder in her arms.</p> + +<p>It was no time now to walk. As rapidly as she +could run, with the weight in her arms, she sped +over the open space. Speed was needed. The Indians +had suddenly come to a realizing sense of the +woman's purpose, and a volley of bullets swept the +space over which she fled.</p> + +<p>Not one touched her. In a minute she had reached +the fort. A shout of enthusiastic welcome went up. +As the gate closed behind her, and she let fall the +valuable prize from her unnerved arms, every hand +was stretched to grasp hers, and a chorus of praise +and congratulation filled the air.</p> + +<p>"We have a heroine among us; we will all be +heroes, and conquer or die," was the universal +thought.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a>It was a true one; Elizabeth Zane's was one of +those rare souls which seem sent on earth to make +man proud of his race.</p> + +<p>At half-past two the assailants returned to the +attack, availing themselves, as before, of the cover +of the huts. After a period spent in musketry, they +made an assault in force on the gate of the fort. +They were met by the concentrated fire of the garrison. +Six of them fell. The others fled back to their +shelter.</p> + +<p>Until dark the fusillade continued. After darkness +had fallen the assailants tried a new device. +Lacking artillery, they attempted to convert a hollow +maple log into a cannon. They bound this as firmly +as possible with chains, then, with a ludicrous ignorance +of what they were about, they loaded it to its +muzzle with stones, pieces of iron, and other missiles. +This done, they conveyed the impromptu cannon to +a point within sixty yards of the fort, and attempted +to discharge it against the gates.</p> + +<p>The result was what might have been anticipated. +The log burst into a thousand pieces, and sent splinters +and projectiles hurtling among the curious +crowd of dusky warriors. Several of them were +killed, others were wounded, but the gates remained +unharmed. This was more than the savages had +counted on, and they ceased the assault for the +night, no little discouraged by their lack of success.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile tidings of what Girty and his horde +were about had spread through the settlements, and +relief parties were hastily formed. At four o'clock +<a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a>in the morning fourteen men arrived, under command +of Colonel Swearingen, and fought their way +into the fort without losing a man. At dawn a +party of forty mounted men made their appearance, +Major McCullough at their head. The men managed +to enter the fort in safety, but the gallant +major, being unluckily separated from his band, +was left alone outside.</p> + +<p>His was a terribly critical situation. Fortunately, +the Indians knew him for one of their most daring +and skillful enemies, and hated him intensely. Fortunately, +we say, for to that he owed his life. They +could easily have killed him, but not a man of them +would fire. Such a foeman must not die so easily; +he must end his life in flame and torture. Such was +their unspoken argument, and they dashed after him +with yells of exultation, satisfied that they had one +of their chief foes safely in their hands.</p> + +<p>It seemed so, indeed. The major was well +mounted, but the swift Indian runners managed to +surround him on three sides, and force him towards +the river bluffs, from which escape seemed impossible.</p> + +<p>With redoubled shouts they closed in upon him. +The major, somewhat ignorant of the situation, +pushed onward till he suddenly found himself on +the brow of a precipice which descended at an almost +vertical inclination for a hundred and fifty feet. +Here was a frightful dilemma. To right and left the +Indian runners could be seen, their lines extending +to the verge of the cliff. What was to be done? +<a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a>surrender to the Indians, attempt to dash through +their line, or leap the cliff? Each way promised +death. But death by fall was preferable to death by +torture. And a forlorn hope of life remained. The +horse was a powerful one, and might make the descent +in safety. Gathering his reins tightly in his +right hand, while his left grasped his rifle, McCullough +spurred the noble animal forward, and in an +instant was over the brow of the cliff, and falling +rather than dashing down its steep declivity.</p> + +<p>By unlooked-for good fortune the foot of the bluff +was reached in safety. Into the creek dashed horse +and man, and in a minute or two the daring fugitive +was across and safe from his savage pursuers.</p> + +<p>The Indians returned disappointed to the vicinity +of the fort. Here they found that their leader had +decided on abandoning the assault. The reinforcements +received, and the probability that others were +on the way, discouraged the renegade, and Girty led +his horde of savages away, first doing all the harm +in his power by burning the houses of the settlement, +and killing about three hundred cattle belonging +to the settlers.</p> + +<p>The defence of Fort Henry was one of the most +striking for the courage displayed, and the success +of the defenders, of the many gallant contests with +the Indian foe of that age of stirring deeds. Aside +from those killed in ambush, not a man of the garrison +had lost his life. Of the assailants, from sixty +to one hundred fell. Simon Girty and his Indians +had received a lesson they would not soon forget.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a> +<a name="DANIEL_BOONE_THE_PIONEER_OF_KENTUCKY" id="DANIEL_BOONE_THE_PIONEER_OF_KENTUCKY"></a> +DANIEL BOONE, THE PIONEER OF KENTUCKY.</h2> + + +<p>The region of Kentucky, that "dark and bloody +ground" of Indian warfare, lay long unknown to the +whites. No Indians even dwelt there, though it was +a land of marvellous beauty and wonderful fertility. +For its forests and plains so abounded with game +that it was used by various tribes as a hunting-ground, +and here the savage warriors so often met +in hostile array, and waged such deadly war, that +not the most daring of them ventured to make it +their home. And the name which they gave it was +destined to retain its sombre significance for the +whites, when they should invade the perilous Kentuckian +wilds, and build their habitations in this +land of dread.</p> + +<p>In 1767 John Finley, a courageous Indian trader, +pushed far into its depths, and returned with thrilling +stories of his adventures and tempting descriptions +of the beauty and fertility of the land. These +he told to Daniel Boone, an adventure-loving Pennsylvanian, +who had made his way to North Carolina, +and built himself a home in the virgin forest at the +head-waters of the Yadkin. Here, with his wife, his +rifle, and his growing family, he enjoyed his frontier +life with the greatest zest, until the increasing numbers +of new settlers and the alluring narrative of +<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a>Finley induced him to leave his home and seek again +the untrodden wilds.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of May, 1769, Finley, Boone, and three +others struck boldly into the broad backbone of +mountain-land which lay between their old home +and the new land of promise. They set out on their +dangerous journey amid the tears of their families, +who deemed that destruction awaited them, and +vainly besought them to abandon the enterprise. +Forward, for days and weeks, pushed the hardy +pioneers, their rifles providing them with game, their +eyes on the alert against savages, until, after what +seemed months of toil, the mountains were passed +and the fertile plains and extended forests of Kentucky +lay before them.</p> + +<p>"We found everywhere" says Boone, "abundance +of wild beasts of all sorts, through this vast forest. +The buffalo were more frequent than I have seen +cattle in the settlements, browsing on the leaves of +the cane, or cropping the herbage of these extensive +plains, fearless, because ignorant of the violence of +man. In this forest, the habitation of beasts of +every kind natural to America, we practised hunting +with great success until the 22d day of December +following."</p> + +<p>On that day Boone and another were taken prisoner +by a party of Indians. Seven days they were +held, uncertain as to their fate, but at length, by a +skilful artifice, they escaped and made their way +back to their camp, only to find it deserted, those +whom they had left there having returned to North +<a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a>Carolina. Other adventurers soon joined them, however, +Boone's brother among them, and the remainder +of the winter was passed in safety.</p> + +<p>As regards the immediately succeeding events, it +will suffice to say that Squire Boone, as Daniel's +brother was called, returned to the settlements in +the spring for supplies, the others having gone before, +so that the daring hunter was left alone in that +vast wilderness. Even his dog had deserted him, +and the absolute solitude of nature surrounded him.</p> + +<p>The movements we have described had not passed +unknown to the Indians, and only the most extraordinary +caution saved the solitary hunter from his +dusky foes. He changed his camp every night, +never sleeping twice in the same place. Often he +found that it had been visited by Indians in his absence. +Once a party of savages pursued him for +many miles, until, by speed and skill, he threw them +from his trail. Many and perilous were his adventures +during his three months of lonely life in the +woods and canebrakes of that fear-haunted land. +Prowling wolves troubled him by night, prowling +savages by day, yet fear never entered his bold +heart, and cheerfulness never fled from his mind. +He was the true pioneer, despising peril and proof +against loneliness. At length his brother joined +him, with horses and supplies, and the two adventurers +passed another winter in the wilderness.</p> + +<p>Several efforts were made in the ensuing years to +people the country, but numbers of the settlers were +slain by the Indians, whose hostility made the task +<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a>so perilous that a permanent settlement was not +made till 1775. The place then settled—a fine location +on the Kentucky River—was called, in honor +of its founder, Boonesborough. Here a small fort +was built, to which the adventurer now brought his +family, being determined to make it his place of +abode, despite his dusky foes. "My wife and daughter," +he says, "were the first white women that ever +stood on the banks of Kentucky River."</p> + +<p>It was a dangerous step they had taken. The +savages, furious at this invasion of their hunting-grounds, +were ever on the alert against their pale-faced +foes. In the following spring Boone's daughter, +with two other girls, who had thoughtlessly left +the fort to gather flowers, were seized by ambushed +Indians and hurried away into the forest depths.</p> + +<p>Their loss was soon learned, and the distracted +parents, with seven companions, were quickly in +pursuit through the far-reaching forest. For two +days, with the skill of trained scouts, they followed +the trail which the girls, true hunters' daughters, +managed to mark by shreds of their clothing which +they tore off and dropped by the way.</p> + +<p>The rapid pursuers at length came within sight +of the camp of the Indians. Here they waited till +darkness descended, approaching as closely as was +safe. The two fathers, Boone and Calloway, now +volunteered to attempt a rescue under cover of the +night, and crept, with the <ins class="correction" title="'acument' in original">acumen</ins> of practised frontiersmen, +towards the Indian halting-place. Unluckily +for them they were discovered and captured by +<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a>the Indians, who dragged them exultingly to their +camp. Here a council was quickly held, and the +captives condemned to suffer the dreadful fate of +savage reprisal,—death by torture and flame.</p> + +<p>Morning had but fairly dawned when speedy +preparations were made by the savages for their +deadly work. They had no time to waste, for they +knew not how many pursuers might be on their trail. +The captives were securely bound to trees, before the +eyes of their distracted daughters, and fagots hastily +gathered for the fell purpose of their foes.</p> + +<p>But while they were thus busied, the companions +of Boone and Calloway had not been idle. Troubled +by the non-return of the rescuers, the woodsmen +crept up with the first dawn of day, saw the bloody +work designed, and poured in a sudden storm of bullets +on the savages, several of whom were stretched +bleeding upon the ground. Then, with shouts of +exultation, the ambushed whites burst from their +covert, dashed into the camp before the savages +could wreak their vengeance on their prisoners, and +with renewed rifle-shots sent them away in panic +flight. A knife-stroke or two released the captives, +and the party returned in triumph to the fort.</p> + +<p>The example of Boone and his companions in +making their homes on Kentucky soil was soon followed +by others, and within a year or two a number +of settlements had been made, at various promising +localities. The Indians did not view with equanimity +this invasion of their hunting-grounds. +Their old battles with each other were now replaced +<a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a>by persistent hostility to the whites, and they lurked +everywhere around the feeble settlements, seizing +stragglers, destroying cattle, and in every way annoying +the daring pioneers.</p> + +<p>In April, 1777, a party of a hundred of them +fiercely attacked Boonesborough, but were driven +off by the rifles of the settlers. In July they came +again, now doubled in numbers, and for two days +assailed the fort, but with the same ill-success as +before. Similar attacks were made on the other +settlements, and a state of almost incessant warfare +prevailed, in which Boone showed such valor and +activity that he became the terror of his savage +foes, who, in compliment to his daring, christened +him "The Great Long-Knife." On one occasion +when two Indian warriors assailed him in the woods +he manoeuvred so skilfully as to draw the fire of +both, and then slew the pair of them, the one with +his rifle, the other, in hand-to-hand fight, with his +deadly hunting-knife.</p> + +<p>But the bold pioneer was destined soon to pass +through an experience such as few men have safely +endured. It was now February, 1778. For three +years the settlers had defied their foes, Boone, in +despite of them, hesitating not to traverse the forest +alone, with rifle and hunting-knife, in pursuit of +game. In one of these perilous excursions he suddenly +found himself surrounded by a party of a +hundred Shawnese warriors, who were on their way +to attack his own fort. He fled, but was overtaken +and secured. Soon after, the savages fell in with a +<a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a>large party of whites who were making salt at the +Salt Lick springs, and captured them all, twenty-seven +in number.</p> + +<p>Exulting in their success, the warriors gave up +their original project, and hastened northward with +their prisoners. Fortunately for the latter, the +Revolutionary War was now in full progress, and +the Indians deemed it more advantageous to themselves +to sell their prisoners than to torture them. +They, therefore, took them to Detroit, where all +were ransomed by the British except Boone. The +governor offered a large sum for his release, but the +savages would not listen to the bribe. They knew +the value of the man they held, and were determined +that their illustrious captive should not +escape again to give them trouble in field and forest.</p> + +<p>Leaving Detroit, they took him to Chillicothe, on +the Little Miami River, the chief town of the tribe. +Here a grand council was held as to what should be +done with him. Boone's fate trembled in the balance. +The stake seemed his destined doom. Fortunately, +an old woman, of the family of Blackfish, +one of their most distinguished chiefs, having lost a +son in battle, claimed the captive as her adopted +son. Such a claim could not be set aside. It was +a legal right in the tribe, and the chiefs could not +but yield. They were proud, indeed, to have such a +mighty hunter as one of themselves, and the man +for whose blood they had been hungering was now +treated with the utmost kindness and respect.</p> + +<p>The ceremony of adoption into the tribe was a +<a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a>painful one, which Boone had to endure. Part of +it consisted in plucking out all the hairs of his head +with the exception of the scalp-lock, of three or +four inches diameter. But the shrewd captive bore +his inflictions with equanimity, and appeared perfectly +contented with his lot. The new son of the +tribe, with his scalp-lock, painted face, and Indian +dress, and his skin deeply embrowned by constant +exposure to the air, could hardly be distinguished +from one of themselves, while his seeming satisfaction +with his new life was well adapted to throw the +Indians off their guard. His skill in all manly exercises +and in the use of arms was particularly admired +by his new associates, though, as Boone says, +he "was careful not to exceed many of them in +shooting, for no people are more envious than they +in this sport."</p> + +<p>His wary captors, however, were not easily to be +deceived. Seemingly, Boone was left free to go +where he would, but secretly he was watched, and +precautions taken to prevent his escape. He was +permitted to go out alone to hunt, but the Indians +always carefully counted his balls and measured his +charges of powder, determined that he should have +none to aid him to procure food in a long flight. +Shrewd as they were, however, Boone was more +than their match. In his hunting expeditions he +cut his balls in half, and used very small charges of +powder, so that he was enabled to bring back game +while gradually secreting a store of ammunition.</p> + +<p>And thus the days and weeks went on, while +<a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a>Daniel Boone remained, to all outward appearance, +a contented Shawnee warrior. But at length came +a time when flight grew imperative. He had been +taken to the salt-licks with a party of Indians to +aid them in making salt. On returning to Chillicothe +he was alarmed to see the former peaceful +aspect of the village changed to one of threatened +war. A band of four hundred and fifty warriors +had been collected for a hostile foray, and to his +horror he learned that Boonesborough was the destined +point of attack.</p> + +<p>In this fort were his wife and children. In the +present state of security of the inmates they might +easily be taken by surprise. He alone could warn +them of their danger, and to this end he must +escape from his watchful foes.</p> + +<p>Boone was not the man to let the anxiety that +tore his heart appear on his face. To all seeming +he was careless and indifferent, looking on with +smiling face at their war-dances, and hesitating not +to give them advice in warlike matters. He knew +their language sufficiently to understand all they +said, but from the moment of his captivity had +pretended to be entirely ignorant of it, talking to +them only in the jargon which then formed the +medium of communication between the red men +and the whites, and listening with impassive countenance +to the most fear-inspiring plans. They, +therefore, talked freely before him, not for a moment +dreaming that their astute prisoner had solved +the problem of their destination. As for Boone, +<a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a>he appeared to enter with whole-souled ardor into +their project and to be as eager as themselves for its +success, seeming so fully in sympathy with them, +and so content with his lot, that they absorbed in +their enterprise, became less vigilant than usual +in watching his movements.</p> + +<p>The time for the expedition was at hand. Whatever +the result, he must dare the peril of flight. +The distance to be traversed was one hundred and +sixty miles. As soon as his flight should become +known, he was well aware that a host of Indian +scouts, thoroughly prepared for pursuit and full of +revengeful fury, would be on his track. And there +would be no further safety for him if captured. +Death, by the most cruel tortures the infuriated +savages could devise, was sure to be his fate.</p> + +<p>All this Boone knew, but it did not shake his +resolute soul. His family and friends were in +deadly peril; he alone could save them; his own +danger was not to be thought of in this emergency. +On the morning of June 16 he rose very early for +his usual hunt. Taking the ammunition doled out +to him by his Indian guards, he added to it that +which he had secreted in the woods, and was ready +for the desperate enterprise which he designed.</p> + +<p>Boone was now forty-three years of age, a man +of giant frame and iron muscles, possessed of great +powers of endurance, a master of all the arts of +woodcraft, and one of the most skilful riflemen in +the Western wilds. Keen on the trail, swift of foot, +and valorous in action as were the Indian braves, +<a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a>there was no warrior of the tribe the equal in these +particulars of the practised hunter who now meditated +flight.</p> + +<p>On the selected morning the daring woodsman +did not waste a moment. No sooner had he lost +sight of the village than he headed southward at +his utmost speed. He could count on but an hour +or two to gain a start on his wary foes. He well +knew that when the hour of his usual return had +passed without his appearance, a host of scouts +would follow in swift pursuit. Such was the case, +as he afterwards learned. No sooner had the Indians +discovered the fact of his flight than an intense +commotion reigned among them, and a large +number of their swiftest runners and best hunters +were put upon his trail.</p> + +<p>By this time, however, he had gained a considerable +start, and was pushing forward with all speed +taking the usual precautions as he went to avoid +making a plain trail, but losing no time in his +flight. He dared not use his rifle,—quick ears +might be within hearing of its sound. He dared +not kindle a fire to cook game, even if he had killed +it,—sharp eyes might be within sight of its smoke. +He had secured a few cuts of dried venison, and +with this as his only food he pushed on by day and +night, hardly taking time to sleep, making his way +through forest and swamp, and across many streams +which were swollen by recent rains. And on his +track, like blood-hounds on the scent of their victims, +came the furious pursuers now losing his trail, +<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a>now recovering it; and, as they went, spreading out +over a wide space, and pushing steadily southward +over the general route which they felt sure he would +pursue.</p> + +<p>At length the weary fugitive reached the banks +of the Ohio River. As yet he had not seen a foe. +As yet he had not fired a gun. He must put that +great stream, now swollen to a half-mile in width +by the late rains, between him and his foes ere he +could dare for a moment to relax his vigilance.</p> + +<p>Unluckily, expert as he was in woodcraft, Boone +was a poor swimmer. His skill in the water would +never carry him across that rushing stream. How +to get across had for hours been to him a matter +of deep anxiety. Fortunately, on reaching its +banks, he found an old canoe, which had drifted +among the bushes of the shore, and stranded there, +being full of water from a large hole in its bottom.</p> + +<p>The skilled hunter was not long in emptying the +canoe and closing the hole. Then, improvising a +paddle, he launched his leaky craft upon the stream, +and succeeded in reaching the southern shore in +safety. Now, for the first time, did he feel sufficiently +safe to fire a shot and to kindle a fire. He +brought down a wild turkey which, seasoned with +hunger, made him the most delicious repast he had +ever tasted. It was the only regular meal in which +he indulged in his flight. Safety was not yet assured. +Some of his pursuers might be already +across the river. Onward he dashed, with unflagging +energy, and at length reached the fort, after +<a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a>five days of incessant travel through the untrodden +wilds.</p> + +<p>He was like a dead man returned to life. The +people at the fort looked at him with staring eyes. +They had long given him up for lost, and he +learned, much to his grief, that his wife and children +had returned to their old home in North +Carolina. Just now, however, there was no time +for sorrow, and little time for greeting. The fort +had been neglected, and was in bad condition. The +foe might even then be near at hand. There was +not a moment to spare. He put the men energetically +to work, and quickly had the neglected +defences repaired. Then determined to strike +terror into the foe, he led a party of men swiftly +to and across the Ohio, met a party of thirty +savages near the Indian town of Paint Creek, and +attacked them so fiercely that they were put to rout.</p> + +<p>This foray greatly alarmed the Indians. It put +courage into the hearts of the garrison. After an +absence of seven days and a journey of a hundred +and fifty miles, Boone and his little party returned, +in fear lest the Chillicothe warriors might reach +the fort during his absence.</p> + +<p>It was not, however, until August that the Indians +appeared. They were four hundred and forty-four +in number, led by Captain Duquesne and other +French officers, and with French and British colors +flying. There were but fifty men in the fort. The +situation seemed a desperate one, but under Boone's +command the settlers were resolute, and to the sum<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a>mons +to surrender, the daring commander returned +the bold reply, "We are determined to defend our +fort while a man of us lives."</p> + +<p>The next proposition of Duquesne was that nine +of the garrison should come out and treat with him. +If they could come to terms he would peacefully +retire. The veteran pioneer well knew what peril +lurked in this specious promise, and how little +safety they would have in trusting their Indian +foes. But, moved by his bold heart and daring +love of adventure, he assented to the dangerous +proposition, though not without taking precautions +for safety. He selected nine of the strongest and +most active of his men, appointed the place of +meeting in front of the fort, at one hundred and +twenty feet from the walls, and stationed the riflemen +of the garrison so as to cover the spot with +their guns, in case of treachery.</p> + +<p>These precautions taken, Boone led his party out, +and was met by Duquesne and his brother officers. +The terms proposed were liberal enough, but the +astute frontiersman knew very well that the Indians +would never assent to them. As the conference +proceeded, the Indian chiefs drew near, and +Blackfish, Boone's adopted father, professed the +utmost friendship, and suggested that the treaty +should be concluded in the Indian manner, by +shaking hands.</p> + +<p>The artifice was too shallow to deceive the silliest +of the garrison. It was Blackfish's purpose to have +two savages seize each of the whites, drag them +<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a>away as prisoners, and then by threats of torture +compel their comrades to surrender the fort. Boone, +however, did not hesitate to assent to the proposition. +He wished to unmask his wily foes. That +done, he trusted to the strength of himself and his +fellows, and the bullets of his riflemen, to bring his +party in safety back to the fort.</p> + +<p>It proved as he expected. No sooner had they +yielded their hands to the Indians than a desperate +attempt was made to drag them away. The surrounding +Indians rushed to the aid of their fellows. +From behind stumps and trees, a shower of bullets +was poured upon the fort. But the alert pioneers +were not taken by surprise. From the rifles of the +garrison bullets were poured back. Boone easily +shook off his assailant, and his companions did the +same. Back to the fort they fled, bullets pattering +after them, while the keen marksmen of the fort +sent back their sharp response. In a few seconds +the imperilled nine were behind the heavy gates, +only one of their number, Boone's brother, being +wounded. They had escaped a peril from which, +for the moment, rescue seemed hopeless.</p> + +<p>Baffled in their treachery, the assailants now +made a fierce assault on the fort, upon which they +kept up an incessant fire for nine days and nights, +giving the beleaguered garrison scarcely a moment +for rest. Hidden behind rocks and trees, they +poured in their bullets in a manner far more brisk +than effectual. The garrison but feebly responded +to this incessant fusillade, feeling it necessary to +<a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a>husband their ammunition. But, unlike the fire +of their foes, every shot of theirs told.</p> + +<p>During this interval the assailants began to undermine +the fort, beginning their tunnel at the +river-bank. But the clay they threw out discolored +the water and revealed their project, and the garrison +at once began to countermine, by cutting a +trench across the line of their projected passage. +The enemy, in their turn, discovered this and gave +up the attempt. Another of their efforts was to set +fire to the fort by means of flaming arrows. This +proved temporarily successful, the dry timbers of +the roof bursting into flames. But one of the young +men of the fort daringly sprang upon the roof, extinguished +the fire, and returned unharmed, +although bullets had fallen like hailstones around +him.</p> + +<p>At length, thoroughly discouraged, the enemy +raised the siege and departed, having succeeded only +in killing two and wounding four of the garrison, +while their dead numbered thirty-seven, and their +wounded a large number. One of these dead was +a negro, who had deserted from the fort and joined +the Indians, and whom Boone brought down with a +bullet from the remarkable distance, for the rifles +of that day, of five hundred and twenty-five feet. +After the enemy had gone there were "picked up," +says Boone, "one hundred and twenty-five pounds' +weight of bullets, besides what stuck in the logs +of the fort, which certainly is a great proof of their +industry," whatever may be said of their marksmanship.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a>The remainder of Daniel Boone's life we can give +but in outline. After the repulse of the enemy he +returned to the Yadkin for his family, and brought +them again to his chosen land. He came back to +find an Indian war raging along the whole frontier, +in which he was called to play an active part, and +on more than one occasion owed his life to his +strength, endurance, and sagacity. This warfare +continued for a number of years, the Indians being +generally successful, and large numbers of soldiers +falling before their savage onsets. At length the +conduct of the war was intrusted to "Mad Anthony" +Wayne, whose skill, rapidity, and decision +soon brought it to an end, and forced the tribes to +conclude a treaty of peace.</p> + +<p>Thenceforward Kentucky was undisturbed by +Indian forays, and its settlement went forward with +rapidity. The intrepid Boone had by no means +passed through the fire of war unharmed. He tells +us, "Two darling sons and a brother have I lost by +savage hands, which have also taken from me forty +valuable horses and abundance of cattle. Many +dark and sleepless nights have I been a companion +for owls, separated from the cheerful society of men, +scorched by the summers' sun, and pinched by the +winter's cold, an instrument ordained to settle the +wilderness."</p> + +<p>One wilderness settled, the hardy veteran pined +for more. Population in Kentucky was getting far +too thick for his ideas of comfort. His spirit craved +the solitude of the unsettled forest, and in 1802 he +<a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>again pulled up stakes and plunged into the depths +of the Western woods. "Too much crowded," he +declared; "too much crowded. I want more elbow-room."</p> + +<p>His first abiding place was on the Great Kanawha, +where he remained for several years. Then, +as the vanguard of the army of immigrants pressed +upon his chosen home, he struck camp again, and +started westward with wife and children, driving his +cattle before him, in search of a "promised land" +of few men and abundant game. He settled now +beyond the Mississippi, about fifty miles west of +St. Louis. Here he dwelt for years, hunting, trapping, +and enjoying life in his own wild way.</p> + +<p>Years went by, and once more the emigrant army +pressed upon the solitude-loving pioneer, but he was +now too old for further flight. Eighty years lay +upon his frosted brow, yet with little diminished activity +he pursued his old mode of life, being often +absent from home for weeks on hunting expeditions. +Audubon, the famous ornithologist, met him in one +of these forays, and thus pictures him: "The stature +and general appearance of this wanderer of the +Western forests," he says, "approached the gigantic. +His chest was broad and prominent; his muscular +powers displayed themselves in every limb; his +countenance gave indication of his great courage, +enterprise, and perseverance, and, whenever he +spoke, the very motion of his lips brought the impression +that whatever he uttered could not be +otherwise than strictly true."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>Mr. Irving tells a similar story of him in his +eighty-fifth year. He was then visited by the +Astor overland expedition to the Columbia. "He +had but recently returned from a hunting and trapping +expedition," says the historian, "and had +brought nearly sixty beaver skins as trophies of his +skill. The old man was still erect in form, strong +in limb, and unflinching in spirit; and as he stood +on the river bank watching the departure of an +expedition destined to traverse the wilderness to +the very shores of the Pacific, very probably felt a +throb of his old pioneer spirit, impelling him to +shoulder his rifle and join the adventurous band."</p> + +<p>Seven years afterwards he joined another band, +that of the heroes who have gone to their rest. To +his last year he carried the rifle and sought the +depths of the wood. At last, in 1818, with no disease +but old age, he laid down his life, after a most +adventurous career, in which he had won himself +imperishable fame as the most daring, skilful, and +successful of that pioneer band who have dared the +perils of the wilderness and surpassed the savage +tenants of the forest in their own chosen arts.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a> +<a name="PAUL_REVERES_RIDE" id="PAUL_REVERES_RIDE"></a> +PAUL REVERE'S RIDE.</h2> + + +<p>It was night at Boston, the birthnight of one of +the leading events in the history of the world. The +weather was balmy and clear. Most of the good +citizens of the town were at their homes; many of +them doubtless in their beds; for early hours were +kept in those early days of our country's history. +Yet many were abroad, and from certain streets +of the town arose unwonted sounds, the steady +tread of marching feet, the occasional click of steel, +the rattle of accoutrements. Those who were within +view of Boston Common at a late hour of that +evening of April 18, 1775, beheld an unusual sight, +that of serried ranks of armed men, who had quietly +marched thither from their quarters throughout +the town, as the starting-point for some secret and +mysterious expedition.</p> + +<p>At the same hour, in a shaded recess of the suburb +of Charlestown, stood a strongly-built and keen-eyed +man, with his hand on the bridle of an impatiently +waiting horse, his eyes fixed on a distant spire that +rose like a shadow through the gloom of the night. +Paul Revere was the name of this expectant patriot. +He had just before crossed the Charles River in a +small boat, rowing needfully through the darkness, +for his route lay under the guns of a British man-of-war, +the "Somerset," on whose deck, doubtless +were watchful eyes on the lookout for midnight +<a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>prowlers. Fortunately, the dark shadows which lay +upon the water hid the solitary rower from view, +and he reached the opposite shore unobserved. Here +a swift horse had been provided for him, and he +was bidden to be keenly on the alert, as a force of +mounted British officers were on the road which +he might soon have to take.</p> + +<div class="floatl"> +<a name="image158" id="image158"></a> +<a href="images/image158h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image158.jpg" + alt="THE OLD NORTH CHURCH, BOSTON." + title="THE OLD NORTH CHURCH, BOSTON." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">THE OLD NORTH CHURCH, BOSTON.</p> +</div> + +<p>And still the night moved on in its slow and silent +course, while slumber locked the eyes of most of +the worthy people of Boston town, and few of the +patriots were afoot. But among these was the +ardent man who stood with his eyes impatiently +fixed on the lofty spire of the Old North Church, +and in the town itself others heedfully watched the +secret movements of the British troops.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a double gleam flashed from the far-off +spire. Two lighted candles had been placed +in the belfry window of the church, and their feeble +glimmer sped swiftly through the intervening air +and fell upon the eyes of the expectant messenger. +No sooner had the light met his gaze than Paul +Revere, with a glad cry of relief, sprang to his +saddle, gave his uneasy horse the rein, and dashed +away at a swinging pace, the hoof-beats of his +horse sounding like the hammer-strokes of fate as +he bore away on his vital errand.</p> + +<p>A minute or two brought him past Charlestown +Neck. But not many steps had he taken on his +onward course before peril to his enterprise suddenly +confronted him. Two British officers appeared +in the road.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a>"Who goes there? Halt!" was their stern command.</p> + +<p>Paul Revere looked at them. They were mounted +and armed. Should he attempt to dash past them? +It was too risky and his errand too important. But +there was another road near by, whose entrance he +had just passed. With a quick jerk at the rein he +turned his horse, and in an instant was flying back +at racing speed.</p> + +<p>"Halt, or we will fire!" cried the officers, spurring +their horses to swift pursuit.</p> + +<p>Heedless of this command the bold rider drove +headlong back, his horse quickly proving his mettle +by distancing those of his pursuers. A few minutes +brought him to the entrance to the Medford Road. +Into this he sharply wheeled, and was quickly away +again towards his distant goal. Meanwhile one of +the officers, finding himself distanced, turned his +horse into the fields lying between the two roads, +with the purpose of riding across and cutting off +the flight of the fugitive. He had not taken many +steps, however, before he found his horse floundering +in a clay-pit, while Revere on the opposite road +shot past, with a ringing shout of triumph as he +went.</p> + +<p>Leaving him for the present to his journey, we +must return to the streets of Boston, and learn the +secret of this midnight ride.</p> + +<p>For several years previous to 1775 Boston had +been in the hands of British troops,—of a foreign +foe, we may almost say, for they treated it as though +<a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a>it were a captured town. Many collisions had occurred +between the troops and the citizens, the +rebellious feeling growing with every hour of occupation, +until now the spirit of rebellion, like a +contagious fever, had spread far beyond its point +of origin, and affected townsmen and farmers widely +throughout the colonies. In all New England hostility +to British rule had become rampant, minute-men +(men pledged to spring to arms at a minute's +notice) were everywhere gathering and drilling, and +here and there depots of arms and ammunition +had hastily been formed. Peace still prevailed, +but war was in the air.</p> + +<p>Boston itself aided in supplying these warlike +stores. Under the very eyes of the British guards +cannon-balls and muskets were carried out in carts, +covered by loads of manure. Market-women conveyed +powder from the city in their panniers, and +candle-boxes served as secret receptacles for cartridges. +Depots of these munitions were made near +Boston. In the preceding February the troops had +sought to seize one of these at Salem, but were +forced to halt at Salem bridge by a strong body of +the people, led by Colonel Pickering. Finding themselves +outnumbered, they turned and marched back, +no shot being fired and no harm done.</p> + +<p>Another depot of stores had now been made at +Concord, about nineteen miles away, and this General +Gage had determined to destroy, even if blood +were shed in so doing. Rebellion, in his opinion, +was gaining too great a head; it must be put down +<a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a>by the strong arm of force; the time for mild +measures was past.</p> + +<p>Yet he was not eager to rouse the colonists to hostility. +It was his purpose to surprise the patriots +and capture the stores before a party could be +gathered to their defence. This was the meaning of +the stealthy midnight movement of the troops. But +the patriot leaders in Boston were too watchful to +be easily deceived; they had their means of obtaining +information, and the profound secret of the +British general was known to them before the evening +had far advanced.</p> + +<p>About nine o'clock Lord Percy, one of the British +officers, crossed the Common, and in doing so noticed +a group of persons in eager chat. He joined +these, curious to learn the subject of their conversation. +The first words he heard filled him with +alarm.</p> + +<p>"The British troops will miss their aim," said a +garrulous talker.</p> + +<p>"What aim?" asked Percy.</p> + +<p>"The cannon at Concord," was the reply.</p> + +<p>Percy, who was in Gage's confidence, hastened to +the head-quarters of the commanding general and +informed him of what he had overheard. Gage, +startled to learn that his guarded secret was already +town's talk, at once set guards on all the avenues +leading from the town, with orders to arrest every +person who should attempt to leave, while the squad +of officers of whom we have spoken were sent forward +to patrol the roads.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a>But the patriots were too keen-witted to be so +easily checked in their plans. Samuel Adams and +John Hancock, the patriot leaders, fearing arrest, +had left town, and were then at Lexington at the +house of the Rev. Jonas Clarke. Paul Revere had +been sent to Charlestown by the patriotic Dr. +Warren, with orders to take to the road the moment +the signal lights in the belfry of the old North +Church should appear. These lights would indicate +that the troops were on the road. We have seen how +promptly he obeyed, and how narrowly he escaped +capture by General Gages' guards.</p> + +<p>On he went, mile by mile, rattling down the Medford +Road. At every wayside house he stopped, +knocked furiously at the door, and, as the startled +inmates came hastily to the windows, shouted, +"Up! up! the regulars are coming!" and before +his sleepy auditors could fairly grasp his meaning, +was away again.</p> + +<p>It was about midnight when the British troops +left Boston, on their supposed secret march. At +a little after the same hour the rattling sound of +hoofs broke the quiet of the dusky streets of Lexington, +thirteen miles away.</p> + +<p>Around the house of the Rev. Mr. Clarke eight +minute-men had been stationed as a guard, to protect +the patriot leaders within. They started hastily +to their feet as the messenger rode up at headlong +speed.</p> + +<p>"Rouse the house!" cried Revere.</p> + +<p>"That we will not," answered the guards. "Orders +<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a>have been given not to disturb the people within +by noise."</p> + +<p>"Noise!" exclaimed Revere; "you'll have noise +enough before long; the regulars are coming!"</p> + +<p>At these startling tidings the guards suffered him +to approach and knock at the door. The next minute +a window was thrown up and Mr. Clarke looked +out.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"I wish to see Mr. Hancock," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"I cannot admit strangers to my house at night +without knowing who they are."</p> + +<p>Another window opened as he spoke. It was that +of John Hancock, who had heard and recognized the +messenger's voice. He knew him well.</p> + +<p>"Come in, Revere," he cried; "we are not afraid +of you."</p> + +<p>The door was opened and Revere admitted, to tell +his alarming tale, and bid the patriot leaders to flee +from that place of danger. His story was quickly +confirmed, for shortly afterwards another messenger, +William Dawes by name, rode up. He had left +Boston at the same time as Revere, but by a different +route. Adams was by this time aroused and +had joined his friend, and the two patriot leaders, +feeling assured that their capture was one of the +purposes of the expedition, hastily prepared for +retreat to safer quarters. While they did so, Revere +and Dawes, now joining company, mounted again, +and once more took to the road, on their midnight +mission of warning and alarm.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a>Away they went again, with thunder of hoofs +and rattle of harness, while as they left the streets +of Lexington behind them a hasty stir succeeded the +late silence of that quiet village. From every house +men rushed to learn the news; from every window +<ins class="correction" title="womens' in original">women's</ins> heads were thrust; some armed minute-men +began to gather, and by two o'clock a hundred +and thirty of these were gathered upon the meeting-house +green. But no foe appeared, and the air was +chilly at this hour of the night, so that, after the +roll had been called, they were dismissed, with orders +to be ready to assemble at beat of drum.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Revere and his companion had pushed +on towards Concord, six miles beyond. On the road +they met Dr. Samuel Prescott, a resident of that +town, on his way home from a visit to Lexington. +The three rode on together, the messengers telling +their startling story to their new companion.</p> + +<p>It was a fortunate meeting, as events fell out, +for, as they pushed onward, Paul Revere somewhat +in advance, the group of British officers of whom +he had been told suddenly appeared in the road +before him. Before he could make a movement to +escape they were around him, and strong hands +were upon his shoulders. The gallant scout was +a prisoner in British hands.</p> + +<p>Dawes, who had been closely behind him, suffered +the same fate. Not so Prescott, who had been left +a short distance behind by the ardent messengers. +He sprang over the road-side wall before the officers +could reach him, and hastened away through the +<a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a>fields towards Concord, bearing thither the story he +had so opportunely learned.</p> + +<p>The officers had already in their custody three +Lexington men, who, in order to convey the news, +had taken to the road while Revere and Dawes were +closeted with the patriot leaders at Mr Clarke's. +Riding back with their prisoners to a house near by, +they questioned them at point of pistol as to their +purpose.</p> + +<p>Revere at first gave evasive answers to their +questions. But at length, with a show of exultation, +he said,—</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, you have missed your aim."</p> + +<p>"What aim?" they asked.</p> + +<p>"I came from Boston an hour after your troops +left it," answered Revere. "And if I had not +known that messengers were out in time enough to +carry the news for fifty miles, you would not have +stopped me without a shot."</p> + +<p>The officers, startled by this confident assertion, +continued their questions; but now, from a distance, +the clang of a bell was heard. The Lexington men +cried out at this,—</p> + +<p>"The bells are ringing! The towns are alarmed! +You are all dead men!"</p> + +<p>This assertion, which the sound of the bells appeared +to confirm, alarmed the officers. If the people +should rise, their position would be a dangerous +one. They must make their way back. But, as a +measure of precaution, they took Revere's horse and +cut the girths and bridles of the others. This done, +<a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a>they rode away at full speed, leaving their late captives +on foot in the road. But this the two messengers +little heeded, as they knew that their tidings +had gone on in safe hands.</p> + +<p>While all this was taking place, indeed, Prescott +had regained the road, and was pressing onward at +speed. He reached Concord about two o'clock in +the morning, and immediately gave the alarm. As +quickly as possible the bells were set ringing, and +from all sides people, roused by the midnight +alarum, thronged towards the centre square. As +soon as the startling news was heard active measures +were taken to remove the stores. All the men, +and a fair share of the women, gave their aid, +carrying ammunition, muskets, cartridges, and +other munitions hastily to the nearest woods. Some +of the cannon were buried in trenches, over which a +farmer rapidly ran his plough, to give it the aspect +of a newly-ploughed field. The militia gathered in +all haste from neighboring villages, and at early +day a large body of them were assembled, while +the bulk of the precious stores had vanished.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image166" id="image166"></a> +<a href="images/image166h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image166.jpg" + alt="THE SPIRIT OF '76." + title="THE SPIRIT OF '76." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">THE SPIRIT OF '76.</p> +</div> + +<p>Meanwhile, momentous events were taking place +at Lexington. The first shots of the American +Revolution had been fired; the first blood had been +shed. It was about four o'clock when the marching +troops came within sight of the town. Until now +they had supposed that their secret was safe, and +that they would take the patriots off their guard. +But the sound of bells, clashing through the morning +air, told a different tale. In some way the +<a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a>people had been aroused. Colonel Smith halted his +men, sent a messenger to Boston for re-enforcements, +and ordered Major Pitcairn, with six companies, +to press on to Concord with all haste and +secure the bridges.</p> + +<p>News that the troops were at hand quickly +reached Lexington. The drums were beaten, the +minute-men gathered, and as the coming morning +showed its first gray tinge in the east, it gave light +to a new spectacle on Lexington green, that of a +force of about a hundred armed militiamen facing +five or six times their number of scarlet-coated +British troops.</p> + +<p>It was a critical moment. Neither party wished +to fire. Both knew well what the first shot involved. +But the moment of prudence did not last. Pitcairn +galloped forward, sword in hand, followed quickly +by his men, and shouted in ringing tones,—</p> + +<p>"Disperse, you villains! Lay down your arms, +you rebels, and disperse!"</p> + +<p>The patriots did not obey. Not a man of them +moved from his ranks. Not a face blanched. Pitcairn +galloped back and bade his men surround the +rebels in arms. At this instant some shots came +from the British line. They were instantly answered +from the American ranks. Pitcairn drew +his pistol and discharged it.</p> + +<p>"Fire!" he cried to his troops.</p> + +<p>Instantly a fusillade of musketry rang out upon +the morning air, four of the patriots fell dead, and +the other, moved by sudden panic, fled. As they +<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>retreated another volley was fired, and more men +fell. The others hid behind stone walls and buildings +and returned the fire, wounding three of the +soldiers and Pitcairn's horse.</p> + +<p>Such was the opening contest of the American +Revolution. Those shots were the signal of a tempest +of war which was destined to end in the establishment +of one of the greatest nations known to +human history. As for the men who lay dead upon +Lexington green, the first victims of a great cause, +they would be amply revenged before their assailants +set foot again on Boston streets.</p> + +<p>The troops, elated with their temporary success, +now pushed on briskly towards Concord, hoping to +be in time to seize the stores. They reached there +about seven o'clock, but only to find that they were +too late, and that most of the material of war had +disappeared. They did what damage they could, +knocked open about sixty barrels of flour which +they found, injured three cannon, threw some five +hundred pounds of balls into wells and the mill-pond, +and set fire to the court-house. A Mrs. Moulton +put out the flames before they had done much +harm.</p> + +<p>The time taken in these exercises was destined +to be fatal to many of those indulging in them. +Militia were now gathering in haste from all the +neighboring towns. The Concord force had withdrawn +for re-enforcements, but about ten o'clock, +being now some four hundred strong, the militia +advanced and attacked the enemy on guard at +<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a>North Bridge. A sharp contest ensued. Captain +Isaac Davis and one of his men fell dead. Three of +the British were killed, and several wounded and +captured. The bridge was taken.</p> + +<p>Colonel Smith was in a quandary. Should he +stand his ground, or retreat before these despised +provincials? Should veteran British troops fly before +countrymen who had never fired gun before +at anything larger than a rabbit? But these despised +countrymen were gathering in hordes. On +every side they could be seen hasting forward, musket +or rifle in hand. Prudence just then seemed +the better part of valor. About twelve o'clock +Colonel Smith reluctantly gave the order to retreat.</p> + +<p>It began as an orderly march; it ended as a disorderly +flight. The story of Lexington had already +spread far and wide and, full of revengeful fury, +the minute-men hastened to the scene. Reaching +the line of retreat, they hid behind houses, barns, +and road-side walls, and poured a galling fire upon +the troops, some of whom at every moment fell +dead. During that dreadful six miles' march to +Lexington, the helpless troops ran the gantlet of +the most destructive storm of bullets they had ever +encountered. On Lexington battle-green several of +them fell. It is doubtful if a man of them would +have reached Boston alive but for the cautious +demand for re-enforcements which Colonel Smith +had sent back in the early morning.</p> + +<p>Lord Percy, with about nine hundred men, left +Boston about nine o'clock in the morning of the +<a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a>19th, and a short time after two in the afternoon +reached the vicinity of Lexington. He was barely +in time to rescue the exhausted troops of Colonel +Smith. So worn out were they with fatigue that +they were obliged to fling themselves on the ground +for rest, their tongues hanging from their mouths +through drought and weariness.</p> + +<p>Little time could be given them for rest. The +woods swarmed with militiamen, who scarcely could +be kept back by the hollow square and planted +cannon of Lord Percy's troops. In a short time +the march was resumed. The troops had burned +several houses at Lexington, a vandalism which +added to the fury of the provincials. As they proceeded, +the infuriated soldiers committed other acts +of atrocity, particularly in West Cambridge, where +houses were plundered and several unoffending persons +murdered.</p> + +<p>But for all this they paid dearly. The militia +pursued them almost to the very streets of Boston, +pouring in a hot fire at every available point. On +nearing Charlestown the situation of the British +troops became critical, for their ammunition was +nearly exhausted, and a strong force was marching +upon them from several points. Fortunately for +them, they succeeded in reaching Charlestown before +they could be cut off, and here the pursuit ended +as no longer available. The British loss in killed, +wounded, and missing in that dreadful march had +been nearly three hundred; that of the Americans +was about one hundred in all.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a>It was a day mighty in history, the birthday of +the American Revolution; the opening event in the +history of the United States of America, which has +since grown to so enormous stature, and is perhaps +destined to become the greatest nation upon the +face of the earth. That midnight ride of Paul +Revere was one of the turning-points in the history +of mankind.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a> +<a name="THE_GREEN_MOUNTAIN_BOYS" id="THE_GREEN_MOUNTAIN_BOYS"></a> +THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS.</h2> + + +<p>Down from the green hills of Vermont came in +all haste a company of hardy mountaineers, at their +head a large-framed, strong-limbed, keen-eyed frontiersman, +all dressed in the homespun of their native +hills, but all with rifles in their hands, a weapon +which none in the land knew better how to use. +The tidings of stirring events at Boston, spreading +rapidly through New England, had reached their +ears. The people of America had been attacked by +English troops, blood had been shed at Lexington +and Concord, war was begun, a struggle for independence +was at hand. Everywhere the colonists, +fiery with indignation, were seizing their arms and +preparing to fight for their rights. The tocsin had +rung. It was time for all patriots to be up and +alert.</p> + +<p>On the divide between Lakes George and Champlain +stood a famous fort, time-honored old Ticonderoga, +which had played so prominent a part in the +French and Indian War. It was feebly garrisoned +by English troops, and was well supplied with munitions +of war. These munitions were, just then, +of more importance than men to the patriot cause. +The instant the news of Lexington reached the +ears of the mountaineers of Vermont, axes were +dropped, ploughs abandoned, rifles seized, and "Ticonderoga" +was the cry. Ethan Allen, a leader in +<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a>the struggle which had for several years been maintained +between the settlers of that region and the +colony of New York, and a man of vigor and decision, +lost no time in calling his neighbors to arms, +and the Green Mountain boys were quickly in the +field.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image172" id="image172"></a> +<a href="images/image172h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image172.jpg" + alt="ETHAN ALLEN'S ENTRANCE, TICONDEROGA." + title="ETHAN ALLEN'S ENTRANCE, TICONDEROGA." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">ETHAN ALLEN'S ENTRANCE, TICONDEROGA.</p> +</div> + +<p>Prompt as they had been, they were none too +soon. Others of the patriots had their eyes on the +same tempting prize. Other leaders were eagerly +preparing to obtain commissions and raise men for +the expedition. One of the first of these was Benedict +Arnold, who had been made colonel for the purpose +by the governor of Massachusetts, and hastened +to the western part of the colony to raise men +and take command of the enterprise.</p> + +<p>He found men ready for the work, Green Mountain +men, with the stalwart Ethan Allen at their +head, but men by no means disposed to put themselves +under any other commander than the sturdy +leader of their choice.</p> + +<p>Only a year or two before Allen, as their colonel, +had led these hardy mountaineers against the settlers +from New York who had attempted to seize +their claims, and driven out the interlopers at +sword's point. The courts at Albany had decided +that the Green Mountain region was part of the +colony of New York. Against this decision Allen +had stirred the settlers to armed resistance, thundering +out against the fulminations of the lawyers the +opposite quotation from Scripture, "The Lord is +the God of the hills, but He is not the God of the +<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a>valleys," and rousing the men of the hills to fight +what he affirmed to be God's battle for the right. +In 1774, Governor Tryon, of New York, offered a +reward of one hundred and fifty pounds for the +capture of Allen. The insurgent mountaineers retorted +by offering an equal reward for the capture +of Governor Tryon. Neither reward had been +earned, a year more had elapsed, and Ethan Allen, +at the head of his Green Mountain boys, was in +motion in a greater cause, to defend, not Vermont +against New York, but America against England.</p> + +<p>But, before proceeding, we must go back and +bring up events to the point we have reached. The +means for the expedition of the Green Mountain +boys came from Connecticut, whence a sum of three +hundred pounds had been sent in the hands of +trusty agents to Allen and his followers. They were +found to be more than ready, and the Connecticut +agents started in advance towards the fort, leaving +the armed band to follow. One of them, Noah +Phelps by name, volunteered to enter the fort and +obtain exact information as to its condition. He +disguised himself and entered the fort as a countryman, +pretending that he wanted to be shaved. +While hunting for the barber he kept his eyes +open and used his tongue freely, asking questions +like an innocent rustic, until he had learned the +exact condition of affairs, and came out with a clean +face and a full mind.</p> + +<p>Allen was now rapidly approaching, and, lest +news of his movement should reach the fort, men +<a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a>were sent out on all the roads leading thither, to +intercept passers. On the 8th of May all was ready. +Allen, with one hundred and forty men, was to go +to the lake by way of Shoreham, opposite the fort. +Thirty men, under Captain Herrick, were to advance +to Skenesborough, capture Major Skene, seize +boats, and drop down the lake to join Allen.</p> + +<p>All was in readiness for the completion of the +work, when an officer, attended by a single servant, +came suddenly from the woods and hurried to the +camp. It was Benedict Arnold, who had heard of +what was afoot, and had hastened forward to claim +command of the mountaineers.</p> + +<p>It was near nightfall. The advance party of +Allen's men was at Hand's Cove, on the eastern side +of the lake, preparing to cross. Arnold joined them +and crossed with them, but on reaching the other +side of the lake claimed the command. Allen +angrily refused. The debate waxed hot; Arnold had +the commission; Allen had the men: the best of +the situation lay with the latter. He was about to +settle the difficulty by ordering Arnold under guard, +when one of his friends, fearing danger to the enterprise +from the controversy, suggested that the two +men should march side by side. This compromise +was accepted and the dispute ended.</p> + +<p>By this time day was about to break. Eighty-three +men had landed, and the boats had returned +for the rest. But there was evidently no time to +lose if the fort was to be surprised. They must +move at once, without waiting for the remainder of +<a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a>the party. A farmer's boy of the vicinity, who was +familiar with the fort, offered to act as guide, and in +a few minutes more the advance was begun, the two +leaders at the head, Allen in command, Arnold as +a volunteer.</p> + +<p>The stockade was reached. A wicket stood open. +Through this Allen charged followed by his men. +A sentry posted there took aim, but his piece missed +fire, and he ran back shouting the alarm. At his +heels came the two leaders, at full speed, their men +crowding after, till, before a man of the garrison +appeared, the fort was fairly won.</p> + +<p>Allen at once arranged his men so as to face each +of the barracks. It was so early that most of those +within were still asleep, and the fort was captured +without the commander becoming aware that any +thing unusual was going on. His whole command +was less than fifty men, and resistance would have +been useless with double their number of stalwart +mountaineers on the parade-ground.</p> + +<p>Allen forced one of the sentries who had been +captured to show him the way to the quarters of +Captain Delaplace, the commander. Reaching the +chamber of the latter, the militia leader called on +him in a stentorian voice to surrender. Delaplace +sprang out of bed, and, half dressed, appeared with +an alarmed and surprised face at the door.</p> + +<p>"By whose authority?" he demanded, not yet +alive to the situation.</p> + +<p>"In the name of the great Jehovah and the Continental +Congress!" roared out the Green Mountaineer.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a>Here was a demand which backed as it was by a +drawn sword and the sound of shouts of triumph +outside, it would have been madness to resist. The +fort was surrendered with scarcely a shot fired or a +blow exchanged, and its large stores of cannon and +ammunition, then sorely needed by the colonists +besieging Boston, fell into American hands. The +stores and military material captured included a +hundred and twenty pieces of cannon, with a considerable +number of small arms and other munitions +of high value to the patriot cause.</p> + +<p>While these events were taking place, Colonel +Seth Warner was bringing the rear-guard across the +lake, and was immediately sent with a hundred men +to take possession of the fort at Crown Point, in +which were only a sergeant and twelve men. This +was done without difficulty, and a hundred more +cannon captured.</p> + +<p>The dispute between Arnold and Allen was now +renewed, Massachusetts supporting the one, Connecticut +the other. While it was being settled, the +two joined in an expedition together, with the purpose +of gaining full possession of Lake Champlain, +and seizing the town of St. Johns, at its head. This +failed, reinforcements having been sent from Montreal, +and the adventurers returned to Ticonderoga, +contenting themselves for the time being with their +signal success in that quarter, and the fame on +which they counted from their daring exploit.</p> + +<p>The after-career of Ethan Allen was an interesting +one, and worthy of being briefly sketched. Hav<a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a>ing +taken Ticonderoga, he grew warm with the +desire to take Canada, and, on September 25, 1775, +made a rash assault on Montreal with an inadequate +body of men. The support he hoped for was not +forthcoming, and he and his little band were taken, +Allen, soon after, being sent in chains to England.</p> + +<p>Here he attracted much attention, his striking +form, his ardent patriotism, his defiance of the English, +even in captivity, and certain eccentricities of +his manner and character interesting some and +angering others of those with whom he had intercourse.</p> + +<p>Afterwards he was sent back to America and held +prisoner at Halifax and New York, in jails and +prison-ships, being most of the time harshly treated +and kept heavily ironed. He was released in 1778.</p> + +<p>A fellow-prisoner, Alexander Graydon, has left in +his memoirs a sketch of Allen, which gives us an +excellent idea of the man. "His figure was that of +a robust, large-framed man worn down by confinement +and hard fare.... His style was a singular +compound of local barbarisms, scriptural phrases, +and Oriental wildness.... Notwithstanding that +Allen might have had something of the insubordinate, +lawless, frontier spirit in his composition, he +appeared to me to be a man of generosity and +honor."</p> + +<p>Among the eccentricities of the man was a disbelief +in Christianity,—much more of an anomaly +in that day than at present,—and a belief in the +transmigration of souls, it being one of his fancies +<a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a>that, after death, his spiritual part was to return to +this world in the form of a large white horse.</p> + +<p>On his release he did not join the army. Vermont +had declared itself an independent State in +1777, and sought admittance to the Confederation. +This New York opposed. Allen took up the cause, +visited Congress on the subject, but found its members +not inclined to offend the powerful State of +New York. There was danger of civil war in the +midst of the war for independence, and the English +leaders, seeing the state of affairs, tried to persuade +Allen and the other Green Mountain leaders to +declare for the authority of the king. They evidently +did not know Ethan Allen. He was far too +sound a patriot to entertain for a moment such a +thought. The letters received by him he sent in +1782 to Congress, and when the war ended Vermont +was a part of the Union, though not admitted as a +State till 1791. Allen was then dead, having been +carried away suddenly by apoplexy in 1789.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a> +<a name="THE_BRITISH_AT_NEW_YORK" id="THE_BRITISH_AT_NEW_YORK"></a> +THE BRITISH AT NEW YORK.</h2> + + +<p>Before the days of dynamite and the other +powerful explosives which enable modern man to +set at naught the most rigid conditions of nature, +warfare with the torpedo was little thought of, +gunpowder being a comparatively innocent agent +for this purpose. In the second period of the +Revolutionary War, when the British fleet had left +Boston and appeared in the harbor of New York, +preparatory to an attack on the latter city, the only +methods devised by the Americans for protection +of the Hudson were sunken hulks in the stream, +<i>chevaux-de-frise</i>, composed of anchored logs, and +fire-ships prepared to float down on the foe. All +these proved of no avail. The current loosened the +anchored logs, so that they proved useless; the fire-ships +did no damage; and the batteries on shore +were not able to hinder certain ships of the enemy +from running the gantlet of the city, and ascending +the Hudson to Tappan Sea, forty miles above. All +the service done by the fire-ships was to alarm the +captains of these bold cruisers, and induce them +to run down the river again, and rejoin the fleet at +the Narrows.</p> + +<p>It was at this juncture that an interesting event +took place, the first instance on record of the use of +a torpedo-vessel in warfare. A Connecticut officer +named Bushnell, an ingenious mechanician, had in<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a>vented +during his college-life an oddly-conceived +machine for submarine explosion, to which he gave +the appropriate name of "The American Turtle." +He had the model with him in camp. A report of +the existence of this contrivance reached General +Putnam, then in command at New York. He sent +for Bushnell, talked the matter over with him, examined +the model, and was so pleased with it that +he gave the inventor an order to construct a working-machine, +supplying funds for this purpose.</p> + +<p>Bushnell lost no time. In ten days the machine +was ready. It was a peculiar-looking affair, justifying +its name by its resemblance to a large ocean-turtle. +In the head, or front portion, was an air-tight +apartment, with a narrow entrance. It was +claimed to be capable of containing fresh air enough +to support life for half an hour. The bottom of the +machine was ballasted with lead. Motion was obtained +from an oar, adapted for rowing backward +or forward, while a rudder under control of the +operator served for steering purposes. In the bottom +was a valved aperture, into which water could be +admitted when it was desired to sink the machine; +while the water could be ejected by two brass pumps +when the operator wished to rise again.</p> + +<p>The torpedo arrangement consisted of two pieces +of oak timber, hollowed out and filled with powder, +the space containing a clock-work arrangement that +could be set to run any time desired, and a contrivance +for exploding the powder when the time expired. +This torpedo was fixed in the rear of the +<a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>vessel, and was provided with a strong screw, that +could be turned by the operator, so as to fasten it +under the bottom of a ship or in other desired location. +So far as appeared, the contrivance was not +unpromising. It failed in its purpose, but solely, +if the word of the operator may be taken, from +the absence of an indispensable article of supply. +What this was will appear in the sequel.</p> + +<p>Captain Bushnell's brother had volunteered for +the perilous enterprise. A sudden sickness prevented +him, and his place was taken by a venturesome +New London sergeant named Abijah Shipman, +or, as rechristened by his companions, "Long +Bige." He was an amphibious chap, half sailor, +half soldier, long, thin, and bony, and not wanting +in Yankee humor. He had courage enough to +undertake any enterprise, if he could only be primed +with rum and tobacco, articles which he deemed the +leading necessaries of life.</p> + +<p>It was an early hour of a July morning. The sun +had not appeared on the eastern horizon. By a +wharf-side on the Hudson floated the strange +marine monster whose powers were about to be +tested. On the shore stood Putnam and many +other officers. In their midst was Abijah Shipman, +ready to start on his dangerous enterprise. It was +proposed to tow the nondescript affair into the +stream, set it adrift on the tide, and trust to +Abijah's skill to bring it under the bottom of the +"Eagle," Admiral Howe's flag-ship, which had been +chosen for the victim. If the magazine could be +<a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a>attached to the bottom of this vessel, she must surely +be destroyed. But certainly the chances seemed +greatly against its being thus attached.</p> + +<p>Everything was ready. Abijah stepped on board +his craft, entered the air-tight chamber, closed the +cover, and was about to screw it down, when suddenly +it flew open again, and his head emerged.</p> + +<p>"Thunder and marlinspikes!" he exclaimed, +"who's got a cud of tobacco? This old cud won't +last, anyhow." And he threw away the worn-out +lump on which he had been chewing.</p> + +<p>A laugh followed his appeal. Such of the officers +as used the weed felt hastily in their pockets. They +were empty of the indispensable article. There +was no hope for Abijah; daylight was at hand, +time was precious, he must sail short of supplies.</p> + +<p>"You see how it is, my brave fellow," said Putnam. +"We Continental officers are too poor to +raise even a tobacco plug. Push off. To-morrow, +after you have sent the 'Eagle' on its last flight, +some of our Southern officers shall order you a full +keg of old Virginia weed."</p> + +<p>"It's too bad," muttered Abijah, dejectedly. +"And mind you, general, if the old 'Turtle' doesn't +do her duty, it's all 'long of me goin' to sea without +tobacco."</p> + +<p>Down went Abijah's head, the cover was tightly +screwed into place, and the machine was towed out +into the channel and cast loose. Away it floated +towards the British fleet, which lay well up in the +Narrows. The officers made their way to the Bat<a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a>tery, +where they waited in much suspense the result +of the enterprise.</p> + +<p>An hour slowly moved by. Morning broke. The +rim of the sun lifted over the distant waters. Yet +the "Eagle" still rode unharmed. Something +surely had happened. The torpedo had failed. +Possibly the venturesome Abijah was reposing in +his stranded machine on the bottom of the bay. +Putnam anxiously swept the waters in the vicinity +of the "Eagle" with his glass. Suddenly he exclaimed, +"There he is!" The top of the "Turtle" +had just emerged, in a little bay a short distance +to the left of Howe's flag-ship.</p> + +<p>It was seen as quickly by the sentinels on the +"Eagle," who fired at the strange aquatic monster +with such good aim that Abijah popped under the +water as hastily as he had emerged from it. On +board the "Eagle" confusion evidently prevailed. +This strange contrivance had apparently filled the +mariners with alarm. There were signs of a hasty +effort to get under weigh, and wings were added to +this haste when a violent explosion took place in the +immediate vicinity of the fleet, hurling up great +volumes of water into the air. The machine had +been set to run an hour, and had duly gone off at +its proper time, but, for some reason yet to be explained, +not under the "Eagle." The whole fleet +was not long in getting up its anchors, setting sail, +and scurrying down the bay to a safer abiding-place +below. And here they lay until the day of the +battle of Long Island, not venturing again within +reach of that naval nondescript.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a>As for the "Turtle," boats at once set out to +Abijah's relief and he was taken off in the vicinity +of Governor's Island. On landing and being questioned, +he gave, in his own odd way, the reasons +of his failure.</p> + +<p>"Just as I said, gen'ral," he remarked "it all +failed for the want of that cud of tobacco. You +see, I am narvous without tobacco. I got under the +'Eagle's' bottom, but somehow the screw struck the +iron bar that passes from the rudder pintle, and +wouldn't hold on anyhow I could fix it. Just then +I let go the oar to feel for a cud, to steady my +narves, and I hadn't any. The tide swept me under +her counter, and away I slipped top o' water. I +couldn't manage to get back, so I pulled the lock +and let the thunder-box slide. That's what comes +of sailin' short of supplies. Say, can't you raise +a cud among you <i>now</i>?"</p> + +<p>There is another interesting story to tell, in connection +with the British occupation of New York, +which may be fitly given here. The battle of Long +Island had been fought. The American forces had +been safely withdrawn. Washington had moved the +main body of his army, with the bulk of the stores, +from the city, leaving General Putnam behind, in +command of the rear-guard.</p> + +<p>Putnam's position was a perilous one. The configuration +of Manhattan Island is such that the +British could land a force from the East River, +throw it across the narrow width of the island, +and cut off retreat from below. The only trust lay +in the shore batteries, and they proved useless.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a>A British landing was made at Kip's Bay, about +three miles above the city, where were works strong +enough to have kept off the enemy for a long time, +had they been well defended. As it was, the garrison +fled in a panic, on the bare appearance of the +British transports. At the same time three ships of +war moved up the Hudson to Bloomingdale, and +attacked the works there.</p> + +<p>The flight of the Kip's Bay garrison left Putnam +in the most imminent peril. He had about three +thousand men, and a dangerous incumbrance of +women, children, camp-followers, and baggage. The +weather was very hot, the roads were narrow; everything +tended to make the retreat difficult and perilous. +The instant he heard of the unlooked-for +cowardice of the Kip's Bay garrison and the landing +of the enemy, he put his men in motion, and +strained every nerve to push them past the point of +danger before his channel of escape should be closed.</p> + +<p>Safety seemed a forlorn hope. The British had +landed in force above him. A rapid march would +quickly bring them to the Hudson. The avenue of +exit would be closed. The danger of capture was +extreme. It was averted by one of those striking +incidents of which so many give interest to the +history of war. In this case it was a woman whose +coolness and quick wit proved the salvation of Putnam's +imperilled army.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Clinton, having fairly landed his men +at Kip's Bay, put them quickly into motion to cut +off Putnam's retreat. In his march for this object, +<a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>his route lay along the eastern side of Murray Hill, +where was the residence of Mrs. Murray, mother of +Lindley Murray, the grammarian, and a most +worthy old Quaker lady. Putnam had sent her +word, some time before, of his perilous situation, +begging her, if possible, to detain General Clinton, +by entertaining him and his officers. If their march +could be hindered for an hour it would be an invaluable +service.</p> + +<p>The patriotic old lady was quick to respond. +Many of the British officers knew her, and when +she appeared, with a welcoming smile, at her door, +and cordially invited them to step in and take a +friendly glass of wine, the offer was too tempting to +be refused. Exhausted with the heat and with the +labor of disembarking, they were only too glad to +halt their columns for a short rest, and follow +her into her comfortable dining-room. Here Mrs. +Murray and the ladies of her family exerted themselves +to entertain their guests. The wine proved +excellent. The society and conversation of the +ladies were a delightful change from the duties of +the camp. The minutes became an hour before the +guests dreamed of the flight of time.</p> + +<p>At length a negro servant, who had been on the +lookout from the housetop, entered the room, made +a significant sign to his mistress, and at once +withdrew. Mrs. Murray now rose, and with a +meaning smile turned to her titled guest.</p> + +<p>"Will you be kind enough to come with me, Sir +Henry?" she asked. "I have something of great +interest to show you."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a>"With pleasure," he replied, rising with alacrity, +and following her from the room.</p> + +<p>She led the way to the lookout in the upper story, +and pointed to the northern side of the hill, where +could be seen the American flag, proudly waving +over the ranks of the retiring army. They were +marching in close array into the open plain of +Bloomingdale.</p> + +<p>"How do you like the prospect, Sir Henry?" she +calmly inquired. "We consider the view from this +side an admirable one."</p> + +<p>What Sir Henry replied, history has not recorded. +No doubt it lacked the quality of politeness. Down +the stairs he rushed, calling to his officers as he +passed, leaped upon his horse, and could scarcely +find words in his nervous haste to give orders for +pursuit.</p> + +<p>He was too late. The gap was closed; but nothing, +except such baggage and stores as could not be +moved, remained in the trap which, if sprung an +hour earlier, would have caught an army.</p> + +<p>Only for Mrs. Murray's inestimable service, Putnam +and his men would probably have become +prisoners of war. Her name lives in history among +those of the many heroines who so ably played their +part in the drama of American liberty, and who +should hold high rank among the makers of the +American Commonwealth.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a> +<a name="A_QUAKERESS_PATRIOT" id="A_QUAKERESS_PATRIOT"></a> +A QUAKERESS PATRIOT.</h2> + + +<p>In Philadelphia, on Second Street below Spruce, +formerly stood an antiquated mansion, known by +the name of "Loxley's House," it having been originally +the residence of Lieutenant Loxley, who +served in the artillery under Braddock, and took +part in his celebrated defeat. During the Revolution +this house was the scene of an interesting historical +incident, which is well worth relating.</p> + +<p>At that time it was occupied by a Quaker named +Darrah, or perhaps we should say by his wife Lydia, +who seems to have been the ruling spirit of the +house. During the British occupation of Philadelphia, +when patriots and royalists alike had to open +their mansions to their none too welcome guests, the +Darrah mansion was used as the quarters of the +British adjutant-general. In that day it was somewhat +"out of town," and was frequently the scene +of private conferences of the higher officers, as being +somewhat secluded.</p> + +<p>On one chill and snowy day, the 2d of December, +1777, the adjutant-general appeared at the house +and bade Mrs. Darrah to prepare the upper back +room for a meeting of his friends, which would take +place that night.</p> + +<p>"They may stay late," he said, and added, emphatically, +"be sure, Lydia, that your family are +all in bed at an early hour. When our guests are +<a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a>ready to leave the house I will give you notice, that +you may let us out and extinguish the fire and +candles."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Darrah obeyed. Yet she was so struck by +the mystery with which he seemed inclined to surround +the projected meeting, that she made up her +mind to learn, if possible, what very secret business +was afoot. She obeyed his orders literally, saw that +her people were early in bed, and, after receiving the +officers, retired herself to her room, but not to sleep. +This conference might presage some peril to the +American cause. If so, she wished to know it.</p> + +<p>When she deemed the proper time had come, she +removed her shoes, and in stocking feet stole softly +along the passage to the door of the apartment +where the officers were in consultation. Here the +key-hole served the purpose to which that useful +opening has so often been put, and enabled her to +hear tidings of vital interest. For some time only +a murmur of voices reaches her ears. Then silence +fell, followed by one of the officers reading in a clear +tone. She listened intently, for the document was +of absorbing interest. It was an order from Sir +William Howe, arranging for a secret attack on +Washington's camp at Whitemarsh. The troops +were to leave the city on the night of the 4th under +cover of the darkness, and surprise the rebels before +daybreak.</p> + +<p>The fair eavesdropper had heard enough. Rarely +had key-hole listener been so well rewarded. She +glided back to her room, and threw herself on her +<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a>bed. She was none too soon. In a few minutes +afterwards steps were heard in the passage and then +came a rap upon her door. The fair conspirator +was not to be taken unawares; she feigned not to +hear. The rap was repeated a second and a third +time. Then the shrewd woman affected to awake, +answered in a sleepy tone, and, learning that the +adjutant-general and his friends were ready to leave, +arose and saw them out.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image191" id="image191"></a> +<a href="images/image191h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image191.jpg" + alt="THE OLD STATE HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA." + title="THE OLD STATE HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">THE OLD STATE HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA.</p> +</div> + +<p>Lydia Darrah slept no more that night. The +secret she had learned banished slumber. What was +to be done? This thought filled her mind the night +long. Washington must be warned; but how? +Should she trust her husband, or some other member +of her family? No, they were all leaky vessels; +she would trust herself alone. Before morning she +had devised a plan of action, and for the first time +since learning that eventful news the anxious woman +gave her mind a moment's rest.</p> + +<p>At early dawn she was astir. Flour was needed +for the household. She woke her husband and +told him of this, saying that she must make an early +journey to Frankford to supply the needed stores. +This was a matter of ordinary occurrence in those +days, the people of Philadelphia being largely dependent +upon the Frankford mills for their flour, +and being obliged to go for it themselves. The idea +of house-to-house delivery had not yet been born. +Mr. Darrah advised that she should take the maid +with her, but she declined. The maid could not be +spared from her household duties, she said.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a>It was a cold December morning. The snow of +the day before had left several inches of its white +covering upon the ground. It was no very pleasant +journey which lay before Mrs. Darrah. Frankford +was some five miles away, and she was obliged +to traverse this distance afoot, and return over the +same route with her load of flour. Certainly comfort +was not the ruling consideration in those days +of our forefathers. A ten-mile walk through the +snow for a bag of flour would be an unmentionable +hardship to a nineteenth-century housewife.</p> + +<p>On foot, and bag in hand, Mrs. Darrah started on +her journey through the almost untrodden snow, +stopping at General Howe's head-quarters, on Market +Street near Sixth, to obtain the requisite passport +to leave the city. It was still early in the day +when the devoted woman reached the mills. The +British outposts did not extend to this point; those +of the Americans were not far beyond. Leaving +her bag at the mill to be filled, Mrs. Darrah, full of +her vital mission, pushed on through the wintry +air, ready to incur any danger or discomfort if +thereby she could convey to the patriot army the +important information which she had so opportunely +learned.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, she had not far to go. At a short +distance out she met Lieutenant-Colonel Craig, who +had been sent out by Washington on a scouting expedition +in search of information. She told him her +story begged him to hasten to Washington with the +momentous tidings and not to reveal her name and +<a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a>hurried back to the mill. Here she shouldered the +bag of flour, and trudged her five miles home, reaching +there in as reasonably short a time as could have +been expected.</p> + +<p>Night came. The next day passed. They were +a night and day of anxious suspense for Lydia +Darrah. From her window, when night had again +fallen, she watched anxiously for movements of the +British troops. Ah! there at length they go, long +lines of them, marching steadily through the darkness, +but as noiselessly as possible. It was not +advisable to alarm the city. Patriot scouts might +be abroad.</p> + +<p>When morning dawned the restless woman was +on the watch again. The roll of a drum came to +her ears from a distance. Soon afterwards troops +appeared, weary and discontented warriors, marching +back. They had had their night's journey in +vain. Instead of finding the Americans off their +guard and an easy prey, they had found them wide +awake, and ready to give them the hottest kind of +a reception. After manoeuvring about their lines +for a vulnerable point, and finding none, the +doughty British warriors turned on their track and +marched disconsolately homeward, having had their +labor for their pains.</p> + +<p>The army authorities were all at sea. How had +this information got afoot? Had it come from the +Darrah house? Possibly, for there the conference +had been held. The adjutant-general hastened to +his quarters, summoned the fair Quakeress to his +<a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a>room, and after locking the door against intrusion, +turned to her with a stern and doubting face.</p> + +<p>"Were any of your family up, Lydia," he asked, +"on the night when I had visitors here?"</p> + +<p>"No," she replied; "they all retired at eight +o'clock.</p> + +<p>This was quite true so far as retiring went. Nothing +was said about a subsequent rising.</p> + +<p>"It is very strange," he remarked, musingly. +"You, I know, were asleep, for I knocked at your +door three times before you heard me; yet it is +certain that we were betrayed. I am altogether at a +loss to conceive who could have given Washington +information of our intended attack. But on arriving +near his camp we found him ready, with troops +under arms and cannon planted, prepared at all +points to receive us. We have been compelled to +turn on our heels, and march back home again, like +a parcel of fools."</p> + +<p>As may well be surmised, the patriotic Lydia kept +her own counsel, and not until the British had left +Philadelphia was the important secret of that signal +failure made known.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a> +<a name="THE_SIEGE_OF_FORT_SCHUYLER" id="THE_SIEGE_OF_FORT_SCHUYLER"></a> +THE SIEGE OF FORT SCHUYLER.</h2> + + +<p>All was terror in the valley of the Mohawk, for +its fertile fields and happy homes were threatened +with the horrors of Indian warfare. All New York +State, indeed, was in danger. The hopes of American +liberty were in danger. The deadliest peril +threatened the patriotic cause; for General Burgoyne, +with an army of more than seven thousand +men, was encamped at St. John's, at the foot of Lake +Champlain, prepared to sweep down that lake and +Lake George, march to the valley of the upper Hudson, +driving the feeble colonial forces from his path, +and by joining with a force sent up the Hudson +from New York City, cut off New England from +the remaining colonies and hold this hot-bed of +rebellion at his mercy. It was a well-devised and +threatening scheme. How disastrously for the royalists +it ended all readers of history know. With this +great enterprise, however, we are not here concerned, +but with a side issue of Burgoyne's march whose +romantic incidents fit it for our pages.</p> + +<p>On the Mohawk River, at the head of boat-navigation, +stood a fort, built in 1758, and named Fort +Stanwix; repaired in 1776, and named Fort Schuyler. +The possession of this fort was important to +General Burgoyne's plan. Its defence was of vital +moment to the inhabitants of the Mohawk Valley. +<a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a>Interest for the time being centred round this outpost +of the then almost unbroken wilderness.</p> + +<p>On one side Lieutenant-Colonel St. Leger was despatched, +at the head of seven hundred rangers, to +sail up the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario to +Oswego, and from that point to march southward, +rousing and gathering the Indians as he went, capture +Fort Schuyler, sweep the valley of the Mohawk +with the aid of his savage allies, and join Burgoyne +at Albany when his triumphant march should have +reached that point.</p> + +<p>On the other side no small degree of haste and +consternation prevailed. Colonel Gansevoort had +been placed in command at the fort with a garrison +of seven hundred and fifty men. But he found it in +a state of perilous dilapidation. Originally a strong +square fortification, with bomb-proof bastions, glacis, +covered way, and ditch outside the ramparts, it had +been allowed to fall into decay, and strenuous efforts +were needed to bring it into condition for defence.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, news of the coming danger had spread +widely throughout the Mohawk Valley, and everywhere +the most lively alarm prevailed. An Oneida +Indian brought the news to the fort, and from there +it made its way rapidly through the valley. Consternation +was wide-spread. It was too late to look +for aid to a distance. The people were in too great +a panic to trust to themselves. That the rotten timbers +of the old fort could resist assault seemed very +doubtful. If they went down, and Brant with his +Indians swept the valley, for what horrors might +<a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a>they not look? It is not surprising that, for the +time, fear drove valor from almost every heart in +the imperilled region.</p> + +<p>Up Lake Oneida came the enemy, now seventeen +hundred strong, St. Leger with his rangers having +been joined by Johnson, Butler, and Brant with +their Tories and Indians. Every tribe of the +Iroquois had joined the invaders with the exception +of the Oneidas, who remained faithful to the colonists.</p> + +<p>On the 2d of August, 1777, Brent with his savage +followers reached and invested the fort, the plumed +and moccasined foe suddenly breaking from the +forest, and with their wild war-whoops seeking to +intimidate the beleaguered garrison. On the next +day came St. Leger with his whole force. On the +4th the siege commenced. Bombs were planted and +threw their shells into the fort; the Indians, concealed +behind bushes and trees, picked off with +their arrows the men who were diligently employed +in strengthening the parapets; and during the evening +the savages, spreading through the woods, sought, +by frightful yells, to drive all courage from the +hearts of the defenders.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, aid was approaching. The valor of +the patriots, which fled at the first threat of danger, +had returned. The enemy was now almost at their +doors; their helpless families might soon be at the +mercy of the ruthless savages; when General Herkimer, +a valiant veteran, called for recruits, armed +men flocked in numbers to his standard. He was +<a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a>quickly at the head of more than eight hundred +men. He sent a messenger to the fort, telling +Gansevoort of his approach, and bidding him to +discharge three signal-guns to show that the tidings +had reached him. His small army was called to +a halt within hearing of the guns of the fort, as he +deemed it the part of prudence to await the signal +before advancing on the foe.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately for the brave Herkimer, his men, +lately over-timid, were now over-bold. His officers +demanded to be led at once to the fort. Two of +them, Cox and Paris by name, were impertinent in +their demands, charging the veteran with cowardice.</p> + +<p>"I am placed over you as a father and guardian," +answered Herkimer, calmly, "and shall not lead +you into difficulties, from which I may not be able +to extricate you."</p> + +<p>But their importunities and taunts continued, and +at length the brave old man, angered by their insults, +gave the word "March on!" He continued, "You, +who want to fight so badly now, will be the first to +run when you smell burnt powder."</p> + +<p>On they marched, in tumultuous haste, and with +the lack of discipline of untrained militia. It was +now August 6, two days after the beginning of the +siege. Indian scouts lurked everywhere in the forest, +and the movements of the patriot army were closely +watched. St. Leger was informed of their near +approach, and at once took steps to intercept their +advance.</p> + +<p>Heedless of this, and of the cautious words of +<a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a>their commander, the vanguard pressed hastily on, +winding along the road, and at length entering a +deep curving ravine, over whose marshy bottom the +road way was carried by a causeway of earth and +logs. The borders of the ravine were heavily timbered, +while a thick growth of underwood masked its +sloping sides.</p> + +<p>Utterly without precaution, the militia pushed +forward into this doubtful passage, until the whole +body, with the exception of the rear-guard, had +entered it. Behind them came the baggage-wagons. +All was silent, unnaturally silent, for not even the +chirp of a squirrel nor the rustle of a prowling +ground-animal broke the stillness. The fort was +not far distant. The hurrying provincials hoped +soon to join their beleaguered friends.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, from the wooded hill to the west, +around which the ravine curved in a semicircle, rose +a frightful sound,—the Indian war-whoop from +hundreds of savage throats. Hardly had it fallen on +the startled ears of the patriots when the sharp crack +of musketry followed, and leaden missiles were +hurled into the crowded ranks. Arrows accompanied +them, and spears and tomahawks came +hurtling through the air hurled with deadly aim.</p> + +<p>The patriot army had fallen into a dangerous ambuscade. +Herkimer's prediction was fulfilled. The +rear-guard, on hearing the warlike sounds in front, +turned in panic flight, leaving their comrades to +their fate. No one can regret to hear that they +were pursued by the Indians, and suffered more +than if they had stood their ground.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a>As for the remainder of the force, flight was impossible. +They had entered a trap. It was fight or +fall. Bullets, arrows, war-axes hurtled through their +ranks. Frightful yells still filled the air. Many +fell where they stood. Herkimer was severely +wounded, his horse being killed and his own leg +shattered. But, with a composure and cool courage +that have rarely been emulated, he ordered the +saddle to be taken from his horse and placed against +a large beech-tree near by. Here seated, with his +men falling and the bullets of the enemy whistling +perilously near, he steadily gave his orders while +many of those who had called him coward were in +full flight. During the heat of the action he took +his tinder box from his pocket, calmly lighted his +pipe, and sat smoking as composedly as though by +his own fireside. A striking spectacle, that old man, +sitting in the midst of hottest battle, with the life +blood oozing from his shattered leg, smoking and +giving his orders with the quiet composure of one +on dress-parade! It is one of the most imposing +pictures in the portrait-gallery of American history.</p> + +<p>The battle went on. If it was to be fight or fall, +the brave frontiersmen decided it should be fight. +Great confusion reigned at first, but courage soon +returned, and though men fell in numbers, the survivors +stood their ground like veterans. For nearly +an hour the fierce affray continued. The enemy surrounded +the provincials on all sides, and were pressing +step by step closer. The whole force might have +been slain or captured, but for a wise suggestion of +<a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a>one of their number and an admirable change in +their line of battle. Each small group was formed +into a circle, and thus they met the enemy at all +points. This greatly increased their defensive powers. +So destructive now became their fire that the +British soldiers rushed upon them in rage, seeking +to break their line by a bayonet charge. They were +boldly met, and a hand-to-hand death-struggle +began.</p> + +<p>At this moment a heavy thunder-peal broke from +the darkening skies. Down poured the rain in +drenching showers. Lightning filled the air. Crash +after crash of thunder rolled through the sky. +Checked in their blood-thirst by the fury of the +elements, the combatants hastily separated and ran +for the shelter of the trees, vanquished by water +where fire had failed to overcome their rage.</p> + +<p>The affair so far had not been unlike that of Braddock's +defeat, some twenty years before. But these +were American militia, not British regulars, frontiersmen +who knew too much of Indian fighting to +stand in their ranks and be shot down. They had +long since taken to the trees, and fought the savages +in their own way. To this, perhaps, may be ascribed +the difference in result from that of the Braddock +fight.</p> + +<p>After the rain, the patriots gained better ground +and adopted new and useful tactics. Before, when +the Indians noticed a shot from behind a tree, they +would rush forward and tomahawk the unlucky +provincial before he could reload. But now two +<a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a>men were placed behind each tree, so that when the +whooping savage sprang forward with his tomahawk +a second bullet was ready to welcome him. The fire +from the American side now grew so destructive +that the Indians began to give way.</p> + +<p>A body of Johnson's Greens came up to their +support. These were mostly loyalist refugees from +the Mohawk Valley, to whom the patriot militia bore +the bitterest enmity. Recognizing them, the maddened +provincials leaped upon them with tiger-like +rage, and a hand-to-hand contest began, in which +knives and bayonets took the place of bullets, and +the contest grew brutally ferocious.</p> + +<p>At this moment a firing was heard in the direction +of the fort. New hope sprung into the hearts of the +patriots. Was aid coming to them from the garrison? +It seemed so, indeed, for soon a body of men in +Continental uniform came marching briskly towards +them. It was a ruse on the part of the enemy which +might have proved fatal. These men were Johnson +Green's disguised as Continentals. A chance +revealed their character. One of the patriots seeing +an acquaintance among them, ran up to shake hands +with him. He was seized and dragged into their +ranks. Captain Gardenier, perceiving this, sprang +forward, spear in hand, and released his man; but +found himself in a moment engaged in a fierce combat, +in which he killed two of his antagonists and +wounded another, but was himself seriously hurt.</p> + +<p>"For God's sake, captain," cried some of the +militia, "you are killing our own men!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a>"They are not our own men, they are Tories!" +yelled back the captain. "Fire away!"</p> + +<p>Fire they did, and with such deadly effect that +numbers of the disguised Tories fell, and nearly as +many Indians. In an instant the battle was violently +raging again, with roar of rifles, clash of steel, +yells of combatants, and the wild war-whoops of the +savages.</p> + +<p>But the Indians by this time had enough of it. +The stubborn defence of the provincials had sadly +thinned their ranks, and seeing the Tories falling +back, they raised their cry of retreat, "Oonah! +Oonah!" and at once broke and fled. The Tories +and regulars, dismayed by their flight, quickly followed, +the bullets of the provincials adding wings +to their speed.</p> + +<p>Thus ended one of the hottest and most deadly, +for the numbers engaged, of the battles of the Revolution. +Of the provincials, less than half of them +ever saw their homes again. The loss of the enemy +was probably still heavier. General Herkimer died +ten days after the battle. The militia, despite the +well-laid ambuscade into which they had marched, +were the victors, but they had been so severely +handled that they were unable to accomplish their +design, the relief of the fort.</p> + +<p>As for the garrison, they had not been idle during +the battle. The sound of the combat had been +borne to their ears, and immediately after the cessation +of the rain Colonel Willett made a sally from +the fort, at the head of two hundred and fifty men. +<a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a>The camp of the enemy had been depleted for the +battle, and the sortie proved highly successful. The +remnants of Johnson's regiment were soon driven +from their camp. The Indian encampment beyond +was demolished, its savage guards flying in terror +from "the Devil," by which expressive name they +called Colonel Willett. Wagons were hurried from +the fort, camp equipage, British flags, papers, and +the effects of the officers loaded into them, and +twenty-one loads of this useful spoil triumphantly +carried off. As the victorious force was returning, +Colonel St. Leger appeared, with a strong body of +men, across the river, just in time to be saluted by +a shower of bullets, the provincials then retiring, +without the loss of a man. The setting sun that +day cast its last rays on five British standards, displayed +from the walls of the fort, with the stars and +stripes floating proudly above them. The day had +ended triumphantly for the provincials, though it +proved unsuccessful in its main object; for the fort +was still invested, and the rescuing force were in no +condition to come to its aid.</p> + +<p>The investment, indeed, was so close that the garrison +knew nothing of the result of the battle. St. +Leger took advantage of this, and sent a white flag +to the fort with false information, declaring that +the relief-party had been annihilated, that Burgoyne +had reached and captured Albany, and that, unless +the fort was surrendered, he could not much longer +restrain the Indians from devastating the valley +settlements with fire and tomahawk.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a>This story Gansevoort did not half believe, and +answered the messenger with words of severe reprobation +for his threat of an Indian foray.</p> + +<p>"After you get out of this fort," he concluded, +"you may turn around and look at its outside, but +never expect to come in again, unless as a prisoner. +Before I would consent to deliver this garrison to +such a murdering set as your army, by your own +account, consists of, I would suffer my body to be +filled with splinters and set on fire, as you know has +at times been practised by such hordes of women-and +children-killers as belong to your army."</p> + +<p>After such a message there was no longer question +of surrender, and the siege was strongly pushed. +The enemy, finding that their guns had little effect +on the sod-work of the fort, began a series of approaches +by sapping and mining. Colonel Gansevoort, +on his part, took an important step. Fearing +that his stock of food and ammunition might give +out, he determined to send a message to General +Schuyler, asking for succor.</p> + +<p>Colonel Willet volunteered for this service, Lieutenant +Stockwell joining him. The night chosen +was a dark and stormy one. Shower followed +shower. The sentinels of the enemy were not likely +to be on the alert. Leaving the fort at the sally-port +at ten o'clock, the two messengers crept on hands +and knees along a morass till they reached the river. +This they crossed on a log, and entered a dense wood +which lay beyond. No sentinel had seen them. But +they lost their way in the darkness, and straggled +<a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a>on blindly until the barking of a dog told them that +they were near an Indian camp.</p> + +<p>Progress was now dangerous. Advance or retreat +alike might throw them into the hands of the savage +foe. For several hours they stood still, in a most +annoying and perilous situation. The night passed; +dawn was at hand; fortunately now the clouds +broke the morning-star shone in the east, and with +this as a guide they resumed their journey. Their +expedition was still a dangerous one. The enemy +might strike their trail in the morning light. To +break this they now and then walked in the bed of +a stream. They had set out on the night of the 10th. +All day of the 11th they pushed on, with a small +store of crackers and cheese as their only food. Another +night and day passed. On the afternoon of +the 12th, nearly worn out with hardship, they +reached the settlement of the German Flats. Here +horses were procured, and they rode at full speed +to General Schuyler's head-quarters at Stillwater.</p> + +<p>Schuyler had already heard of Herkimer's failure, +and was laying plans for the relief of the fort. His +purpose was opposed by many of his officers, who +were filled with fear of the coming of Burgoyne. +Schuyler was pacing the floor in anxious thought +when he heard the low remark,—</p> + +<p>"He means to weaken the army."</p> + +<p>Schuyler turned towards the speaker, so angry +that he bit into pieces a pipe he was smoking, and +exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, I shall take the responsibility; +<a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a>where is the brigadier that will take command of the +relief? I shall beat up for volunteers to-morrow."</p> + +<p>General Arnold, one of the boldest and most impulsive +men in the army, immediately asked for the +command. The next morning the drums beat, and +before noon eight hundred volunteers were enrolled. +Arnold at once advanced, but, feeling that his force +was too weak, stopped at Fort Dayton till reinforcements +could reach him.</p> + +<p>And now occurred one of the most striking events +in the history of the war, that of the defeat of an +invading army by stratagem without sight of soldier +or musket. It is to be told from two points of view, +that of the garrison, and that of the army of relief. +As regards the garrison, its situation was becoming +critical. St. Leger's parallels were approaching the +fort. The store of provisions was running low. +Many of the garrison began to hint at surrender, +fearing massacre by the Indians should the fort be +taken by assault. Gansevoort, despairing of further +successful resistance, had decided upon a desperate +attempt to cut through the enemy's lines. Suddenly, +on the 22d, there came a sudden lull in the siege. +The guns ceased their fire; quick and confused +movements could be seen; there were signs of flight. +Away went the besiegers, Indians and whites alike, +in panic disarray, and with such haste that their +tents, artillery, and camp equipage were left behind. +The astonished garrison sallied forth to find not a +foeman in the field, yet not a sign to show what mysterious +influence had caused this headlong flight. It +<a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a>was not from the face of an enemy, for no enemy +was visible, and the mystery was too deep for the +garrison to fathom.</p> + +<p>To learn the cause of this strange event we must +return to Arnold and his stratagem. He had, on +learning the peril of the fort, been about to advance +despite the smallness of his force, when an opportunity +occurred to send terror in advance of his march. +There were in his hands several Tory prisoners, +among them an ignorant, coarse, half-idiotic fellow +named Hon-Yost Schuyler, who had been condemned +to death for treason. His mother pleaded +for his life, casting herself on her knees before +Arnold, and imploring for her son with tears and +entreaties. She found him at first inexorable, but +he changed his tone and appeared to soften as a fortunate +idea came to his mind.</p> + +<p>Her son's life should be spared, but upon conditions. +These were, that he should go to Fort Schuyler +and, by stories of the immense force upon the +march, endeavor to alarm St. Leger. Hon-Yost +readily consented, leaving his brother as a hostage +in Arnold's hands.</p> + +<p>The seemingly foolish fellow was far from being +an idiot. Before leaving the camp he had several +bullet-holes shot through his coat. He arranged +also with a friendly Oneida Indian to follow and +confirm his tale. Thus prepared, he set out for St. +Leger's camp. Reaching it, he ran breathlessly +among the Indians, seemingly in a state of terror. +Many of the savages knew him, and he was eagerly +questioned as to what had happened.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a>The Americans were coming, he replied; numbers +of them, hosts of them; he had barely escaped with +his life; he had been riddled with bullets. He +pointed to his coat in evidence. How many were +there? he was asked. Hon-Yost, in reply, shook his +head mysteriously, and pointed to the leaves on the +trees.</p> + +<p>His seeming alarm communicated itself to the Indians. +They had been severely dealt with at Oriskany. +The present siege dragged on. They were +dissatisfied. While the chiefs debated and talked of +flight, the Oneida appeared with several others of +his tribe whom he had picked up on the way. These +told the same story. A bird had brought them the +news. The valley was swarming with soldiers. The +army of Burgoyne had been cut to pieces, said one. +Arnold had three thousand men, said another. +Others pointed to the leaves, as Hon-Yost had done, +and meaningly shook their heads.</p> + +<p>The panic spread among the Indians. St. Leger +stormed at them; Johnson pleaded with them; but +all in vain. Drink was offered them, but they refused +it. "The pow-wow said we must go," was +their answer to every remonstrance, and go they +did.</p> + +<p>"You said there would be no fighting for us Indians," +said a chief. "We might go down and +smoke our pipes. But many of our warriors have +been killed, and you mean to sacrifice us all."</p> + +<p>Oaths and persuasions proved alike useless. The +council broke up and the Indians took to flight. +Their panic communicated itself to the whites. +<a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a>Dropping everything but their muskets, they fled in +terror for their boats on Oneida Lake, with such +haste that many of them threw away arms and +knapsacks in their mad flight.</p> + +<p>The Indians, who had started the panic, grew +merry on seeing the wild terror of their late allies. +They ran behind them, shouting, "They are coming, +they are coming!" and thus added wings to their +flight. They robbed, stripped, and even killed many +of them, plundered them of their boats, and proved +a more formidable foe than the enemy from whom +they fled.</p> + +<p>Half-starved and empty-handed, the whites +hurried to Oswego and took boat on the lake for +Montreal, while their Indian allies, who had proved +of more harm than good, went merrily home to their +villages, looking upon the flight as a stupendous +joke.</p> + +<p>When Arnold, hearing of what had happened, +hurried to the fort, the enemy had utterly vanished, +except a few whom Gansevoort's men had brought +in as prisoners. Hon-Yost soon came back, having +taken the first opportunity to slip away from the flying +horde. He had amply won his pardon.</p> + +<p>Thus ended the siege of Fort Schuyler; in its way, +considering the numbers engaged, the most desperate +and bloody struggle of the Revolution, and of the +greatest utility as an aid to the subsequent defeat of +Burgoyne. As regards its singular termination, it +is without parallel in the history of American wars. +Hon-Yost had proved himself the most surprising +idiot on record.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a> +<a name="ON_THE_TRACK_OF_A_TRAITOR" id="ON_THE_TRACK_OF_A_TRAITOR"></a> +ON THE TRACK OF A TRAITOR.</h2> + + +<p>While Major André was dying the death of a spy, +General Arnold, his tempter and betrayer, was living +the life of a cherished traitor, in the midst of the +British army at New York. This was a state of +affairs far from satisfactory to the American authorities. +The tool had suffered; the schemer had +escaped. Could Arnold be captured, and made to +pay the penalty of his treason, it would be a sharp +lesson of retribution to any who might feel disposed +to follow his base example.</p> + +<p>Washington had his secret correspondents in New +York, and from them had learned that Arnold was +living in quarters adjoining those of Sir Henry +Clinton, at but a short distance from the river, and +apparently with no thought of or precaution against +danger. It might be possible to seize him and carry +him away bodily from the midst of his new friends.</p> + +<p>Sending for Major Henry Lee, a brave and shrewd +cavalry leader, Washington broached to him this +important matter, and submitted a plan of action +which seemed to him to promise success.</p> + +<p>"It is a delicate and dangerous project," he said. +"Much depends on our finding an agent fit for such +hazardous work. You may have the man in your +corps. Whoever volunteers for this duty will lay +me under the greatest personal obligation, and may +<a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a>expect an ample reward. But no time is to be lost. +He must proceed, if possible, to-night."</p> + +<p>"Not only courage and daring, but very peculiar +talent, are needed for such an enterprise," said Lee. +"I have plenty of brave men, but can think of only +one whom I can recommend for such a duty as this. +His name is John Champe; his rank, sergeant-major, +but there is one serious obstacle in the way,—he +must appear to desert, and I fear that Champe +has too high a sense of military honor for that."</p> + +<p>"Try him," said Washington. "The service he +will do to his country far outweighs anything he can +do in the ranks. Rumor says that other officers of +high rank are ready to follow Arnold's example. If +we can punish this traitor, he will have no imitators."</p> + +<p>"I can try," answered Lee. "I may succeed. +Champe is not without ambition, and the object to +be attained is a great one. I may safely promise +him the promotion which he ardently desires."</p> + +<p>"That will be but part of his reward," said Washington.</p> + +<p>Lee sent for Champe. There entered in response +a young man, large and muscular of build, saturnine +of countenance; a grave, thoughtful, silent person, +safe to trust with a secret, for his words were few, +his sense of honor high. In all the army there was +not his superior in courage and persistence in anything +he should undertake.</p> + +<p>It was no agreeable surprise to the worthy fellow +to learn what he was desired to do. The plan was +<a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a>an admirable one, he admitted, it promised the best +results. He did not care for peril, and was ready to +venture on anything that would not involve his +honor; but to desert from his corps, to win the scorn +and detestation of his fellows, to seem to play the +traitor to his country,—these were serious obstacles. +He begged to be excused.</p> + +<p>Lee combated his objections. Success promised +honor to himself and to his corps, the gratitude of +his country, the greatest service to his beloved commander-in-chief. +Desertion, for such a purpose, +carried with it no dishonor, and any stain upon his +character would vanish when the truth became +known. The conference was a long one; in the end +Lee's arguments proved efficacious; Champe yielded, +and promised to undertake the mission.</p> + +<p>The necessary instructions had already been prepared +by Washington himself. The chosen agent +was to deliver letters to two persons in New York, +who were in Washington's confidence, and who +would lend him their assistance. He was to use his +own judgment in procuring aid for the capture of +Arnold, and to lay such plans as circumstances +should suggest; and he was strictly enjoined not to +kill the traitor under any circumstances.</p> + +<p>All this settled, the question of the difficulties in +the way arose. Between the American camp and +the British outpost were many pickets and patrols. +Parties of <ins class="correction" title="'maurauding' in original">marauding</ins> patriots, like those that had +seized André, might be in the way. Against these +Lee could offer no aid. The desertion must seem a +<a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a>real one. All he could do would be to delay pursuit. +For the rest, Champe must trust to his own skill and +daring.</p> + +<p>Eleven o'clock was the hour fixed. At that hour +the worthy sergeant, taking his cloak, valise, and +orderly-book, and with three guineas in his pocket, +which Lee had given him, secretly mounted his +horse and slipped quietly from the camp.</p> + +<p>Lee immediately went to bed, and seemingly to +sleep, though he had never been more wide awake. +A half-hour passed. Then a heavy tread was heard +outside the major's quarters, and a loud knock came +upon his door. It was some time before he could be +aroused.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" he asked, in sleepy tones.</p> + +<p>"It is I, Captain Carnes," was the reply. "I am +here for orders. One of our patrols has just fallen +in with a dragoon, who put spurs to his horse on +being challenged, and fled at full speed. He is a +deserter, and must be pursued."</p> + +<p>Lee still seemed half asleep. He questioned the +officer in a drowsy way, affecting not to understand +him. When at length the captain's purpose was +made clear to his seemingly drowsy wits, Lee ridiculed +the idea that one of his men had deserted. +Such a thing had happened but once during the +whole war. He could not believe it possible.</p> + +<p>"It has happened now," persisted Captain Carnes. +"The fellow is a deserter, and must be pursued."</p> + +<p>Lee still affected incredulity, and was with difficulty +brought to order that the whole squadron +<a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a>should be mustered, to see if any of them were +missing. This done, there was no longer room for +doubt or delay. Champe, the sergeant-major, was +gone, and with him his arms, baggage, and orderly-book.</p> + +<p>Captain Carnes ordered that pursuit should be +made at once. Here, too, Lee made such delay as he +could without arousing suspicion; and when the pursuing +party was ready he changed its command, +giving it to Lieutenant Middleton, a tender-hearted +young man, whom he could trust to treat Champe +mercifully if he should be overtaken. These various +delays had the desired effect. By the time the party +started, Champe had been an hour on the road.</p> + +<p>It was past twelve o'clock of a starry night when +Middleton and his men took to horse, and galloped +away on the track of the deserter. It was a plain +track, unluckily; a trail that a child might have +followed. There had been a shower at sunset, sharp +enough to wash out all previous hoof-marks from +the road. The footprints of a single horse were all +that now appeared. In addition to this, the horse-shoes +of Lee's legion had a private mark, by which +they could be readily recognized. There could be +no question; those foot prints were made by the +horse of the deserter.</p> + +<p>Here was a contingency unlooked for by Lee. +The pursuit could be pushed on at full speed. At +every fork or cross-road a trooper sprang quickly +from his horse and examined the trail. It needed +but a glance to discover what road had been taken. +<a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a>On they went, with scarce a moment's loss of time, +and with sure knowledge that they were on the +fugitive's track.</p> + +<p>At sunrise the pursuing party found themselves +at the top of a ridge in the road, near the "Three +Pigeons," a road-side tavern several miles north of +the village of Bergen. Looking ahead, their eyes +fell on the form of the deserter. He was but half +a mile in advance. They had gained on him greatly +during the night.</p> + +<p>At the same moment Champe perceived them. +Both parties spurred their horses to greater speed, +and away went fugitive and pursuers at a rattling +pace. The roads in that vicinity were well known +to them all. There was a short cut through the +woods from near the Three Pigeons to the bridge +below Bergen. Middleton sent part of his men by +this route to cut off the fugitive, while he followed +the main road with the rest. He felt sure now that +he had the deserter, for he could not reach the British +outposts without crossing the bridge.</p> + +<p>On they went. No long time elapsed before the +two divisions met at the bridge. But Champe was +not between them. The trap had been sprung, but +had failed to catch its game. He had in some +strange manner disappeared. What was to be done? +How had he eluded them?</p> + +<p>Middleton rode hastily back to Bergen, and inquired +if a dragoon had passed through the village +that morning.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and not long ago."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a>"Which way did he go?"</p> + +<p>"That we cannot say. No one took notice."</p> + +<p>Middleton examined the road. Other horses had +been out that morning, and the Lee corps footprint +was no longer to be seen. But at a short distance +from the village the trail again became legible and +the pursuit was resumed. In a few minutes Champe +was discovered. He had reached a point near the +water's edge, and was making signals to certain British +galleys which lay in the stream.</p> + +<p>The truth was that the fugitive knew of the short +cut quite as well as his pursuers, and had shrewdly +judged that they would take it, and endeavor to cut +him off before he could reach the enemy's lines at +Paulus Hook. He knew, besides, that two of the +king's galleys lay in the bay, a mile from Bergen, +and in front of the small settlement of Communipaw. +Hither he directed his course, lashing his +valise, as he went, upon his back.</p> + +<p>Champe now found himself in imminent peril of +capture. There had been no response from the galleys +to his signals. The pursuers were close at hand, +and pushing forward with shouts of triumph. Soon +they were but a few hundred yards away. There was +but one hope left. Champe sprang from his horse, +flung away the scabbard of his sword, and with the +naked blade in his hand ran across the marshy +ground before him, leaped into the waters of the bay, +and swam lustily for the galleys, calling loudly for +help.</p> + +<p>A boat had just before left the side of the nearest +<a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a>galley. As the pursuers reined up their horses by +the side of the marsh, the fugitive was hauled in +and was swiftly rowed back to the ship. Middleton, +disappointed in his main object, took the horse, +cloak, and scabbard of the fugitive and returned +with them to camp.</p> + +<p>"He has not been killed?" asked Lee, hastily, on +seeing these articles.</p> + +<p>"No; the rascal gave us the slip. He is safely +on a British galley, and this is all we have to show."</p> + +<p>A few days afterwards Lee received a letter from +Champe, in a disguised hand and without signature, +transmitted through a secret channel which had been +arranged, telling of his success up to this point, and +what he proposed to do.</p> + +<p>As it appeared, the seeming deserter had been well +received in New York. The sharpness of the pursuit +and the orderly-book which he bore seemed satisfactory +proofs of his sincerity of purpose. The +captain of the galley sent him to New York, with a +letter to Sir Henry Clinton.</p> + +<p>Clinton was glad to see him. For a deserter to +come to him from a legion so faithful to the rebel +cause as that of Major Lee seemed an evidence that +the American side was rapidly weakening. He questioned +Champe closely. The taciturn deserter answered +him briefly, but with such a show of sincerity +as to win his confidence. The interview ended in +Clinton's giving him a couple of guineas, and bidding +him to call on General Arnold, who was forming +a corps of loyalists and deserters, and who would +<a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a>be glad to have his name on his rolls. This suggestion +hit Champe's views exactly. It was what had +been calculated upon by Washington in advance. +The seeming deserter called upon Arnold, who received +him courteously, and gave him quarters +among his recruiting sergeants. He asked him to +join his legion, but Champe declined, saying that if +caught by the rebels in this corps he was sure to be +hanged.</p> + +<p>A few days sufficed the secret agent to lay his +plans. He delivered the letters which had been +given him, and made arrangements with one of the +parties written to for aid in the proposed abduction +of Arnold. This done, he went to Arnold, told him +that he had changed his mind, and agreed to enlist +in his legion. His purpose now was to gain free +intercourse with him, that he might learn all that +was possible about his habits.</p> + +<p>Arnold's quarters were at No. 3 Broadway. Back +of the house was a garden, which extended towards +the water's edge. Champe soon learned that it was +Arnold's habit to seek his quarters about midnight, +and that before going to bed he always visited the +garden. Adjoining this garden was a dark alley, +which led to the street. In short, all the surroundings +and circumstances were adapted to the design, +and seemed to promise success.</p> + +<p>The plan was well laid. Two patriotic accomplices +were found. One of them was to have a boat +in readiness by the river-side. On the night fixed +upon they were to conceal themselves in Arnold's +<a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a>garden at midnight, seize and gag him when he +came out for his nightly walk, and take him by way +of the alley, and of unfrequented streets in the +vicinity, to the adjoining river-side. In case of meeting +any one and being questioned, it was arranged +that they should profess to be carrying a drunken +soldier to the guard-house. Once in the boat, Hoboken +could quickly be reached. Here assistance +from Lee's corps had been arranged for.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image220" id="image220"></a> +<a href="images/image220h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image220.jpg" + alt="THE BENEDICT ARNOLD MANSION." + title="THE BENEDICT ARNOLD MANSION." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">THE BENEDICT ARNOLD MANSION.</p> +</div> + +<p>The plot was a promising one. Champe prepared +for it by removing some of the palings between the +garden and the alley. These he replaced in such a +way that they could be taken out again without +noise. All being arranged, he wrote to Lee, and told +him that on the third night from that date, if all +went well, the traitor would be delivered upon the +Jersey shore. He must be present, at an appointed +place in the woods at Hoboken, to receive him.</p> + +<p>This information gave Lee the greatest satisfaction. +On the night in question he left camp with a +small party, taking with him three led horses, for +the prisoner and his captors, and at midnight sought +the appointed spot. Here he waited with slowly declining +hope. Hour after hour passed; the gray +light of dawn appeared in the east; the sun rose over +the waters; yet Champe and his prisoner failed to +appear. Deeply disappointed, Lee led his party +back to camp.</p> + +<p>The cause of the failure may be told in a few +words. It was a simple one. The merest chance +saved Arnold from the fate which he so richly mer<a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a>ited. +This was, that on the very day which Champe +had fixed for the execution of his plot, Arnold +changed his quarters, his purpose being to attend to +the embarkation of an expedition to the south, which +was to be under his command.</p> + +<p>In a few days Lee received a letter from his agent, +telling the cause of failure, and saying that, at present, +success was hopeless. In fact, Champe found +himself unexpectedly in an awkward situation. Arnold's +American legion was to form part of this +expedition. Champe had enlisted in it. He was +caught in a trap of his own setting. Instead of +crossing the Hudson that night, with Arnold as his +prisoner, he found himself on board a British transport, +with Arnold as his commander. He was in for +the war on the British side; forced to face his fellow-countrymen +in the field.</p> + +<p>We need not tell the story of Arnold's expedition +to Virginia, with the brutal incidents which history +relates concerning it. It will suffice to say that +Champe formed part of it, all his efforts to desert +proving fruitless. It may safely be said that no +bullet from his musket reached the American ranks, +but he was forced to brave death from the hands of +those with whom alone he was in sympathy.</p> + +<p>Not until Arnold's corps had joined Cornwallis at +Petersburg did its unwilling recruit succeed in escaping. +Taking to the mountains he made his way +into North Carolina, and was not long in finding +himself among friends. His old corps was in that +State, taking part in the pursuit of Lord Rawdon. +<a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a>It had just passed the Congaree in this pursuit +when, greatly to the surprise of his old comrades, the +deserter appeared in their ranks. Their surprise +was redoubled when they saw Major Lee receive +him with the utmost cordiality. A few minutes sufficed +to change their surprise to admiration. There +was no longer occasion for secrecy. Champe's story +was told, and was received with the utmost enthusiasm +by his old comrades. So this was the man +they had pursued so closely, this man who had been +seeking to put the arch-traitor within their hands! +John Champe they declared, was a comrade to be +proud of, and his promotion to a higher rank was +the plain duty of the military authorities.</p> + +<p>Washington knew too well, however, what would +be the fate of his late agent, if taken by the enemy, +to subject him to this peril. He would have been +immediately hanged. Champe was, therefore, discharged +from the service, after having been richly +rewarded by the commander-in-chief. When Washington, +seventeen years afterwards, was preparing +against a threatened war with the French, he sent +to Lee for information about Champe, whom he desired +to make a captain of infantry. He was too +late. The gallant sergeant-major had joined a +higher corps. He had enlisted in the grand army of +the dead.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a> +<a name="MARION_THE_SWAMP-FOX" id="MARION_THE_SWAMP-FOX"></a> +MARION, THE SWAMP-FOX.</h2> + + +<p>Our story takes us back to the summer of 1780, a +summer of war, suffering, and outrage in the States +of the South. General Gates, at the head of the +army of the South, was marching towards Camden, +South Carolina, filled with inflated hopes of meeting +and defeating Cornwallis. How this hopeful general +was himself defeated, and how, in consequence, +the whole country south of Virginia fell under +British control, history relates; we are not here +concerned with it.</p> + +<p>Gates's army had crossed the Pedee River and +was pushing southward. During its march a circumstance +occurred which gave great amusement +to the trim soldiery. There joined the army a volunteer +detachment of about twenty men, such a +heterogeneous and woe-begone corps that Falstaff +himself might have hesitated before enlisting them. +They were a mosaic of whites and blacks, men and +boys, their clothes tatters, their equipments burlesques +on military array, their horses—for they +were all mounted—parodies on the noble war-charger. +At the head of this motley array was a +small-sized, thin-faced, modest-looking man, his uniform +superior to that of his men, but no model of +neatness, yet with a flashing spirit in his eye that +admonished the amused soldiers not to laugh at his +men in his presence. Behind his back they laughed +<a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a>enough. The Pedee volunteers were a source of +ridicule to the well-clad Continentals that might +have caused trouble had not the officers used every +effort to repress it.</p> + +<p>As for Gates, he offered no welcome to this ragged +squad. The leader modestly offered him some advice +about the military condition of the South, but the +general in command was clothed in too dense an +armor of conceit to be open to advice from any quarter, +certainly not from the leader of such a Falstaffian +company, and he was glad enough to get rid +of him by sending him on a scouting expedition in +advance of the army, to watch the enemy and report +his movements.</p> + +<p>This service precisely suited him to whom it was +given, for this small, non-intrusive personage was no +less a man than Francis Marion, then but little +known, but destined to become the Robin Hood of +partisan warriors, the celebrated "Swamp-Fox" of +historical romance and romantic history.</p> + +<p>Marion had appeared with the title of colonel. +He left the army with the rank of general. Governor +Rutledge, who was present, knew him and his +worth, gave him a brigadier's commission, and authorized +him to enlist a brigade for guerilla work +in the swamps and forests of the State.</p> + +<p>Thus raised in rank, Marion marched away with +his motley crew of followers, they doubtless greatly +elevated in dignity to feel that they had a general at +their head. The army indulged in a broad laugh, +after they had gone, at Marion's miniature brigade +<a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a>of scarecrows. They laughed at the wrong man, +for after their proud array was broken and scattered +to the winds, and the region they had marched to +relieve had become the prey of the enemy, that +modest partisan alone was to keep alive the fire of +liberty in South Carolina, and so annoy the victors +that in the end they hardly dared show their faces +out of the forts. The Swamp-Fox was to pave the +way for the reconquest of the South by the brave +General Greene.</p> + +<p>No long time elapsed before Marion increased his +disreputable score to a brigade of more respectable +proportions, with which he struck such quick and +telling blows from all sides on the British and +Tories, that no nest of hornets could have more dismayed +a marauding party of boys. The swamps of +the Pedee were his head-quarters. In their interminable +and thicket-hidden depths he found hiding-places +in abundance, and from them he made rapid +darts, north, south, east, and west, making his presence +felt wherever he appeared, and flying back to +shelter before his pursuers could overtake him. His +corps was constantly changing, now swelling, now +shrinking, now little larger than his original ragged +score, now grown to a company of a hundred or +more in dimensions. It was always small. The +swamps could not furnish shelter and food for any +large body of men.</p> + +<p>Marion's head-quarters were at Snow's Island, at +the point where Lynch's Creek joins the Pedee +River. This was a region of high river-swamp, +<a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a>thickly forested, and abundantly supplied with +game. The camp was on dry land, but around it +spread broad reaches of wet thicket and canebrake, +whose paths were known only to the partisans, and +their secrets sedulously preserved. As regards the +mode of life here of Marion and his men, there is an +anecdote which will picture it better than pages of +description.</p> + +<p>A young British officer was sent from Georgetown +to treat with Marion for an exchange of prisoners. +The Swamp-Fox fully approved of the interview, +being ready enough to rid himself of his captives, +who were a burden on his hands. But he was too +shrewd to lay bare the ways that led to his camp. +The officer was blindfolded, and led by devious paths +through canebrake, thicket, and forest to the hidden +camp. On the removal of the bandage from his eyes +he looked about him with admiration and surprise. +He found himself in a scene worthy of Robin Hood's +woodland band. Above him spread the boughs of +magnificent trees, laden with drooping moss, and +hardly letting a ray of sunlight through their crowding +foliage. Around him rose their massive trunks, +like the columns of some vast cathedral. On the +grassy or moss-clad ground sat or lay groups of +hardy-looking men, no two of them dressed alike, +and with none of the neat appearance of uniformed +soldiers. More remote were their horses, cropping +the short herbage in equine contentment. It looked +like a camp of forest outlaws, jovial tenants of the +merry greenwood.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a>The surprise of the officer was not lessened when +his eyes fell on Marion, whom he had never seen +before. It may be that he expected to gaze on a +burly giant. As it was, he could scarcely believe +that this diminutive, quiet-looking man, and this +handful of ill-dressed and lounging followers, were +the celebrated band who had thrown the whole British +power in the South into alarm.</p> + +<p>Marion addressed him, and a conference ensued in +which their business was quickly arranged to their +mutual satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"And now, my dear sir," said Marion, "I should +be glad to have you dine with me. You have fasted +during your journey, and will be the better for a +woodland repast."</p> + +<p>"With pleasure," replied the officer. "It will be +a new and pleasant experience."</p> + +<p>He looked around him. Where was the dining-room? +where, at least, the table, on which their +mid-day repast was to be spread? Where were the +dishes and the other paraphernalia which civilization +demands as the essentials of a modern dinner?—Where? +His eyes found no answer to this mental +question. Marion looked at him with a smile.</p> + +<p>"We dine here in simple style, captain," he remarked. +"Pray be seated."</p> + +<p>He took his seat on a mossy log, and pointed to an +opposite one for the officer. A minute or two afterwards +the camp purveyor made his appearance, bearing +a large piece of bark, on which smoked some +roasted sweet potatoes. They came from a fire of +brushwood blazing at a distance.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a>"Help yourself, captain," said Marion, taking a +swollen and brown-coated potato from the impromptu +platter, breaking it in half, and beginning +to eat with a forest appetite.</p> + +<p>The officer looked at the viands and at his host +with eyes of wonder.</p> + +<p>"Surely, general," he exclaimed, "this cannot be +your ordinary fare?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed it is," said Marion. "And we are fortunate, +on this occasion, having company to entertain, +to have more than our usual allowance."</p> + +<p>The officer had little more to say. He helped +himself to the rural viands, which he ate with +thought for salt. On returning to Georgetown he +gave in his report, and then tendered his commission +to his superior officer, saying that a people who could +fight on roots for fare could not be, and ought not to +be, subdued, and that he, for one, would not serve +against them.</p> + +<p>Of the exploits of Marion we can but speak +briefly; they were too many to be given in detail. +His blows were so sharply dealt, in such quick succession, +and at such remote points, that his foes +were puzzled, and could hardly believe that a single +band was giving them all this trouble. Their annoyance +culminated in their sending one of their best +cavalry leaders, Colonel Wemyss, to surprise and +crush the Swamp-Fox, then far from his hiding-place. +Wemyss got on Marion's trail, and pursued +him with impetuous haste. But the wary patriot +was not to be easily surprised, nor would he fight +<a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a>where he had no chance to win. Northward he +swiftly made his way, through swamps and across +deep streams, into North Carolina. Wemyss lost +his trail, found it, lost it again, and finally, discouraged +and revengeful, turned back and desolated the +country from which he had driven its active defender, +and which was looked on as the hot-bed of +rebellion.</p> + +<p>Marion, who had but sixty men in his band, +halted the moment pursuit ceased, sent out scouts +for information, and in a very short time was back +in the desolated district. The people rushed, with +horse and rifle, to his ranks. Swiftly he sped to the +Black Mingo, below Georgetown, and here fell at +midnight on a large body of Tories, with such vigor +and success that the foe were almost annihilated, +while Marion lost but a single man.</p> + +<p>The devoted band now had a short period of rest, +the British being discouraged and depressed. Then +Tarleton, the celebrated hard-riding marauder, took +upon himself the difficult task of crushing the +Swamp-Fox. He scoured the country, spreading ruin +as he went, but all his skill and impetuosity were +useless in the effort to overtake Marion. The +patriot leader was not even to be driven from his +chosen region of operations, and he managed to give +his pursuer some unwelcome reminders of his presence. +At times Tarleton would be within a few +miles of him, and full of hope of overtaking him +before the next day's dawn. But, while he was thus +lulled to security, Marion would be watching him +<a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a>from the shadows of some dark morass, and at midnight +the British rear or flank would feel the sharp +bite of the Swamp-Fox's teeth. In the end, Tarleton +withdrew discomfited from the pursuit, with +more hard words against this fellow, who "would +not fight like a gentleman or a Christian," than he +had ever been able to give him hard blows.</p> + +<p>Tarleton withdrawn, Marion resumed all his old +activity, his audacity reaching the extent of making +an attack on the British garrison at Georgetown. +This was <ins class="correction" title="'perfomed' in original">performed</ins> in conjunction with Major Lee, +who had been sent by General Greene to Marion's +aid. Lee had no little trouble to find him. The +active partisan was so constantly moving about, now +in deep swamps, now far from his lurking-places, +that friend and foe alike were puzzled to trace his +movements. They met at last, however, and made a +midnight attack on Georgetown, unsuccessful, as it +proved, yet sufficient to redouble the alarm of the +enemy.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1781 we find Colonel Watson, +with a force of five hundred men, engaged in the +difficult task of "crushing Marion." He found +him,—unlike the predecessors,—but, as it proved, to +his own cost. Marion was now at Snow's Island, +whence he emerged to strike a quick succession of +heavy blows at such different points that he appeared +to be ubiquitous. His force met that of Watson +unexpectedly, and a fight ensued. Watson had +the advantage of field-pieces, and Marion was +obliged to fall back. Reaching a bridge over the +<a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a>Black River, he checked his pursuers with telling +volleys long enough to burn the bridge. Then a +peculiar contest took place. The two forces marched +down the stream, one on each side, for ten miles, +skirmishing across the water all the way. Darkness +ended the fight. The two camps were pitched +near together. For ten days Watson remained there, +not able to get at Marion, and so annoyed by the +constant raids of his active foe that in the end he +made a midnight flight to escape destruction in +detail. Marion pursued, and did him no small +damage in the flight. Watson's only solace was the +remark, already quoted, that his troublesome foe +would not "fight like a gentleman or a Christian."</p> + +<p>Major Lee tells an amusing story of an incident +that happened to himself, on his march in search of +Marion. He had encamped for the night on Drowning +Creek, a branch of the Pedee. As morning approached, +word was brought to the officer of the +day that noises were heard in front of the pickets, +in the direction of the creek. They seemed like the +stealthy movements of men. Now a sentinel fired, +the bugles sounded for the horse patrols to come in, +and the whole force was quickly got ready for the +coming enemy. But no enemy appeared. Soon +after another sentinel fired, and word came that an +unseen foe was moving in the swamp. The troops +faced in this direction, and waited anxiously for the +coming of dawn. Suddenly the line of sentinels in +their rear fire in succession. The enemy had undoubtedly +gained the road behind them, and were +<a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a>marching on them from that direction. The line +again faced round. Lee went along it, telling his +men that there was nothing left but to fight, and +bidding them to sustain the high reputation which +they had long since won. The cavalry were ordered +not to pursue a flying force, for the country was well +suited for concealment, and they might be tempted +into an ambuscade.</p> + +<p>When day broke the whole column advanced with +great caution, infantry in front, baggage in centre, +cavalry in rear. Where was the foe? None appeared. +The van officer carefully examined the road +for an enemy's trail. To his surprise and amusement, +he found only the tracks of a large pack of +wolves.</p> + +<p>These animals had been attempting to pass the +camp at point after point, turned from each point by +the fire of the sentinels, and trying the line on all +sides. Great merriment followed, in which pickets, +patrols, and the officer of the day were made the +butt of the ridicule of the whole force.</p> + +<p>We shall close with one interesting story in which +Marion played the leading part, but which is distinguished +by an example of womanly patriotism +worthy of the highest praise. The mansion of Mrs. +Rebecca Motte, a rich widow of South Carolina, had +been taken possession of by the British authorities, +she being obliged to take up her residence in a farm-house +on her lands. The large mansion was converted +into a fort, and surrounded by a deep ditch +and a high parapet. A garrison of one hundred and +<a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a>fifty men, under Captain McPherson, was stationed +here, the place being re-named Fort Motte.</p> + +<p>This stronghold was attacked, in May, 1781, by +Marion and Lee, then in conjunction. Lee took +position at the farm-house, and posted his men on +the declivity of the plain on which the fort stood. +Marion cast up a mound, placed on it the six-pounder +they had brought with them, and prepared +to assail the parapet while Lee made his approaches. +McPherson had no artillery.</p> + +<p>Their approaches were made by a trench from an +adjacent ravine. In a few days they were near +enough to be justified in demanding a surrender. +McPherson refused. The same evening word +reached the Americans that Lord Rawdon was approaching. +On the following night the light of his +camp-fires could be seen on the neighboring hills of +the Santee. The garrison saw them as well as the +assailants, and were filled with renewed hope.</p> + +<p>What was to be done? The besiegers must succeed +quickly or retreat. Lee was not long in devising +an expedient. The mansion of Mrs. Motte +was shingled and the shingles very dry. There had +been no rain for several days, and the sun had +poured its rays warmly upon them. They might be +set on fire. Lee suggested this to Mrs. Motte, with +much dread as to how she would receive it. Her +acquiescence was so cheerful that his mind was relieved. +The patriotic woman expressed herself as +ready to make any sacrifice for her country.</p> + +<p>Lee told his plan to Marion, who warmly ap<a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a>proved +it. It was proposed to do the work by +means of arrows carrying flaming combustibles. As +it proved, however, the only bows and arrows they +could find in the camp were very inferior articles.</p> + +<p>"They will never do," said Mrs. Motte. "I can +provide you with much better. I have in the house +an excellent bow and a bundle of arrows, which came +from the East Indies. They are at your service."</p> + +<p>She hastened from the room, and quickly returned +with the weapons, which she handed to Lee as cheerfully +as though she looked for some special benefit +to herself from their use. Word was sent to +McPherson of what was intended, and that Rawdon +had not yet crossed the Santee. Immediate surrender +would save many lives. The bold commandant +still refused.</p> + +<p>At midday, from the shelter of the ditch, Nathan +Savage, one of Marion's men, shot several flaming +arrows at the roof. Two of them struck the dry +shingles. Almost instantly these were in a flame. +The fire crept along the roof. Soldiers were sent up +to extinguish it, but a shot or two from the field-piece +drove them down.</p> + +<p>There was no longer hope for McPherson. He +must surrender, or have his men burned in the fort, +or decimated if they should leave it. He hung out +the white flag of surrender. The firing ceased; +the flames were extinguished; at one o'clock the +garrison yielded themselves prisoners. An hour +afterwards the victorious and the captive officers +were seated at an ample repast at Mrs. Motte's table, +<a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a>presided over by that lady with as much urbanity +and grace as though these guests were her especial +friends. Since that day Mrs. Motte has been +classed among the most patriotic heroines of the +Revolution.</p> + +<p>This is, perhaps, enough in prose, but the fame +of Marion and his men has been fitly enshrined in +poetry, and it will not be amiss to quote a verse or +two, in conclusion, from Bryant's stirring poem entitled +"Song of Marion's Men."</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Our band is few, but true and tried<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Our leader frank and bold:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The British soldier trembles<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When Marion's name is told.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our fortress is the good greenwood,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Our tent the cypress-tree;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We know the forest round us,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As seamen know the sea.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We know its walls of thorny vines,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Its glades of reedy grass;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Its safe and silent islands<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Within the dark morass.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Well knows the fair and friendly moon<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The band that Marion leads,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The glitter of their rifles,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The scampering of their steeds.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis life to guide the fiery barb<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Across the moonlit plain;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis life to feel the night wind<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That lifts his tossing mane.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A moment in the British camp,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A moment,—and away<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Back to the pathless forest<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Before the peep of day.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a> +<span class="i0">Grave men there are by broad Santee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Grave men with hoary hairs;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their hearts are all with Marion,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For Marion are their prayers.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And lovely ladies greet our band<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With kindliest welcoming,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With smiles like those of summer,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And tears like those of spring.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For them we wear these trusty arms,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And lay them down no more<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till we have driven the Briton<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Forever from our shore.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a> +<a name="THE_FATE_OF_THE_PHILADELPHIA" id="THE_FATE_OF_THE_PHILADELPHIA"></a> +THE FATE OF THE PHILADELPHIA.</h2> + + +<p>It was a mild evening on the Mediterranean, the +wind light, the sea smooth, the temperature—though +the season was that of midwinter—summer-like in +its geniality. Into the harbor of Tripoli slowly +glided a small, two-masted vessel, all her sails set +and moderately well filled by the wind, yet moving +with the tardiness of a very slow sailer. A broad +bay lay before her, its surface silvered by the +young moon whose crescent glowed in the western +sky. Far inward could be dimly seen the masts and +hull of a large vessel, its furled sails white in the +moonlight. Beyond it were visible distant lights, +and a white lustre as of minaret tops touched by +the moonbeams. These were the lights and spires +of Tripoli, a Moorish town then best known as a +haunt and stronghold of the pirates of the Mediterranean. +All was silence, all seemingly peace. The +vessel—the ketch, to give it its nautical name—moved +onward with what seemed exasperating slowness, +scarcely ruffling the polished waters of the +bay. The hours passed on. The miles lagged tardily +behind. The wind fell. The time crept towards +midnight. The only life visible in the wide landscape +was that of the gliding ketch.</p> + +<p>But any one who could have gained a bird's-eye +view of the vessel would have seen sufficient to ex<a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a>cite +his distrust of that innocent-seeming craft. +From the water-side only ten or twelve men could +be seen, but on looking downward the decks would +have been perceived to be crowded with men, lying +down so as to be hidden behind the bulwarks and +other objects upon the deck, and so thick that the +sailors who were working the vessel had barely room +to move.</p> + +<p>This appeared suspicious. Not less suspicious was +the fact that the water behind the vessel was ruffled +by dragging objects of various kinds, which seemed +to have something to do with her slowness of motion. +As the wind grew lighter, and the speed of +the vessel fell until it was moving at barely a two-knots' +rate, these objects were drawn in, and proved +to be buckets, spars, and other drags which had +been towed astern to reduce the vessel's speed. Her +tardiness of motion was evidently the work of design.</p> + +<p>It was now about ten o'clock. The moon hovered +on the western horizon, near its hour of setting. +The wind was nearly east, and favorable to the vessel's +course, but was growing lighter every moment. +The speed of the ketch diminished until it seemed +almost to have come to rest. It had now reached +the eastern entrance to the bay, the passage here +being narrowed by rocks on the one hand and a +shoal on the other. Through this passage it stole +onward like a ghost, for nearly an hour, all around +being tranquil, nothing <ins class="correction" title="'anyhere' in original">anywhere</ins> to arouse distrust. +The craft seemed a coaster delayed by the light +winds in making harbor.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a>The gliding ketch had now come so near to the +large vessel in front, that the latter had lost its dimness +of outline and was much more plainly visible. +It was evidently no Moorish craft, its large hull, its +lofty masts, its tracery of spars and rigging being +rather those of an English or American frigate than +a product of Tripolitan dock-yards. Its great bulk +and sweeping spars arose in striking contrast to the +low-decked vessels which could be seen here and +there huddled about the inner sides of the harbor.</p> + +<p>A half-hour more passed. The ketch was now +close aboard the frigate-like craft, steering directly +towards it. Despite the seeming security of the +harbor, there were sentries posted on the frigate and +officers moving about its deck. From one of these +now came a loud hail in the Tripolitan tongue.</p> + +<p>"What craft is that?"</p> + +<p>"The Mastico, from Malta," came the answer, in +the same language.</p> + +<p>"Keep off. Do you want to run afoul of us?"</p> + +<p>"We would like to ride beside you for the night," +came the answer. "We have lost our anchors in a +gale."</p> + +<p>The conversation continued, in the Tripolitan language, +as the ketch crept slowly up, an officer of the +frigate and the pilot of the smaller vessel being the +spokesmen. A number of Moorish sailors were looking +with mild curiosity over the frigate's rails, without +a moment's suspicion that anything was wrong. +The moon still dimly lit up the waters of the bay, +but not with light enough to make any object very +distinct.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a>As the ketch came close a boat was lowered with +a line, and was rowed towards the frigate, to whose +fore-chains the end was made fast. At the same +time the officer of the large vessel, willing to aid the +seemingly disabled coaster, ordered some of his men +to lower a boat and take a line from the stern to the +ketch. As the boat of the latter returned, it met +the frigate's boat, took the line from the hands of its +crew, and passed it in to the smaller vessel.</p> + +<p>The ketch was now fast to the frigate bow and +stern. The lines were passed to the men lying on +the deck, none of whom were visible from the +frigate's rail, and were slowly passed from hand to +hand by the men, the coaster thus being cautiously +drawn closer to the obliging Moorish craft.</p> + +<p>All this took time. Foot by foot the ketch drew +nearer, her motion being almost imperceptible. The +Moors looked lazily over their bulwark, fancying +that it was but the set of the current that was bringing +the vessels together. But suddenly there was a +change. The officer of the frigate had discovered +that the ketch was still provided with anchors, +despite the story that her anchors had been lost in a +gale.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" he cried, sternly. "You have +your anchors! You have lied to me! Keep off! +Cut those fasts there!"</p> + +<p>A moment afterwards the cry of "Amerikanos!" +was raised in the ship, and a number of the night-watch +drew their knives and hastened fore and aft +to cut the fasts.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a>The crew of the Mastico—or the Intrepid, to give +it its proper name—were still more alert. At the +first signal of alarm, their cautious pull on the ropes +was changed to a vigorous effort which sent the ketch +surging through the water to the side of the frigate, +where she was instantly secured by grappling-irons, +hurled by strong hands.</p> + +<p>Up to this moment not a movement or whisper +had betrayed the presence of the men crouched on +the deck. The ten or twelve who were visible +seemed to constitute the whole crew of the craft. +But now there came a sudden change. The stirring +cry of "Boarders away!" was raised in stentorian +tones, and in an instant the deck of the Intrepid +seemed alive. The astonished Moors gazed with +startled eyes at a dense crowd of men who had appeared +as suddenly as if they had come from the air.</p> + +<p>The order to board had been given by an officer +who sprang at the same moment for the frigate's +chain-plates. Two active young men followed him, +and in an instant the whole crew were at their heels, +some boarding the frigate by the ports, others over +the rail, swarming upon her deck like so many bees, +while the Moors fell back in panic fright.</p> + +<p>The surprise was perfect. The men on the +frigate's deck ran to the starboard side as their +assailants poured in on the larboard, and constant +plunges into the water told that they were hastily +leaping overboard in their fright. Hardly a blow +had been struck. The deck was cleared in almost a +<a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"></a>minute after the order to board. The only struggle +took place below, but this lasted little longer. In +less than ten minutes from the time of boarding all +resistance was at an end, and the craft was an +undisputed prize to the Intrepid's crew.</p> + +<p>And now to learn the meaning of this midnight +assault. The vessel which had been so skilfully captured +was the frigate Philadelphia, of the American +navy, which had fallen into the hands of the +Tripolitans some time before. For years the Moorish +powers of Africa had been preying upon the commerce +of the Mediterranean, until the weaker nations +of Europe were obliged to pay an annual +tribute for the security of their commerce. The +United States did the same for some time, but the +thing grew so annoying that war was at length declared +against Tripoli, the boldest of these piratical +powers. In 1803 Commodore Preble was sent with +a fleet to the Mediterranean. He forced Morocco to +respect American commerce, and then proceeded to +Tripoli, outside whose harbor his fleet congregated, +with a view of blockading the port.</p> + +<p>On October 31 Captain Bainbridge of the Philadelphia, +while cruising about, saw a vessel in shore +and to windward, standing for Tripoli. Sail was +made to cut her off. The chase continued for several +hours, the lead being kept constantly going to avoid +danger of shoals. When about a league distant +from Tripoli it became evident that the fugitive +craft could not be overtaken, and the frigate wore +round to haul off into deeper waters. But, to the +<a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a>alarm of the officers, they found the water in their +front rapidly shoaling, it having quickly decreased +in depth from eight to six and a half fathoms. A +hasty effort was now made to wear the ship, but +it was too late; the next instant she struck on a reef, +with such force that she was lifted on it between five +and six feet.</p> + +<p>This was an appalling accident. No other cruiser +was near. The enemy was close at hand. Gunboats +were visible near the town. The moment it was discovered +that the frigate was in trouble these dogs of +war would be out. Captain Bainbridge gave orders +to lighten the ship with all speed. All but a few of +her guns were thrown overboard. The anchors were +cut from the bows. The water-casks in the hold +were started, and the water pumped out. All heavy +articles were thrown overboard, and finally the foremast +was cut away. But all proved in vain. The +ship still lay immovable on the rocks. The gunboats +of the enemy now surrounded her, and were growing +bolder every minute. There was nothing for it but +surrender. Resistance could only end in the death +of all on board.</p> + +<p>But before hauling down his flag, Captain Bainbridge +had the magazine drowned, holes bored in the +ship's bottom, the pumps choked, and every measure +taken to insure her sinking. Then the colors were +lowered and the gunboats took possession, three +hundred and fifteen prisoners being captured. The +officers were well treated by the bashaw of Tripoli, +but an enormous ransom was demanded for them, +<a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a>and all signs of an inclination to peace disappeared.</p> + +<p>Captain Bainbridge's efforts to sink the Philadelphia +proved ineffectual. During a high wind the +prize was got off the reef, her leaks stopped, and she +taken in triumph to the city. Her guns, anchors, +and other articles were raised from the reef, the ship +was moored about a quarter of a mile from the +bashaw's castle, and her injuries repaired, it being +the intention to fit her for sea as a Tripolitan +cruiser.</p> + +<p>These were the events that preceded the daring +attempt we have detailed. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur +had volunteered to make an effort to destroy +the vessel, with the aid of a recently-captured ketch, +called the Mastico. This, renamed the Intrepid, +manned with a crew of seventy-six men, had entered +the harbor on the evening of February 3, 1804. +What followed, to the capture of the frigate, has +been told. The succeeding events remain to be +detailed.</p> + +<p>Doubtless Lieutenant Decatur would have attempted +to carry off the prize had it been possible. +His orders, however, were to destroy it, and the fact +that there was not a sail bent or a yard crossed left +him no alternative. The command was, therefore, +at once given to pass up the combustibles from the +ketch. There was no time to be lost. The swimming +fugitives would quickly be in the town and the +alarm given. Every moment now was of value, for +the place where they were was commanded by the +guns of the forts and of several armed vessels +<a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a>anchored at no great distance, and they might look +for an assault the instant their character was determined.</p> + +<p>With all haste, then, officers and men went to +work. They had been divided into squads, each +with its own duty to perform, and they acted with +the utmost promptitude and disciplined exactness. +The men who descended with combustibles to the +cockpit and after-store-rooms had need to haste, for +fires were lighted over their heads before they were +through with their task. So rapidly did the flames +catch and spread that some of those on board had to +make their escape from between-decks by the forward +ladders, the after-part of the ship being already +filled with smoke.</p> + +<p>In twenty minutes from the time the Americans +had taken possession of the ship they were driven +out of her by flames, so rapidly had they spread. +The vessel had become so dry under those tropical +suns that she burned like pine. By the time the +party which had been engaged in the store-rooms +reached the deck, most of the others were on board +the Intrepid. They joined them, and the order to +cast off was given. It was not an instant too soon, +for the daring party were just then in the most risky +situation they had been in that night.</p> + +<p>The fire, in fact, had spread with such unexpected +rapidity that flames were already shooting from the +port-holes. The head fast was cast off, and the ketch +fell astern. But the stern fast became jammed and +the boom foul, while the ammunition of the party, +<a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a>covered only with a tarpaulin, was within easy reach +of the increasing flames.</p> + +<p>There was no time to look for an axe, and the +rope was severed with swords-blows, while a vigorous +shove sent the Intrepid clear of the frigate and +free from the danger which had threatened her. +As she swung clear, the flames reached the rigging, +up which they shot in hissing lines, the ropes being +saturated with tar which had oozed out through the +heat of the sun.</p> + +<p>The Intrepid did not depend on her sails alone +for escape. She was provided with sweeps, and +these were now got out and manned with haste, a +few vigorous strokes sending the vessel safely away +from the flaming frigate. This done, the crew, as +with one impulse, dropped their oars and gave three +rousing cheers for their signal victory.</p> + +<p>Their shouts of triumph appeared to rouse the +Moors from their lethargy. So rapid and unlooked-for +had been the affair, that the vessel was in full +flame before the town and the harbor were awake +to the situation. There were batteries on shore, and +two corsairs and a galley were anchored at no great +distance from the Philadelphia, and from these now +the boom of cannon began. But their fire was too +hasty and nervous to do much harm, and the men of +the Intrepid seized their sweeps again and bowled +merrily down the harbor, their progress aided by a +light breeze in their sails.</p> + +<p>The spectacle that followed is described as of a +beauty that approached sublimity. The ship, aflame +<a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a>from hull to peak, presented a magnificent appearance, +the entire bay was illuminated, and the flash +and roar of cannon were constant, the guns of the +Philadelphia going off as they became heated, and +adding to the uproar. She lay so that one of her +broadsides was directed towards the town, thus returning +the enemy's fire, while the other sent its +balls far out into the harbor. "The most singular +effect of the conflagration was on board the ship, for +the flames, having run up the rigging and masts, +collected under the tops, and fell over, giving the +whole the appearance of glowing columns and fiery +capitals."</p> + +<p>The Intrepid moved on down the harbor, none the +worse for the cannon-balls that were sent after her, +and continued her course until she reached her consort, +the Siren, which awaited her outside the harbor. +Joining company, they proceeded to Syracuse, +where the fleet then lay.</p> + +<p>The exploit we have here described was one of the +most notable in the annals of the American navy. +It was one that needed the utmost daring combined +with the most exact attention to details, and in both +these respects there was nothing wanting to insure +the success of the enterprise. The hour was well +chosen, as that in which the foe would most likely +be off their guard, and to this we must ascribe the +slowness of their assault on the Americans and the +uncertainty of their aim. The mode of approach to +the frigate, the skill with which the ketch was laid +alongside without exciting suspicion, and the rapid<a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a>ity +and completeness with which the destruction of +the prize was prepared for, were all worthy of high +commendation. As for the boldness of the enterprise, +one has but to consider what would have been +the fate of the Americans had the attack failed. +Directly under the frigate's guns, and in a harbor +filled with gunboats and armed cruisers and surrounded +by forts and batteries, escape would have +been impossible, and every man in the Intrepid must +have perished. The greatest courage, coolness, and +self-possession, and the most exact discipline, alone +could have yielded success in the daring project, and +these qualities seem to have been possessed in a high +degree.</p> + +<p>The success of this exploit gave Lieutenant Decatur +a reputation for gallantry which had its +share in his subsequent elevation to the highest rank +in the navy. The country generally applauded the +feat, and the navy long considered it one of its most +brilliant achievements, it being deemed a high honor +among sailors and officers to have been one of the +Intrepid's crew. The writer of these pages may +add that it is to him a matter of some interest that +the first man to reach the deck of the Philadelphia +on that memorable night was a namesake of his own, +Midshipman Charles Morris. For the credit of the +name he is also glad to say that Mr. Morris in time +become a commodore in the navy, and attained a +high reputation as an officer both in war and peace.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a> +<a name="THE_VICTIM_OF_A_TRAITOR" id="THE_VICTIM_OF_A_TRAITOR"></a> +THE VICTIM OF A TRAITOR.</h2> + + +<p>On the Ohio River, fourteen miles below Marietta, +lies a beautiful island, which became, in the early +part of this century, the scene of a singular romance. +At that time it was a wild and forest-clad domain, +except for a few acres of clearing near its upper +extremity, on which stood a large and handsome +mansion, with spacious out-buildings and surrounding +grounds which were laid out with the finest +taste. The great elms and gigantic sycamore of +the West gave grandeur to the surrounding woodland, +and afforded shelter to grazing flocks and +herds. Huge water-willows dipped their drooping +branches into the waves of the Ohio as they ran +swiftly by. In front of the mansion were several +acres of well-kept lawn. In its rear were two acres +of flower-garden, planted with native and exotic +shrubs. Vine-covered arbors and grottos rose here +and there. On one side of the house was the kitchen +garden, stocked with choice fruit-trees. Through +the forest-trees an opening had been cut, which +afforded an attractive view of the river for several +miles of its course. On the whole, it was a paradise +in the wilderness, a remarkable scene for that outlying +region, for not far from the mansion still stood +a large block-house, which had, not many years +before, been used as a place of refuge in the desolating +Indian wars.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></a>Here dwelt Harman Blennerhasset and his lovely +wife; he a man of scientific attainments, she a +woman of fine education and charming manners. +He was of Irish origin, wealthy, amply educated, +with friends among the highest nobility. But he +had imbibed republican principles, and failed to find +himself comfortable in royalist society. He had +therefore sought America, heard of the beautiful +islands of the Ohio, and built himself a home on one +of the most charming of them all.</p> + +<p>We have described the exterior of the mansion. +Interiorly it was richly ornamented and splendidly +furnished. The drawing-room was of noble proportions +and admirable adornment. The library was +well filled with choice books. The proprietor was +fond of chemistry, and had an excellent laboratory; +he enjoyed astronomy, and possessed a powerful +telescope; he had a passion for music, had composed +many airs, and played well on several instruments. +He was, in his way, a universal genius, courteous in +manners, benevolent in disposition, yet of that +genial and unsuspicious nature which laid him open +to the wiles of those shrewd enough to make use of +his weak points.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Blennerhasset loved society, and was none +too well pleased that her husband should bury himself +and her in the wilderness, and waste his fine +powers on undeveloped nature. Such guests of culture +as could be obtained were hospitably welcomed +at their island mansion. Few boats passed up and +down the river without stopping at the island, and +<a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></a>cultured and noble persons from England and +France not infrequently found their way to the far-off +home of the Blennerhassets.</p> + +<p>Yet, withal, the intervals between the visits of +cultivated guests were long. Ohio was rapidly filling +up with population, but culture was a rare exotic +in that pioneer region, and the inmates of the Blennerhasset +mansion must have greatly lacked visits +from their own social equals.</p> + +<p>One day in the spring of 1805 a traveller landed +on the island, as if merely lured thither by the +beauty of the grounds as seen from the river. Mr. +Blennerhasset was in his study, whither a servant +came to tell him that a gentlemanly stranger had +landed, and was observing the lawn. The servant +was at once bidden to invite the stranger, in his +master's name, to enter the house. The traveller +courteously declined. He could not think of intruding, +begged to be excused for landing on the +grounds, and sent in his card. Mr. Blennerhasset +read the card, and his eyes lighted up with interest, +for what he saw was the name of a former Vice-President +of the United States. He at once hastened +to the lawn, and with polite insistence declared that +Mr. Burr must enter and partake of the hospitality +of his house.</p> + +<p>It was like inviting Satan into Eden. Aaron +Burr, for it was he, readily complied. He had made +the journey thither for that sole purpose. The story +of Mr. Blennerhasset's wealth had reached the East, +and the astute schemer hoped to enlist his aid in +certain questionable projects he then entertained.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></a>But no hint of an ulterior purpose was suffered to +appear. Burr was noted for the fascination of his +manners, and his host and hostess were charmed +with him. He was unusually well informed, eloquent +in speech, familiar with all social arts, and +could mask the deepest designs with the most artless +affectation of simplicity. All the secrets of American +political movements were familiar to him, and +he conversed fluently of the prospects of war with +Spain, the ease with which the Mexicans might +throw off their foreign yoke, and the possibilities +of splendid pecuniary results from land speculations +within the Spanish territory on the Red River.</p> + +<p>This seed sown, the arch deceiver went his way. +His first step had been taken. Blennerhasset was +patriotically devoted to the United States, but the +grand scheme which had been portrayed to him +seemed to have nothing to do with questions of state. +It was a land speculation open to private wealth.</p> + +<p>Burr kept his interest alive by letters. The Blennerhassets +spent the next winter in New York and +Philadelphia, and there met Aaron Burr again. Not +unlikely they came with that purpose, for the hopes +of new wealth, easily to be made, were alluring and +exciting. During that winter it is probable that +a sort of land-speculation partnership was formed. +Very rich lands lay on the Washita River, within +Spanish territory, said Burr, which could be bought +for a small sum. Then, by encouraging immigration +thither, they might be sold at enormous profit.</p> + +<p>This was the Burr scheme as Blennerhasset heard +<a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></a>it. The dupe did not dream of the treasonable projects +resting within the mind of his dangerous associate. +These were, to provoke revolt of the people +of Mexico and the northern Spanish provinces, annex +the western United States region, and establish +a great empire, in which Burr should be the leading +potentate.</p> + +<p>Mr. Blennerhasset, once enlisted in the land-speculation +project, supplied the funds to buy the +lands on the Washita, and engaged in operations on +a large scale for sending settlers to the purchased +domain. Colonel Burr came to Marietta and took +an active part in these operations. Fifteen large +flat-boats were built to convey the immigrants, their +furniture, and such arms as they might need for +repelling Indians. Five hundred men were fixed as +the number for the first colony, and this number +Burr succeeded in enlisting. Each was to have +one hundred acres of land. This was not in itself +any great inducement where land was so plentiful +as in Ohio. But Burr did not hesitate to hint at +future possibilities. The lands to be colonized had +been peacefully purchased. But the Mexicans were +eager to throw off the Spanish yoke; war between +the United States and Spain might break out at any +minute; Mexico would be invaded by an army, set +free, and the new pioneers would have splendid opportunities +in the formation of a new and great +republic of the West and South. Burr went further +than this. He had articles inserted in a Marietta +newspaper, signed by an assumed name, in which +<a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></a>was advocated the secession of the States west of +the Alleghanies. These articles were strongly replied +to by a writer who signed himself "Regulus," +and with whose views the community at large sympathized. +His articles were copied by Eastern +papers. They spoke of the armed expedition which +Colonel Burr was preparing, and declared that its +purpose was the invasion of Mexico. Jefferson, then +in the Presidential chair, knew Burr too well to ignore +these warnings. He sent a secret agent to +Marietta to discover what was going on, and at the +same time asked the governor of Ohio to seize the +boats and suppress the expedition.</p> + +<p>Mr. Blennerhasset assured the secret agent, Mr. +Graham, that no thought was entertained of invading +Mexico. The project, he said, was an eminently +peaceful one. But the public was of a +different opinion. Rumor, once started, grew with +its usual rapidity. Burr was organizing an army to +seize New Orleans, rob the banks, capture the artillery, +and set up an empire or republic of his own in +the valley of the lower Mississippi. Blennerhasset +was his accomplice, and as deep in the scheme as +himself. The Ohio Legislature, roused to energetic +action by the rumors which were everywhere afloat, +passed an act that all armed expeditions should be +suppressed, and empowered the governor to call out +the militia, seize Burr's boats, and hold the crews +for trial.</p> + +<p>Public attention had been earnestly and hostilely +directed to the questionable project, and Burr's +<a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></a>hopes were at an end. The militia were mustered at +Marietta, a six-pounder was planted on the river-bank, +orders were given to stop and examine all descending +boats, and sentries were placed to watch +the stream by day and night.</p> + +<p>While these events were proceeding, Mr. Blennerhasset +had gone to the Muskingum, to superintend +the departure of the boats that were to start from +that stream. While there the boats were seized by +order of the governor. The suspicions of the people +and government were for the first time made clear +to him. Greatly disturbed, and disposed to abandon +the whole project, costly as it had been to him, he +hastened back to his island home. There he found +a flotilla of four boats, with a crew of about thirty +men, which had passed Marietta before the mustering +of the militia. They were commanded by a +Mr. Tyler.</p> + +<p>Mr. Blennerhasset's judgment was in favor of +abandoning the scheme. Mrs. Blennerhasset, who +was very ambitious, argued strongly on the other +side. She was eager to see her husband assume a +position fitting to his great talents. Mr. Tyler joined +her in her arguments. Blennerhasset gave way. It +was a fatal compliance, one destined to destroy his +happiness and peace for the remainder of his life, +and to expose his wife to the most frightful scenes +of outrage and barbarity.</p> + +<p>The frontier contained hosts of lawless men, men +to whom loyalty meant license. Three days after +the conversation described, word was brought to the +<a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></a>island that a party of the Wood County militia, +made up of the lowest and most brutal men in the +community, would land on the island that very +night, seize the boats, arrest all the men they found, +and probably burn the house.</p> + +<p>The danger was imminent. Blennerhasset and all +the men with him took to the boats to escape arrest +and possibly murder from these exasperated frontiersmen. +Mrs. Blennerhasset and her children were +left in the mansion, with the expectation that their +presence would restrain the brutality of the militia, +and preserve the house and its valuable contents +from destruction. It proved a fallacious hope. +Colonel Phelps, the commander of the militia, pursued +Blennerhasset. In his absence his men behaved +like savages. They took possession of the house, +became brutally drunk from the liquors they found +in the cellar, rioted through its elegantly furnished +rooms, burned its fences for bonfires, and for seven +days made life a pandemonium of horrors for the +helpless woman and frightened children who had +been left in their midst.</p> + +<p>The experience of those seven days was frightful. +There was no escape. Mrs. Blennerhasset was compelled +to witness the ruthless destruction of all she +held most dear, and to listen to the brutal ribaldry +and insults of the rioting savages. Not until the +end of the time named did relief come. Then Mr. +Putnam, a friend from the neighboring town of Belpré, +ventured on the island. He provided a boat in +which the unhappy lady was enabled to save a few +<a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></a>articles of furniture and some choice books. In this +boat, with her two sons, six and eight years old, and +with two young men from Belpré, she started down +the river to join her husband. Two or three negro +servants accompanied her.</p> + +<p>It was a journey of great hardships. The weather +was cold, the river filled with floating ice, the boat +devoid of any comforts. A rude cabin, open in the +front, afforded the only shelter from wind and rain. +Half frozen in her <ins class="correction" title="'fight' in original">flight</ins>, the poor woman made her +way down the stream, and at length joined her husband +at the mouth of the Cumberland River, which +he had reached with his companions, having distanced +pursuit. Their flight was continued down +the Mississippi as far as Natchez.</p> + +<p>No sooner had Mrs. Blennerhasset left the island +than the slight restraint which her presence had exercised +upon the militia disappeared. The mansion +was ransacked. Whatever they did not care to carry +away was destroyed. Books, pictures, rich furniture +were used to feed bonfires. Doors were torn from +their hinges, windows dashed in, costly mirrors +broken with hammers. Destruction swept the island, +all its improvements being ruthlessly destroyed. For +months the mansion stood, an eyesore of desolation, +until some hand, moved by the last impulse of savagery, +set it on fire, and it was burned to the +ground.</p> + +<p>What followed may be briefly told. So great was +the indignation against Burr that he was forced to +abandon his project. His adherents were left in +<a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a>destitution. Some of them were a thousand miles +and more from their homes, and were forced to make +their way back as they best could. Burr and Blennerhasset +were both arrested for treason. The latter +escaped. There was no criminating evidence against +him. As for Burr, he had been far too shrewd to +leave himself open to the hand of the law. His trial +resulted in an acquittal. Though no doubt was felt +of his guilt, no evidence could be found to establish +it. He was perforce set free.</p> + +<p>If he had done nothing more, he had, by his detestable +arts, broken up one of the happiest homes +in America, and ruined his guileless victim.</p> + +<p>Blennerhasset bought a cotton plantation at Natchez. +His wife, who had the energy he lacked, +managed it. They dwelt there for ten years, favorites +with the neighboring planters. Then came war +with England, and the plantation ceased to afford +them a living. The ruined man returned to his +native land, utterly worn out and discouraged, and +died there in poverty in 1831.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Blennerhasset became a charge on the charity +of her friends. After several years she returned to +the United States, where she sought to obtain remuneration +from Congress for her destroyed property. +She would probably have succeeded but for +her sudden death. She was buried at the expense of +a society of Irish ladies in the city of New York. +And thus ended the career of two of the victims of +Aaron Burr. They had listened to the siren voice +of the tempter, and ruin and despair were their +rewards.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a> +<a name="HOW_THE_ELECTRIC_TELEGRAPH_WAS_INVENTED" id="HOW_THE_ELECTRIC_TELEGRAPH_WAS_INVENTED"></a> +HOW THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WAS INVENTED.</h2> + + +<p>The year 1832 is only sixty years ago in time, yet +since then there has been a striking development of +conveniences, rapidity of travel, and arrangements +for the diffusion of intelligence. People then still +travelled in great part by aid of horses, the railroad +having just begun its marvellous career. News, +which now fly over continents and under oceans at +lightning speed, then jogged on at stage-coach rates +of progress, creeping where they now fly. On the +ocean, steam was beginning to battle with wind and +wave, but the ocean racer was yet a far-off dream, +and mariners still put their trust in sails much more +than in the new-born contrivances which were preparing +to revolutionize travel. But the wand of the +enchanter had been waved; steam had come, and +with it the new era of progress had dawned. And +another great agent in the development of civilization +was about to come. Electricity, which during +all previous time had laughed at bonds, was soon to +become man's slave, and to be made his purveyor of +news. It is the story of this chaining of the lightning, +and forcing it to become the swift conveyer +of man's sayings and doings, that we have here to +tell.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></a>In the far remote period named—if we measure +time by deeds, not by years—a packet-ship, the +Sully, was making its deliberate way across the +Atlantic from Havre to New York. Its passenger +list was not large,—the ocean had not yet become a +busy highway of the continents,—but among them +were some persons in whom we are interested. One +of these was a Boston doctor, Charles T. Jackson by +name. A second was a New York artist, named +Samuel F.B. Morse. The last-named gentleman +had been a student at Yale, where he became greatly +interested in chemistry and some other sciences. He +had studied the art of painting under Benjamin +West in London, had practised it in New York, had +long been president of the National Academy of the +Arts of Design; and was now on his way home after +a second period of residence in Europe as a student +of art.</p> + +<p>An interesting conversation took place one day in +the cabin of the Sully. Dr. Jackson spoke of Ampère's +experiments with the electro-magnet; of how +Franklin had sent electricity through several miles +of wire, finding no loss of time between the touch +at one end and the spark at the other; and how, in +a recent experiment at Paris, a great length of wire +had been carried in circles around the walls of a +large apartment, an electro-magnet connected with +one end, and an electric current manifested at the +other, having passed through the wire so quickly as +to seem instantaneous. Mr. Morse's taste for science +had not died out during his years of devotion to +<a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></a>art. He listened with the most earnest attention to +the doctor's narrative, and while he did so a large +and promising idea came into being in his brain.</p> + +<p>"Why," he exclaimed, with much ardor of manner, +"if that is so, and the presence of electricity +can be made visible in any desired part of the circuit, +I see no reason why intelligence should not be transmitted +instantaneously by electricity."</p> + +<p>"How convenient it would be if we could send +news in that manner!" chimed in one of the passengers.</p> + +<p>"Why can't we?" exclaimed Morse.</p> + +<p>Why not, indeed? The idea probably died in the +minds of most of the persons present within five +minutes. But Samuel Morse was not one of the men +who let ideas die. This one haunted him day and +night. He thought of it and dreamed of it. In +those days of deliberate travel time hung heavily +on the hands of transatlantic passengers, despite +the partial diversions of eating and sleeping. The +ocean grew monotonous, the vessel monotonous, the +passengers monotonous, everything monotonous except +that idea, and that grew and spread till its +fibres filled every nook and cranny of the inventive +brain that had taken it in to bed and board.</p> + +<p>Morse had abundance of the native Yankee faculty +of invention. To do, had been plain enough +from the start. How to do, was the question to be +solved. But before the Sully steamed into New York +harbor the solution had been reached. In the mind +of the inventor, and in graphic words and drawings +<a name="Page_262" id="Page_262"></a>on paper, were laid down the leading features of +that telegraphic method which is used to-day in the +great majority of the telegraph lines of the world.</p> + +<p>An alphabet of dots and marks, a revolving ribbon +of paper to receive this alphabet, a method of +enclosing the wires in tubes which were to be buried +underground, were the leading features of the device +as first thought of. The last conception was quickly +followed by that of supporting the wires in the air, +but Morse clung to his original fancy for burying +them,—a fancy which, it may here be said, is coming +again into vogue in these latter days, so far as cities +are concerned.</p> + +<p>It is not meant to be implied that the idea of +sending news by electricity was original with Morse. +Others had had it before him. More than half a +century before, Dr. Franklin and some friends had +stretched a wire across the Schuylkill River and +killed a turkey on the other side by electricity. As +they ate this turkey, it is quite possible that they +imbibed with it the idea of making this marvellous +agent do other work than killing fowl for dinner, +and from that time on it is likely that many had +speculated on the possibility of sending intelligence +by wire. Some experiments had been made, and +with a certain degree of success, but time still waited +for the hour and the man, and the hour and the man +met in that fertile October day in the cabin of the +Sully.</p> + +<p>"If it can go ten miles without stopping, I can +make it go round the world," said Morse to his fel<a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a>low-passengers, +his imagination expanding in the +ardor of his new idea.</p> + +<p>"Well, captain," he said, with a laugh, on leaving +the ship, "should you hear of the telegraph one of +these days as the wonder of the world, remember +that the discovery was made on board the good ship +Sully."</p> + +<p>The inventor, indeed, was possessed with his new +conceptions, mad with an idea, as we may say, and +glad to set foot once more on shore, that he might +put his plans in practice.</p> + +<p>This proved no easy task. He was none too well +provided with funds, and the need of making a living +was the first necessity that presented itself to +him. He experimented as much as he was able, but +three years passed before his efforts yielded a satisfactory +result. Then, with a circuit of seventeen +hundred feet of wire, and a wooden clock, adapted +by himself to suit his purpose, he managed to send a +message from end to end of this wire. It was not +very legible. He could make some sense of it. His +friends could not. But all were much interested in +the experiment. Many persons witnessed these +results, as shown in a large room of the New York +University, in 1837. They seemed wonderful; +much was said about them; but nobody seemed to +believe that the apparatus was more than a curious +and unprofitable toy, and capitalists buttoned their +pockets when the question of backing up this wild +inventor's fancy with money was broached.</p> + +<p>But by this time Mr. Morse was a complete cap<a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a>tive +to his idea. Body and soul he was its slave. +The question of daily fare became secondary; that +of driving his idea over and through all obstacles +became primary. His business as an artist was neglected. +He fell into want, into almost abject poverty. +For twenty-four hours he went without food. +But not for a moment did he lose faith in his invention, +or remit his efforts to find a capitalist with +sufficient confidence in him to risk his money in it.</p> + +<p>Failing with the private rich, he tried to obtain +public support, went to Washington in 1838, exhibited +his apparatus to interested congressmen, and +petitioned for enough money from the public purse +to build a line from Baltimore to Washington,—forty +miles only. It is traditionally slow work in +getting a bill through Congress. Weary with waiting, +Morse went to Europe, to try his new seed in +that old soil. It failed to germinate abroad as it +had at home. Men with money acknowledged that +the idea was a scientific success, but could not believe +that it might be made a business success.</p> + +<p>"What would people care for instantaneous +news?" they said. "Some might, it is true, but the +great mass would be content to wait for their news +in the good old way. To lay miles of wire in the +earth is to bury a large treasure in money. We +cannot see our way clear to getting it back again out +of the pockets of the public. Your wires work, Mr. +Morse, but, from a business point of view, there's +more cost than profit in the idea."</p> + +<p>It may be that these exact words were not spoken, +<a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"></a>but the answer of Europe was near enough to this +to send the inventor home disappointed. He began +again his weary waiting on the slowly-revolving +wheels of the congressional machinery.</p> + +<p>March 3, 1843, came. It was the last day of the +session. With the stroke of midnight on that day +the existing Congress would die, and a new one be +born, with which the weary work of the education +of congressmen would have to be gone over again. +The inventor had been given half a loaf. His bill +had been passed, on February 23, in the House. All +day of March 3 he hung about the Senate chamber +petitioning, where possible, for the other half of his +loaf, faintly hoping that in the last will and testament +of the expiring Congress some small legacy +might be left for him.</p> + +<p>Evening came. The clock-hands circled rapidly +round. Pressure of bills and confusion of legislation +grew greater minute by minute. The floodgates +of the deluge are lifted upon Congress in its last +hours, and business pours onward in such an overwhelming +fashion that small private petitioners can +scarcely hope that the doors of the ark of safety will +be opened to their petty claims. Morse hung about +the chamber until the midnight hour was almost +ready to strike. Every moment confusion seemed +to grow "worse confounded." The work of a month +of easy-going legislation was being compressed into +an hour of haste and excitement. The inventor at +last left the Capitol, a saddened and disappointed +man, and made his way home, the last shreds of hope +<a name="Page_266" id="Page_266"></a>seeming to drop from him as he went. He was +almost ready to give up the fight, and devote himself +for the future solely to brush and pencil.</p> + +<p>He slept but poorly that night, and rose the next +morning still depressed and gloomy. He appeared +at the breakfast-table with a face from which the +very color of ambition seemed to have been washed +out. As he entered the room he was met by a young +lady, Miss Annie G. Ellsworth, daughter of the +Commissioner of Patents. The smile on her beaming +face was in striking contrast to the gloom on his +downcast countenance.</p> + +<p>"I have come to congratulate you, Mr. Morse," +she said, cheerily.</p> + +<p>"For what, my dear friend?"</p> + +<p>"For the passage of your bill."</p> + +<p>"What!" he gazed at her amazement. Could +she be attempting a foolish and cruel jest? "The +passage of my bill!" he faltered.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Do you not know of it?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Then you came home too early last night. And +I am happy in being the first to bring you the good +news. Congress has granted your claim."</p> + +<p>It was true: he had been remembered in the will +of the expiring Congress. In the last hour of the +Senate, amid the roar of the deluge of public business, +his small demand had floated into sight, and +thirty thousand dollars had been voted him for the +construction of an experimental telegraph line.</p> + +<p>"You have given me new life, Miss Ellsworth," he +<a name="Page_267" id="Page_267"></a>said. "As a reward for your good tidings I promise +you that when my telegraph line is completed, you +shall have the honor of choosing the first message to +be sent over it."</p> + +<p>The inventor was highly elated, and not without +reason. Since the morning of the conversation on +the ship Sully, eleven and a half years had passed. +They had been years of such struggle against poverty +and discouragement as only a man who is the +slave of an idea has the hardihood to endure. The +annals of invention contain many such instances; +more, perhaps, than can be found in any other channel +of human effort.</p> + +<p>To complete our story we have to bring another +inventor upon the stage. This was Ezra Cornell, +memorable to-day as the founder of Cornell University, +a man at that time unknown, but filled with +inventive ideas, and ready to undertake any task +that might offer itself, from digging a well to boring +a mountain tunnel. One day Mr. Cornell, who was +at that time occupying the humble position of traveling +agent for a patent plough, called at the office of +an agricultural newspaper in Portland, Maine. He +found the editor on his knees, a piece of chalk in his +hand, and parts of a plough by his side, making +drawings on the floor, and trying to explain something +to a plough-maker beside him. The editor +looked up at his visitor, and an expression of relief +replaced the perplexity on his face.</p> + +<p>"Cornell," he cried, "you're the very man I want +to see. I want a scraper made, and I can't make +<a name="Page_268" id="Page_268"></a>Robinson here see into my idea. You can understand +it, and make it for me, too."</p> + +<p>"What is your scraper to do?" asked Cornell.</p> + +<p>Mr. Smith, the editor, rose from his knees and explained. +A line of telegraph was to be built from +Baltimore to Washington. Congress had granted +the money. He had taken the contract from Professor +Morse to lay the tube in which the wire was +to be placed. He had made a bad bargain, he feared. +The job was going to cost more than he had calculated, +on. He was trying to invent something that +would dig the ditch, and fill in the dirt again after +the pipe was laid. Cornell listened to him, questioned +him, found out the size of the pipe and the +depth of the ditch, then sat down and passed some +minutes in hard thinking. Finally he said,—</p> + +<p>"You are on the wrong tack. You don't want +either a ditch or a scraper."</p> + +<p>He took a pencil and in a few minutes outlined a +machine, which he said would cut a trench two feet +deep, lay the pipe at its bottom, and cover the earth +in behind it. The motive power need be only a team +of oxen or mules. These creatures had but to trudge +slowly onward. The machine would do its work +faithfully behind them.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, this is impossible!" cried editor +Smith.</p> + +<p>"I'll wager my head it can be done, and I can do +it," replied inventor Cornell.</p> + +<p>He laid a large premium on his confidence in his +idea, promising that if his machine would not work +<a name="Page_269" id="Page_269"></a>he would ask no money for it. But if it succeeded, +he was to be well paid. Smith agreed to these terms, +and Cornell went to work.</p> + +<p>In ten days the machine was built and ready for +trial. A yoke of oxen was attached to it, three men +managed it, and in the first five minutes it had laid +one hundred feet of pipe and covered it with earth. +It was a decided success. Mr. Smith had contracted +to lay the pipe for one hundred dollars a mile. A +short calculation proved to him that, with the aid of +Ezra Cornell's machine, ninety dollars of this would +be profit.</p> + +<p>But the shrewd editor did not feel like risking +Cornell's machine in any hands but those of the inventor. +He made him a profitable offer if he would +go to Baltimore and take charge of the job himself. +It would pay better than selling patent ploughs. +Cornell agreed to go.</p> + +<p>Reaching Baltimore, he met Professor Morse. +They had never met before. Their future lives were +to be closely associated. In the conversation that +ensued Morse explained what he proposed to do. An +electric wire might either be laid underground or +carried through the air. He had decided on the +underground system, the wire being coated by an +insulating compound and drawn through a pipe.</p> + +<p>Cornell questioned him closely, got a clear idea of +the scheme, saw the pipe that was to be used, and +expressed doubts of its working.</p> + +<p>"It will work, for it has worked," said Morse. +"While I have been fighting Congress, inventors in +<a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a>Europe have been experimenting with the telegraphic +idea. Short lines have been laid in England +and elsewhere, in which the wire is carried in buried +pipes. They had been successful. What can be +done in Europe can be done in America."</p> + +<p>What Morse said was a fact. While he had been +pushing his telegraph conception in America it had +been tried successfully in Europe. But the system +adopted there, of vibrating needle signals, was so +greatly inferior to the Morse system, that it was +destined in the future to be almost or quite set aside +by the latter. To-day the Morse system and alphabet +are used in much the greater number of the +telegraph offices of the world.</p> + +<p>But to return to our story. Cornell went to work, +and the pipe, with its interior wire, was laid with +much rapidity. Not many days had elapsed before +ten miles were underground, the pipe being neatly +covered as laid. It reached from Baltimore nearly +to the Relay House. Here it stopped, for something +had gone wrong. Morse tested his wire. It would +not work. No trace of an electric current could be +got through it. The insulation was evidently imperfect. +What was to be done? He would be +charged with wasting the public money on an impracticable +experiment. Yet if he stopped he might +expect a roar of newspaper disapprobation of his +whole scheme. He was in a serious dilemma. How +should he escape?</p> + +<p>He sought Cornell, and told him of the failure of +his experiments. The work must be stopped. He +<a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"></a>must try other kinds of pipe and new methods of +insulation. But if the public should suspect failure +there would be vials of wrath poured on their devoted +heads.</p> + +<p>"The public shall not suspect failure. Leave it +to me," said Cornell.</p> + +<p>He turned to his men. The machine was slowly +moving forward, drawn by a team of eight mules, +depositing pipe as it went. A section had just been +laid. Night was at hand.</p> + +<p>"Hurry up, boys," cried Cornell, cheerily. "We +must lay another length before we quit."</p> + +<p>He grasped the handles of his plough-like machine; +the drivers stirred up the mules to a lively +pace; the contrivance went merrily forward. But +the cunning pilot knew what he was about. He +steered the buried point of the machine against a +rock that just protruded from the earth. In an instant +there was a shock, a sound of rending wood and +iron, a noise of shouting and trampling; and then +the line of mules came to a halt. But behind them +were only the ruins of a machine. That moment's +work had converted the pipe-laying contrivance into +kindling-wood and scrap-iron.</p> + +<p>The public condoled with the inventor. It was so +unlucky that his promising progress should be +stopped by such an accident! As for Morse and his +cunning associate, they smiled quietly to themselves +as they went on with their experiments. Another +kind of pipe was tried. Still the current would not +go through. A year passed by. Experiment after +<a name="Page_272" id="Page_272"></a>experiment had been made. All had proved failures. +Twenty-three thousand dollars of the money +had been spent. Only seven thousand remained. +The inventor was on the verge of despair.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid it will never work," said Cornell. +"It looks bad for the pipe plan."</p> + +<p>"Then let us try the other," said Morse. "If +the current won't go underground, it may be coaxed +to go above-ground."</p> + +<p>The plan suggested was to string the wire upon +poles, insulating it from the wood by some non-conductor. +A suitable insulator was needed. Cornell +devised one; another inventor produced another. +Morse approved of the latter, started for New York +with it to make arrangements for its manufacture, +and on his way met Professor Henry, who knew +more about electricity than any other man in the +country. Morse showed him the models of the two +insulators, and indicated the one he had chosen. +Mr. Henry examined them closely.</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken," he said. "That one won't +work. This is the insulator you need." He pointed +to Cornell's device.</p> + +<p>In a few words he gave his reasons. Morse saw +that he was right. The Cornell insulator was chosen +And now the work went forward with great rapidity. +The planting of poles, and stringing of wires over a +glass insulator at their tops, was an easy and rapid +process. And more encouraging still, the thing +worked to a charm. There was no trouble now in +obtaining signals from the wire.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273"></a>The first public proof of the system was made on +May 11, 1844. On that day the Whig National +Convention, then in session at Baltimore, had nominated +Henry Clay for the Presidency. The telegraph +was being built from the Washington end, +and was yet miles distant from Baltimore. The first +railroad train from Baltimore carried passengers +who were eager to tell the tidings to their Washington +friends. But it carried also an agent of Professor +Morse, who brought the news to the inventor +at the unfinished end of the telegraph. From that +point he sent it over the wire to Washington. It +was successfully received at the Washington end, +and never were human beings more surprised than +were the train passengers on alighting at the capital +city to find that they brought stale news, and that +Clay's nomination was already known throughout +Washington. It was the first public proof in +America of the powers of the telegraph, and certainly +a vital and convincing one.</p> + +<p>Before the 24th of May the telegraph line to Baltimore +was completed, the tests successfully made, +and all was ready for the public exhibition of its +marvellous powers, which had been fixed for that +day. Miss Ellsworth, in compliance with the inventor's +promise, made her more than a year before, +was given the privilege of choosing the first message +to go over the magic wires. She selected the appropriate +message from Scriptures: "What hath God +wrought?" With these significant words began +the reign of that marvellous invention which has +<a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"></a>wrought so wonderfully in binding the ends of the +earth together and making one family of mankind.</p> + +<p>There were difficulties still in the way of the inventor, +severe ones. His after-life lay in no bed of +roses. His patents were violated, his honor was +questioned, even his integrity was assailed; rival +companies stole his business, and lawsuits made his +life a burden. He won at last, but failed to have the +success of his associate, Mr. Cornell, who grew in +time very wealthy from his telegraphic enterprises.</p> + +<p>As regards the Morse system of telegraphy, it +may be said in conclusion that over one hundred +devices have been invented to supersede it, but that +it holds its own triumphant over them all. The inventor +wrought with his brain to good purpose in +those days and nights of mental discipline above +the Atlantic waves and on board the good ship +Sully.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a> +<a name="THE_MONITOR_AND_THE_MERRIMAC" id="THE_MONITOR_AND_THE_MERRIMAC"></a> +THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC.</h2> + + +<p>On the 9th of March, 1862, for the first time in +human history, two iron-clad ships met in battle. +The occasion was a memorable one, and its story is +well worthy of being retold in our cycle of historic +events. For centuries, for thousands of years, in +truth, wooden vessels had been struggling for the +mastery of the seas. With the first shot fired from +the turret of the Monitor at the roof-like sides of the +Merrimac, in the early morning of the day named, +the long reign of wooden war vessels ended; that of +iron monarchs of the deep began. England could no +more trust to her "wooden walls" for safety, and +all the nations of Europe, when the echo of that shot +reached their ears, felt that the ancient era of naval +construction was at an end, and that the future navies +of the world must ride the waves clad in massive +armor of steel.</p> + +<p>On the 8th of March, indeed, this had been shown. +On that day the Merrimac steamed down from Norfolk +harbor into Hampton Roads, where lay a fleet +of wooden men-of-war, some of them the largest +sailing frigates then in the American navy. On +shore soldiers were encamped, here Union, there +Confederate; and the inmates of the camps, the garrison +of Fortress Monroe, the crews of the ships at +<a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"></a>anchor under its guns, all gazed with eager eyes +over the open waters of the bay, their interest in the +coming contest as intense as Roman audience ever +displayed for the life and death struggle in the +gladiatorial arena. Before them lay a mightier +amphitheatre than that of the Coliseum, and before +them was to be fought more notable struggle for life +and death than ever took place within the walls of +mighty Rome.</p> + +<p>It was in the afternoon of the 8th, about one +o'clock, that the long roll sounded in the camps on +shore, and the cry resounded from camp to camp, +"The Merrimac is coming!" For several weeks +she had been looked for, and preparations made +for her reception. The frigates bore a powerful +armament of heavy guns, ready to batter her iron-clad +sides, and strong hopes were entertained that +this modern leviathan would soon cease to trouble +the deep. The lesson fixed by fate for that day had +not yet been learned.</p> + +<p>Down the bay she came, looking at a distance like +a flood-borne house, its sides drowned, only its sloping +roof visible. The strange-appearing craft moved +slowly, accompanied by two small gunboats as tenders. +As she came near no signs of life were visible, +while her iron sides displayed no evidence of guns. +Yet within that threatening monster was a crew of +three hundred men, and her armament embraced ten +heavy cannon. Hinged lids closed the gun-ports; +raised only when the guns were thrust forward +for firing. As for the men, they were hidden +<a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"></a>somewhere under that iron roof; to be felt, but not +seen.</p> + +<p>What followed has been told in song and story; it +need be repeated here but in epitome. The first +assault of the Merrimac was upon the Cumberland, +a thirty-gun frigate. Again and again the thirty +heavy balls of the frigate rattled upon the impenetrable +sides of the iron-clad monster, and bounded +off uselessly into the deep. The Merrimac came on +at full speed, as heedless of this fusillade as though +she was being fired at with peas. As she approached, +two heavy balls from her guns tore through the timbers +of the Cumberland. They were followed by a +stunning blow from her iron beak, that opened a +gaping wound in the defenceless side of her victim. +Then she drew off, leaving her broken beak sticking +in the <ins class="correction" title="'ships' in original">ship's</ins> side, and began firing broadsides into +the helpless frigate; raking her fore and aft with +shell and grape, despite the fact that she had already +got her death-blow, and was rapidly filling with +water.</p> + +<p>Never ship was fought more nobly than the +doomed Cumberland. With the decks sinking under +their feet, the men fought with unflinching courage. +When the bow guns were under water, the rear guns +were made to do double duty. The captain was +called on to surrender. He sternly refused. The +last shot was fired from a gun on a level with the +waves. Then, with sails spread and flags flying, the +Cumberland went down, carrying with her nearly +one hundred of her crew, the remainder swimming +<a name="Page_278" id="Page_278"></a>ashore. The water was deep, but the topmast of +the doomed vessel still rose above the surface, with +its pennant waving in the wind. For months afterwards +that old flag continued to fly, as if to say, +"The Cumberland sinks, but never surrenders."</p> + +<p>The Congress, a fifty-gun frigate, was next attacked, +and handled so severely that her commander +ran her ashore, and soon after hoisted the white flag, +destruction appearing inevitable. Boats were sent +by the enemy to take possession, but a sharp fire +from the shore drove them off.</p> + +<p>"Is this in accordance with military law?" asked +one of the officers in the camp. "Since the ship has +surrendered, has not the enemy the right to take +possession of her?"</p> + +<p>This legal knot was quickly and decisively cut by +General Mansfield, in an unanswerable decision.</p> + +<p>"I know the d——d ship has surrendered," he +said. "But <i>we</i> haven't." And the firing continued.</p> + +<p>The Merrimac, not being able to seize her prize, +opened fire with hot shot on the Congress, and +quickly set her on fire. Night was now at hand, and +the conquering iron-clad drew off. The Congress +continued to burn, her loaded guns roaring her +requiem one after another, as the fire spread along +her decks. About one o'clock her magazine was +reached, and she blew up with a tremendous explosion, +the shock being so great as to prostrate many +of those on the shore.</p> + +<p>So ended that momentous day. It had shown one +thing conclusively, that "wooden walls" could no +<a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"></a>longer "rule the wave." Iron had proved its superiority +in naval construction. The next day was +to behold another novel sight,—the struggle of iron +with iron.</p> + +<p>Morning came. The atmosphere was hazy. Only +as the mist slowly lifted were the gladiators of that +liquid arena successively made visible. Here, just +above the water, defiantly floated the flag of the +sunken Cumberland. There smoked the still-burning +hull of the Congress. Here, up the bay, steamed +the Merrimac, with two attendants, the Yorktown +and the Patrick Henry. Yonder lay the great hull +of the steam-frigate Minnesota, which had taken +some part in the battle of the day before, but had +unfortunately gone ashore on a mud-bank, from +which the utmost efforts failed to force her off. +Other Union naval vessels were visible in the distance.</p> + +<p>The Merrimac made her way towards the Minnesota, +as towards a certain prey. Her commander +felt confident that an hour or two would enable him +to reduce this great vessel to the condition of her +recent companions.</p> + +<p>Yet an odd sight met his vision. Alongside the +Minnesota floated the strangest-looking craft that +human eye had ever gazed upon. An insignificant +affair it appeared; a "cheese-box on a raft" it was +irreverently designated. The deck, a level expanse +of iron, came scarcely above the surface. Above it +rose a circular turret, capable of being revolved, and +with port-holes for two great guns, among the +largest up to that time used in naval warfare.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"></a>How this odd contrivance came there so opportunely +may be briefly told. It was the conception of +John Ericsson, the eminent Swedish engineer, and +was being rapidly built in New York while the +Merrimac was being plated with thick iron bars in +Norfolk. A contest for time took place between +these two unlike craft. Spies were in both places, to +report progress. Fortunately, the Monitor was finished +a day or two before her competitor. Immediately +she steamed away for Hampton Roads. The +passage was a severe one. Three days were consumed, +during which the seas swept repeatedly over +the low deck, the men being often half suffocated +in their confined quarters, the turret alone standing +above the water. As they approached Fortress +Monroe the sound of cannonading was heard. +Tarrying but a few minutes at the fort, the Monitor, +as this odd vessel had been named, approached the +Minnesota, and reached her side at a late hour of +the night.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image280" id="image280"></a> +<a href="images/image280h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image280.jpg" + alt="THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC." + title="THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC.</p> +</div> + +<p>And now, with the new day, back to the fray came +the Merrimac, looking like a giant in comparison +with this dwarfish antagonist. As she approached, +the little craft glided swiftly in front of her +grounded consort, like a new David offering battle to +a modern Goliath. As if in disdain of this puny +antagonist, the Merrimac began an attack on the +Minnesota. But when the two eleven-inch guns of +the Monitor opened fire, hurling solid balls of one +hundred and sixty-eight pounds' weight against the +iron sides of her great opponent, it became at once +<a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"></a>evident that a new move had opened in the game, and +that the Merrimac had no longer the best of the play.</p> + +<p>The fight that followed was an extraordinary one, +and was gazed on with intense interest by the throng +of spectators who crowded the shores of the bay. +The Merrimac had no solid shot, as she had expected +only wooden antagonists. Her shells were +hurled upon the Monitor, but most of them missed +their mark, and those that struck failed to do any +injury. So small was the object fired at that the +great shells, as a rule, whirled uselessly by, and +plunged hissing into the waves. The massive solid +balls of the Monitor were far more effective. Nearly +every one struck the broad sides of the Merrimac, +breaking her armor in several places, and shattering +the wood backing behind it. Many times the Merrimac +tried to ram her small antagonist, and thus to +rid herself of this teasing tormentor, but the active +"cheese-box" slipped agilely out of her way. The +Monitor in turn tried to disable the screw of her +opponent, but without success.</p> + +<p>Unable to do any harm to her dwarfish foe, the +Merrimac now, as if in disdain, turned her attention +to the Minnesota, hurling shells through her side. +In return the frigate poured into her a whole broadside +at close range.</p> + +<p>"It was enough," said the captain of the frigate +afterwards, "to have blown out of the water any +wooden ship in the world." It was wasted on the +iron-clad foe.</p> + +<p>This change of action did not please the captain +<a name="Page_282" id="Page_282"></a>of the Monitor. He thrust his vessel quickly between +the two combatants, and assailed so sharply +that the Merrimac steamed away. The Monitor +followed. Suddenly the fugitive vessel turned, and, +like an animal moved by an impulse of fury, rushed +head on upon her tormentor. Her beak struck the +flat iron deck so sharply as to be wrenched by the +blow. The great hull seemed for the moment as if +it would crowd the low-lying vessel bodily beneath +the waves. But no such result followed. The +Monitor glided away unharmed. As she went she +sent a ball against the Merrimac that seemed to +crush in her armored sides.</p> + +<p>At ten o'clock the Monitor steamed away, as if +in flight. The Merrimac now prepared to pay attention +again to the Minnesota, her captain deeming +that he had silenced his tormenting foe. He was +mistaken. In half an hour the Monitor, having +hoisted a new supply of balls into her turret, was +back again, and for two hours more the strange battle +continued.</p> + +<p>Then it came to an end. The Merrimac turned +and ran away. She had need to,—those on shore +saw that she was sagging down at the stern. The +battle was over. The turreted iron-clad had driven +her great antagonist from the field, and won the +victory. And thus ended one of the strangest and +most notable naval combats in history.</p> + +<p>During the fight the Monitor had fired forty-one +shots, and been struck twenty-two times. Her +greatest injury was the shattering of her pilot-house. +<a name="Page_283" id="Page_283"></a>Her commander, Lieutenant Worden, was knocked +senseless and temporarily blinded by the shock. On +board the Merrimac two men were killed and nineteen +wounded. Her iron prow was gone, her armor +broken and damaged, her steam-pipe and smoke-stock +riddled, the muzzles of two of her guns shot +away, while water made its way into her through +more than one crevice.</p> + +<p>Back to Norfolk went the injured Merrimac. +Here she was put into the dry-dock and hastily repaired. +After that had been done, she steamed down +to the old fighting-ground on two or three occasions, +and challenged her small antagonist. The Monitor +did not accept the challenge. If any accident had +happened to her the rest of the fleet would have +been lost, and it was deemed wisest to hold her back +for emergencies.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of May the Confederates marched +out of Norfolk. On the 11th the Merrimac was +blown up, and only her disabled hull remained as a +trophy to the victors. As to her condition and fighting +powers, one of the engineers who had charge of +the repairs upon her said,—</p> + +<p>"A shot from the Monitor entered one of her +ports, lodged in the backing of the other side, and +so shivered her timbers that she never afterwards +could be made seaworthy. She could not have been +kept afloat for twelve hours, and her officers knew +it when they went out and dared the Monitor to +fight her. It was a case of pure bluff; we didn't +hold a single pair."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284"></a>The combat we have recorded was perhaps the +most important in the history of naval warfare. It +marked a turning-point in the construction of the +monarchs of the deep, by proving that the future +battles of the sea must be fought behind iron walls.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285"></a> +<a name="STEALING_A_LOCOMOTIVE" id="STEALING_A_LOCOMOTIVE"></a> +STEALING A LOCOMOTIVE.</h2> + + +<p>On a fine day in April, 1862, a passenger-train +drew out from Marietta, Georgia, bound north. +Those were not days of abundant passenger travel in +the South, except for those who wore the butternut +uniform and carried muskets, but this train was well +filled, and at Marietta a score of men in civilian +dress had boarded the cars. Soldierly-looking fellows +these were too, not the kind that were likely to escape +long the clutch of the Confederate conscription.</p> + +<p>Eight miles north of Marietta the train stopped +at the station of Big Shanty, with the welcome announcement +of "Ten minutes for breakfast." Out +from the train, like bees from the hive, swarmed the +hungry passengers, and made their way with all +speed to the lunch-counter, followed more deliberately +by conductor, engineer, and brakesmen. The +demands of the lunch-counter are of universal potency; +few have the hardihood to resist them; that +particular train was emptied in the first of its ten +minutes of grace.</p> + +<p>Yet breakfast did not seem to appeal to all upon +the train. The Marietta group of civilians left the +train with the others, but instead of seeking the refreshment-room, +turned their steps towards the locomotive. +No one noticed them, though there was a +Confederate camp hard by the station, well filled +<a name="Page_286" id="Page_286"></a>with raw recruits, and hardly a dozen steps from the +engine a sentinel steadily walked his beat, rifle on +shoulder.</p> + +<p>One of the men climbed into the engine. The +sentinel paid no heed to him. Another slipped in +between two cars, and pulled out a coupling-pin. +The sentinel failed to observe him. A group of +others climbed quickly into an open box-car. The +sentinel looked at them, and walked serenely on. +The last man of the party now strode rapidly up the +platform, nodded to the one in the locomotive, and +swung himself lightly into the cab. The sentinel +turned at the end of his beat and walked back, just +beginning to wonder what all this meant. Meanwhile +famine was being rapidly appeased at the +lunch-counter within, and the not very luxurious display +of food was vanishing like a field of wheat +before an army of locusts.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the sharp report of a rifle rung with +warning sound through the air. The drowsy tenants +of the camp sprang to their feet. The conductor +hurried, out to the platform. He had heard something +besides the rifle-shot,—the grind of wheels on +the track,—and his eyes opened widely in alarm and +astonishment as he saw that the train was broken in +two, and half of it running away. The passenger-cars +stood where he had left them. The locomotive, +with three box-cars, was flying rapidly up the track. +The sentinel, roused to a sense of the situation only +when he saw the train in actual flight, had somewhat +late given the alarm.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287"></a>The conductor's eyes opened very wide. The +engine, under a full head of steam, was driving up +the road. The locomotive had been stolen! Out +from the refreshment-room poured passengers and +trainmen, filled with surprise and chagrin. What +did it mean? What was to be done? There was no +other engine within miles. How should these daring +thieves ever be overtaken? Their capture seemed a +forlorn hope.</p> + +<p>The conductor, wild with alarm and dreading reprimand, +started up the track on foot, running as fast +as his legs could carry him. A railroad mechanic +named Murphy kept him company. To one with a +love of humor it would have been an amusing sight +to see two men on foot chasing a locomotive, but just +then Conductor Fuller was not troubled about the +opinion of men of humor; his one thought was to +overtake his runaway locomotive, and he would have +crawled after it if no better way appeared.</p> + +<p>Fortune comes to him who pursues her, not to him +who waits her coming. The brace of locomotive +chasers had not run down their strength before they +were lucky enough to spy a hand-car, standing beside +the track. Here was a gleam of hope. In a minute +or two they had lifted it upon the rails. Springing +within it, they applied themselves to the levers, and +away they went at a more promising rate of speed.</p> + +<p>For a mile or two all went on swimmingly. Then +sudden disaster came. The car struck a broken rail +and was hurled headlong from the track, sending +its occupants flying into the muddy roadside ditch. +<a name="Page_288" id="Page_288"></a>This was enough to discourage anybody with less go +in him than Conductor Fuller. But in a moment he +was on his feet, trying his limbs. No bones were +broken. A mud-bath was the full measure of his +misfortune. Murphy was equally sound. The car +was none the worse. With scarce a minute's delay +they sprang to it, righted it, and with some strong +tugging lifted it upon the track. With very few +minutes' delay they were away again, somewhat +more cautiously than before, and sharply on the +lookout for further gifts of broken rails from the +runaways ahead.</p> + +<p>Leaving the pair of pursuers to their seemingly +hopeless task, we must return to the score of locomotive +pirates. These men who had done such +strange work at Big Shanty were by no means what +they seemed. They were clad in the butternut gray +and the slouch hats of the Confederacy, but their +ordinary attire was the blue uniform of the Union +army. They were, in truth, a party of daring scouts, +who had stealthily made their way south in disguise, +their purpose being to steal a train, burn the bridges +behind them as they fled, and thus make useless +for a time the only railroad by which the Confederate +authorities could send troops to Chattanooga, +then threatened by the Union forces under General +Mitchel.</p> + +<p>They had been remarkably successful, as we have +seen, at the beginning of their enterprise. Making +their way, by devious routes, to Marietta, they had +gathered at that place, boarded a train, and started +<a name="Page_289" id="Page_289"></a>north. The rush of passengers and trainmen into +the refreshment-room at Big Shanty had been calculated +upon. The presence of a Confederate camp +at that out-of-the-way station had not been. It +might have proved fatal to their enterprise but for +the stolid stupidity of the sentinel. But that peril +had been met and passed. They were safely away. +Exhilaration filled their souls. All was safe behind; +all seemed safe ahead.</p> + +<p>True, there was one peril close at hand. Beside +the track ran that slender wire, a resting-place, it +seemed, for passing birds. In that outstretching +wire their most imminent danger lurked. Fast as +they might go, it could flash the news of their +exploit a thousand-fold faster. The flight of the +lightning news-bearer must be stopped. The train +was halted a mile or two from the town, the pole +climbed, the wire cut. Danger from this source was +at an end. Halting long enough to tear up the rail +to whose absence Conductor Fuller owed his somersault, +they sprang to their places again and the +runaway train sped blithely on.</p> + +<p>Several times they stopped for wood and water. +When any questions were asked they were answered +by the companion of the engineer, James J. Andrews +by name, a Union spy by profession, the originator +of and leader in this daring enterprise.</p> + +<p>"I am taking a train-load of powder to General +Beauregard," was his stereotyped answer, as he +pointed to the closed box-cars behind him, within +one of which lay concealed the bulk of his confederates.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290"></a>For some time they went swimmingly on, without +delay or difficulty. Yet trouble was in the air, ill-fortune +awaiting them in front, pursuing them from +behind. They had, by the fatality of unlucky chance, +chosen the wrong day for their work. Yesterday +they would have found a clear track; to-day the +road ahead was blocked with trains, hurrying swiftly +southward.</p> + +<p>At Kingston, thirty miles from Big Shanty, this +trouble came upon them in a rush. A local train +was to pass at that point. Andrews was well aware +of this, and drew his train upon the siding to let it +pass, expecting when it had gone to find the road +clear to Chattanooga. The train came in on time, +halted, and on its last car was seen waving the red +danger-flag, the railroad signal that another train +was following close behind. Andrews looked at this +with no friendly eyes.</p> + +<p>"How comes it," he asked the conductor, somewhat +sharply, "that the road is blocked in this +manner, when I have orders to take this powder to +Beauregard without delay?"</p> + +<p>"Mitchel has taken Huntsville," answered the +conductor. "They say he is coming to Chattanooga. +We are getting everything out of there as quickly +as we can."</p> + +<p>This looked serious. How many trains might +there be in the rear? A badly-blocked road meant +ruin to their enterprise and possibly death to themselves. +They waited with intense anxiety, each +minute of delay seeming to stretch almost into an +<a name="Page_291" id="Page_291"></a>hour. The next train came. They watched it pass +with hopeful eyes. Ah! upon its rear floated that +fatal red flag, the crimson emblem of death, as it +seemed to them.</p> + +<p>The next train came. Still the red flag! Still +hope deferred, danger coming near! An hour of +frightful anxiety passed. It was torture to those +upon the engine. It was agony to those in the box-car, +who knew nothing of the cause of this frightful +delay, and to whom life itself must have seemed to +have stopped.</p> + +<p>Andrews had to cast off every appearance of anxiety +and to feign easy indifference, for the station +people were showing somewhat too much curiosity +about this train, whose crew were strangers, and +concerning which the telegraph had sent them no +advices. The practised spy was full of resources, +but their searching questions taxed him for satisfying +answers.</p> + +<p>At length, after more than an hour's delay, the +blockade was broken. A train passed destitute of the +red flag. The relief was great. They had waited at +that station like men with the hangman's rope upon +their necks. Now the track to Chattanooga was +clear and success seemed assured. The train began +to move. It slowly gathered speed. Up went hope +in the hearts of those upon the engine. New life +flowed in the veins of those within the car as they +heard the grinding sound on the rails beneath them, +and felt the motion of their prison upon wheels.</p> + +<p>Yet perilous possibilities were in their rear. Their +<a name="Page_292" id="Page_292"></a>delay at Kingston had been threateningly long. +They must guard against pursuit. Stopping the +train, and seizing their tools, they sprang out to tear +up a rail. Suddenly, as they worked at this, a sound +met their ears that almost caused them to drop their +tools in dismay. It was the far-off bugle blast of a +locomotive whistle sounding from the direction from +which they had come.</p> + +<p>The Confederates, then, were on their track! +They had failed to distance pursuit! The delay at +Kingston had given their enemies the needed time! +Nervous with alarm, they worked like giants. The +rail yielded slightly. It bent. A few minutes more +and it would be torn from its fastenings. A few +minutes! Not a minute could be spared for this +vital work. For just then the whistle shrieked +again, now close at hand, the rattle of wheels could +be heard in the distance, and round a curve behind +them came a locomotive speeding up the road with +what seemed frantic haste, and filled with armed +men, who shouted in triumph at sight of the dismayed +fugitives. It was too late to finish their +work. Nothing remained to the raiders but to spring +to their engine and cars and fly for life.</p> + +<p>We have seen the beginnings of this pursuit. We +must now go back to trace the doings of the forlorn-hope +of pursuers, Fuller and his companion. After +their adventure with the broken rail, that brace of +worthies pushed on in their hand-car till the station +of Etowah was reached. Here, by good fortune for +them, an engine stood with steam up, ready for the +<a name="Page_293" id="Page_293"></a>road. Fuller viewed it with eyes of hope. The +game, he felt, was in his hands. For he knew, what +the raiders had not known, that the road in advance +would be blocked that day with special trains, and +on a one-tracked road special trains are an impassable +obstacle.</p> + +<p>There were soldiers at Etowah. Fuller's story of +the daring trick of the Yankees gave him plenty of +volunteers. He filled the locomotive and its cab +with eager allies, and drove on at the greatest speed +of which his engine was capable, hoping to overtake +the fugitives at Kingston. He reached that place; +they were not there. Hurried questions taught him +that they were barely gone, with very few minutes +the start. Away he went again, sending his alarm +whistle far down the road in his front.</p> + +<p>The race was now one for life or death. Andrews +and his men well knew what would be their fate if +they were caught. They dared not stop and fight; +their only arms were revolvers, and they were outnumbered +by their armed foes. Their only hope lay +in flight. Away they went; on came their shouting +pursuers. Over the track thundered both locomotives +at frightful speed. The partly-raised rail +proved no obstacle to the pursuers. They were +over it with a jolt and a jump, and away on the +smooth track ahead.</p> + +<p>If the fugitives could have halted long enough to +tear up a rail or burn a bridge all might have been +well; but that would take more minutes than they +had to spare. A shrewd idea came into Andrews's +<a name="Page_294" id="Page_294"></a>fertile mind. The three box-cars behind him were +a useless load. One of them might be usefully +spared. The rear car of the train was uncoupled and +left behind, with the hope that the pursuers might +unwittingly dash into it and be wrecked. On they +went, leaving a car standing on the track.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for the Confederates, they saw the +obstruction in time to prepare for it. Their engine +was slowed up, and the car caught and pushed before +it. Andrews tried the device a second time, another +car being dropped. It was picked up by Fuller in +the same manner as before. On reaching a siding at +Resaca station, the Confederate engineer switched +off these supernumerary cars, and pushed ahead +again relieved of his load.</p> + +<p>Not far beyond was a bridge which the raiders had +intended to destroy. It could not be done. The +pursuit was too sharp. They dashed on over its +creaking planks, having time for nothing but headlong +flight. The race was a remarkably even one, +the engines proving to be closely matched in speed. +Fuller, despite all his efforts, failed to overtake the +fugitives, but he was resolved to push them so +sharply that they would have no time to damage +track or bridges, or take on wood or water. In the +latter necessity Andrews got the better of him. His +men knocked out the end of the one box-car they had +left, and dropped the ties with which it was loaded +one by one upon the track, delaying the pursuers +sufficiently to enable them to take on some fresh +fuel.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295"></a>Onward again went the chase, mile after mile, +over a rough track, at a frightful speed, the people +along the route looking on with wondering eyes. It +seemed marvellous that the engines could cling to +those unevenly-laid rails. The escape of the pursuers, +was, indeed, almost miraculous, for Andrews +found time to stop just beyond a curve and lay a +loose rail on the track, and Fuller's engine ran upon +this at full speed. There came a terrific jolt; the +engine seemed to leap into the air; but by a marvellous +chance it lighted again on the rails and ran on +unharmed. Had it missed the track not a man on it +would have lived to tell the tale.</p> + +<p>The position of the fugitives was now desperate. +Some of them wished to leave the engine, reverse its +valves, and send it back at full speed to meet the foe. +Others suggested that they should face the enemy +and fight for their lives. Andrews was not ready to +accept either of these plans. He decided to go on +and do the work for which they had set out, if possible. +He knew the road. There was a covered +bridge a few miles ahead. If they could burn this +all would be well. He determined to try.</p> + +<p>There was one box-car left. That might serve his +purpose. He had his men pile wood on its floor, and +light this with coals from the engine. In a minute +it was burning. The draught made by the rushing +train soon blew the fire into a roaring flame. By +the time the bridge was reached the whole car was +in a fierce blaze.</p> + +<p>Andrews slowed up and uncoupled this blazing +<a name="Page_296" id="Page_296"></a>car on the bridge. He stopped the engine just beyond, +and he and his companions watched it hopefully. +The flames curled fiercely upward. Dense +smoke poured out at each end of the covered bridge. +Success seemed to be at length in their hands. But +the flames failed to do their work. The roof of the +bridge had been soaked by recent rains and resisted +the blazing heat. The roaring flames were uselessly +licking the wet timbers when the pursuing engine +came dashing up. Fuller did not hesitate for a minute. +He had the heart of a soldier in the frame of a +conductor. Into the blinding smoke his engine was +daringly driven, and in a minute it had caught the +blazing car and was pushing it forward. A minute +more and it rolled into the open air, and the bridge +was saved. Its timbers had stubbornly refused to +burn.</p> + +<p>This ended the hopes of the fugitives. They had +exhausted their means of checking pursuit. Their +wood had been all consumed in this fruitless effort; +their steam was rapidly going down; they had +played their last card and lost the game. The men +sprang from the slowed-up engine. The engineer +reversed its valves and followed them. Into the +fields they rushed and ran in all directions, their +only hope being now in their own powers of flight. +As they sped away the engines met, but without +damage. The steam in the stolen engine had so +fallen that it was incapable of doing harm. The +other engine had been stopped, and the pursuers +were springing agilely to the ground, and hurrying +into the fields in hot chase.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297"></a>Pursuit through field and forest was as keen and +unrelenting as it had been over iron rails. The +Union lines were not far distant, yet not a man of +the fugitives succeeded in reaching them. The alarm +spread with great rapidity; the whole surrounding +country was up in pursuit; and before that day +ended several of the daring raiders were prisoners in +Confederate hands. The others buried themselves in +woods and swamps, lived on roots and berries, and +ventured from their hiding-places only at night. Yet +they were hunted with unwearying persistence, and +by the end of a week all but two had been captured. +These two had so successfully eluded pursuit that +they fancied themselves out of danger, and became +somewhat careless in consequence. As a result, in a +few days more they, too, fell into the hands of their +foes.</p> + +<p>A court-martial was convened. The attempt had +been so daring, and so nearly successful, the injury +intended so great, and the whole affair so threatening, +that the Confederate military authorities could +not think of leniency. Andrews and seven of his +companions were condemned to death and hung. +Their graves may be seen to-day in the Soldiers' +Cemetery at Chattanooga, monuments to one of the +most daring and reckless enterprises in the history +of the Civil War. The others were imprisoned.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298"></a> +<a name="AN_ESCAPE_FROM_LIBBY_PRISON" id="AN_ESCAPE_FROM_LIBBY_PRISON"></a> +AN ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON.</h2> + + +<p>During the winter of 1864 certain highly interesting +operations were going on in the underground +region of the noted Libby Prison, at Richmond, Virginia, +at that time the by no means luxurious or +agreeable home of some eleven hundred officers of +the United States army. These operations, by means +of which numerous captives were to make their way +to fresh air and freedom, are abundantly worthy of +being told, as an evidence of the ingenuity of man +and the amount of labor and hardship he is willing +to give in exchange for liberty.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image298" id="image298"></a> +<a href="images/image298h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image298.jpg" + alt="LIBBY PRISON, RICHMOND." + title="LIBBY PRISON, RICHMOND." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">LIBBY PRISON, RICHMOND.</p> +</div> + +<p>Libby Prison was certainly not of palatial dimensions +or accommodations. Before the war it had +been a tobacco warehouse, situated close by the +Lynchburg Canal, and a short distance from James +River, whose waters ran by in full view of the longing +eyes which gazed upon them from the close-barred +prison windows. For the story which we +have to tell some description of the make-up of this +place of detention is a necessary preliminary. The +building was three stories high in front, and four in +the rear, its dimensions being one hundred and sixty-five +by one hundred and five feet. It was strongly +built, of brick and stone, while very thick partition +walls of brick divided it internally into three sec<a name="Page_299" id="Page_299"></a>tions. +Each section had its cellar, one of them, with +which we are particularly concerned, being unoccupied. +The others were occasionally used. The first +floor had three apartments, one used by the prison +authorities, one as a hospital, while the middle one +served the prisoners as a cooking-and dining-room. +The second and third stories were the quarters of the +prisoners, where, in seven rooms, more than eleven +hundred United States officers ate, slept, and did all +the duties of life for many months. It may even be +said that they enjoyed some of the pleasures of life, +for though the discipline was harsh and the food +scanty and poor, man's love of enjoyment is not +easily to be repressed, and what with occasional +minstrel and theatrical entertainments among themselves, +fencing exercises with wooden swords, games +of cards, checkers and chess, study of languages, +military tactics, etc., and other entertainments and +pastimes, they managed somewhat to overcome the +monotony of prison life and the hardship of prison +discipline.</p> + +<p>As regards chances of escape, they were very poor. +A strong guard constantly surrounded the prison, +and such attempts at escape as were made were +rarely successful. The only one that had measurable +success is that which we have to describe, in which a +body of prisoners played the rôle of rats or beavers, +and got out of Libby by an underground route.</p> + +<p>The tunnel enterprise was the project of a few +choice spirits only. It was too perilous to confide to +many. The disused cellar was chosen as the avenue +<a name="Page_300" id="Page_300"></a>of escape. It was never visited, and might be used +with safety. But how to get there was a difficult +question to solve. And how to hide the fact that +men were absent from roll-call was another. The +latter difficulty was got over by several expedients. +If Lieutenant Jones, for instance, was at work in +the tunnel, Captain Smith would answer for him; +then, when Smith was pronounced absent, he would +step forward and declare that he had answered to +his own name. His presence served as sure proof +that he had not been absent. Other and still more +ingenious methods were at times adopted, and the +authorities were completely hoodwinked in this particular.</p> + +<p>And now as regards the difficulty of entering the +cellar. The cooking-room on the first floor contained, +in its thick brick and stone partition, a fireplace, +in front of which, partly masking it, three +stoves were placed for the cooking operations of the +prisoners. The floor of this fireplace was chosen as +the initial point of excavation, from which a sloping +passage might be made, under the floor of the next +room, into the disused cellar.</p> + +<p>Captain Hamilton, a stonemason by trade, began +the excavation, removing the first brick and stone +from the fireplace. It need scarcely be said that +this work was done only at night, and with as little +noise as possible. By day the opening was carefully +closed, the bricks and stones being so ingeniously +replaced that no signs of disturbance appeared. +Thick as the wall was, a passage was quickly made +<a name="Page_301" id="Page_301"></a>through it, presenting an easy route to the cellar +below. As for this cellar, it was dark, rarely or +never opened, and contained only some old boxes, +boards, straw, and the like débris, and an abundance +of rats.</p> + +<p>The cellar reached, and the route to it carefully +concealed by day alike from the prison authorities +and the prisoners not in the secret, the question of +the tunnel followed. There were two possible routes. +One of these led southward, towards the canal; the +other eastward, under a narrow street, on the opposite +side of which was a yard and stable, with a +high board fence on the street side. The opposite +side of the yard faced a warehouse.</p> + +<p>A tunnel was commenced towards the canal. But +it quickly struck a sewer whose odor was more than +the workers could endure. It was abandoned, and +a tunnel begun eastward, the most difficult part of +it being to make an opening in the thick foundation +wall. The hope of liberty, however, will bear man +up through the most exhausting labors, and this +fatiguing task was at length successfully performed. +The remainder of the excavation was through earth, +and was easier, though much the reverse of easy.</p> + +<p>A few words will tell what was to be done, and +how it was accomplished. The tunnel began near +the floor of the cellar, eight or nine feet underground. +Its length would need to be seventy or +eighty feet. Only one man could work in it at a +time, and this he had to do while crawling forward +with his face downward, and with such tools as +<a name="Page_302" id="Page_302"></a>pocket-knives, small hatchets, sharp pieces of wood, +and a broken fire-shovel. After the opening had +made some progress two men could work in it, one +digging, the other carrying back the earth, for which +work frying-pans were brought into use.</p> + +<p>Another point of some little importance was the +disposal of the dirt. This was carelessly scattered +over the cellar floor, with straw thrown over it, and +some of it placed in boxes and barrels. The whole +amount was not great, and not likely to be noticed if +the officials should happen to enter the cellar, which +had not been cleaned for years.</p> + +<p>The work here described was begun in the latter +part of January, 1864. So diligently was it prosecuted +that the tunnel was pronounced finished on +the night of February 8. During this period only +two or three men could work at once. It was, indeed, +frightfully exhausting labor, the confinement +of the narrow passage and the difficulty of breathing +in its foul air being not the least of the hardships +to be endured. Work was prosecuted during +part of the period night and day, the absence of a +man from roll-call being concealed in various ways, +as already mentioned.</p> + +<p>The secret had been kept well, but not too well. +Some workers had divulged it to their friends. +Others of the prisoners had discovered that something +was going on, and had been let into the affair +on a pledge of secrecy. By the time the tunnel was +completed its existence was known to something +more than one hundred out of the eleven hundred +<a name="Page_303" id="Page_303"></a>prisoners. These were all placed on their word of +honor to give no hint of the enterprise.</p> + +<p>The night of February 8 was signalized by the +opening of the outward end of the tunnel. A passage +was dug upwards, and an opening made sufficiently +large to permit the worker to take a look +outward into the midnight air. What he saw gave +him a frightful shock. The distance had been miscalculated; +the opening was on the <i>wrong</i> side of +the fence; there in full sight was one of the sentinels, +pacing his beat with loaded musket.</p> + +<p>Here was a situation that needed nerve and alertness. +The protruded head was quickly withdrawn, +and the earth which had been removed rapidly +replaced, it being packed as tightly as possible from +below to prevent its falling in. Word of the perilous +error was sent back, and as the whisper passed from +ear to ear every heart throbbed with a nervous shock. +They had barely escaped losing the benefit of their +weeks of exhausting labor.</p> + +<p>The opening had been at the outward edge of the +fence. The tunnel was now run two feet farther, +and an opening again made. It was now on the +inside of the fence, and in a safe place, for the +stable adjoining the yard was disused.</p> + +<p>The evening of the 9th was that fixed upon for +flight. At a little after nine o'clock the exodus +began. Those in the secret made their way to the +cooking-room. The fireplace passage was opened, +and such was the haste to avail themselves of it that +the men almost struggled for precedence. Rules had +<a name="Page_304" id="Page_304"></a>been made, but no order could be kept. Silence +reigned, however. No voice was raised above a +whisper; every footstep was made as light as possible. +It had been decided that fifty men should +leave that night, and fifty the next, the prison clerk +being deceived at roll-call by an artifice which had +been practised more than once before, that of men +leaving one end of the line and regaining the other +unseen, to answer to the names of others. But the +risk of discovery was too great. Every man wanted +to be among the first. It proved impossible to restrain +the anxious prisoners.</p> + +<p>Down into the cellar passed a long line of descending +men, dropping to its floor in rapid succession. +Around the mouth of the tunnel a dense +crowd gathered. But here only one man was allowed +to pass at a time, on account of the bad air. The +noise made in passing through told those behind +how long the tunnel was occupied. The instant the +noise ceased another plunged in.</p> + +<p>The passage was no easy one. The tunnel was +little more than wide enough to contain a man's +body, and progress had to be made by kicking and +scrambling forward. Two or three minutes, however, +sufficed for the journey, the one who had last +emerged helping his companion to the upper air.</p> + +<p>Here was a carriage-way fronting southward, and +leading into Canal Street, which ran along the +Lynchburg Canal. Four guards paced along the +south side of the prison within plain view. The risk +was great. On emerging from the carriage-way the +<a name="Page_305" id="Page_305"></a>fugitives would be in full sight of these guards. But +the risk must be taken. Watching the street for a +moment in which it was comparatively clear, one by +one they passed out and walked deliberately along +the canal, in the direction away from the prison, like +ordinary passers. This dangerous space was crossed +with remarkable good fortune. If the guards +noticed them at all, they must have taken them for +ordinary citizens. The unusual number of passers, +on that retired street, nearly the whole night long, +does not seem to have attracted the attention of any +of the guards. One hundred and nine escaped in +all, yet not a man of them was challenged.</p> + +<p>Canal Street once left, the first breath of relief +was drawn. Those who early escaped soon found +themselves in well-lighted streets, many of the shops +still open, and numerous citizens and soldiers promenading. +No one took notice of the fugitives, who +strolled along the streets in small groups, laughing +and talking on indifferent subjects, and, with no +sign of haste, directing their steps towards the outskirts +of the city.</p> + +<p>As to what followed, there are almost as many +adventures to relate as there were persons escaped. +We shall confine ourselves to the narrative of one +of them, Captain Earle, from whose story the particulars +above given have been condensed. With +him was one companion, Captain Charles E. Rowan.</p> + +<p>They had provided themselves with a small quantity +of food, but had no definite plans. It quickly +occurred to them, however, that they had better +<a name="Page_306" id="Page_306"></a>make their way down the peninsula, towards Fortress +Monroe, as the nearest locality where Union +troops could probably be found. With the polar star +for guide they set out, having left the perilous precincts +of the city in their rear.</p> + +<p>To travel by night, to hide by day, was their +chosen plan. The end of their first night's journey +found them in the vicinity of a swamp, some five +miles from Richmond. Here, hid behind a screen of +brushwood and evergreen bushes, they spent the +long and anxious day, within hearing of the noises +of the camps around the city, but without discovery.</p> + +<p>A day had made a gratifying change in their situation. +The day before they had been prisoners, with +no apparent prospect of freedom for months. This +day they were free, even if in a far from agreeable +situation. Liberty solaced them for the weariness +of that day's anxious vigil. How long they would +remain free was the burning question of the hour. +They were surrounded with perils. Could they hope +to pass through them in safety? This only the +event could tell.</p> + +<p>The wintry cold was one of their difficulties. +Their meagre stock of food was another. They +divided this up into very small rations, with the +hope that they could make it last for six days. The +second night they moved in an easterly direction, +and near morning ventured to approach a small +cabin, which proved to be, as they had hoped, occupied +by a negro. He gave them directions as to their +course, and all the food he had,—a small piece of +pone bread.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307"></a>That day they suffered much, in their hiding +place, from the cold. That night, avoiding roads, +they made their way through swamp and thicket, +finding themselves in the morning chilled with wet +clothing and torn by briers. Near morning of the +third night they reached what seemed to be a +swamp. They concluded to rest on its borders till +dawn, and then pass through it. Sleep came to +them here. When they wakened it was full day, +and an agreeable surprise greeted their eyes. What +they supposed to be a swamp proved to be the +Chickahominy River. The prospect of meeting this +stream had given them much mental anxiety. Captain +Rowan could not swim. Captain Earle had no +desire to do so, in February. How it was to be +crossed had troubled them greatly. As they opened +their eyes now, the problem was solved. There lay +a fallen tree, neatly bridging the narrow stream! +In less than five minutes they were safely on the +other side of this dreaded obstacle, and with far +better prospects than they had dreamed of a few +hours before.</p> + +<p>By the end of the fourth night they found that +their six days' stock of food was exhausted, and +their strength almost gone. Their only hope of food +now lay in confiscating a chicken from the vicinity +of some farm-house, and eating it raw. For this +purpose they cautiously approached the out-buildings +of a farm-house. Here, while secretly scouting +for the desired chicken, they were discovered by a +negro. They had no need to fear him. There is no +<a name="Page_308" id="Page_308"></a>case on record of a negro betraying an escaped +prisoner into the hands of the enemy. The sympathy +of these dusky captives to slavery could be +safely counted upon, and many a fugitive owed to +them his safety from recapture.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you, gemmen," he cried, courteously. +"You's Yankee off'cers, 'scaped from prison. It's +all right wid me, gemmen. Come dis way; you's +got to be looked arter."</p> + +<p>The kindly sympathy of this dusky friend was so +evident that they followed him without a thought +of treachery. He led them to his cabin, where a +blazing fire in an old-fashioned fireplace quickly restored +that sense of the comfort of warmth which +they had for days lost.</p> + +<p>Several colored people were present, who surrounded +and questioned them with the warmest +sympathy. A guard was posted to prevent surprise, +and the old mammy of the family hastened to prepare +what seemed to them the most delicious meal +they had ever tasted. The corn-bread <i>pones</i> vanished +down their throats as fast as she could take +them from the hot ashes in which they were baked. +The cabbage, fried in a skillet, tasted like ambrosia. +The meat no game could surpass in flavor, and an +additional zest was added to it by their fancy that +it had been furnished by the slave-holder's pantry. +They had partaken of many sumptuous meals, but +nothing to equal that set before them on the hospitable +table of their dusky hosts. They were new +men, with new courage, when they at length set out +again, fully informed as to their route.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309"></a>On they went through the cold, following the +difficult paths which they chose in preference to +travelled roads, while the dogs,—for the peninsula +seemed to them to be principally peopled by dogs,—by +their unceasing chorus of barks, right, left, and +in front, kept them in a state of nervous exasperation. +Many times did they turn from their course +through fear of detection from these vociferous +guardians of the night.</p> + +<p>On the fifth day they were visited, in their place +of concealment, by a snow-storm. Their suffering +from cold now became so intolerable that they could +not remain at rest, and they resumed their route +about four o'clock. Two hours they went, and then, +to their complete discouragement, found themselves +back again at their starting-point, and cold, wet, +tired, and hungry into the bargain.</p> + +<p>As they stood there, expressing in very plain language +their opinion of Dame Fortune, a covered cart +approached. Taking it for granted that the driver +was a negro, they hailed him; but to their dismay +found that they had halted a white man.</p> + +<p>There was but one thing to do. They told him +that they were Confederate scouts, and asked him +for information about the Yankee outposts. A short +conference ensued, which ended in their discovering +that they were talking to a man of strong Union +sympathies, and as likely to befriend them as the +negroes. This was a hopeful discovery. They now +freely told him who they really were, and in return +received valuable information as to roads, being told +<a name="Page_310" id="Page_310"></a>in addition where they could find a negro family +who would give them food.</p> + +<p>"If you can keep out of the way of rebel scouts +for twenty-four hours more," he continued, "you +will very likely come across some of your own troops. +But you are on very dangerous ground. Here is +the scouting-place of both armies, and guerillas and +bushwackers are everywhere."</p> + +<p>Thanking him, and with hearts filled with new +hope, the wanderers started forward. At midnight +they reached the negro cabin to which they had been +directed, where, to their great relief, they obtained a +substantial meal of corn-bread, pork, and rye coffee, +and, what was quite as acceptable, a warming from +a bright fire. The friendly black warned them, as +their late informant had done, of the danger of the +ground they had yet to traverse.</p> + +<p>These warnings caused them to proceed very cautiously, +after leaving the hospitable cabin of their +sable entertainer. But they had not gone far before +they met an unexpected and vexatious obstacle, a +river or creek, the Diascon, as the negroes named +it. They crossed it at length, but not without great +trouble and serious loss of time.</p> + +<p>It was now the sixth night since their escape. +Hitherto Captain Rowan had been a model of +strength, perseverance, and judgment. Now these +qualities seemed suddenly to leave him. The terrible +strain, mental and physical, to which they had +been exposed, and their sufferings from cold, fatigue, +and hunger, produced their effect at last, and he +<a name="Page_311" id="Page_311"></a>became physically prostrate and mentally indifferent. +Captain Earle, who retained his energies, had +great difficulty in persuading him to proceed, and +before daybreak was obliged to let him stop and rest.</p> + +<p>When dawn appeared they found themselves in +an open country, affording poor opportunities for +concealment. They felt sure, however, that they +must be near the Union outposts. With these considerations +they concluded to make their journey +now by day, and in a road. In truth, Rowan had +lost all care as to how they went and what became +of them, and his companion's energy and decision +were on the decline.</p> + +<p>Onward they trudged, mile by mile, with keen +enjoyment of the highway after their bitter experience +of by-ways, and somewhat heedless of consequences, +though glad to perceive that no human +form was in sight. Nine o'clock came. Before them +the road curved sharply. They walked steadily +onward. But as they neared the curve there came +to their ears a most disquieting sound, the noise of +hoofs on the hard road-bed, the rattle of cavalry +equipments. A force of horsemen was evidently +approaching. Were they Union or Confederate? +Was freedom or renewed captivity before them? +They looked quickly to right and left. No opportunity +for concealment appeared. Nor was there a +moment's time for flight, for the sound of hoof-beats +was immediately followed by the appearance of +mounted and uniformed men, a cavalry squad, still +some hundreds of yards away, but riding towards +them at full gallop.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312"></a>The eyes of the fugitives looked wistfully and +anxiously towards them. Thank Heaven! they wore +the Union blue! Those guidons which rose high in +the air bore the Union colors! They were United +States cavalry! Safety was assured!</p> + +<p>In a minute more the rattling hoofs were close at +hand, the band of rescuers were around them; eager +questions, glad answers, heartfelt congratulations +filled the air. In a very few minutes the fugitives +were mounted and riding gladly back in the midst +of their new friends, to be banqueted, feasted, and +fêted, until every vestige of their hardships had been +worn away by human kindness.</p> + +<p>As to their feelings at this happy termination of +their heroic struggle for freedom, words cannot express +them. The weary days, the bitter disappointments, +the harsh treatment of prison life; the days +and nights of cold, hunger, and peril, wanderings +through swamps and thorny thickets, hopes and +despairs of flight; all were at an end, and now only +friends surrounded them, only congratulating and +commiserating voices met their ears. It was a feast +of joy never to be forgotten.</p> + +<p>A few words will finish. One hundred and nine +men had escaped. Of these, fifty-five reached the +Union lines. Fifty-four were captured and taken +back to prison. Some of the escaped officers, more +swift in motion or fortunate in route than the +others, reached the Union lines on their third day +from Richmond. Their report that others were on +the road bore good fruit. General Butler, then in +<a name="Page_313" id="Page_313"></a>command at Fortress Monroe, sent out, on alternate +days, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and the +First New York Rifles to patrol the country in +search of the escaping prisoners, with tall guidons +to attract their attention if they should be in concealment. +Many of the fugitives were thus rescued. +The adventures of two, as above given, must serve +for example of them all.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314"></a> +<a name="THE_SINKING_OF_THE_ALBEMARLE" id="THE_SINKING_OF_THE_ALBEMARLE"></a> +THE SINKING OF THE ALBEMARLE.</h2> + + +<p>Naval operations in the American Civil War +were particularly distinguished by the active building +of iron-clads. The North built and employed +them with marked success; the South, with marked +failure. With praiseworthy energy and at great cost +the Confederates produced iron-clad vessels of war +in Norfolk Harbor, on Roanoke River, in the Mississippi, +and elsewhere, yet, with the exception of the +one day's raid of ruin of the Merrimac in Hampton +Roads, their labor was almost in vain, their expensive +war-vessels went down in the engulfing +waters or went up in flame and smoke. Their efforts +in this direction were simply conspicuous examples +of non-success. We propose here to tell the tale of +disaster of the Albemarle, one of these iron-clads, +and the great deed of heroism which brought her +career to an untimely end.</p> + +<p>The Albemarle was built on the Roanoke River +in 1863. She was of light draught, but of considerable +length and width, her hull above the water-line +being covered with four inches of iron bars. Such +an armor would be like paper against the great guns +of to-day; then it served its purpose well. The competition +for effectiveness between rifled cannon and +armor plates had not yet begun.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315"></a>April, 1864, had arrived before this formidable +opponent of the Union blockading fleet was ready +for service. Then, one misty morning, down the +river she went, on her mission of death and destruction. +The opening of her career was promising. +She attacked the Union gunboats and fort at Plymouth, +near the mouth of the river, captured one of +the boats, sunk another, and aided in forcing the +fort to surrender, its garrison being taken prisoners. +It had been assailed at the same time by a strong +land force, and the next day Plymouth itself was +taken by the Confederate troops, with a heavy Union +loss in men and material.</p> + +<p>So far favoring fortune had attended the Albemarle. +Enlivened with success, on a morning in +May she steamed out into the deeper waters of Albemarle +Bay, confident on playing the same rôle with +the wooden vessels there that the Merrimac had +played in Hampton Roads. She failed in this laudable +enterprise. The Albemarle was not so formidable +as the Merrimac. The steamers of war which +she was to meet were more formidable than the +Congress and the Cumberland. She first encountered +the Sassacus, a vessel of powerful armament. +More agile than the iron-clad, the Sassacus played +round her, exchanging shots, and seeking a vulnerable +point. At length, under a full head of steam, +she dashed on the monster, striking a blow which +drove it bodily half under the water. Recovering +from the blow, the two vessels, almost side by side, +hurled 100-pound balls upon each other. Most of +<a name="Page_316" id="Page_316"></a>those of the Sassacus bounded from the mailed sides +of her antagonist, like hail from stone walls. But +three of them entered a port, and did sad work +within. In reply the Albemarle sent one of her +great bolts through a boiler of the Sassacus, filling +her with steam. So far the iron-clad had the best of +the game; but others of the fleet were now near at +hand; the balls which had entered her port had done +serious injury; she was no longer in fighting trim; +she turned and made the best of her way back to +Plymouth, firing as she fled.</p> + +<p>This ended her career for that summer. But repairs +were made, and she was put in fighting trim +again; another gunboat was building as a consort; +unless something were quickly done she would soon +be in Albemarle Sound again, with possibly a different +tale to tell from that of her first assault.</p> + +<p>At this critical juncture Lieutenant William B. +Cushing, a very young but a very bold officer, proposed +a daring plan; no less a one than to attack the +Albemarle at her wharf, explode a torpedo under +her hull, and send her, if possible, to the bottom of +the Roanoke. He proposed to use a swift steam-launch, +run up the stream at night, and assail the +iron-clad where she lay in fancied security. From +the bow of the launch protruded a long spar, loaded +at its end with a 100-pound dynamite cartridge. +The spar could be lowered by pulling one rope, the +cartridge detached by pulling another, and the +dynamite exploded by pulling a third.</p> + +<p>The proposed exploit was a highly perilous one. +<a name="Page_317" id="Page_317"></a>The Albemarle lay eight miles up the river. Plymouth +was garrisoned by several thousand soldiers, +and the banks of the stream were patrolled by sentinels +all the way down to the bay. It was more +than likely that none of the adventurers would live +to return. Yet Cushing and the crew of seven +daring men whom he selected were willing to take +the risk, and the naval commanders, to whom success +in such an enterprise promised the most valuable +results, agreed to let them go.</p> + +<p>It was a dark night in which the expedition set +out,—that of October 27, 1864. Up the stream +headed the little launch, with her crew of seven, and +towing two boats, each containing ten men, armed +with cutlasses, grenades, and revolvers. Silently +they proceeded, keeping to mid-stream, so as to +avoid alarming the sentinels on the banks. In this +success was attained; the eight miles were passed +and the front of the town reached without the Confederates +having an inkling of the disaster in store +for them.</p> + +<p>Reaching Plymouth, Lieutenant Cushing came to +a quick decision as to what had best be done. He +knew the town well. No alarm had been given. +He might land a party and take the Albemarle by +surprise. He could land his men on the lower wharf, +lead them stealthily through the dark streets, leap +with them upon the iron-clad, surprise the officers +and crew, and capture the vessel at her moorings. +It was an enterprise of frightful risk, yet Cushing +was just the man for it, and his men would follow +<a name="Page_318" id="Page_318"></a>wherever he should lead. A low order was given. +The launch turned and glided almost noiselessly +towards the wharf. But she was now only a short +distance from the Albemarle, on whose deck the +lookout was wide-awake.</p> + +<p>"What boat is that?" came a loud hail.</p> + +<p>No reply. The launch glided on.</p> + +<p>"What boat is that?" came the hail again, +sharper than before.</p> + +<p>"Cast off!" said Cushing, in a low tone. The +two boats were loosened and drifted away. The +plan of surprise was at an end. The vigilance of the +lookout had made it impossible. That of destruction +remained. The launch was turned again, and +moved once more towards the Albemarle.</p> + +<p>They were quickly so close that the hull of the +iron-clad loomed darkly above them. Upon that +vessel all was commotion. The unanswered hail +was followed by the springing of rattles, ringing of +bells, running of men, and shouting of orders. Muskets +were fired at random at the dimly seen black +object. Bullets whizzed past the devoted crew. +Lights began to flash here and there. A minute +before all had been rest and silence; now all was +noise, alarm, and commotion.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image319" id="image319"></a> +<a href="images/image319h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image319.jpg" + alt="SINKING OF THE ALBEMARLE." + title="SINKING OF THE ALBEMARLE." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">SINKING OF THE ALBEMARLE.</p> +</div> + +<p>All this did not disconcert the intrepid commander +of the launch. His main concern at that +moment was an unexpected obstacle he had discovered, +and which threatened to defeat his enterprise. +A raft of logs had been placed around the iron-clad +to protect her from any such attack. There she lay, +<a name="Page_319" id="Page_319"></a>not fifty feet away; but this seemingly insuperable +obstacle intervened.</p> + +<p>What was to be done? In emergencies like that +men think quickly and to the point. The raft must +be passed, or all was at an end. The logs had been +long in the water, and doubtless were slippery with +river slime. The launch might be run upon and +over them. Once inside the raft, it could never return. +No matter for that. He was there to sink +the Albemarle. The smaller contingency of losing +his own life was a matter to be left for an after-thought.</p> + +<p>This decision was reached in a moment's thought. +The noise above them increased. Men were running +and shouting, lights flashing, landsmen, startled by +the noise, hurrying to the river-bank. Without +an instant's delay the launch was wheeled round, +steamed rapidly into the stream until a good offing +was gained, turned again, and now drove straight +forward for the Albemarle with all the power of her +engines. As she came near bullets poured like hail +across her decks. One tore off the sole of Cushing's +shoe; another went through the back of his coat; +it was perilously close and hot work. The hail came +again:</p> + +<p>"What boat is that?"</p> + +<p>This time Lieutenant Cushing replied. His reply +was not in words, however, but in a howitzer load of +canister which drove across the Albemarle's deck. +The next minute the bow of the launch struck the +logs. As had been expected, the light craft slid up +<a name="Page_320" id="Page_320"></a>on their slippery surfaces, forcing them down into +the water. The end of the spar almost touched the +iron hull of the destined victim.</p> + +<p>The first rope was loosened. The spar, with its +load, dropped under water. The launch was still +gliding onward, and carrying the spar forward. The +second cord was pulled; the torpedo dropped from +the spar. At this moment a bullet cut across the +left palm of the gallant Cushing. As it did so he +pulled the third cord. The next instant a surging +column of water was raised, lifting the Albemarle +as though the great iron-clad were of feather weight. +At the same instant a cannon, its muzzle not fifteen +feet away, sent its charge rending through the timbers +of the launch.</p> + +<p>The Albemarle, lifted for a moment on the boiling +surge, settled down into the mud of her shallow anchorage, +never more to swim, with a great hole torn +in her bottom. The torpedo had done its work. +Cushing had earned his fame.</p> + +<p>"Surrender!" came a loud shout from Confederate +lungs.</p> + +<p>"Never!" shouted Cushing in reply. "Save +yourselves!" he said to his men.</p> + +<p>In an instant he had thrown off coat, shoes, sword, +and pistols, and plunged into the waters that rolled +darkly at his feet, and in which he had just dug a +grave for the Albemarle. His men sprung beside +him, and struck out boldly for the farther shore.</p> + +<p>All this had passed in far less time than it takes +to tell it. Little more than five minutes had passed +<a name="Page_321" id="Page_321"></a>since the first hail, and already the Albemarle was +a wreck, the launch destroyed, her crew swimming +for their lives, and bullets from deck and shore +pouring thickly across the dark stream.</p> + +<p>The incensed Confederates hastily manned boats +and pushed out into the stream. In a few minutes +they had captured most of the swimming crew. +One sank and was drowned. One reached the shore. +The gallant commander of the launch they failed to +find. They called his name,—they had learned it +from their prisoners,—but no answer came, and the +darkness veiled him from view. Had he gone to the +bottom? Such most of the searchers deemed to be +his fate.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the light of a blazing fire flashed +across the river from Plymouth wharf. It failed to +reveal any swimming forms. The impression became +general that the daring commander was drowned. +After some further search most of the boats returned, +deeming their work at an end.</p> + +<p>They had not sought far or fast enough. Cushing +had reached shore—on the Plymouth side—before +the fire was kindled. He was chilled and exhausted, +but he dared not stop to rest. Boats were still +patrolling the stream; parties of search might soon +be scouring the river-banks; the moments were precious, +he must hasten on.</p> + +<p>He found himself near the walls of a fort. On +its parapet, towering gloomily above him, a sentinel +could be seen, pacing steadily to and fro. The fugitive +lay almost under his eyes. A bushy swamp lay +<a name="Page_322" id="Page_322"></a>not far beyond, but to reach its shelter he must cross +an open space forty feet wide in full view of this +man. The sentinel walks away. Cushing makes a +dash for life. But not half the space is traversed +when his backward glancing eye sees the sentinel +about to turn. Down he goes on his back in the +rushes, trusting to their friendly shelter and the +gloom of the night to keep him from sight.</p> + +<p>As he lies there, slowly gaining breath after his +excited effort, four men—two of them officers—pass +so close that they almost tread on his extended form, +seeking him, but failing to see what lies nearly under +their feet. They pass on, talking of the night's +startling event. Cushing dares not rise again. Yet +the swamp must be gained, and speedily. Still flat +on his back, he digs his heels into the soft earth, and +pushes himself inch by inch through the rushes, +until, with a warm heart-throb of hope, he feels the +welcome dampness of the swamp.</p> + +<p>It proves to be no pleasant refuge. The mire is +too deep to walk in, while above it grow tangled +briers and thorny shrubs, through which he is able +to pass only as before, by lying on his back, and +pushing and pulling himself onward.</p> + +<p>The hours of the night passed. Day dawned. He +had made some progress, and was now at a safe distance +from the fort, but found himself still in the +midst of peril. Near where he lay a party of soldiers +were at work, engaged in planting obstructions +in the river, lest the Union fleet should follow its +daring pioneers to Plymouth, now that the Albe<a name="Page_323" id="Page_323"></a>marle +was sunk, and the chief naval defence of the +place gone.</p> + +<p>Just back from the river-bank, and not far from +where he lay, a cornfield lifted its yellowed plumes +into the air. Cushing managed to reach its friendly +shelter unobserved, and now, almost for the first +time since his escape, stood upright, and behind the +rustling rows made his way past the soldiers.</p> + +<p>To his alarm, as he came near the opposite side of +the field, he found himself face to face with a man +who glared at him in surprise. Well he might, for +the late trimly-dressed lieutenant was now a sorry +sight, covered from head to foot with swamp mud, +his clothes rent, and blood oozing from a hundred +scratches in his skin.</p> + +<p>He had no reason for alarm; the man was a +negro; the dusky face showed sympathy under its +surprise.</p> + +<p>"I am a Union soldier," said Cushing, feeling in +his heart that no slave would betray him.</p> + +<p>"One o' dem as was in de town last night?" asked +the negro.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Have you been there? Can you tell me +anything?"</p> + +<p>"No, massa; on'y I's been tole dat dar's pow'ful +bad work dar, an' de sojers is bilin' mad."</p> + +<p>Further words passed, in the end the negro agreeing +to go to the town, see for himself what harm had +been done, and bring back word. Cushing would +wait for him under shelter of the corn.</p> + +<p>The old negro set out on his errand, glad of the +<a name="Page_324" id="Page_324"></a>opportunity to help one of "Massa Linkum's sojers." +The lieutenant secreted himself as well as he could, +and waited. An hour passed. Then steps and the +rustling of the dry leaves of the corn-stalks were +heard. The fugitive peeped from his ambush. To +his joy he saw before him the smiling face of his +dusky messenger.</p> + +<p>"What news?" he demanded, stepping joyfully +forward.</p> + +<p>"Mighty good news, massa," said the negro, with +a laugh. "Dat big iron ship's got a hole in her +bottom big 'nough to drive a wagon in. She's deep +in de mud, 'longside de wharf, an' folks say she'll +neber git up ag'in."</p> + +<p>"Good! She's done for, then? My work is accomplished?—Now, +old man, tell me how I must go +to get back to the ships."</p> + +<p>The negro gave what directions he could, and the +fugitive took to the swamp again, after a grateful +good-by to his dusky friend and a warm "God-speed" +from the latter. It was into a thicket +of tangled shrubs that Lieutenant Cushing now +plunged, so dense that he could not see ten feet in +advance. But the sun was visible overhead and +served him as a guide. Hour by hour he dragged +himself painfully onward. At two o'clock in the +afternoon he found himself on the banks of a narrow +creek, a small affluent of the Roanoke.</p> + +<p>He crouched in the bushes on the creek-side, peering +warily before him. Voices reached his ears. +Across the stream he saw men. A minute's observa<a name="Page_325" id="Page_325"></a>tion +apprised him of the situation. The men he saw +to be a group of soldiers, seven in number, who had +just landed from a boat in the stream. As he +watched, they tied their boat to the root of a tree, +and then turned into a path that led upward. +Reaching a point at some distance from the river, +they stopped, sat down, and began to eat their dinner.</p> + +<p>Here was an opportunity, a desperate one, but +Cushing had grown ready for desperate chances. +He had had enough of wandering through mire and +thorns. Without hesitation he lowered himself +noiselessly into the water, swam across the stream, +untied the boat, pushed it cautiously from the bank, +and swam with it down the stream until far enough +away to be out of sight of its recent occupants. +Then he climbed into the boat and paddled away as +fast as possible.</p> + +<p>There was no sign of pursuit. The soldiers kept +unsuspiciously at their mid-day meal. The swamp-lined +creek-sides served well as a shelter from prying +eyes. For hours Cushing pursued his slow course. +The sun sank; darkness gathered; night came on. +At the same time the water widened around him; he +was on the surface of the Roanoke.</p> + +<p>Onward he paddled; the night crept on till midnight +was reached; for ten hours he had been at that +exhausting toil. But now before his eyes appeared +a welcome sight, the dark hull of a Union gunboat.</p> + +<p>"Ship ahoy!" came a loud hail from the exhausted +man.</p> + +<p>"Who goes there?" answered the lookout on the +gunboat.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326"></a>"A friend. Take me up."</p> + +<p>The gunboat was quickly in motion. This might +be a Confederate ruse, possibly a torpedo might have +been sent to blow them up; they were in dangerous +waters. Boats were quickly lowered, and rowed +towards the small object on the stream.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" came the cry, as they drew near.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Cushing, or what is left of me."</p> + +<p>"Cushing!" was the excited answer. "And the +Albemarle?"</p> + +<p>"Will never trouble a Union fleet again. She +rests in her grave on the muddy bottom of the +Roanoke."</p> + +<p>Loud cheers followed this stirring announcement. +The sailors bent to their oars, and quickly had the +gallant lieutenant on board. Their cheers were +heightened tenfold when the crew of the Valley +City heard what had been done. In truth, the exploit +of Lieutenant Cushing was one that for coolness, +daring, and success in the face of seemingly +insuperable obstacles has rarely been equalled in +history, and the destruction of the Albemarle ranks +with the most notable events in the history of war.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327"></a> +<a name="ALASKA_A_TREASURE_HOUSE_OF_GOLD_FURS_AND_FISHES" id="ALASKA_A_TREASURE_HOUSE_OF_GOLD_FURS_AND_FISHES"></a> +ALASKA, A TREASURE HOUSE OF GOLD, FURS, AND FISHES</h2> + +<p>In 1867, when the far-seeing Secretary Seward +purchased Alaska from the Russian government for +$7,200,000, there was an outcry of disapproval equal +to that made when Louisiana territory was purchased +from France in 1803. Many of the people +called the region "Seward's Folly" and said it +would produce nothing but icebergs and polar bears, +and General Benjamin F. Butler, representative +from Massachusetts, said in the House: "If we are +to pay this amount for Russia's friendship during +the war, then give her the $7,200,000 and tell her to +keep Alaska." Representative Washburn, of Wisconsin, +exclaimed: "I defy any man on the face +of the earth to produce any evidence that an ounce +of gold has ever been found in Alaska."</p> + +<p>To-day Alaska is yielding in gold $10,000,000 per +year; its fisheries are among the richest in the world, +including more than half the salmon yield of the +United States; its forests are of enormous value; its +fur-seal harvest is without a rival; its territory is +traversed by one of the greatest rivers of the world, +two thousand miles long and with more than a thousand +miles of navigable waters, and it promises to +become an important farming and stock-raising +region. As for extent, it is large enough to cover +<a name="Page_328" id="Page_328"></a>more than twenty of our States. In revenue it has +repaid the United States the original outlay and +several millions more; while, aside from its gold +product, its fisheries have netted $100,000,000 and +its furs $80,000,000 since its acquisition. Seward, +then, was wise in looking upon this purchase as the +greatest achievement of his life, though he truly said +that it would take the country a generation to find +out Alaska's value.</p> + +<p>The most dramatic and interesting portion of the +story of Alaska is its gold-mining enterprise, and +it is of this, therefore, that we propose to speak. +The discovery of placer gold deposits in British +Columbia led naturally to the surmise that this +precious metal might be found farther northward, +and as early as 1880 wandering gold-hunters had +made their way over the passes from Cassiar or +inward from the coast and were trying the gravel +bars of tributaries of the Yukon, finding the yellow +metal at several places.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image328" id="image328"></a> +<a href="images/image328h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image328.jpg" + alt="MUIR GLACIER IN ALASKA." + title="MUIR GLACIER IN ALASKA." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">MUIR GLACIER IN ALASKA.</p> +</div> + +<p>The first important find along the Yukon was +made on Stewart River in 1885, about $100,000 +being taken out in two summers. The next year a +good find was made at Forty-Mile Creek, finds being +made later on Sixty-Mile Creek, Birch Creek, and +other streams. On Birch Creek arose Circle City, +named from its proximity to the Arctic circle, and +growing into a well-built and well-conducted little +town.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile a valuable find had been made on +Douglas Island, one of the long chain of islands that +<a name="Page_329" id="Page_329"></a>bound the western coast line, and this has since developed +into one of the richest mines in the world. +It is not a placer mine, however, but a quartz mine, +one needing capital for its development and with no +charms for the ordinary gold-seeker. The gold is +found in a friable and easily worked rock, enabling +low-grade ores to be handled at a profit, and to-day +fifteen hundred stamps are busy and the mines are +highly profitable.</p> + +<p>The placer miners, however, have no use for gold +that rests in quartz veins and has to be obtained by +the aid of costly stamping mills. The gold they +seek is that on which nature has done the work of +stamping, by breaking up the original veins into +sands and gravels, with which the freed gold is +mixed in condition to be obtained by a simple process +of washing. The wandering miners thus prospected +Alaska, following the long course of the +Yukon and trying its tributary streams, many of +them making a living, a few of them acquiring +wealth, but none of their finds attracting the attention +of the world, which scarcely knew that gold-seekers +were at work in this remote and almost +unknown region.</p> + +<p>Thus it went on until 1897, when on July 16 a +party of miners arrived in San Francisco from the +upper Yukon with a large quantity of gold in +nuggets and dust and a story to tell that deeply +stirred that old land of gold. On the 17th another +steamer put into Seattle with more miners and +$800,000 in gold dust, nearly all of it the outcome of +<a name="Page_330" id="Page_330"></a>a winter's work on a small stream known as the +Klondike, entering the Yukon about fifty miles +above Forty-Mile Creek.</p> + +<p>The discovery of this rich placer region was made +in the autumn of 1896 by an Illinois man named +George McCormick, who, in the intervals of salmon +fishing, tried his hand at prospecting, and on Bonanzo +Creek, a tributary of the Klondike, was surprised +and overjoyed to find gold in a profusion +never before dreamed of in the Alaskan region. The +news of the find spread rapidly through Alaska and +before winter set in the old diggings were largely +deserted, a swarm of eager miners poured into the +Klondike region, and the frozen earth was torn and +rent in their eagerness to reach its yellow treasures.</p> + +<p>The news of the discovery spread as far and fast +as the telegraph could carry it. The richness of +the find surpassed anything ever before found and +the whole country was agog. The stories of wonderful +fortunes made by miners were testified to by a +display of nuggets and sacks of shining gold in +stores and hotels, the find of one man being shown +in a San Francisco shop window in the shape of +one hundred and thirty thousand dollars worth of +gold.</p> + +<p>The old gold-fever broke out again as an epidemic. +Such a stampede as took place had never before been +seen. The stream of picturesque humanity that +poured through Seattle and on to the golden north +surpassed the palmy days of '49 when California +opened its caves of Aladdin. Every steamer that +<a name="Page_331" id="Page_331"></a>could be made use of was booked to its full capacity, +while many ardent gold-seekers were turned away. +Every passenger and every pound of cargo that +could be taken on these steamers was loaded and +the hegira was almost instantly in full blast.</p> + +<p>As it proved, the new find was in Canadian territory, +a few miles east of the Alaskan boundary, but +the flood of men that set in was mainly American. +Many threw up good positions or mortgaged their +homes for funds to join the mad migration, oblivious +in most cases of the fact that they were setting out +to encounter hardships and arctic extremes of temperature +for which their home life had utterly unfitted +them. Warnings were published that those +who joined the pioneer flood faced starvation or +death by freezing or hardship, but the tide was on +and could not be turned, and before the autumn had +far advanced thousands had landed at the mushroom +settlements of Skagway and Dyea, laden with the +effects they had brought with them and proposing +to fight their way against nature's obstacles over the +difficult mountain passes and along the little less +difficult lakes and streams to the promised land of +gold. A village of log houses and tents, known as +Dawson, had sprung up at the mouth of the Klondike, +and this was the mecca towards which the +great pilgrimage set.</p> + +<p>The struggle inland of the first comers was a +frightful one. No roads or pack-trails existed over +the rough and lofty passes of the coast range of +mountains, and it was killing work to transport the +<a name="Page_332" id="Page_332"></a>many tons of equipments and provisions over the +nearly impassable Chilkoot and White Passes. For +those who came too late in the season it was quite +impassable, the trails and rivers were stopped by +snow and ice, and numbers had to endure a long and +miserable winter in the primitive coast settlements +or straggle back to civilization.</p> + +<p>The terrors of that first year's battle with the unbroken +passes are indescribable. Thousands of dead +pack-horses marked the way. And the mountains +once crossed and the waters reached new troubles +arose. Boats had to be built for the long reach of +navigation down the chain of lakes and the Yukon—many +having brought the necessary boat timbers +with them. Six hundred miles of waterways were to +be traversed. On some of the short streams connecting +the lakes there were dangerous rapids to be run, +in which many lost their goods and some their lives. +The early winter added ice to the difficulties of the +way and the Yukon section of the trip was made by +the later comers through miles of drift ice, grinding +and ploughing its way to the peril of the boats, or +water travel was checked by the final closing of the +stream for the winter, leaving no resource but a +long sledging journey over the snow.</p> + +<p>Those who took the long voyage to the mouth of +the Yukon and journeyed by steamer up that stream +had their difficulties with ice and current, and it was +not uncommon for them to be frozen in, leaving +them the sole expedient of the dog sled, if they +elected to proceed to the diggings without their +supplies.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333"></a>Dawson once reached, the trouble and hardship +were by no means at an end. Having penetrated a +total wilderness in an arctic climate, borne on by +dreams of sudden fortune, the enthusiastic treasure-seekers +found new difficulties awaiting them. There +was no easy task of digging and panning, as in more +favored climes. Winter had locked the golden +treasures with its strongest fetters. The ground +was everywhere frozen into the firmness of rock. In +midsummer it thawed no more than three feet down, +and eternal frost reigned below.</p> + +<p>To reach the gold-bearing gravels the miners had +to build fires on the frozen surface and keep these +going for twenty-four hours. This would soften the +soil to the depth of some six inches. This thrown +out, new fires had to be kindled, and thus laboriously +the miners burned their way down to the gold-bearing +gravel, usually at a depth of fifteen feet. Then +other fires were built at the bottom and tunnels +made through the five feet or more of "pay-dirt," +which was dug out and piled up to await the coming +of flowing water in the spring, when the gold might +be washed out in the rockers and sluices employed.</p> + +<p>As may be seen, the buried treasures of these +gravel beds were to be won in these pioneer years +only by dint of exhausting labor and frightful hardship. +They would never have been found at all had +not the bars and shores of the streams yielded gold +at the surface level. Yet the extraordinary richness +of these gravels, from which as much as $50,000 +might be obtained as the result of a winter's work, +<a name="Page_334" id="Page_334"></a>excited men's imaginations to the utmost, and the +stream of gold-seekers continued year after year +until Dawson grew to be a well-built and populous +city and the yearly output of the Klondike mines +amounted to more than $16,000,000.</p> + +<p>The difficulty in reaching the mines grew less year +by year. As early as 1898 a railway was begun +across the White Pass. It now extends from Skagway +more than a hundred miles inland, the lakes +and streams being traversed by steamers, so that the +purgatory of the early prospectors has been converted +into the "broad and easy way" of the later +sinners. The old method of burning into the frozen +soil has also been improved on, steam being now used +instead of fire and the pay-dirt reached much more +rapidly and cheaply by its aid.</p> + +<p>The Klondike region, though largely prospected +and worked by Americans, is not in Alaska, Dawson +lying sixty miles east of the border. The streams +of Alaska itself, so far as they have yet been worked, +are far less promising, and yet Alaska has a golden +treasure house of its own that may yet prove as +prolific as the Klondike itself.</p> + +<p>This is at Nome, on the shores of Bering Sea, +about twenty-five degrees of longitude nearly due +west from Dawson, and a hundred and fifty miles +north of the mouth of the Yukon. Here the sands +of the sea itself and of its bordering shores have +proven splendid gold bearers and have attracted a +large population to that inhospitable region, in latitude +sixty-five degrees north; here has grown up a +<a name="Page_335" id="Page_335"></a>city containing 25,000 inhabitants, and here may be +seen the most northerly railroad in the world.</p> + +<p>In 1898 a soldier, in digging a well on the beach +at Nome, saw in the sands thrown up that alluring +yellow glint which has led so many men to fortune +and so many to death. The story of his find came to +the ears of an old prospector from Idaho, who, too +ill to go inland, was stranded in the military station +of Nome. Spade and pan were at once put to work +and in twenty days the fortunate invalid found himself +worth $3000 in gold.</p> + +<p>At Nome the gold was first found in the beach +sands and even in the sands of the sea adjoining the +beach, old Neptune being forced to yield part of the +treasures he had taken to himself. Later, the bench +of higher land stretching back from the beach and +the sides of the down-flowing creeks were found to +be gold-bearing, the bench gravels being from forty +to eighty feet thick, with gold throughout. A +heavy growth of moss covers this coastal plain, +under which lie the frozen gravels, which are softened +by the use of steam and thus forced to give up +their previous freight. That is all we need say +about the gold product of Alaska, further than to +sum up that the territory yields about $10,000,000 +per year, or with the Klondike about $25,000,000, +these equalling nearly one-third the total production +of the United States. Here is a fine showing for a +region once deemed worthless.</p> + +<p>Gold is an alluring subject, but Alaska has other +sources of wealth which enormously exceed its +<a name="Page_336" id="Page_336"></a>golden sands in value. We have already spoken of +the rich products of its fisheries and furs. The +former include several species of salmon, which the +Yukon yields in vast numbers; the latter embrace, +in addition to the usual fur-bearing animals, the +valuable fur-seal of the Aleutian Islands, a species +found nowhere else. To these sources of wealth may +be added the vast forests of valuable timber, especially +of spruce, hemlock, red and yellow cedar, +which are likely to become of great value in the +growing extermination of the home forests of the +United States.</p> + +<p>Alaska also presents excellent opportunities in its +coast districts for agriculture, most of the hardy +vegetables and cereals here yielding good crops. +But a more valuable outlook for the farmer appears +to lie in the grazing opportunities of the land. In +some localities along the south coast the grasses grow +in splendid luxuriance, much of the grass being six +feet high. On the higher elevations and in exposed +places the grass is often too low for hay making +but is admirable for grazing, the cattle that eat it +growing very fat. Of these grass lands there are +about 10,000 square miles, of which more than half +can be utilized.</p> + +<p>Stock raising, then, is likely to become a leading +industry, and especially dairying, there being more +meat than is needed by the sparse population. +There are admirable dairy sites on the islands and +mainland. The reindeer, recently introduced, are +likely to prove invaluable to the natives, supplanting +<a name="Page_337" id="Page_337"></a>in great measure the dog for transportation purposes, +and supplying also food and clothing. Reindeer +milk makes excellent cheese, and in a few +years there may be deer-meat for sale outside.</p> + +<p>Such is the story of Alaska. It occupies much +the same position on the west coast of America as +Norway does on that of Europe, but has four times +as wide a habitable area as Norway and a milder +climate on its south coast lands. Therefore, as Norway +sustains a population of 2,240,000, there is no +special reason why Alaska may not yet possess a +population of 3,000,000 or 4,000,000 and take rank +as one of the important States of the American +Union.</p> + + + +<hr class="major" /> +<h2><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338"></a> +<a name="HOW_HAWAII_LOST_ITS_QUEEN_AND_ENTERED_THE_UNITED_STATES" id="HOW_HAWAII_LOST_ITS_QUEEN_AND_ENTERED_THE_UNITED_STATES"></a> +HOW HAWAII LOST ITS QUEEN AND ENTERED THE UNITED STATES</h2> + + +<p>Up to the year 1898 the United States was confined +to the continent of North America. In that +year it made a great stride outward over the oceans, +adding to its dominion the island of Porto Rico in +the West India waters and the archipelagoes of the +Philippine and Hawaiian Islands in the far Pacific. +Porto Rico and the Philippines were added as a +result of the war with Spain. As to how Hawaii +was acquired it is our purpose here to tell.</p> + +<p>Midway in the North Pacific lies this interesting +group of islands, first made known to the world by +Captain Cook, the famous English discoverer, in +1778, and annexed to the United States one hundred +and twenty years later. Before telling the story of +their acquisition a few words as to their prior history +will he in place.</p> + +<p>Called by Captain Cook the Sandwich Islands, +after the English Earl of Sandwich, they afterwards +became known as the Hawaiian Islands, from the +native name of the largest island of the group, and +are now collectively known as Hawaii in their new +position as a Territory of the United States.</p> + +<p>When Captain Cook visited this locality he found +the islands inhabited by a friendly, kind-hearted +<a name="Page_339" id="Page_339"></a>people, disposed to receive their visitors in a hospitable +spirit. But, in the usual way of sailors and +discoverers dealing with the primitive races, quarrels +soon developed, some of the natives were shot, +one of them by Cook himself, and in the fight that +followed the great sailor and discoverer lost his life.</p> + +<p>At that time each of the islands was governed by +a chief, or king if we may call him so, who had +absolute authority over his people. Greatest among +them was Kamehameha, heir to the throne of +Hawaii, who was present when Captain Cook was +killed. Bold and ambitious and invested by nature +with political genius, this chief conceived the idea +of making himself master of all the islands and subjecting +their chiefs to his rule.</p> + +<p>A shrewd and able man, he was quick to perceive +that the strangers who soon began to visit the +islands were far superior to the natives in arms and +ability and he decided to use them for his ends. In +a fight with some American fur traders a schooner, +the "Fair American," was taken by the islanders, +and two Americans, Isaac Davis and John Young, +were made prisoners. With them the new chief +obtained the cannon, muskets and ammunition of +the "Fair American." Thus equipped, the Napoleon +of Hawaii set out on his career of conquest.</p> + +<p>Kindly treatment made the two Americans, Davis +and Young, his faithful friends and subjects, and +they proved his mainstay in the work of conquest. +It was no easy matter, even with his cannon and +muskets. The chiefs of the other islands resisted +<a name="Page_340" id="Page_340"></a>him fiercely, and it took many years, with all the +stern will and unyielding perseverance of Kamehameha +and the ability and courage of his two able +lieutenants, to subdue them all. Davis and Young +were amply rewarded, with honors and lands, for +their services, and some of their descendants still +dwell on the islands.</p> + +<p>While this work of conquest was going on many +vessels visited the islands, missionaries made their +way thither, Christianity was introduced and +idolatry abolished, and many of the arts of civilization +found their way inward. Then settlers other +than missionaries came, many of them from America, +and a white population was added to the aboriginal. +Sugar-cane grew in abundance on the islands +and sugar-mills were introduced. Other industries +were established. The great fertility of the islands +attracted speculators, the lands rose in value, and +great fortunes were made. Such is, briefly, the industrial +history of these islands.</p> + +<div class="ctr"> +<a name="image340" id="image340"></a> +<a href="images/image340h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image340.jpg" + alt="A NATIVE GRASS HUT, HAWAII." + title="A NATIVE GRASS HUT, HAWAII." + /> +</a> +<p class="caption">A NATIVE GRASS HUT, HAWAII.</p> +</div> + +<p>The political history is not without its interest. +Five kings of the name of Kamehameha reigned in +succession. Of these, Kamehameha III., under +American advice, gave up his absolute rule, founded +a constitutional government and distributed the +lands among the people. After the Kamehamehas +came King Lunalio, who ruled but one year, and +Kalakaua, who ruled from 1874 to 1891 and showed +such a disposition to return to absolutism that the +people were in constant dread for their liberties and +lands. It was only by a revolt of the people that +<a name="Page_341" id="Page_341"></a>they regained their rights, forcing him to grant +them a new constitution and their former liberties +and privileges.</p> + +<p>The next and last monarch of Hawaii was a +woman, Liliuokalani, the sister of Kalakaua. She +was the wife of an Englishman, Mr. J.O. Dominis, +and on a visit to London had been entertained by +Queen Victoria. Her rearing and education had +been under the influence of American missionaries, +and the whites of the islands, who had been in constant +fear of the late king, hailed her accession to +the throne with joy, with the expectation that they +would have in her a good friend. They soon found +themselves disappointed.</p> + +<p>The extravagance and ill rule of Kalakaua had +left the country in a wretched state. It was deeply +in debt and the much needed public improvements +were at a standstill. The country had long been +divided between two parties, the missionary and the +anti-missionary, the former seeking to save the +natives from vice and degradation, the latter encouraging +such vicious practices as lotteries and opium +sales for their personal benefit.</p> + +<p>Under Kalakaua these ill weeds had gained full +growth and the new queen soon showed a disposition +to encourage them. Her whole nature seemed to +change, her former friends were cast aside and new +favorites adopted, and though she had a personal +income of about $70,000, it was far from sufficing +for her needs.</p> + +<p>To add to her income the agents of the Louisiana +<a name="Page_342" id="Page_342"></a>Lottery were encouraged and the opium smugglers +found little interference with their nefarious +traffic, while the frequent changes of the queen's +ministers kept the people in a state of doubt and +uneasiness.</p> + +<p>At what was called the long term of the legislature +laws were passed favoring the lottery and the opium +dealers. The session was protracted until the +grinding season for the sugar-cane, when a number +of the best members were obliged to return to their +plantations, and in their absence the lottery and +opium bills were rushed through.</p> + +<p>Many of the Christian ladies of Honolulu now +called on the queen and implored her to veto this pernicious +legislation, which would turn their country +into a den of gambling and infamy. She wept with +them over the situation and the good ladies knelt +and prayed that God would help their queen in the +terrible ordeal before her. They left the palace feeling +sure that the country was safe from the dread +affliction—an hour later the queen signed both bills +and they became laws.</p> + +<p>The passage of these bills created intense indignation. +All felt that it was a piece of treachery and +fraud, those who gave the queen any credit for good +intentions looking upon her as weak and vacillating +and utterly under the influence of bad advisers.</p> + +<p>As yet, however, no thought of revolution had +arisen. It was imagined that the worst stage had +been reached. But when the announcement was +made the next day that the queen was about to de<a name="Page_343" id="Page_343"></a>clare +a new constitution the most vivid dread and +alarm were aroused. Feeling now secure of a revenue +from the proceeds of the lottery and the opium +trade, Queen Liliuokalani no longer hesitated to +show her hand. The proposed new constitution was +a scheme for a return to absolute monarchy, one +under which every white man on the islands, unless +married to a Hawaiian woman, would be deprived +of the right to vote.</p> + +<p>The act was a fatal one to her reign. It precipitated +a revolution which quickly brought her queenship +to an end. The steps which led to this result +are well worth relating.</p> + +<p>The ceremony of proroguing the legislature ended, +the queen returned to the palace with the purpose of +immediately proclaiming the new constitution. In +the procession to the palace the native society called +the "Hui Kalaiaina" marched in a double line, its +president carrying a large package containing the +constitution. A throng of Hawaiians surrounded +the palace gates and filled the grounds near the +front entrance to the building, the queen's guard +being drawn up under arms.</p> + +<p>In the throne room the native society which had +escorted the queen ranged themselves in regular +lines, their president, Alapai, having in his hand an +address which he proposed to deliver. Most of the +native members of the legislature were also present, +some members of the diplomatic corps being with +them.</p> + +<p>While they waited, the cabinet was assembled in +<a name="Page_344" id="Page_344"></a>the blue room, to which they had been summoned +by the queen. Here a striking scene took place. +Liliuokalani placed before them a copy of the new +constitution and bade them sign it, saying that +she proposed to promulgate it at once. She met +with an outspoken opposition.</p> + +<p>"Your Majesty, we have not read that constitution," +said Mr. Parker, Secretary of Foreign Affairs. +"And before we read it we must advise you that +this is a revolutionary act. It cannot be done."</p> + +<p>An angry reply came from the queen, and an animated +discussion followed, in which the cabinet +officials said that a meeting had just been held with +the foreign representatives and that if she persisted +there was danger of an insurrection.</p> + +<p>"It is your doing," she replied. "I would not +have undertaken this step if you had not encouraged +me to do so. You have led me to the brink of a +precipice and are now leaving me to take the leap +alone. Why not give the people this constitution? +You need have no fear. I will bear the brunt of all +the blame afterwards."</p> + +<p>The cabinet stood firm, Mr. Peterson, the Attorney +General, repeating:</p> + +<p>"We have not read the constitution."</p> + +<p>"How dare you say that," she exclaimed, "when +you have had it in your possession for a month."</p> + +<p>The dispute grew more violent as it went on. +The cabinet declined to resign when asked by her to +do so, whereupon she threatened that if they would +not accede to her wishes she would go to the palace +<a name="Page_345" id="Page_345"></a>door and tell the mob outside that she wished to give +them a new constitution but that her ministers had +prevented her from doing so.</p> + +<p>At this threat three of the ministers left the room +and escaped from the building. They remembered +the fate of certain representatives who fell into the +hands of a Hawaiian mob in 1874. Mr. Parker +alone had the courage to remain. He feared that +if the queen were left alone she would sign the +instrument herself, and proclaim it to the people, +telling them that her cabinet refused to comply with +her wishes and seeking to rouse against them the +wrath of the unthinking mob, whose only idea of the +situation was that the white men were opposing +their queen.</p> + +<p>The cabinet stood between two fires, that of the +supporters of the queen on the one hand and that +of the white people of Honolulu on the other. The +report of the fleeing members raised the excitement +of the latter to the boiling pitch. A Committee of +Safety was at once organized, and held its first +meeting with closed doors.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said a member of this committee, +"we are brought face to face with this question; +what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>The discussion ended in a motion by the Hon. A.L. +Thurston, to the effect that "preliminary steps be +taken at once to form a provisional government, +with a view to annexation to the United States of +America."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile a sub-committee had waited on the +<a name="Page_346" id="Page_346"></a>United States Minister, Mr. John L. Stevens, asking +him to give them the support of the United States +troops on board the "Boston."</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," he replied, "I have no authority to +involve the United States Government in your revolution. +I will request to have troops landed to +protect American life and property, but for no other +purpose."</p> + +<p>Left to their own resources, the revolutionary +party determined to go on with the enterprise, +even if their own lives should be lost in the effort to +prevent the tyranny of the queen. The Committee +of Safety collected and stored arms in convenient +places, finally taking all these arms to the barracks +of the committee.</p> + +<p>This brought about the first collision. It was +shortly after noon on January 17, 1893, that three +of the revolutionists, John Good, Edwin Benner and +Edward Parris, with a man named Fritz, were +taking some arms in a wagon to the barracks. A +policeman, who had been watching the store from +which the arms were taken, seized the bridle of the +horse and cried:</p> + +<p>"Surrender."</p> + +<p>"What shall I do?" asked Benner.</p> + +<p>"Go on!" roared Good.</p> + +<p>Benner made a cut at the policeman with his whip +and tried to drive on. The man let go the bridle +and blew his whistle, bringing two other policemen +quickly to his aid. One tried to climb into the front +of the wagon, but was knocked senseless by Benner, +<a name="Page_347" id="Page_347"></a>while the other, who attacked in the rear, was +roughly handled by Parris and Fritz.</p> + +<p>The wagon now drove on, but got entangled in a +block of two street cars and a truck. Other policemen +came running up and a fight ensued, one of the +officers putting his hand into his pocket as if to draw +a weapon.</p> + +<p>"Look out, he is going to shoot," cried a voice +from one of the cars.</p> + +<p>Good instantly drew his pistol, and crying, +"Benner, it's life or death; if we must, we must," +he fired.</p> + +<p>The policeman fell, with a ball in his shoulder. +The wagon by this time had got loose from the +block and was driven furiously away, reaching the +barracks without further trouble.</p> + +<p>That wounded policeman constituted the sole list +of dead and wounded in the revolution. Men were +rapidly gathering about the barracks, two companies +of armed men soon marched up, and a proclamation +was read to the following effect:</p> + +<p>"The Hawaiian monarchical system of government +is hereby abrogated.</p> + +<p>"A provisional government for the control and +management of public affairs and the protection of +the public is hereby established, to exist until terms +of union with the United States of America have +been negotiated and agreed upon."</p> + +<p>These were the essential clauses of the proclamation +that overthrew the Hawaiian government, the +armed insurgents now marching to the palace, where +<a name="Page_348" id="Page_348"></a>they found no one but a highly indignant woman, +the queen, deserted by all and in a violent state of +excitement. Her soldiers, who were in the police +station, made no effort to help her, and the only +thing needed to complete the work of the revolution +was the capture of this station. This was done +without a blow being struck and the revolution was +complete. In this easy way a government more +than a century old was overturned and a new one +installed in its place.</p> + +<p>But the end was not yet. The United States had +still to be heard from. Minister Stevens and Captain +Wiltse of the "Boston" had landed troops to +protect the interests of American citizens and from +this incident trouble arose. The revolution in +Hawaii took place January 17, 1893, when President +Harrison, then in office, had little more than +six weeks to serve. Harrison favored annexation of +the new ocean republic, a treaty was prepared and +sent to the Senate, but before it could be acted upon +the 4th of March arrived and a new man, with new +views, came in to fill the Presidential chair.</p> + +<p>President Cleveland's views were startlingly new. +He believed that the success of the revolution was +due to the act of Minister Stevens and Captain +Wiltse in landing troops, that the queen had been +illegally removed, and sent the Hon. Albert S. Willis +to Honolulu to unseat President Dole of the new +republic and restore Queen Liliuokalani to the +throne.</p> + +<p>This would undoubtedly have been done but for +<a name="Page_349" id="Page_349"></a>the dethroned queen herself, who showed a sanguinary +spirit that put poor Mr. Willis, a man of +kindly nature and humane sympathies, in an embarrassing +situation. The President expected the +queen, if restored, to show a spirit of forgiveness to +the revolutionists and his agent was decidedly taken +aback by her answers to his questions.</p> + +<p>"Should you be restored to the throne," he asked, +"would you grant full amnesty as to life and property +to all those persons who have been or who are +now in the provisional government?"</p> + +<p>The queen's answer, slowly and hesitatingly given, +was:</p> + +<p>"There are certain laws of my government by +which I shall abide. My decision would be, as the +law directs, that such persons should be beheaded +and their property confiscated."</p> + +<p>Here was a mediæval decision with a vengeance. +In spite of all that Willis could plead, the savagely +inclined queen stuck to her ultimatum. The utmost +she would yield was that these persons "must be +exiled or otherwise punished, and their property +confiscated."</p> + +<p>The tidings of this ultimatum put President +Cleveland in an awkward dilemma. The beheading +idea was too much for him and the affair dragged +on until the following December, when the ex-queen +generously consented to let Dole and his friends +keep their heads, on condition of leaving the country +and losing their property. Finally, when told that +she could not have the throne on any such condi<a name="Page_350" id="Page_350"></a>tions, +she experienced a change of heart and agreed +to grant full amnesty.</p> + +<p>When news of what was in view reached Honolulu +there was intense excitement. It was expected that +marines would be landed from the warship "Philadelphia" +and "Adams" to restore the queen and a +determination to resist them arose. The capital was +entrenched with sand-bag breastworks, the batteries +were manned and armed, and men were stationed +to fight. As for President Dole and his cabinet, +they were in a quandary. It was finally decided to +make only a show of opposition to the landing of +the marines, but after they had restored the queen +and retired, to capture her again and resume business +as a republic.</p> + +<p>Their alarm had no real foundation. There had +never been an intention to land the marines. The +President knew well that he had no authority to +land marines for such a purpose, and in his message +referred the whole matter to Congress—where it +slept.</p> + +<p>Yet the ex-queen and her supporters did not sleep. +Finding that there was no hope of bringing the +United States into the squabble, they organized a +counter-revolution of their own, smuggled arms into +the country, and in January, 1895, the new insurrection +broke out. Great secrecy was maintained. +The night of Sunday, January 5, was fixed for the +outbreak. In the evening President Dole and his +cabinet and many other officials of the republic +would be at the service in the Central Union Church +<a name="Page_351" id="Page_351"></a>and it would be easy to blow up the whole government +with a bomb.</p> + +<p>Unluckily for the conspirators, their first capture +was that of some whiskey, and inspired by this they +began celebrating their victory in advance. Yelling +and shooting on Sunday afternoon alarmed the +authorities and suspicion of something wrong was +aroused. An attempt to search a suspected house +for arms led to a fight in which one man was killed +and others wounded. News of the insurrection were +taken to the church and whispered to the members +of the National Guard and the government, who +slipped quietly out. The pastor, oblivious to this +circumstance, went on with his sermon, but uneasiness +arose in the congregation, and when at last the +clatter of cavalry and the roll of artillery were heard +passing the church all order was at an end. The +worshippers rushed into the street in a mass, the +preacher following. Within ten minutes a state of +peace had been changed into one of war.</p> + +<p>The most intense excitement prevailed. No one +knew anything of the numbers or location of the +enemy. They were at length found, in large force, +in the hollow basin or crater of Diamond Head, so +strongly posted that they could not be dislodged +from the side of the land. A tug was therefore sent, +with a howitzer, to shell them from the sea, while a +fierce land attack was kept up, and before night on +Monday they were driven out of their stronghold +and in full flight.</p> + +<p>Another fight took place at Punchbowl Hill, in +<a name="Page_352" id="Page_352"></a>the rear of Honolulu, lasting an hour, though with +little loss. Tuesday was spent in searching for the +enemy and on Wednesday another sharp fight took +place, they being again defeated. Before the end +of the week the affair was at an end, and the ex-queen +arrested as one of the conspirators. Her +premises were found to be a regular magazine of +arms and artillery.</p> + +<p>Lilioukalani now found Hawaii too hot to hold +her and sought a new home in the United States, +and the republic went on peaceably until 1898, when, +the war with Spain then being in progress and a new +President in the chair, a new and successful effort +for its annexation was made. The bill for its admission +was signed by President McKinley on July +7, and the Hawaiian group became an outlying possession +of the United States. It was made an +American Territory in 1900.</p> + +<div class="ctr">THE END.</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Historic Tales, Vol. 1 (of 15), by Charles Morris + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIC TALES, VOL. 1 (OF 15) *** + +***** This file should be named 16298-h.htm or 16298-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/2/9/16298/ + +Produced by David Kline, David Cortesi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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