CHAPTER IX.

Jesuit missionaries mischievous. Ralle. His flight. Indian devastations. Indians take 17 vessels. Expedition to Penobscot. Jordan's artifice. Indians cruise. Female exploit. Norridgewack taken. Ralle killed. Bounty on scalps. Capt. Lovewell. His success. His death. Battle at Ossapy pond. Peace in 1725.

WHILE very warm disputes between the Governor and the House of Representatives were agitated in Massachusetts, which in the issue were to separate the colonies from the mother country, the frontiers began once more to be distressed by the irruptions of the savages. These had, as formerly, been instigated by the French, who had obtained a great ascendancy over their minds. Jesuit missionaries too resided among them; and these were not less engaged in the intrigues of state than in multiplying religious converts.

Among the most zealous of these was father Ralle. After the cession of Nova Scotia, he still remained among the eastern Indians, who had a high veneration for him. He did not fail to excite jealousies against the English. He ex. claimed against the establishment of the forts, which had been erected within the Indian territories. The Indians themselves had been deceived, when they were told that mills and dams on the rivers were only fortifications against invading enemies. It had not occurred to them, that these would prevent the ascent of fish, on which they greatly depended for subsistence. These missionaries had found means to combine all the eastern and Canadian savages against New-England. They now commenced their spoilations on the unprotected frontiers. Knowing that Ralle was the grand fomenter of all the mischief intended, the first efforts of the Englise were to sieze his person. Having received hints of the design formed against him, he made his escape. The papers he left behind, however, made the further discovery, that Mr. Vaudreuil, governor of Canada, had engaged to supply all the savages with arms and ammunition.

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This attempt to seize their spiritual father called into action all the revenge, enthusiasm and violent passions, which usually burn in the savage breast with an unquenchable flame. With greater fury than ever and with much better information, they attacked the new settlements, and all their accustomed massacres and pillage followed.

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In 1723, they fell upon Canso and other adjacent harbors, where they succeeded in capturing 17 sail of fishing vessels, owned in Ma sachusetts. Seven of these were soon retaken by one John Elliot, who, as he approached them, was called upon to surrender. He replied, he would make all the haste he could." Finding he made no attempt to escape, they began to fear for their own safety, and made for the shore. Elliot immediately boarded them, who, during half an hour, made a brave resistance. But when the hand grenadoes of the English had made great havoc among them, they threw themselves overboard, and were shot as they swam toward the shore. Five only effected an escape. Fifteen captives were retaken; many had been sent away; and 9 had been killed in cool blood, the Nova Scotia Indians being reckoned more barbarous than those belonging to the other tribes.

On the 16th of September, 1728, about 500 of the enemy appeared upon Arrowsick Island. An alarm was given which enabled the inhabitants to fly in season to their garrison, which was insufficient to repel by a sally such a multitude of invaders. Fifty cattle were destroyed; the houses were plundered; and 26 burned in sight of their owners.

The English sent a little army of 230 men up Penobscot river. They found an Indian castle, walled with stockadoes, 70 feet by 50, enclosing 23 excellent wigwams. On the outside, was a church 60 feet by 30, well constructed, and a very commodious house for the priest. All were deserted; and the advantage of the expedition was the burning this village.

Various small parties carried death and destruction, wherever they went. Dominicus Jordan, a principal proprietor of Saco, was attacked by 5 Indians in his field. Keeping his gun constantly presented without firing, he intimidated the savages and retreated in safety to the garrison.

The enemy also appeared at Rutland in Worcester county in a meadow, Rev. Mr. Willard fell after having himself killed one and wounded another. One man had 4 sons kil

led, while making hay, while the father escaped into the bushes. The same day, they appeared at Northfield, where 2 of the inhabitants were killed.

In 1724, the Euglish met with severe losses both by land and sea. Capt. Winslow, who had just left college, was killed with 13 men at Fort St. George's river. Two whale boats with 17 men were soon after surrounded by 30 canoes The English attempted to land; but, after a brave struggle in making the best defence they could, every one was killed. Soon after, the Indians took two shallops, and several fishing vessels, and a large schooner with two swivel guns, which they manned, and crused about the coasts, repelling with success all attempts to take them.

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On the 6th of August, 1724, at Oxford, the savages opened a breach in the roof of a small house under a hill. of them was entering in, he received a fatal shot from a courageous woman, the only person in the house, who had 2 guns and 2 pistols more charged, when they saw fit to retire from such a scene of heroism.

The ravages still continuing, government sent out 208 men to take Norridgewock, the most ancient seat of the natives and the residence of Father Ralle. As they approached the village without being discovered, they divided into two parties. One was to attack the village, and the other to go by the way of cornfields, where they expected to find the In dians at work. About 60 warriors were within the wigwams. An old Indian coming out, instantly sounded an alarm by a war whoop. The women and children fled. The warriors met the English in arms. The first volley passed over the heads of the English without harm; at the second the Indians fled. Some attempted to swim, some to pass in canoes, and others to ford the adjacent river, but they were shot in the water. A very small number only effected their escape. Their renowned warriors were no more; their town and tribe never flourished again.

The famous Ralle, aged 68, was killed in this battle, in the act, it was said, of loading his gun, for he had been accustomed in his vocation to make use of other than spiritual weapons. Charlevoix gives a very tragical account of this Jesuit's death. He tells us, that Ralle went out to meet the English, in hopes of drawing all attention on himself, and thus to save his flock, to whom he had ministered for 37 years; that he fell beside the cross he had erected; that he

received more than a thousand wounds; and that the Indians buried him next day in the very place where the evening before he had celebrated the sacred mysteries, where the alter had stood, and where the church had been burned, kissing the dear remains of their beloved pastor, with every mark of sincere affection, around whose body 7 warriors had fallen, desirous of saving his more precious life by a generous sacrifice of their own.

The scenes at Norridgewock struck great terror into the hearts of the Indians. They removed further back into the interior forests, and afterwards appeared only in small parties. The colonial government offered 100l. for each Indian scalp; this bounty, together with present insecurity and a remembrance of former sufferings, induced many bold adventurers to try what fortune would bequeath them in pursuit after the enemy.

Among these adventurers, no one was more distinguished either for his success or his calamity than Capt. John Lovewell, of Dunstable. His native town had lately lost several of its inhabitants. In searching after two who were missing, 9 more out of II were killed, on the 5th of September, 1724. Others fell into ambush, and were either killed or wounded. Irritation daily increased.

Capt. Lovewell's company consisted of 30 men. In the first excursion, they killed one savage, and took a boy alive, whom they carried to Boston, where they received the bounty and some handsome presents besides. This good fortune was the means of increasing his company to 70 men ; but a want of provisions compelled them to dismiss 30 of these. Following the track of some Indians, on the 20th of February, at night, they found ten of them asleep around a fire beside a frozen pond.-Capt. Lovewell's own gun killed two as they lay asleep, and his men 5 more; two others were shot dead as they started up; and one ran off wounded in such a manner that a dog held him fast, till the men coming up put an end to his life. These savages were on their way from Canada to the English settlements, furnished with new guns and a plenty of ammunition. They were supplied with spare blankets, mockasins and snow-shoes for the use of those whom they expected to take captive. This action took place in the town of Wakefield, New-Hampshire.

Capt. Lovewell, encouraged by his late success, went on a third expedition, intending to make an assault on Pigwacket,

near the head of Saco River, now within the town of Frieburgh: he had 42 men, besides a chaplain and surgeon. One of the company becoming sick, they erected a stockade fort, at which the surgeon and 8 men were left as a guard, west of great Ossapy pond. Reduced to 34, they proceeded northward 22 miles further. Early on the morning of the 8th of May, 1725, while at their devotions, they heard a gun and saw an Indian on a point of land, by a pond, at the distance of a mile. Apprehending he was placed there as a decoy, they approached him with great caution. Expecting to encounter a very powerful party, they concealed their packs among the trees and brakes of a pitch pine plain. A party of 40 Indians in passing along their carrying place, had perceived their tracks. When they came to their packs, by counting they soon discovered that the number of their enemies was inferior to their own.

By this time, the Indian at the point was returning to the village, when the English shot and wounded him. He in his turn fired his gun, which had been loaded with shot for a flock of ducks, and wounded Capt. Lovewell. The next discharge brought the Indian to the ground. Taking his scalp, they proceeded till they fell into the ambush the party of savages had laid for them. Firing began on both sides, when soon Capt. Lovewell and 8 men were killed on the spot, and 3 men more wounded. Several of the savages also fell. They now endeavored to surround the English, which was prevented by a retreat. They now took shelter behind the point of a rock projecting into the pond, and behind some large pine trees on a sandy beach. There was no further retreat. Here their chaplain and 3 others were mortally wounded. The Indians now tried to terrify them by horrid yells, and now invited them to surrender by holding up ropes to them. They had now fought from 10 o'clock in the morning, till towards night. They had thinned the number of their enemies, and by continuing to fire they showed no disposition to yield. Just before night, the savages quitted their advantageous ground, carrying off their dead and wounded, without scalping any of the English. Of the latter, 3 were not able to move from the spot; II were wounded; and 9 were unhurt.

They were under the dreadful necessity of leaving their dying companions behind. Lieutenant Robbins desired to have his gun left charged, that he might kill one more of