THE BOY WHO SAVED THE HAMLET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 247, 17 October 1936, Page 52 (Supplement)

THE BOY WHO SAVED THE HAMLET.

A STORY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN PIONEERS.

5 During tlie North American Indian j War of 1855 one of the most daring j, acts was that of a boy named Goodman, 15 years old, so young and yet so brave that his name is honoured e by whites and even by the Indiana t themselves. r Pie belonged to a family who, when ; the Eastern States bccame overpopulated, decided to move west, and, enchanted by the beauty of Pauget Sound, settled on its chores, north of ? California, on the Pacific Coast. Our hero was but nine years old at that , time, but he could use his bow and . arrow and his rifle .as well as many older than himself, and could manage the pa dill® as well as any Indian. ! As time passed many families ■ from other States flocked to this part of the country, and the coming of the , people so alarmed the Indians that they determined to kill or drive out all the white folk. The white folk knew nothing of this until men,, [ women and children were suddenly : massacred, and the Indian tribe rose in a body against the whites. Warned of the coming danger, Goodman sent his wife and his two little girls to a village some miles away and remained with his son to guard the home. The people set to work speedily to build a fort and provision it, and sill who could handle a rifle or a gun prepared for the defence, knowing that a cruel death would befall them if captured by the enemy. At noon the next day a fleet of war canoes appeared, and a fierce battle began; but, though .numbering 20 times those in the fort, the Indians were beaten off at night and compelled to retire. They, however, had no idea of giving up the attempt. They retreated half a mile away, beached their canoes, lit the camp fires and began their war dance. Young Goodman then formed a daring plan. He resolved to go alone and seize the enemy's canoes, knowing that the Indians could then do no further harm. Leaving the fort after dark, he stole through the woods to the camp. The savages were so intent upon their dancing, and became so tired and sleepy, that they did not see the boy as he approached, and Goodman set to work to cut all the canoe ropes. Then, as the tide rose, he pulled the canoes adrift. Having cut the canoes adrift, he got into one of them, tied another large one to it, and began to paddle to the fort. As daybreak dawned the Indians awoke to find their canoes drifting away. With a wild shout they sprang into the waves to seize them, but Goodman opened fire upon them and drove them back. Making his way to the fort, he told his people what he had done. The men went out and secured the large canoes, and the Indians, finding their fleet gone, beat a rapid retreat through the woods.