Legends of the Shawangunk2 JR.pdf - Friends of the Sabbath ...

110 Legends of the Shawangunk.
from association with them, and had become quite domesticated in the family of his
father; and while thus situated an event occurred which crystalized Tom’s life, and
changed his whole being into one of implacable hatred of the Indian race.
The savages had plotted the destruction of Milford, and were then secreted in the
neighborhood waiting the approach of night, under cover of which to put their plan into
execution. Unsuspicious of such a critical state of affairs, Tom, together with his father
and brother, went into the woods across the river for the purpose of cutting hoop-poles.
The river was frozen, so they passed over on the ice, and were soon busily engaged in
selecting and sectoring the poles. As they proceeded around a ridge near the river, they
were discovered by an out-post of the ambushed Indians. The latter determined to attack
the Quicks, even at the rich of alarming the settlement, and thus defeating the main object
of the expedition.
When Tom and his companions had approached sufficiently near, they were fired
upon, and the father fell mortally wounded. The Quicks were unarmed; their only course
was to fly. Neither of the sons were hurt, and, taking hold of their father, they
endeavored to drag him after them as they ran. Being too closely pressed by the pursuing
savages, the dying man prevailed on them to leave him to his fate, while they ran for their
lives.
The only avenue of escape involved the hazardous experiment of crossing the
Delaware river on the ice, within full view of the Indians, and at close rifle range. The
dash was made; but before they had reached half way, the savages appeared upon the
bank behind them. There was no protection against the murderous rifles of the yelling
demons, any of whom could hit a deer nine times in ten while it was bounding through
the forest; but by running in zigzag course, and by keeping as far apart as possible, the
fire of the Indians was less effective. Presently a ball hit Tom, and he fell; at which the
savages set up a loud shout. But the next moment he was up again, and running as
rapidly as ever. The ball, as was afterward ascertained, only hit the heel of his boot, but
with such force as to knock his foot from under him. Again the balls whistled past the
fugitives; but, coming to the river bank, they were soon out of danger. The brothers were
both fleet runners, and trained in backwoods life. Another circumstance contributing to
their escape was, that on leaving their father, they had sought the cover of an overhanging
rock, and by striking an oblique direction were well across the river before the savages
could get a shot at them.
Finding they were not pursued, Tom and his brother crept back to the river bank to
see what was going on. They heard the scalping-whoop, and witnessed the rejoicings of
the Indians over the remains of their father. It was at this juncture that Tom, rendered
frantic by their fiendish conduct, made a solemn vow that he would never cease from a
war of extermination as long as an Indian remained on the banks of the Delaware. This
oath of vengeance Tom fulfilled to the letter. It is known that he slew at least twenty