THE BACK-WOODSMEN.



   An incident of the massacre is told as follows by
 Mr. Crafts:
   "On the opposite side of the river were the forti-
fied houses of Peter Coffin and his son. The elder
Coffin's house was surprised, like the others, but the
savages had no old scores of revenge to cross out, so
they spared him and his family, though they pillaged
the house. The younger Coffin had refused to admit
the squaws who applied to him for a lodging, and the
Indians, therefore, did not gain an entrance, as they
did at the other houses, but, after sacking his father's
house, they summoned him to surrender, promising
him quarter. He reffised, and resolved to defend his
castle to the last. The besiegers then brought out
his father, and threatened to kill him if their demand
was not acceded to; and, knowing that they would
make good their threats if he refused, or even hesi-
tated, he surrendered. They put both families into a
deserted house, while they pillaged the garrisons and
burned the neighboring mills, intending, when their
ravages were completed, to carry them away as pris-
oners; but, while the savages were intent on their
plunder, the captives escaped."
  Among the members of Major Waldron's family,
who escaped death, was Sarah Gerrish, his grand-
daughter, a little girl seven years old. When the
Indians entered the house, she left her bed and crept
into another, hiding herself beneath the mattresses.
But the Indians, in searching the house, discovered
her, and commanded her to rise and clothe herself. She
was led off with the other captives. Her sufferings



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