Shanks Ben
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The red spot on the top of a large rock on a farm belonging to Brundage Peck is still shown as the place where Hannah met her fate--a stain which the storms of a century have not effaced. When the remains of Hannah, together with those of John Mack and his daughter Elsie, were deposited in their last resting-place, the whole community, on either side of the mountain, mingled their tears in the common sorrow.
Brundage Peck is still shown as the place where Hannah met her fate--a stain which the storms of a century have not effaced. When the remains of Hannah, together with those of John Mack and his daughter Elsie, were deposited in their last resting-place, the whole community, on either side of the mountain, mingled their tears in the common sorrow. There is a tradition in Shawangunk that some time after the close of the war, John Mentz went off into the woods with his rifle, and for more than a year he was not heard of by his family or friends; that he would never give a satisfactory account of his absence; that he shook his head mysteriously when Shanks Ben was mentioned, and that the latter individual was never again seen.
Shanks Ben, at this time was about forty years of age. He was tall and athletic; hair jet black, and clubbed behind; forehead wrinkled, and brown eyes deeply sunk in their sockets, and his cheeks hollow and furrowed. the natural frightfulness of his visage was heightened by an accident; and when arrayed for war, he was one of the most hideous specimens of humanity the eye could rest upon.
One day Shanks Ben and two other savages came upon a log cabin in the town of Shawangunk. The man was not at home; but his wife saw them approaching, and escaped to the woods, leaving an infant sleeping in its cradle. One of the Indians raised his tomahawk, and was about to slay the child, when it looked up into his face and smiled; even his savage heart was touched and he restored the tomahawk to his belt. With a fierce oath Shanks Ben thrust his bayonet through the innocent babe, and ran about the place holding up the child impaled on the cruel instrument, in the hope that its screams would entice the mother from her concealment. Failing in this, Ben dashed out the little one's brains against the door-post; and the marauders departed, first appropriating what they could conveniently carry away.
During the Revolution, Cornelius Decker was one day at work in a field near the present village of Bruynswick, when he felt a strange oppression, as though some great personal danger were impending. He could not shake of the feeling and presently returned to the house, where he was laughed at for his caprice. After the war was ov, Shanks Ben came through the neighborhood. In an interview wit Decker and others, Ben pointed to a log in the field above mentioned, and remarked that he one day lay behind that log with the intention of shooting Decker when he came to his work; but that the latter, having always deported himself as a friend, he could not find it in his heart to take his life. On comparing the day and hour of Ben's concealment behind the log, it was found the time coincided precisely with that of Decker's feeling of presentiment.
Cornelius Decker was one day at work in a field near the present village of Bruynswick, when he felt a strange oppression, as though some great personal danger were impending. He could not shake of the feeling and presently returned to the house, where he was laughed at for his caprice. After the war was ov, Shanks Ben came through the neighborhood. In an interview wit Decker and others, Ben pointed to a log in the field above mentioned, and remarked that he one day lay behind that log with the intention of shooting Decker when he came to his work; but that the latter, having always deported himself as a friend, he could not find it in his heart to take his life. On comparing the day and hour of Ben's concealment behind the log, it was found the time coincided precisely with that of Decker's feeling of presentiment. In 1784, Shanks Ben and two other Indians visited their old camping grounds on the Delaware to fish and hunt. They were first seen at Cochecton, where they were advised to go no further, as there were some dangerous characters below-Tom Quick among the number. They did not heed the advice, however, but went as far down as Shohola, where a hunter named Haines discovered them. Haines urged them to visit his cabin, setting apart a day for the purpose. In the meantime Haines communicated with Tom Quick and a man named Chambers, and a plan was arranged by which Shanks Ben and his companions were to be killed while they were his guests.
Accordingly Haines proposed to Ben and his companions to fish at the Eddy, taking up their position on a rock near which Quick and Chambers, by previous agreement, had secreted themselves. Presently two rifle shots were heard. One of the balls wounded Ben's companion, who ran to Haines and claimed his protection; but Haines seized a pine knot, exclaiming-” Tink, tink! how you ust to kill white folks! 'Pent, 'pent! I'll send your soul to hell'n a moment!” and dispatched him by beating out his brains. Even Tom Quick was shocked at the perfidy of Haines and shouted as he came up, “D-------- a man that will promise an Indian protection, and then knock him on the head!” Shanks Ben, who was unharmed, jumped into the river, and made his good his escape.
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