Massacre at Fantinekill
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Their situation now became critical. Every drop of liquid in the house was applied to retard the progress of the flames. The women took milk, and even swill, in their mouths and forced it through the cracks of the logs, hoping in this way to protract their existence until relief could come from Napanock. At this awful crisis, when death in its most awful form was staring them in the face, that pious mother proposed that they should suspend hostilities and unite in petitions to the throne of grace for help. David replied that “she must do the praying while they continued to fight.” So that mother prayed, and the prayer was answered in an unexpected manner.
In the course of the morning, after the battle commenced at Fantinekill, Jesse Bevier's dog, without any sign or motion from his master, nor having been trained to any thing of the kind, ran to Napanock, to the house of Lewis Bevier, his master's brother. He approached Lewis, and jumping up against his breast looked him in the face, then ran to the gate which led to his master's, looking back to see if he was coming; this he did several times. Lewis could distinctly hear the firing at Fantinekill, and could easily divine what was going on. So, taking his arms, he hastened to the house of a neighbor, and told him the dog had come to call him, and that he was resolved to go to his brother's relief, although the Indians were expected there every minute, and it was almost certain death to go alone, yet “it was too much for flesh and blood to stand.”
Lewis Bevier, his master's brother. He approached Lewis, and jumping up against his breast looked him in the face, then ran to the gate which led to his master's, looking back to see if he was coming; this he did several times. Lewis could distinctly hear the firing at Fantinekill, and could easily divine what was going on. So, taking his arms, he hastened to the house of a neighbor, and told him the dog had come to call him, and that he was resolved to go to his brother's relief, although the Indians were expected there every minute, and it was almost certain death to go alone, yet “it was too much for flesh and blood to stand.” Standing by, in hearing of the conversation, was the neighbor's son, Conradt, a stalwart youth who was extremely fleet of foot, and who boasted that no Indian could outrun him. This young man's patriotism was kindled by the remarks of Lewis, and volunteering his services, the two set out over the lowlands for Fantinekill. When they came near, the Indian sentry on the hill fired an alarm. The Indians and Tories, not knowing how large a company was coming, immediately withdrew from the vicinity of the house and the two men rushed in. The flames at this moment had extended to the curtains of the bed. The door was now thrown open, and the women rushed down the hill to the spring after water, while the men stood at the door with guns to protect them.
Conradt, a stalwart youth who was extremely fleet of foot, and who boasted that no Indian could outrun him. This young man's patriotism was kindled by the remarks of Lewis, and volunteering his services, the two set out over the lowlands for Fantinekill. When they came near, the Indian sentry on the hill fired an alarm. The Indians and Tories, not knowing how large a company was coming, immediately withdrew from the vicinity of the house and the two men rushed in. The flames at this moment had extended to the curtains of the bed. The door was now thrown open, and the women rushed down the hill to the spring after water, while the men stood at the door with guns to protect them.Table of Contents