Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/210

 164 THE HISTORY OF BAERINGTOX. ger, and strove by all conciliatory measures to avert it ; treaty stipulations were entered into with Philip, but these were regarded by him only as procrastinating measures that were to afford him time to prepare his men for the conflict, and mature his plan of operations. The terrible blow v/as to be struck in 1676, a year later than it fell. The murder of Sausaman by one of Philip's men was the immediate occasion and hastening of the war. In June, 1675, Philip was holding a war dance at Mount Hope. James Brown of Wannamoisett went with a friendly letter to Philip from Governor Winslow and found him in the midst of the warlike revelry. Petananuet told Captain Church that Brown would have been killed by the young warriors but for a promise Philip had made to his father, Massassoit, that he would show kindness to him. He then learned that Philip had promised his young men, who were crazy for a fight, " that on the next Lord's day when the English were gone to meeting, they should rifle their houses and from that time forward kill their cattle." On Sunday, the 20th of June, 1675, according to promise to his warriors, Philip provoked the first bloodshed in Swan- sea, through the insolence and provocations of his men. An Indian was wounded by a settler's shot and this was the sig- nal for the onset. Thursday, the 24th of June, was a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer at Swansea, and, during the services the Indians pillaged several houses, and, on re- turning home from church, the people were fired upon by the savages, one being killed and another wounded. Two men despatched for a surgeon were also slain. The people fled to the garrison houses, whither they carried their corn and other provisions. The garrison house at Bourne's at Mattapoisett sheltered seventy persons, sixteen men, the remainder women and children. Of a party of men sent out for corn at a deserted house, six were slain by the Indians, beheaded and their heads set up on poles at Kickemuit. Half the houses of the settlers were also burned. On the 28th of June, forces under Captain Samuel Moseby arrived