Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/200

 176 HISTORY OF ever, and knew not wliat fear was. They had lurked about the houses of the whigs when war existed, and they imagined it would now be cowardly to turn back through fear. Saying that it was peace time/' and that they did not think the whites would hurt them, they went to the ponds in the vicinity of Handsome Eddy, where they fished and hunted, but care- fully avoided the settlers and others. While they were thus engaged, they were discovered by a man named Ben or Ben- jamin Haines, who lived at the Eddy. He professed to be friendly, and told them if they would go with him to the river they might make his house their home. They declined at first, but he promised to protect them, and finally they were induced to accompany him. This Haines, as the result will prove, was a dastardly wretch. He was as barbarous as a savage, but did not possess a single trait which partially redeems the Indian character. The murders of Quick may shock us ; but the mean treachery of Haines can elicit no other feeling than abhorrence and con- tempt. While the Indians were at his house, Haines pretended that it was necessary for him to go to Minisink after rum and ammu- nition. The real object of his journey was to see Tom, and induce him to go to the Eddy and murder his guests. It is said, that he wished to get possession of the furs which the Indians had brought with them, and which were of consider- able value. He found the old Indian-slayer, who was yet wild with rage, on account of having been robbed of his skins, at the cabin on the Lackawaxen. Tom readily listened to Haines, and agreed to kill the savages, provided he could get any one to help him, for he thought it not advisable to cope with Huy- con and Canope alone, as it was well known they were each nearly equal to him in cunning and bravery. Among Tom's friends was a man named Cobe Chambers, or Shimer, who had formerly lived in Shawangunk, and who