It was hardly to be expected that they would take into consideration the intoxicated condition of the man, nor did they, but sprang forward, sabre in hand, and cut down the innocent and unfortunate Delavan first ; then they rushed into the house and took the lives of all whom they met, or, as the old farmers used to say, "stuck them like so many pigs." Some of the victims jumped from the windows, and were killed by those who remained outside to watch for them ; some tried to secrete themselves among barrels and rubbish in the cellar, but were found and hacked to pieces. Not more than a half-dozen in all escaped to tell the story of this fearful night of

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the first year of the Republic. About twentyfive are known to have perished, and it would seem that Campbell was pretty well avenged.

There are other incidents of the time handed down which are not so tragic ; we must now turn to an event less bloody but somewhat more amusing. An old homestead, situated not far from the scene just narrated, had not been deserted as were most of the houses in the vicinity. During the long, cold winter the occupants lived in constant fear of those marauders who subsisted by plundering the inhabitants, under cover of the pretended espousal of one cause or the other, the Skinners being the Continental robbers, while the Cowboys claimed to be loyal to the King. They were both absolutely indifferent to the politics of the unfortunates whom they robbed.