Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

164 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-18S6.
at Hadley, and to Captain Treat, then at Westfield. Mr. Glover
succeeded hi transferring his "brave" library to Mr. Pynchon's
house, and Tuesday's sun rose with a community of empt}^ houses,
all lint three, and those uncomfortably full. With the morning meal,
and possibly some religions services in the three forts, courage re-
turned, and Lieutenant Cooper went so far as to discredit Toto and
his frightful secret. Mr. Glover was easily convinced, and carried his
library back to the minister's house, and ^'ery likely others paid
visits to their homes in order to complete their dressing, made in such
undignified haste during the night.
Lieutenant Cooper knew by name every Indian of the Agawams, he
having been for over a quarter of a century a familiar figure among
them. Sometimes he would apprehend one of them, as an officer of
the law ; sometimes he would aid them by loans of seed or utensils.
He had, personally, no fear of the Agawams, and he induced Thomas
Miller, who was always read}' for adventure, to accompau}' him to
the fort quite early in the morning. Li less tlian half an hour from
the start the horse of Coopei' returned on a full run up the village
street from ^Nlill river. Upon his back was his bleeding master
clinging in the saddle. The horse ran directly toward the Pynchou
house from which he had started, and when he stopped at the door
Cooper fell to the ground dead. Miller was killed at the first volley
from the Indians, just as they were entering the woods this side of
Mill river.
The dreadful secret was out. Springfield had indeed been set
apart for fire and slaughter. The Indians were already making the
air dismal with their yells. Some of Mr. Pynchon's mills at the
South End were soon in ashes. The wife of John 3Iatthews who
lived at the South End was probably found at her home and there
butchered. The torch was applied to the deserted houses by the
excited savages that poured through the street in great numbers. At
the head of the horde the astonislied planters saw the old sachem of
the Springfield Indians, the friend of the whites, — Wequogan, whose
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