|
Though Marin with his French and Micmacs remained at Tatamagouche for some time, nothing definite is known of their subsequent movements here. Eventually they reached Louisbourg apparently by following the shore. Their arrival was too late; Louisbourg had already fallen. Nor is anything known of Donahew’s further doings while at Tatamagouche . Apparently he hovered off the coast for several days, till finding that Marin had gone, he sailed for Louisbiourg. On the 29th of June, while passing through the Strait of Canso, he spied several Indians. Going ashore to capture them, he and his men were ambushed and surrounded by over two hundred savages, probably the same ones who had tried unsuccessfully to board him at Tatamagouche. Donahew, his brother, his gunner and nine of the crew were brutally killed and others taken captive. In fiendish fashion the Indians cut open Donahew’s chest, and then that his courage might be emulated, sucked his blood and ate his body and those of his five slain companions.* News of the massacre reached Louisbourg on the 8th of July, and on
that day an anonymous New England scribe and soldier wrote of Donahew in his
diary. "So after Many Worth Actions he died in Battle. It’s appointed for
all Men once to die."** Back |
