Sam Barrow was a famous warrior in Philip’s war, and for a long time
dreaded as a ferocious enemy by the inhabitants. He was at length
captured by Captain Church at Cape Cod. Church, in his history, says,
that ‘he was as noted a rogue as any among the enemy.’ Church told him
that the government would not permit him to grant him quarter, because of
his inhuman murders and barbarities, and therefore ordered him to prepare
for execution. Barrow replied, that the sentence of death against him was
just, and that indeed he was ashamed to live any longer, and desired no
more favor than to smoke a whiff of tobacco before his execution. When
he had taken a few whiffs, he said, ‘I am ready,’ when one of Church’s
Indians, being prepared, sunk his hatchet into his brains.
[Illustration]