Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-04-27
From Days Historical Collections of Penn'a.
The White Deer CapUves.

James Thompson lived, at the commencement of
the Revolutionary war, on a beautiful farm near
Spruce run, in White Deer township On a con-
tiguous farm lived a family named Young. One
morning in March, they were surprised by five
Indians, who took Thompson and Margaret Young
prisoners. Thompson was very active young
man, and determined to rescue Miss Young, and
make his own escape. On the second night. of
their captivity, while the Indians were asleep
each with his rifle, tomahawk and scalping-kni
wrapped with himself in his blanket-Thompso
found stone weighing about two pounds, and
kneeling down beside the nearest Indian with his
left hand he felt for his tempe-as intention being
to kill one, and, having secured his tomahawk, he
he thought he could dispatch the rest successive
" as they arose. The darkness of the night how
ever, frustrated his plan: for not seeing, he did
no serious injury The Indian bounded up with
fierce yell, which awoke the others, and spring
ing on the young man-who had thrown his stone
as far from hirH&s he possibly could-would have
put an end to his existence, had not the rest inter-
fered and secured Thompson. The Indian imme-
while he signifed that he had only struck him
with his fst-and nothing appearing to induce
them to doubt his word, they were highly amused
at the idea of an Indian making terrible an out
cry at any stroke paleface could inflct. with his
naked hand. He, however, although he had not
ocular, had certainly very feeling demonstra-
ton that something weightier than hand had been
used-but was shamed into silence by the laugh
raised at his expense. Our prisoners were now ia
ken up the Susquehanna, crossed the river in ca
noe, and proceeded up Loyasock creek. For FIVE
nights he was laid upon his back, with his arms
extended and tied to stakes. On the seventh night,
near the mouth of Towanda creek the Indians d.
rected Thompson and his companion, as usual, to
kindle fire for themselves, while-they built an
other. BY this means he had an opportunity of
communicating to her his intention of leaving the
company that very evening She advised him to
90 without her. He expressed great unwilling
ness but she overruled his objections, declaring
that even did she now escape, she would not be
able to reach home. Accordingly, in gathering
the dry sticks which were strewn round, he went
found it, towards the fire, and then wandering
slowly, though not unconsciously still further for
the next, until he had gone as far as he thought
he could without exciting suspicion; then he pre-
cipitately fed. They were soon in pursuit, but
were unable to overtake him and he ran in such
quick, zlg-zag manner, hat-they could not aim
straight enough to shoot him.
He was obliged to travel principally at night,
and going down Loyalsock creek, he frequently
came upon Indian encampments, when he had
either to wade the stream, or cross the slippery
mountains, to avoid them. Sometimes he came
TO places where they had encamped. The bones
of deer, &c, which he found at these places, he
broke open, and swallowed the marrow. This,
with the few roots he could find, was all the food
he was able to procure. Once, when almost over
come with fatigue and loss of sleep he thought of
getting into hollow tree to rest; but this would
not do, for where he could get in wild animal
might also get, and, although naturally possessed
of great courage, he did hot like to be attacked in
In this way he reached the Susquehanna, where
re found the canoe as they left it, He entered it,
and descended the river; but fatigue, and want of
nourishment and rest, had so overcome him, that
when he reached Fort Freeland--a short distance
above where Milton now stands-he was unable
to rise He lay in the canoe until discovered by
the inhabitants, who took him ashore; and by care
ful treatment he was restored TO health. He at
forwards received pension from the u. States,
and died about the year 1883, in the Goth year of
has age.
The Indians, meantime, pursed their course, ia
king Miss Young with them, to the neighborhood
of Montreal, in Canada. She had frequently un-
derstood them to lament the loss of Thompson
AS he was fine, active young man, they were
keeping him as subject upon which to exercise
their cruelty Miss Young was given to an old
souaw, who wished to make her work sufficiently
to maintain them both; but an old coored man ad-
vised her to work as little as posTble--and what
she must do she should do as badly as she could;
for said he, If you work well, she will keep you
for slaye-but be lazy, and do your work wrong,
and she will get tired of you, and sell you to the
whites. Poor young girl! away from be. home