Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-01-20
HISTORY OF THE WEST BRANo

HISTOkf OF THE w ESI BRANO 4
We copy the following Incidents, viii.
| transpired in the early settlement OF Union
| county, from a History of the West Branch
Valley, recently published
Captain James Thompson was an early set
tier in Buffaioe Valley, and. during preda-
| tory incursion of savages, was taken and car
ried into captivity. Several incorrect pubi-
| cations of his sufferings have been made, but
the following is believed to be correct. as it
was taken down from his own lips, in 1882 by
James F. Linn, Esq, Of Lewisburg, and en-
tered in his journal.
Some time previous to his capture he had
removed his wife and children to Penns Greek,
for greater security against the Indians. In
March, 1871, he was going from Lewisburg
then Derrstown) to his farm, preparatory to
moving down the country. On the road be-
tween the farms of John Linn and Col. John
Kelly, he was suddenly surprised by four In
dians, and compelled to go along with them.
When they came to hollow, half mile from
Kelly's house, they discovered fresh track
in the soft clay. One of the Indians eXclaim-
ed, sESquaw.n Two of them Immediately set
Off on a run, and two remained to guard him,
one behind and one before. They soon heard
a female scream, when the one behind struck
him on the back with his gun and cried,
ssWangh,'' Tun.) They started off on run,
and on coming to the top OF hill, saw the
other two with woman, when they pushed of
Immediately for an Indian town on Towanda
creek. They crossed the White Deer and
other mountains, north of Buhaloe Valley,
and came 10 the river near the mouth of Ly-
coming creek, which they crossed in canoes.
During the night they tied his arms behind him
and fastened the cord to grubs in the ground.
One night, while encamped on Lycoming
creek, not being tied very securely, he sue
ceeded in releasing his arms. Two of the In
diaus lay on one. side of the fire with the girl
(Mary Young, the daughter of Matthew \ oung,
who lived on farm adjoining Captain Thomp-
sons Sand two on the other side with him.
He first endeavored to get one of their toma-
hawks, but discovered that they were all lying
their arms. He then got a stone, which
they had used for crushing corn, raised on his
knees, preparatory to giving one OF them
mortal stroke on the temple, and securing a
tomahawk. But on account of his head being
wrapped in a blanket, he struck too high to
effect his object. The Indian gave yell,
which awoke the other. He now attempted
to run, but the cord, with which he was tied,
and stretched between the two gIubs, inter-
cepted him, and as he stepped back to get a.
round it, one of the savages caught him by
the collar of the coat, and in the struggle tore
il TO the bottom. He drew his tomahawk to
strike him on the head, but desisted, and spoke
TO the one he had wounded in his own Ian
guage, and then drew it again, desisted, and
spoke to the wounded Indian, and then drew
il the third time. He expected to receive it
this time, ard was resolved to try and catch 1t
and wrest it from his hand. But they finally
concluded not to kill him, reserring him for
more formal execution. They then tied hol-
low gourd, containing shot, to his waist, tell
ing him that was his death ,oarraat.
After this tl.ey tied him so tight that he lost
all feeling in his hands and arms. They con-
tnued on towards their place of destination.
One day they shot wild turkey, and taking
out the cnrails, rolled them round stick with
out any cleaning, roasted them in the fire, and
gave them to the prisoners to eat. Before
| this they had only few grains OF corn per day,
and this change of diet, said Mr.. Thompson,
was quite deiicacy
When they got to Towanda the Indians be-
came less careful, thinking he would not at
tempt to run away again. In the evening they
made him gather wood: lie managed to go
further away for each load, till he got as far as
he thought it was prudent to try, and watch
ing an opportunity when they were not observ-
ing him, darted off into the woods as fast as he
could run, with tcenty-tlco grains Of corn in
his pocket, for provision, to travel journey
OF many miles through tho wilderness.
He said he could have made his escape on
several occasions before, but he could not
think of leaving Mary Young a prisoner with
them. She frequently told him to escape, and
not try to rescue her, as it would defeat both.
She was resigned to her fate.
He took different route at first from that
toward home, to deceive the Indians in pur-
suit. In running he stepped On rotten stick,
which broke and made noise; at the same
time he heard two trees rubbing together
which he took to be the Indians in pursuit.
Being terribly frightened he ran into pond,
and hid himself in the brush, with nothing out
but his head, where he lay till he was satisfied
they were not coming that way. He then pro-
ceeded on his Journey, keeping along the
mountains, lest he might meet Indians in the
valleys. One night he ran almost into an In
dian encampment before seeing it. lie went
little higher up the hill, where he could
plainly see the Indians pass between him and
the fire. At another time he came very near
an encampment, when an Indian gave yell.
He supposed he was discovered, but squatted
down immediately and remained quiet in the
bushes; in short time of the Indians
commenced chopping wood, when he knew
they had not seen him, and carefully passed
around them
He struck the West Branch a few rods above
where they had crossed it going out, and found
one of the canoes on the bank, the river hav-
ing fallen. Being so weak, he was unable to
push it in, but getting two round sticks under
it for rollers, with the aid of handspike, Sue
ceeded in launching it. On getting in, he
discovered the other canoe sunk, when he
worked and bailed it out, and lashing the two
together, started with two paddles on his voy-
age. He rowed to the middle of the river,
so that if the Indians did persuc him and
shoot, they would not be SO likely to hit him.
One of his paddles accidentally dropped ont
and hoated of, which he regretted very much,
but, on getting into eddy, it came floating
up to his canoe. and was recovered.
When hts craft got opposite to where Wat
sontown now stands, he was discovered, and
relieved by some friends. He was so weak
that he lay in the canoe, and waved his hand
to them on shore, which attracted their atten-
tion. When taken out, he was so weak that