Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-04-07
THE JOURNAL.
NIOraI of Indian Eassucres,


The history Of colonization has been the same
in all ages, and the following extract from the
interesting Manhattan Papers" of Jan Vogel-
yanger, in the n. J. Sunday Times shows that
the recent massacre of Indians on our coast had
at least one parallel in the early days of our be-
loved Nieuw Amsterdam. The act here COM
memorated was perperated during the admins
tration of Governor Kieft (I643) and was
undertaken in retaliation for the murder Of one
or two whites
The Indians were without suspicion Of the i'm
pending attack. On the night of the twenty fifth
Of February an armed party of burghers started
from the fort to attack the Indians near Curriers'
Plantation" (Corlears Hook,) while at the same
time more numerous party, composed OF sol
diers, embarked for Pavonia, which lay on the
eastern shore of New Jersey, opposite the fort
At midnight, while the Indians lay asleep and
unarmed in their frail buts the work of murder
began No discrimination, no mercy, DO qnarter
was shown neither the innocence of childhood,
nor the helplessness Of woman, nor the gray hairs
Of old age found any protection. Little babes
that lay nestled on their mothers bosOms were
snatched up and cut in pieces, or bound on
planks and thrown into the fire before their pa
reut's eyes. Many Of the poor innocents were
cast bleeding into the river aud when some
frantic mother plunged in to save her darling,
she was not permitted to reach the shore with
the prize so dearly won, but beaten back, and
kept struggling in the icy food until she went
down with the dying babe in her arms, to rise
no more!
The shricks Of the haplcss victims were dis
tinctly heard on the ramparts Of Fort Amster-
dam. A few children between five and six years
of age, in charge of some old Indians, managed
o bide in the bushes, where they remained tbr0'
the rest of the night without covering AZ day
break, when no sound was heard save the faint
means of the wounded and dying, they ventured
forth and begged permission TO warm themselves;
lint he Il1tch lpnrg glp,V uup
ly one, and tossed their mutilated bodies into
the water, which was still rcd with the blood Of
their kindred.
The carnage Of the night, at both points Of
attack, was terrible the massacre iudiscrminate.
In the few bloody hours between midnight and
dawn of day, one hundred and twenty In
dans, Of all ages, sexes and conditions were
murdered. So fierce and sudden was The attack
that the Indians at first supposed their enemies
TO be party of Mobawks, and such Of them as
could escape fed to Fort Amsterdam for protec
tion where many Of the wounded congregated
next morning. presenting ptiable sight--sOme
without an arm, others without leg, and nearly
all Of them gaShed mutilated and bleeding.
As soon as the Indiana fairly understood that
it vas the Dutch who had attacked them, they
Ictaliated with fearful revenge. Farmhouses
barns, hay and erain-stacks were fred, and white
men were wayla d and killed by scores. Parties Of
Indians roved so continually around, by day and
night, that it soon became unsafe for DutcLman
10 venture outside the fort without a strong
guard.
The Long Island Indians, sympathizing with
their outraged brethren on the river, and nceused
by recent robberies and murders perpeuated up
on the property and persons Of their oYn people,
now took up the frebyand, the tOmabawk and the
fcalping-knile. Eleven tribes, within circuit
oI thirty miles around Fort Amsterdam, united
IN common cause rose up in arms against the
Dutch The spirit Of revenge seemed to peryade
the very air, inhaming the worst passions Of their
nature, and spreading its direiul influence ike a
raging epidemic. The war-Whoop, ringing out
IN d iiant tones, was heard upon the heights Of
Nevclsiuk along the banks Of the Raritan, on
the plains of Long Island, through the woods of
" Nestchoster, and running oyer hill and dale, the
fearful sound WAS caught up, and sent back in
ehrill echoes from the valley Of the Connecticut.
This is the moral OF all Indian massaeres the
qualification of a temporary spirit Of revenge 10
dearly purchased.