Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-05-22
(From the New York Argus)
The Forks Of the Susquehanna.

Within the region drained by the two
branches of the Susquehanna, whose waters
unite at Northumberland, lie some Of the most
beautiful, most romantic and most celebrated
spots in the local history of Pennsylvania
comprising many rich and Dow popuious coun-
ties, to which years ago, the hardy settlers
focked for cheap land, the pleasure of the
chase and the fishing rod. Within its borders
occurred some of the most terrible and bloody
battles in which the white aud the red man
couteuded for life and subsistence. Fierce and
protracted were the struggles; and we find
marks of them, not only on their very sites,
but the Indians have indelibly stamped their
own nomenclature upon the streams, the noun
tains the passes aud the valleys; and it should
ever be source of qualification that our noble
and majestic rivers were permitted to retain
their beautiful aboriginal names, instead OF
being be Rhned and be Rhoned and be Tber.
ed from the Old World
Bora within the forks of the Susquehanna,
on the very bank aud directly at the mouth of
one of its most romantic tributaries, with the
tempest roar and sunny sparkle of both streams
the most familiar sounds and sights of my child
hood, and the peculiar sweet-soundiDg Indian
name OF both in my young ears, it is no won
der that the region watered by the rivers OF
the winding shore" should be to me the loVll
est spot of earth aud from hich GoD grant
thaI war, peStlIence aud famine be ever absent
And there is no valley in the world which, for
beauty of scenery, fertility of SOIL saIubrity Of
climate aud facility OF accession the mineral
wealth of its hills, the moral health, hospitality
aud intelligence of its nhabtants-surpasses
that lying in the forks of the Su:quehanna, in
the good old commonwealth OF Pennsylvania
But it is not only for the things mentioned
that this valley is celebrated. Its historical
associations aud recolectioGs are folly worthy
of its high character in other respects. With
in that territory lies the beautiful valley Of
Wyoming, the plain tale of the massacre of
whose citizens bring tears to the eyes of the
most careless reader, and whose charms and
horrors have been painted, but not heightened
by the magic pen OF Campbell. Here, too, the
celebrated Van Camper folloVed the trail of
the Indians, or suffered as prisoner in their
cruel hands, a narrative OF whose adventures,
some Of them occurring almost in sight of where
| write, would be more exciting than romance
In this charmed region, Captain Sam. Brady
performed mauy OF his famous exploits, and
made his hairbreadth escapes aud nGmberiess
places are pointed out as the spots where the
white and the led men met in deadly conflict
The celebrated Montour family. which has
left its name indellbiy on ole Of Or most
beautiful mountains, lived, acted and died, and
are believed 10 be buried, III the valleys of the
Susquehanna Here dwet the LeDni Lenape,
the original people ;" and the council fires of
Tamedend, their most iustriouS chieftan, were
kindled u his forests For many years annu-
ally on the first of May, throughout PenuSyl-
Vania, his festival was celebrated. In Phila
delphia, the members of the Tammany" s0ci.
ETY. walked the streets in procession, their hats
decaroted with bucks tails, and upon reach
ing the wigwam, had talk, smoked the
peace pipe" and performed Indian dances.
The valley must have been very thickIy pop
ulated, lor many remains of lpdan towns are
pointed out. Very extensive burial grounds
are also kCown to exist at several places with
in the forks CurioslieS CT various kinds
mounds, excavations and Notifications of un-
doubted Indian workmanship found in
large numbers. Through this valley ron some
of The most important aud frequently y-traVeled
" war paths" known in the history of the race.
Shall trace them out for you by existing
roads and villages? The writer has been over
most Of them, and you can pat your finger on
the paths" on almost any map.
1.-The Shamokin Path" began at the place
now known as Snnbnry, and continued up the
West Branch by the mouth Of Warrior Run
and an Indian town there located thence
through the gap in the Muncy hills to the
town of Muncy, where the public road now
passes
"The Wyoming Path" left Muncy on the
West Branch, ran up Glade run, then through
a gap in the hills to Fishing creek, which emp.
ties into the North Branch at Bloomsbury,
twenty miles above the junction crossed the
creek, passed into (now) Luzerne county
through Nescopeck gap, aud up the North
Branch to Wyoming.
"The Wyausing Path" was traced up the
Muncy creek to its head. then crossed Loyal
Sock creek near where the Berwick turnpike
thea to Dushore thence to Wyalusing
creek and 10 the fats shove.
1.-The Sheshequin Path" ran up Bonser's
run thence to Lycoming creek, near the mouth
of Mill creek, thence up Lycoming to the
Beaver Dams, thence down Towanda creek to
the Sheshequin flats. a
"The Fishing creek Path" started on the
fats near Bloomsbury, on the North Branch
up fishing creek to near Long Pond, thence
across TO Tunkhannock creek. 1t was on this
very path that Van Camper, the most promi'.
nent Indian fighter on the North Branch, was
and within three miles of where
write. --a.-s---
Several other less important paths led into
those great thorougbfares, and are well known
N their ueighborhoods.
What an interesting history would be that