The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-11-15
Che @eafora Gazette.
LETTERS FROM THE ANTHRACITE
REGION.
Harvey's Lake: Queen Esther's Rock :
MOnOckOnOck: The Umbrella Tree, etc.,
etc.
Correspondence of the Bedford Gazette.
WILKES BARRE,
NO. II. Nov. 6, 1867.

WILKES BARRE,
NO. II. Nov. 6, 1867.
DEAR GAZETTE
In my last left the reader upon the
rocky summit of Campbell's Ledge.
Let them now accompany me to Har-
vey's Lake. This bay of water is 800
feet above the level of the Susquehan-
nah river, and lies twelve miles east of
Wilkes Barre. The ride from the lat
ter place, is over a beautiful country,
and must be seen to be appreciated.
The Lake is an immense spring Of pure
cold water, with a beautiful clean sand
and gravel bottom, and varies in depth
from five to two hundred feet. 1t was
first discovered by Benjamin Harvey,
who settled upon its outlet prior to the
Revolutionary war. 1t was surveyed
when covered with ice, and found to
extend over an area of 1885 acres, lit
tie more than two square miles. 1t is
the largest body of fresh water in Penn
sylvania, and furnishes an abundant
supply of fish,. Here and there sur
rounding this Lake, are cultivated
! fields, with landinterspersed, and
froWning mountains beyond, forming
| beautiful scenery, and sheltering the
| fisherman from the rays Ofthe burning
sun, as he rows gently along the shore,
or casts his line beneath the trees or in
| the mountain shadow. Deer are fire.
quently shot at night, as they approach
this Lake for water, by hunters in boats
with torch-lights. The Lake House,
on an elevated spot, near the lake, is a
large, commOdious and well furnished
| building. The fare is venisOn, fish,
wild fowls, &C., taken from the sur
| rounding forests and from the crystal
water. Parties from Wilkes Barre
who wish freezing sleigh ride, usual
ly visit the Lake House, dance all
night, and return home in the morn
ing, sleepy and half frozen. The next
point of interest is "Queen Esther's, or
Bloody Rock" which is near the spot
where the massacre of Wyoming took
place. 1t derives its name from the fol-
lowing described episode in the bloody
| history of the early settlement of this
valley: Queen Esther, an Indiansquaw,
with sixteen white captiveS, each held
by strong Indian, stood around this
rock. One Indian after another would
advance and lay the captive's head up
on the rock, while Queen Esther dash
ed out their brains with a tOmahawk.
The bodies were laid in a circle around
the rock and burned. This murderess
by wholesale, Queen Esther, then rode
away, having suspended on stick the
scalps of the slain. Only few years
ago, it was said blood could still be
traced on the rock. When saw it last,
it was immense in size, but it has since
dwindled away, piece by piece, under
the hands of travellers and relic hun
ters. Some distance from this rock,
up the river is MonockOnock Island.
Some of those who escaped from the
fort during the great massacre, hard
headlOng into the river, while those
who were able to swim, reached this
island, hoping thus to escape from their
enemy. One of the patriots concealed
himself in the underbrush, but being
discovered by his tory brother, he
came forth from his hiding place ex-
pecting mercy and protection. 'Save
my life, brother, and will serve you
all my days" "Ah! save you! You
are id REBEL" and drawing his rifle
to his shoulder, he fired and left his
brother weltering in his blood. Many
similar bloody scenes occurred on this
island. Its history is interviewer with
fiction and appeared before the public,
a few years ago, in book called 'Mary
Derwent."
Upon one of the mountains which
enclose the valley, can be seen looming
high above the rest Of the forest, tree
which, from its resemblance to that ar
ticle so useful in rainy weather, is call
ed the umbrella tree. 1t is an immense
pine, and in the carly days of the Val
ley, the Indians cut all the branches
off, except few at the top, and under
meath this tree, they held their coun-
ellis. They kept a few branches on the
top of the tree, as guide to Indians in
all parts of the Valley. While those,
who, years ago, stood under this tree,
and made their plans of attack upon
the early white settlers, have all pass
ed away, this tree still stands beauti-
full remembrancer Of the bloody scenes
which took place in this Valley.
l am pleased to notice by the papers,
that Bedford progresses. First, l no.
tice that you have had an Agricultural
Fair, which seems to have been a sue
cess. Then, as winter advances, birth
is given to Lyceum. Who can doubt
that it will succeed? Doubtless many
whose eloquent voices are to be heard +,
week after week, in this lyceum, will,
in after years, stir the whole country
by their elOquence at the bar, in the
forum, or in the halls ofCongress. Much
success to the Bedford lyceum! If its
members will forgive my boldness, L
will propose the following question for
discussion. "Did, or did not, MeteOrS
fall on the morning of the 18th of No