Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-06-05

arm with redoubled JOY and grandeur to minge
their waters with the mighty ocean. Old North
cumberland was then the frontier county OF the
State--the beach upon which the tide of ciyillza-
tion ebbed and flowed, constantly advancing far
ther and farther like the billows of the ocean at
spring tide. Here and there sparsely dotted over
its surface, might have been seen, surrounded by
its little clearing, the log hut of the sturdy and
adventurous pioneer, whom the fertile bottom
lands and valleys gradually rolling away to the
well-wooded hill and mountain sides, had sednc-
ed to brave the dangers of this wilderness, inhab-
tied by willy Red Men and savage wild beasts.
How dearly some of them paid for their worthy
enterprise, the massacrees of Penn's Creek, Fort
Freeland, Wyoming, the "Big Runaway" and
the site of your good old Fort Augusta, SO often
the refuge of your terrorstricken ancestors strip
ped of all except their lives, if they could speak,
would abundantly attest.
Then, the roaring and signing Of the forest, ,the
screams of the wild beasts and birds of prey land
the whoop of the Indian were all familiar sounds
The ring of the woodman's AK. the ''who-a" OF
the oX-driver, and occasionally the rumbllng
grist-mill, were the notes that heralded the ad-
vance of higher civilization. Then the rivers
and creeks, with their batteaux and canoes, and
the cow-path, with horses and oxen, comprised
the facilities of transportation.
Then already rich historic charm had began
to cluster around the Old Town then designated
as its county seat. Here had stood the Indian
village of Shamokin, which the encroachments
of the white man caused the Indians themselves
to reduce to ashes. Here the Chiefs Of the Min
goes were wont to meet in council. Here had
dwelt the great and good Chief, Shickelemy, the
fast friend of the English. Here was an exten-
sive Indian burying ground in which reposed ge-
nerations of their ancestors.
After Shamokin had vanished into smoke and
ashes, on that bold bend of the river was Fort
Augusta built-within one of its bastions was
constructed substantial magazine, said to be
vet visible. Situated at the confluence of the two
great branches, il was one of the most impor-
tant, as well as one of the largest and strongest
frontier forts built in that gloomy period of our
history. In the language of its builder and COM
mander, ''this post was of the utmost conse-
quence to tie Province, and defensibe against all
the power of musketry." 1t was the station
from which went forth armed expeditions to pro-
tect the defenseless settlers in the region lying
beyond. 1t was the refuge where safety and re-
lief was sure to those who were so happy as TO
reach it. 1t was the barrier beyond which the
wave of French and Indian warfare could not
roll.
Such was this county-such its county seat
when organized 4 century ago. But the dan.
geis and privations of q frontier life, the hard
and unremtting toll, the constant terrer, the
burning of houses and crops, the slaughter OF
loved ones by the tomahawk and scalping knife,
French INVASION the bitter title warfare with the
Connecticut setters--all these accumulated ills,
enough to crush the stoutest heart and break an
iron will, did not fill up the measure of trial en-
dured by its inhabitants.
The mother country from whom they asked
protection, gave instead thereof the heavy stone
of oppression. Ground were they, indeed, be-
tween the upper and the neither mill stone. But
stout hearts like theirs can never fail. That love
of Liberty that drove them from their native
land into the bowling wilderness, strengthened
and intensified by the strong attachments twin
ing around this, their adopted land, where all
was pure and free as Gods own air and sunlight,
kindled in their breasts with redoubled feryor.
To resist the heel of oppression was to them, if
anything, Il higher duty than to help roll on the
car of progress. History tells US that, "when
the Declaration WAS being signed in Philadel-
phia, the settlers Oh the plains above Pine Creek,
then within her borders, were adopting resolu-
tions absolving themselves from all allegiance to
Great Britain, and declaring themselves free and
independent" When the old bell proclaimed in
thunder tones, to the citizens of Philadelphia
that the Colonies were Independent, the shout of
liberty went up from the bank of Pine Creek and
resounded along the base of Bald Eagle Noun
tain. Though sadly needed TO defend their
homes against the incursions of the hostile In
dians, promptly at their country's call, are Capt.
Lowden's seventy Northumberland County Rifle
men found on the heights at Boston. Soon Capts.
Gray, Buyers, and Brady, with their brave and
patriotic NOrthumberlanders, lend their aid and
peril their lives in defense - not of home,
not Of county, not of State, but in defense
Of all of these-a common country. Nor die
they cease to sacrifice their lives, or fIlter in
their devotion till with the fall of Yorktown the
glorious Stars and Stripes-Banner of Liberty
emblem of the American Union--hOated in tri-
umph over a nation weak and exhausted, but i'l
fact, free aud iHdepehdsHt.
Let US now shift the scene and cast a hasty
glance upon the wondrous changes of a century.
4 ,l,rf, o1.Sl
noble ancestry, is to-day the mother of twenty
eight as beautiful, faithful, industrious and
thrifty offspring as can be found among the six
ty-siX sister counties of this Commonwealth.
Luzerne, Lycoming, Columbia and Union are
her issue of the "whoe blood'-.he last two turin
ctildJeaI Miffn, Centre and Clearfield, her is
sue of the 'half blood" OF these again twenty
one prosperous counties are the lneal descend
ants. Like n wise and affectionate parent, she
has divided her possessions among her children,
thereby making herself as well as them the rich
er and more happy. Now an Indian within her
borders would be curiosity. Like their fayo-
rite hunting grounds, they have all passed away.
Art has transformed her forest trees into the hab
itations of a dense and thriving population--into
furnaces, factories, schools, churches, and into
countless machines and implements that minis
ter to the comfort and happiness of man. The
soil whereon they grew, now parceled out into
myriad of farms, under the skillful culture OF ci
u,
grain, and luscious fruits, that so bountifully
ward the patient and well directed toll of their
producers. The whiz of the circular saw, the
planning mill and turning lathe have banished the
echo of the woodman's axe. The whoop of the
Red Man, as he took the war path, is superced-
ed by the whoopng of the locomotive, as it rush.
es along through our valleys, on its iron track
the creature, at once, bearer of the fruits of
Peace.
inla haah haa he ham P..pt TIM
has wrought upon the surface of this grand old
county but would we see still greater changes
and learn what agencies have, in the hand of
man, largely contributed to this miraculous I'M
improvement, We must peer beneath the surface
we must penetrate the innHmVrable mines that
have already yielded millions of wealth, and in
which millions yet remain-we must traverse
shafts the gang ways and drifts that the patient
toll of the daring miner has cut out-we must
gaze upon :he vast deposits of coal ana iron
those great material civilizers Of the world that
an All-wsc and Benificient Providence had hid
away till His own good time had come to make
them known.
Such was Northumberland county a century
agO-such is she to-day. Rich in Il score of
children counties. Rich in the extent and quail
ty of her still remaining lands. Rich in her
river and mountain scenery. Rich in her coal
and iron. Rich in her schools and churches.
Rich in historic memories. But her most pre-
cious Jewels, like Cornelia's, are her noble and
patriotic sons, who have made and kept her
what she is. 1t was they, who ut the fearful
sacrifice of the comforts of home, the savage
butchery of friends, and the loss of their own
lives, purchased for us this beautiful land. Their
hands helped to clear away the rubbish of a rude,
a barbarous civilization, and lay thereon the
foundations OF institutions that have gIown to
be the wonder and the admiration OF the world.
Their lives helped to buy the priceless boon of
Liberty-secured and made enduring by that
glorious and growing Union of States, to which,
ccmented by their blood, we owe our prosperity
and safety at home and consideration and digni
ty abroad. How peculiarly fitting then, that
such a county, with such history, antedatins
that of the republic itself, with such noble sons,
ever ready to sacrifice their lives in the cause Of
country-should, on this historic spot, erect a
monument TO the memory of those who freely
gave their lives TO prCSsTve that Union under
whose fostering care we have grown to be what
we are to-day. As if the jealous and patriotic
spirits Of their fathers had come back to earth
and taken on the form and yigor and beauty OF
youth-their gallant sons rushed forth at the
first terrible alarm that boemed on Sunpter's
walls to save the magnificent and costly fabric
of the American Union, within whose walls the
precious Jewel of Liberty was enshrined. That
sacred structure, reared at such fearful cost of
blood and treasure, must not be ruthlessly and
wantony destroyed. Though it was the hand of
brothers that assailed it, their frantic and wick