Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-10-22

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blood. A little girl was found killed an
scalped and a boy the same. Campbe
was found killed, stabbed and scalped. III
had also been shot in the back and knit
was sticking in his body. Everythin
around him indicated that he had main
tanned fearful struggle with superior mum
bers and sold his life us dearly as possible
An Indian gun was found near him bro
ken to pieces. His gun was gone. Wha
became of The remainder of the children
cannot state, but they were probably car
ried into captivity. The Indians took bu
few things out of the wagon which the,
left standing. They probably took th'
horses. A party under Captain Shaffer, i
is stated, went to Thompson's house ant
searched for him. At length they found
him and Shoefelt outside of field among
some pine grubs. Thompson had beer
shot through the side, Shoefelt was sho
through the shoulder; they were bott
scalped and lay but a short distance apart
Theyappeared to have been so near Thomp
son when he was shot that his jacket wa:
burned. This was indeed bloody day
The savages glutted themselves with muir
der and plunder and returned in triumph
A gloomy pail seemed suspended over the
infant settlement, and weeping and wailins
was heard on every hand. Children were
murdered before their parents eyes; hus.
bands were compelled 70 witness the hor.
rid deaths of their wives-and in turn
children were compelled to gaze upon the
mangled bodies of their parents. Neither
age, sex, nor condition was spared. The
walls of helpless infants the imploring
cries of fdeienceless women, failed to awaken
a chord of piety in the adamantine bosom
Of the tawny savages-he laughed their
pitifu. appeals to scorn, and with fiendish
grin of pleasure piled the knife, and tore
the reeking scalps from their heads.
On the intelligence of these murders
reaching Colonel Hunter at Fort Augusta,
he became alarmed for the safety of those
that remained above Fort Muncy, and sent
word to Colonel Hepburn to order them to
abandon the country and retire below. He
was obliged TO do this, as there was not a
sufficiency of troops to guard the whole
frontier, and Congress had taken no action
to furnish him with men and supplies.
Colonel Hepburn had some trouble to get
a messenger to carry the orders up to Coo
mel Antcs, SO panic-stricken were the peo-
pie on account of the ravages of the Indi-
ans. At length Robert Covenhaver and a
young millwrigbt in the employ of Andrew
Culbertson volunteered their services, and
started on dangerous mission. They
crossed the river and assembled Bald Eagle
mountain and kept along the summit, till
they came to the gap opposite Fort Antes.
They cautiously descended at the head of
Bottom and proceeded to the
fort. 1t was in the evening and as they
neared the fort the report of a rifle rang
upon their ears. A girl had gone outside
to milk cow, and an Iddian being in am
bush, fired upon her. The ball fortunately
passed through her clothes and escaped
The word was passed on up
to Horns fort and preparations made for
the fight. Great excitement prevailed.
Canoes were collected, RATS hastily con-
structed, and every available craft that
could float pressed into service and the
goods and also the wives and children of
the settlers, placed on board. The men
armed with their trusty rifles, marched
down On each side of the river to guard
the convoy II was indeed sudden as
well as melancholy flight. They were icar-
ing their homes, cattle and crops to the
mercy of the enemy and fleeing for their
lives. Nothing occurred worthy of note
during the passage to Sunbury, as the In
dians did not venture to attack the armed
force that marched on shore. 1t is said
that whenever any of their crafts would
ground on bar, the women would jump
out, and putting their shoulders against it.
launch it into deep water.
The settlements above Muncy fort were
all abandoned aud the Indians had full
possession of the country once more. Com
panies came up as soon as possible to secure
and drive away their cattle. They found
the Indians burning and destroying. When
they came to Robert Kings improvements
they found the remains Of his house and
barn yet smoking. Passing on to Antes
fort, they found the mill containing guam
tity of wheat and the surrounding build
ings reduced to ashes. AS the smoulderiug
embers were not yet extinct, the air for
some distance around was tainted with the
odor of roasted wheat. They gathered up
what cattle they could as soon Us possible,
and drove them off from this scene of de-
ISOLATION. Fort Muncy, Freeland's fort,
and all the intermediate points, were aban-
doned about the same time. Thus was the
valley of tie West Branch evacuated.
This fight was called by the people OF that
period the big Runaway" name which
it bears to this day. Shortly after the big
runaway the attention of the sayages was
attracted to the memorable descent upon
Wyoming, which took place on the third
of July, 17TS. But few remained on the
West Branch, nearly all having gone to
participate in that bloody massacree.
Reader, whose fault is it that this tragical
affair occurred between the caucasian and
the poor Americans
Ito be Continued.
Miscellaneous.