Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-03-03

boy. Could this noble youth, of athletic
form, and piercing eye, be he? Could HI
be so changed? Thus she reasoned. Sht
could not feel positive that he was her sor
neither was she certain that he was not
2 II she was to own him, and he was not hers
| she could extend to him the affections of {
mother and il she turned him away, anC
he was her son, oh what remorse of con
science would she feel. A terrible confic
was going on in her mind. She never
could bring herself, however. to believe
that he was in reality her boy. Doubts
still remained in her mind. He remained
+ about the settlement FOR some time, Lu
had all the manners and habits of an In
dian, and never seemed to readily embrace
the usages of civilized life. He finally
T left the neighborhoo6, on finding that she
would not recognize him as her son, re.
turned to his tawny comrades of the for
est. lie never came again.
I 1t was evident that white blood coursed
in his veins, but he was in every respect
an Indian. Many of the old settlers be-
lieveG that he was, in reality, the lost boy.
About this time, in the same year, four
men, named Robert Fleming, Robert Don
aldson, James McMichael, and John
Hamilton, started from Fort Antes, to 90
to Horns Fort, in canoe. Nothing oc
Cured till they come opposite the mouth
OF Pine Creek, when they were suddenly
tired upon by party of Indians, who lay
concealed in sink hole on the south side
OF the river, and all were killed but
Hamilton. He Immediately sprang out of
the canoe into the water, and keeping it
between him and the Indians, by holding
on with one hand, managed with the other
to work his way across the river. Several
shots were fired at him without effect. He
managed to dodge his head behind the ca
noe. As soon as he reached the shore, lie
sprang out aud ran through the 'barrens, -
till he came opposite to Fort Antes, where
he cried tor assistance, and was speedily
brought over. Nearly all the clothing was
stripped from his body in bis rapid fight
through the bushes.
| The same day that this melancholy af-
fair took place, a party OF men were dri-
! wing some cattle down from above the
Great Island. Crossing the plains near
where Liberty now stands, they were fired
upon by party of Indians. The whites
m mod Hiat taly rot ko
Indian was observed to fall, and was car
ried of. A man named Samuel Fleming,
was shot through the shoulder. The In
dians fled very precipitately, and abandon
ed large amount of plunder. principally
consisting of blankets, which fell into the
hands of the whites.
Andrew Fleming settled OIL Pine Creek.
in the vicinity of where Martin McK;n-
ney's house now stands. On Christmas
l. -
served to his wife, that he would go and
kill deer. He started up the ravine, and
had not been gone long, before the report
of gun was heard. The day wore away
and he did not return. His wife became
alarmed at his protracted absence, and
feared that evil might have befallen him.
Proceeding up the ravine to look for him,
she suddenly perceived three savages skull
king in the bushes, and her worst suspi-
cions were at once aroused. Returning
hastily, she gave the alarm, and number
of neighbors collected, and proceeded to
search for her husband. They had gone
but short distance, when they came to
his dead body. Three oalls had passed
through him,-On having entered his eye.
The scalp was removed. 1t was supposed
that the guns had been fired simulta-
neously, making but one report.
About the commencement of the Revo-
luton, the father of Robert Covenhayen
immigraied from New Jersey, and settled
on Loyal Sock Creek. He had three
sons, named respectively, James, Thomas
and Robert. The latter became distin-
guished as guide, q spy, and Indian kill
er: and was in several battles Of the Revo-
luton. Shortly after coming to this Val
ley, the old man lost all his effects by sud
den freshet in the creek.
Late in the year 1777, Robert returned
to the West Branch from the Continental
army, his term Of enlistment having en-
pred His extensive knowledge Of the
country, the character, habits, and dispo-
sition of the Indians. acquired whilst serv-
ing with the surveying parties, was Of
great service and he was disposed to make
good use Of it for the benefit of the settle
mept.
An old man named Whychoti, who ap-
| pears to have been an uncle to the COven-
haveus, also settled about Loyal Sock
He was n tanner by trade. and soon erect
ed tannery, and commenced making
leather for the settlements. One day, in
the summer of 1878, the Covenhaven
boys were moving in meadow. and the
old man WhychOf, WAS at work in his
tannery. A dog suddenly commenced
barking, and exhibited great symptoms of
alarm he would run towards the woods,
snuff the air. and return. The boys were
satisfied that Indians were lurking near
They took their rifles and warned the old
man to leave this he at first refused to
do, alleging that there was no DANGER
They finally Induced him to go with them;
they bad not proceeded far, till one OF
them hissed the dog, when he bounded
into the bushes, and an got Indian by the
leg, where he was lying concealed. He
rose Immediately, and shot the faithful
animal. The whites, who were i'll all,
six in number, Immediately jumped to
trees=the Indians did the same. and the
firing commenced. Whychof, who was
very much humpbacked, got behind tree
that was too small to hide all his person.
Fortunately for him, another small tree
stood between him and the Indians, and
as they fired at him, their bullets struck
tbis tree and made the bark fly around