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

| SJUny uHu HtS DOH-i iLSCupt " HtS hD6-
Il hard case for her to decide-1he Surpri=e
at Pine Creek-Escape Of John Hamilton
The Couenharen FUmily- Captain Be1'-
rys e.rpedition --SurpriEe ut Loyal Sock
Death Of James Corenhdren- Escape of
! Robert
In the summer of 177S, William Winters
who was al early settler, came up from
Berks county with several men to cut hay,
in a field short distance above where
Wllliamsport now stands with view of
bringing up his stock that fall. There
were some ten or eleven men in the COM
pany. Six of them were in the field
near the river m owing, when n party of
IrdtaDs suddenly appeared, and shot and
| sealped them all in q few moments. The
others were at the cabin which stood near
where the public road now passes Win
ters was preparing dinner, when the sharp
reports of the rifles. and the exultant yells
OF the sayages were heard. Being satisfied
| that their comrades were killed, they i'm
mediately fed, and secreted themselves in
the woods till night. The Indians not
suspecting that any others were near, pass
ed on. In the night, Winters and his men
yentured forth, ard went to the meadow,
| where they collected the bodies of the mur-
dered men in pile. and instead of burying
them, covered them carefully with large
quantity Of freshly mown hay. Then pro-
ceeding as quickly as possible to the river,
they raised their canoes that had been sunk
TO conceal them, and sorrowfully cOmmenc-
ed their return.
The fOllnwing spring he returned with a
body of armed men, and strange to relate,
found the bodies of the six men undis.urb-
ed, Just rs as he had placed them, and in a
remarkably good state of preservation.-
Very little, if any, change having taken
place.
Their bodies were taken, and carefully
buried in what is now the Lycoming grave
yard. Probably they were the first interr- !
ed there - /
An Indian war had now commenced. !
and was raging along the valley. All i'm |
provements were at an end, and most of |
the settlers houses burned, whilst the ter. |
ritied inhabitants were fleeing from the !
country.
In May, the sixth and seventh classes of
Colonel Longs battalion were ordered to
be embodied by Colonel Hunter, and scout
along the frontier, until the sixth and
seventh classes of Colonel Murray's and |
Hosterman's battaions should arrive at |
Great Island TO cover the frontier there.
Colonel Hunter writes to Mr.. Wharton,
President Of the Council, under date of !
Nay 14th, IT'S, as fellows concerning
T'These last classes would have marched
before this time only for want of Provi-
sions, as for meat there is very little to be
had in this County, and that very dear
Bacon sells at 5. 6 d. per pound, and
flower at three pound ten shillings per
hundred VT. / have ordered some People |
that lives nigh the Great Island to pre-
serve 81 ad and Barrel them for the use of |
the Militia that will be stationed there this
summer.
Col. William Cook will undertake to
provide Provisions for the Militia of this |
County, IN case he was supplied with Cash .
at this present time. as he would 60 to /
some other county to purchase some meat,
for | am certain it will be Very much |
wanted, in case the Savage Commence a
war with the frontiers, all must turn out
to prevent if possible such a Cruel Enemy /
from making inroads into our part of the
County. We are scarce of Guns, not !
more than one half Of the Militia is provi- !
ded with Arms, and q number Of them /
Very Ordinary Our Powder is exceeding |
Bad, and not fit for rides in any shape
And as for Flints we can get none to buy !; |
al this l think proper to acquaint the !
council with, &C. . ...... -
On the 10th of May near the mouth Of
Bald Eagle Greek, three men were at work |
putting in small field Of corn, were at |
tackled by party of Indians, killed and /
scalped. Two days following this, near /
Pine Creek, a man woman, and child, were |
taken prisoners, probably by the same par
ty, and carried of.
On the 20tl. of the same month, two |
men and seven women and children, were !
taken from one house, near Lycoming |
Creek. They were all carried away as pri
soners.
About the same time three families, con- |
sistipg of sixteen in number, were killed I
and carried away from Loyal Sock. y !
party that went up from Wallis only found !
two dead bodies, from which they suppOs |
ed the remainder were taken prisoners. = /
Their houses were all reduced to ashes.
1t is to be very much regretted that |
the names of all those mentioned above, !
who were killed or carried into captivity, !
were not preserved.
About this time, Andrew Armstrong, |
who settled at the big spring" below
where Lind1n now stands, was visited by |
II party of Indians. They came very sud-
denly. On the alarm being given, Mrs.
Armstrong who was enciente, slipped un
der the bed The Indians entered the |
house, and seizing Armstrong, his little
son, and woman named Nancy Bunday,
made preparations to carry them away
Armstrong told his wife to lay still, which
she died, and escaped. They were in
great hurry, on account of a small body OF
men being stationed short distance below
and did not take time to fire the building.
They turned up the creek with their phi
soncrs. Mrs. Armstrong crawled from
her hiding place, and looking ont of the
window beheld her husband and little son
disappear in the forest with them. Years
rolled away, and no tidings were had
from Andrew Armstrong No doubt they
had cruelty murdered him. The little son
was also given up for for lost, and the
mother had ceased to mourn, and became