Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-03-17


possible. An Indian gun was found near
him broken to pieces. His gun was gone.
What became of the remainder of the
children is not stated, but they were prob
ably carried into captivity. The Indians
took but n few things out of the wagon,
which they left standing. They probably
took the horses.
A party under Captain Shafier, it is sta
ted, went to Thompson's house and search
ed for him. At length they found him
and Shoefelt outside of field among some
pine grubs. Thompson had been shot
through the side--Shoefelt was shot through
shoulder-they were both scalped, and lay
but a short distance apart. They appeared
to have been 80 near Thompson when he
was shot, that his jacket was burned.
This was indeed bloody day-the
savages glutted themselves with murder
and returned in triumph. A gloomy pail
seemed suspended over the infant settle
ment, and weeping and wailing was heard
on every hand. Children were murdered
before their parents eve husbands were
compelled to witness the horrid deaths of
wlves-and in turn children were compel!-
ed to gaze npon the mangled bodie, OF their
parents. Neither age, sex, nor condition
was spared. The walls of helpless infants;
the imploring cries of defenceless women,
failed to awaken chord of pity in the
adamantine bosom of the tawny savage
he laughed their pitiful appeals to scorn,
and with a fiendi>h grin If pleasure. piled
the knife, and tore the reeking scalp from
their heads.
How many of the present inhabitants of
the beautiful and tlourishing town Of Will,
Transport, are aware that on The 10th day
of June, 1779. such a fearful and bloody
trageny was enacted upon the site of that
town. and the cry of helpless innocence
mingled with the whop of the savage,
awoke the echoes of the forest, and ascen-
ded to tie azure-realms of heaven?
On the intelligence of these murders
reaching Colouel 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 10 abondon the country and retire
below. He was obliged to do this, as
there were not sut1iclency of troops to
guard the whole frontier, and Congress had
taken no action to supply him with men
auG supplies. Colonel Hepburn had some
trouble TO get messenger To carry the
order up to Colonel Antes, SO panic s.rici-
eli were the people on account of the raw
ages Of the Indians. At length Robert
Coyenhaven, aud young millwrisht in
the employ of Andrew Culberlson, yoluu-
teered their services. and started Oh the
dangerous mission. They crossed the
river and assembled Bald Eagle mountain
and kept aloCg the summit, till they came
TO the gap opposite Antes' fort. They
cautiously decendet: at the head Of Nippen
nose Bottom and proceeded TO the fort. It
was in the evening, and assthey neared
the fort, the report of Il rifle rang
upon their ears. y girl had gone out
side To- milk q cow, and an Indian being
in ambush, fired upon her. The ball,
fortunately, passed through her clothes,
and she escaped unharmed. The word
was passed on up to Harris fort, aud pre-
parations made for the fight. Great ex-
element prevailed. Canoes were collected
RATS hastily constructed and every available
craft that would float, pressed into ser
vice ;and the goods and also the wives and
children OF the settlers, placed on board.
The men armed with their trusty rides,
marched down on each slde os the river to
guard the convoy. They were leaving
their homes, their cattle, and their crops,
20 the mercy of the enemy, and fleeing for
their lives. Nothing occurred worthy OF
note, during the passage to Susbury, as
the Indians did not venture to attack the
armed force that marched on shore. IL is
said that whenever any of their cIafts
would ground on bar, the women would
jump out, and putting their shoulders
against it, launch it into deep water.
The settlement. above Muucy Fort were
all abandoned, and the Indians had full
possession of the country once more. Com
panies came up as soon as possible to Sc
cure and drive away their cattle. They
found the Indians burning ana destroying.
When they came to Robert Kings inn
provenenL - where Robert King, Junn,
now lives-they found the remains of the
house aud barn yet smoking. Passing on
to Antes' Fort, they found the mill, CON
tanning Il quantity of wheat, and the sur
rounding building, reduced 10 ashes. AS
the smouldering embers were not yet eX-
tiuct, the air for some distance around,
was tainted with the odor of roasted wheat.
They gathered up what cattle they could
as soon as possible, and drove them of
from the scene Of iesolation.
Fort Muncy, Freeland's Fort, and all
the intermediate points. were abandoned
about the same time. Thus was the Val-
ley of the West Branch evacuated. This
flight was called by the people of that re-
riod. the Big Runaway" a name which
it bears TO this day.
Shortly after the Big Runaway, the at
iention of the savaces was attracted to the
memorable descent upon Wyoming, which
took place the Sd of July, 1I76. But few
remained on the West Branch, nearly all
having gone to participate in that bloody
massacre.
Petitions were Immediately drawn up
and signed, aud letters written, impOrlu-
ming the government to send troops to
Northumberland county, to protect the set
tiers whilst they return to cut their har-
vests. The harvest was ripe the settlers
had Aed, and dare return without an arm
ed force. What else could they dop a
On the 18th of July, Colonel Hunter
drew up and forwarded the following
pathetic appeal to the Executive Council
which will be rean with interest.
an .,,fJ