Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-03-17
SUNBURY, Pa. FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH H. 1876
Historical.
A HISTORY
OF THE
SUSQUEHANNA.
by J. F. NAGINNIs
BY J. +. AAGINNIs.
CHAPTER XXI.

OTdefeu 10 teGCe me C0untfy-Ih ne Bag
Rmaway- Colonel Hunters appeal.
When Whychoff, Thompson, and Shoe
felt came to Thompson's house, it is said
they hitched their horses-for they appear
ed to have been riding-and went in and
commenced cooking their dinner. The In
dians having been quietly observing the
movements of the two parties, sent par
! ty 10 capture them. When they came in
sight the horses snorted and gave the
alarm. Sezing their rifles, they attempt
cd to run for tue woods, but the Indians
were too quick, and firing volly, killed
Thompson and Shoefet, and shot Wig
chof through the shoulder, wounGing him
severely. He was taken prisoner, and re-
turned after captivity Of two years.
A story is related IN connection with
this tragical affair, but with how much
truth | cannot say, that when Whychoif
was taken prisoner, he was quite bald
! headed ; but when he returned from capti
witty, he had fine head of hair.
On the same day that this sad disaster
beiell Captain Berry, Colonel HOsterman,
with Captain Reynolds, and party of
I thirteen, set out from Muncy Farm, to so
/ to Ante's Fort and the Great Island, with
ammunition for those places. When they
came TO Loyal Sock, they heard consider
able firing and yelling up the creek. They
supposed it TO be nearly mile distant, and
/ proceeded as rapidly as possible in that di-
rection. When they came to the place
where they supposed the firing to have
been, no Indians were discovered. They
had probably seen them and made off.
A noise was heard by them, however, as
Of some one striking hollow tree with
club, some distance ahead. y stroke ap-
peared to be given for each man in the
party. They then returned, and contin-
ued on to the residence of Thompson
When they arrived, the barn was on fire,
but the house remained untouched
Thompson's powder horn was found near
the house, with q bullet hole through it,
and several moccasin and shoe tracks We're
observed. Nothing could be seen or heard
of Thompson. Shoeielt, or Whychof; the
three men that were known to have gone
there. Before they came to the house,
however, they heard the death yells, and
one that they took to be for prisoner,
( given by Indians il the woods, which now
impressed them with the idea, that the
three men were killed or taken prisoners.
/ On the same day, the 10th of June, 177S.
| Peter Smith, his wife and six children
| William Kings wife and two children
Michael Smith, Michael Campbell, David
! Chambers, - Snodgrass, and - Ham
mOnd being seven men, two women, and
, eight children in all, started from Lycom-
/ ing Creek to 90 to Muncy Fort in four
horse wagon. They had got but short
! distance, when they were met by messen-
ger and informed that considerable firing
had been heard about Loyal Sock that
| day, aud 1t was not considered saie for
them to proceed. Peter Smith Informed
the messenger that he would not be stop
ped by the firing, and would continue on.
He returned and reported Smiths lnten-
ton, wheIeupon a party pushed on to
meet him. This party is supposed to have
been Colonel Hosterman,s. 1t was near
night, however, and they did not reach
J them.
! When the men with the wagon, and the
women and children, reached the spot of
I ground now said 10 be occupied by Halls
foundry, in Wlliamsport, they were fired
upon by 4 body of Indians, supposed to
have been about twenty in number. At
the first Ere Snodgrass fell dead. The In
dians only discharged two guns, when they
madea rush, tomahawk, in hand, for the
wagon. They were not observed till the
j fire had been given, when the remaining
white men Immediately jumped TO trees,
and commenced fighting for their lives and
for their women and little children. The
Indians closed in and endeavOred to sur
round them, when all the men, with the
exception of Campbell, ran, and abandon
ed the defenceless women and children To
the horrible fate that awaited them! 4
little boy escaped, and running to Lycom-
ing, informed some men there of what had
happened. The men that escaped, state
that they looked back, and Campbell was
closely engaged with al Indian fighting
nobly.
Peter Smith ran into rye field close by,
and on looking back perceived something
following him Sup2osing it to be an In
dian, he ran as fast as possible, but on
his little daughter, who, with arms stretch
cd towards him, was following as fast as
she could, and implOring him to wait and
save her! 1t is scarcely necessary to add
that the flying fathers heart was deeply
touched, and waiting moment, snatched
the child up in hi. arms and ted for life
He escaped to fort Muncy. What became
Of the other men is not stated.
When the boy gave The alarm at Lycom-
ing, they misunderstood him, and thinking
il was n canoe that had been attacked in
iIc liver ledI Niicic titc) ufCu, ldu lICIC
at once. 1t was now dark, the massacre
having occurred about sundowp, when
Colonel Hepburn, with a party that had
started out, on the alarm being given by
the fugitVgs flying from Loyal Sock, come
to the spot. They found the body OF SnOd-
grass and another, but it was Two dark
to do anything, and they pushed on TO
Lycomiug Greek, where they remained
till morning. The next day, being the
1llh Of June, they returned to the scene of
the massacre. and there beheld revealing
and horrible sight Peter Smiths wife
was found shot through the body, stabbed,
scalped, and a kife by her side. William
Kings wife Vas tomaha1ked aud scalped,
but still survived, and was sitting up when
they came. Her husband came to her,
when she leaned on him, and almost i'm
mediately expired. She appeared to be
| nd