The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-06-06
THE MASSACRE Ar WYOMING.


OF the Hatiie aad Massacre.
A correspondent of a New York paper
writes AS follows from scranton, Pa:
The neutrality-suspicious. IN progress
among the people ot Pennsylvania for a
centennial commemoratlou OF the battle
and massacre of Wyoming, recall one of
the most thrilling incidents Of the Reyo-
luton. The name of Wyoming and it's
sad history have obtained worldwide
fame, aud naturally the thousands who
have been stirred by the recital Of it's
woes, will feel An interest IN the forth
coming celebration, which will occur on
/ the 81 aud 4th Of July next, the first
/ being the date Of the battle and massa-
ere The preparationsfurt the dcmonstra
tiuu were begun on the uiuety-n,uth
anniversary ut the event, when "a number
( Of the descendants uf the gallant yeomen
who fought and fell met and organized
an IN uducutlal association, with sub
committees scattered throughout the
valley L. attend to the details. The
heartluvss witn which they entered upon
their work and the enthusiasm with
which the public have seconded their
efforts. warrant the hope that the affair
will be- worthy OF the occasion which Il
is designed to honor.
The invasion of the valley was accom-
plishcd ON she 81 Of July, lIIS, when
number Of British soldiers, commanded
by Col. John Butler, and accompanied
10y 700 Indians, led by the cruel half
breed, Brant, or Gi-en ngwah-tOh, de-
scended upon the iefencelcss settlement.
They were met 10y few companies Of
old men aud boys, whose extreme age
and youth had exempted them from
service in the distant ranks OF the Re
public, and for several hours fierce
battle ragged on the banks Of the Sus-
quehanna. But the contest Was unequal.
The Indians from their ambush, kept up
q deadly flank fire, which soon thinned
the ranks Of the yeomen, and, utterly
shattered they were forCcl 10 fall back,
despite the appeals OF their courageous
leader, Col. Zebulon Butler, who cried.
4" Don't leave me, my children, and the
day is ours. The Indians, seeing their
foes retreat, fell upon them and slaugh-
tered without mercy, men, women and
children.
When the Six Nations espousei the
English cause against the Colonies Il
WAS part Of the compact that the latter
should lead them against Wyoming, 10
afford them an opportunity Of being
avenged upon the settlers, whom they
regarded "a the usurpcrs Of the rcd
mans 5 paradise. "a name sometimes given
10 the valley; and 50, the first skirmish
being over, the Indians gave full scope
10 the spirit OF destruction which possess
ed them, and, breaking away from their
leaders, they reapei terrible revenge
upon the gentle people OF that Arcadian
abode. About three hundrel were put
10 death with torch, tomahawk and
spear, regardless of age or sex, aud the
most cruel tortures that hcndish spirit
could devise we're employed 10 make the
last lingering moments OF their victims
full OF agony. An awful night followed
that day of carnage. The huts and
homes, the crops and orchards, were set
on tlre, and the devastation Of the en-
tire settlement was made complete.
Several were drowned in their efforts 90
/ escape down the river under the cover
ot night, but a party Of hundred
women and children succeeded IN max
ing their way to the mountains, under
the leadership of one old man, who was
their sole protector. But though they
He'd the terrurs OF the massacre, Il was
to encounter harlships equally severe.
Their path lay through the Great
Swamp, now known rs the " Shades Of
I Death" by reason of the numbers who
had perished there, aud the suderings
they endured from fear and famine aud
sickness are unmatched by anything on
record. One poor woman, whose babe
died at her breast in a vain effort 20 oh
tain nourishmeut, carrie her dead dar
ling twenty miles rather than leave the
precious burden behind 20 fall prey 10
the wolves, and many other incidents cf
/ love and devotion are related. Only
/ few survived the fatigue Of the march
and the plague which overlook them IN
/ the swamp. The bodies Of those who
were massacred in the Wyoming Valley
! lay unburied on the plain for months,
| until detachment Of soldiers gathered
/ them together one night and consigned
| them 10 q large hole IN the ground, fear
/ ful lest more respectful interment
might excite the enmity OF the Indians,
who were still proving about the neigh
| borhood. The result was that the exact
/ location OF the remains was unknown TO
/ tie friends Of the dead for many years,
ana their discovery at last WAS mere
accident. An unassuming obelisk com
memorative OF the virtues OF the fallen
heroes have been raised over their rest
/ ing place by the patriotic women OF
/ Wyoming, and il visited every summer
! by hundreds Of persons attracted to the
scene by spirit OF reverence or curlos-
ity.
In order to make tho coming Centen-
nial as realistic as possible. a number
of hints are in process OF erection along
| the river, TO look exactly like those
which stood there one hundred years
ago, and the old forts are being rebuilt.
/ A tribe of friendly Indians detailed
/ their chief a few days ago TO wait on
| the committee Of arrangements and
offer their services, in full costume, and
their appearance vii, doubtless aid the
/ picturesque features Of the representa-
/ ton. President Hayes and a number
OF men prominent in politics and litera-
ture have also signihed their intention
OF being present. The first day will be
| devoted TO odes and orations commemo-
rative OF the event. The words of a
poem by Miss Susan + Dickinson have
! been set 10 music aud will be sung by
one hundred voices, and similar con-
! tribution has been made by another
accomplished lady, who retires behind
the nom dc plume of "Stella of Lacka-
wanna. The programme for the Fourth
Of July consists of n grand pageant,
participated in by the civic and military
societies Of Pennsylvania, 10 he followed
in the e-saing by display of fireworks
along .As f7ver banks distance of
twenty miles of charming scenery.
A sketch Of Wyoming would be incom-
plcte without mentioning the "Bloody
Queen Esther" an Indian fury, who
with her own hand put twenty men to
death. Her victims had been taken
prisoners, and were promised mercy;
but Just at the moment when they hoped
10 be released they were led from the
fort where they had been held captive,
and ranged around "A rock, upon which
their murderess, with death-maul and
tomahawk, dashed out their brains. II
is known 10 this day as Qneen Esther's
Rock, and the portion which rose above
the surface Of the earth has been almost
carried away by tho relic hunters. The
story of Frances Slocum, who was carried
of from her mothers door, IA mere baby,
by the Indians, and discovered half a
century later by her brothers, who
found that she had forgotten her Ian
guage. and was happy and wealthy with