The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-06-13
Recalling a Bloody Day.

orate preparations IN progress among
the people of Pennsylvania for CEN
tennial commemoration of the Battle
and Massacre OF Wyoming. recall
one of the most thrilling incidents of
the Revolution The name of Wyom.
ing and its said history have obtained Q
worldwide reputation, and naturally
the thousands who have been stirred
by the recollection of its woes, will feel
an interest In the forthcoming celebra-
tion, which will occur on the Sd and
4th of July next, the first being the
date Of the battle and massacre.
The invasion of the valley was ac-
cornplished on the Sd of July, 1878,
when a number of British soldiers,
commanded by Colonel John Butler,
and accompanied by 700 Indians, led
by the cruel halfbreed, Brant, or
Glen -gws-toh, descended upon the de-
fenceless settlers. They were met by
few companies of old men and boys,
who's extreme age aud youth exempted
them from serving in the ranks of the
Republic. and for several hours u fierce
battle ragged on the banks OF the Sus-
quhanns. But the contest was un-
equel. :. The Indians, from their am
bush. kept up deadly flank fire.
which soon thinned the ranks of the
yeomen, and utterly shattered. they
were forced to fall back, despite the
appeals of their outrageous leader. Col.
Zebulon Butler, who cried Don't
leave me, my children, and the day is
ours" The Indians seeing their foes
retreat. fe!! upon them and slaughtered
without mercy. men, women and
children.
When the Six Nations espossed the
English cause against the Colonies. it
was part of the compact that the latter
should lead them against Wyoming.
to afford them an opportunity of being
avenged upon the settlers, who they
regard as usurpers of the red mems
paradise, name sometimes given to
the valley; and 80. the first skirmish
being over. the Iindiars gave full
scope to the spirit OF destruction
which possessed them, and, breaking
away from their leaders. they resped
terrible revenge upon the gentle
people of that Aarcdian abode. About
800 were put to death by torch. toms.
hawk, and spear. regardless of age or
sex. and the most cruel tortures that q
iiendish spirit could devise were en-
ployed To make the last lingering
moment 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 fire,
and the devastation of the entire
settlement was made complete. Sever
al were droyned in their efforts to es-
cape down the river under the cover OF
night. but party of hundred women
and children succeeded in making their
way to the mountains, under the lead
ership of an old man, who was their
soul protector. But though they fled
the terrors Of the massacre, it was TO
encounter hardships equally severe.
Their path lay through the Green
Swamp. now known as the "Shsdes of
Death" by reason of the number who
have perished there, and the suffering
they endured from fear and famine
and sickness are unmatched by any
thing on record. One poor woman,
whose babe died at her breas st In n
vain effort to obtain nourishment,
carried her dead darling twenty miles
rather than leave the precious burden
behind to fall prey to the wolves; and
many other incidences of love and devo-
tion are related. Only few survived
the fatigue of the march and the plague
ue which overlook them in the swamp.
The bodies of those who were mass
acred in Wyoming Valley, lay unburied
on the plain for months. until de-
tachment of soldiers gathered them to.
gether one night and consigned them
to q large hole in the ground, fearful
lest more respectful interment might
excite the enmi.y of the Indians. who
were still prowlling abouuthe neighbor-
hood. The result was that the exact
location of the remains was unknown
10 the friends of the dead for many
years. and their discovery at last was a
mere accident. An unassuming obelisk
commemorative Of the virtues of the
fallen heroes has been raised over
their resting place by patriotic women
Of Wyoming. and il is visited every
Summer by hundreds Of persons attract
ed to the scene by spirit of reverence
sr curiosity.
In order TO make the coming Centen.
nisl a. realistic rs possible. number
of huts are in process along the river.
tn look exactly like those which stood
there one hundred years ago. aud the
old fcrt. are being rebuilt A tribe ~
friendly l"dians detailed their Chief. a
few days ago, 10 wait on the C'mmit-
tee ot Arrangements ard ttftr their
services in full costume. aud their ap-
pearauce will doubtless aid the pictur-
esauc features of the representation.
President Hayes and u number OF men
prominent in politics and literature
have also signtied Their intention of
being present. The first day will be
devoted To odes and orations commem-
oratiye Of the event. The words OF a
poem bv Miss Susan l. Dickinson have
been set to music. and will be sung by
one hundred voices, and . similsr con.
tribution has been made by another
accomplished lady. who retires behind
the non dc plume of Stella of Lacka-
wanna" The programme for the
Fourth of July consists of q grand pa
peant. participated in by the civic ana
military societies of Pennsylvania, to
be followed. in the evening, by dis
play of fire- works along the river
banks a distance of twenty miles OF
charming scenery.
A sketch of wy0ping would be in
complete without mentioning the
Bloody Queen Esther" an Indian
fury, who, with Ter own hand. pat
twenty men TO death. Her victims had