Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1878-04-25
WYOMING MASSACRE.

PREPARING FOR PECULIAR CEN
TENNGAL CELEBRATION REBUILD
ING OLD FoRTs AND Huns -PREsI-
DENT HAYES AND OTHER PRoMI-
NENT MEN TO RE PRESENT.
A correspondent writing from Wilkes
barre, says: Preparations are progress
ing on a grand scale for the centennial
cOmmemOration of the battle of Wyo-
ming, and committees of the most
influential citizens in this section of
Pennsylvania are actively at work to
make the affair worthy Of the State and
nation. The massacre occurred on the
81 OF July, l77S, when John Butler
British Rangers, 500 strong, backed by
the tories of New York. New Jersey
anu pennsylvania. together with 7Oo
Indians, led by the terrible Brant, feH
upon the unprotected settlement while
the flower of its youth were absent.
fighting the battle of the Republic. and
after fierce conflict with the women
soldiers, composed of old men and bows,
committed wholesale slaughter of the
settlers, regardless of age or sex. The
ycomen made a gallant but unavailing
stand, and on the night of the third of
July the fair valley was filled with death
and desolation. the savage invaders in
dulging in the most cruel tortures that
could be applied with torch, tomahawk
and spear.
Three hundred men, women and chill
dren were put to merCiless death, and
a party Of 200 that fled to the Dismal
Swamp suffered the most unheard OF
horrors. Many of the leading residents
of the valley at the present day are
direct descendants Of those who distin-
guished themselves on this occasion
fighting for their friends and fresides,
and these, together with number of
influential sympa hizers, have deter
mined on doing honor to the one hun
dredth anniversary of the event that
gave Wyoming a worldwide fame and
inspired some Of the most beautiful
poetic tributes that adorn the pages of
English literature. Campbell, Halleck
and Mrs. Sigourney devoted the laurpls
OF their choicest verse TO the valley
and in England it is held in n degree 81
reverence almost as tender as that with
which it is regarded here. The forth
coming celebration will be held on the
Sd and 4th Of July next
ARRANGEMENT IN PROGRESS.
Hendrick b Wright, one of the Con
gressmen from this section and mem
Der of the committee, has invited Presi-
dent Hayes, who has signlfed his inteu-
ton of being present. Distinguished
men in politics and literature from all
parts of the country have also promised
to attend and assist in giving 6cldt to
the occasion. A classic ode has been
written for the opening song and will
be rendered by a hundred choirs, and
addresses, orations and poems commem-
Orative of the event will he delivered
by some of the leading literary men Of
the land. The Committee of Arrange
ments are actively engaged rebuilding
the old forts and huts along the Susdue-
hanna, so as to appear precisely as they
did hundred years ago, and neither
time nor expense will be spared in
making the celebration a browning
success, So as TO render the scene as
realistic as possible the services of a
tribe of Indians -prOffered a few days
ago by their chief-have been accepted,
and they will appear upon the ground
in their wild and picturesque costumes.
The proceedings on the Sd of July win
partake principally of a solemn charac-
ter, consisting Of commemorative hymn,
and orations, and on the Fourth there
will be a grand procession, followed in
the evening by a display Of fireworks
Illuminating the Susquehanna River
/ from Campbell's Ledge to Nanticoke
a distance of twenty miles, by line o
boats bearing burning tar barrels.