The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-23
AN INCIDENT OF THE FIaHT-sToRY OF

AN INCIDENT OF THE FIGHT-sToRY OF A
PATRIARCH OF NINETY YEARS.
On the shaded porch Of pleasant farm house in
Vantage township, in Sussex county, n. j., which
overlooks the valley Of the Kloof the natives
call it. 'Cloove your reporter found hale old gen.
tleman, Evi De Witt by name, who on his ninetieth
birthday surrounded by forty-seven of his de-
scendants. His memory perfect and all his facul-
ties are unimpaired. Pointing to white speck far
up the valley. he said
''There, where Freck Decker lives now, my father,
Moses De Witt. lived 100 years ago. He nine
teen years old when the Brandt massacre or battle
of Minisink occurred and was one OF the sur
vivors of it. He too young at the time to en-
list but he determined go, and started of by
himself over the mountain with his gun to join the
troops which were making their way to Lackawaxen.
THE FIGHT.
''The fight began soon after they had crossed the
Delaware there, in what is now Sullivan county. 1t
was all woods at that time and everybody was fight
ing on his own hook. they called it. Father got
good place behind fallen tree, where he
pretty safe and well up in front, and whenever
he got sight of an Indian would blaze away Very
him were two other men, both behind standing
trees. but they did not get many chances to
fire as father did as they would have to expose them
selves than he did. At last his gun became so
dirty he could not fire it off, so he asked of the
men to exchange guns with him. as he could not
clean it lying down. They had just made the trade
when the Indians made rush for them. and they
found that the troops behind them retreating,
SO they tnougn the DeSt thng they could DO was to
run, too.
FLEEING FROM THE INDIANS.
cas- soon as they exposed themselves the Indians
yelled like many devils, they were and the
bullets around them thick hail, splinter
ing the bark of the trees and whistling by them.
one of them cut of a lock OF fathers hair and
grazed his The three were keeping together as
they could, when father said IF keep
together they will get all Let's separate
and they can't find US easy and they did. and
made the best OF their way the river, and father
got across safely.
PRIMITIVE WILDERNESS.
"When he got on the other side he in what is
now Pike county, Pennsylvania. and to-day u
good deal OF that is wilderness. but hundred
years ago it was the worst kind of a bowling wilder
ness. with wolves and bears and catamo UNITS and
rattlesnakes i'll plenty; you he did not
have very pleasant walk across. He found plenty
of berries to eat, which he varied with birch bark
and sassafrass root, and ut the end of the
second day found himself again at the Delaware
River. near where Dingman's ferry is. He
crossed the river there. and had another two days
tramp to reach home. which he glad enough to
do. think father had got all the fighting he
wanted, tor he did not so to the afterward.
I've heard father tell the story and again
We sat around the big fireplace of winter night,
with all the particulars, but of course they would
not interest you, tor you have been through hot
places probably yourself l know my boys have
With hearty hand shake and an invitation to
dine with him on his ninety-frst birthday the re-
porter took his departure.