Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-06-02
MASSEY HARRISON.
PITTSBURGH DESCENDANTS OF THE FA-
NOUS HEROINE.

It is probable there are but few per-
sons who know anything of the histo-
ry of Western Pennsylvania who have
not read the terrible story of the sui
ferings and tortures of Massey Harbl-
son, but as there may be many who DO
not and more perhaps who have read
her history years ago and since let It
slip their memories, it might be well
in this connection to give brief syn
opsis Of the many horrible tortures to
which this heroic woman was sub.
jected.
Her story is briefly this: "Massy
HARRISON, or more properly speaking,
Massiah Jane HARRISON, was the wife
of a spy under General st. Clair, and
she with her husband-when he was
at home-occupied house which was
situated near what is now known as
McKain station, about twenty-slx
miles up the Allegheny Valley Rail
road. Early in the morning of May
%, 1892, while her husband was absent
the house was entered by large party
of Seneca Indians, and Massey Har.
bison, who was still in bed with her
infant child, was compelled to 60
with them. Two other children some
what older than the first were also
pulled out of bed. The painted mon
sters then ransacked the house, and,
after taking all the plunder they
wanted. thew DESTROYED everything
else, and then took up their march,
after killing one man in the blockhouse,
near by, and wounding another. One
of her children, boy of about three
years of age, began to cry through
fright, when one of the merciless,
blood-thirsty demons took him by the
heels and dashed his brains out
against the door sill after which the
scalp of the helpless innocent was torn
from his battered head with as much
exultation as if the victim of the muir
derous wretches had been a powerful
warrior slain in battle.
Then the unfortunate woman, with
her babe in her arms and her other
remaining child, was forced to go with
her captors.
After marching for while they
came to the mouth Of the Kiskimine-
tas river, and while descending the
bank the horse on which one of the
savages was riding, with the Oldest
surviving child, fell and rolled over the
bank. The little one was somewhat
injured and began to cry, whereupon
one of the red iends became exasperat-
ed and Glove the head of the little one
with his tomahawk, after which he
scalped him. But to give descrip-
ton of all the horrors which the heroic
woman was compelled to endure would
take up too much space, and would be
an unnecessary repetition of facts
which may be within the memory Of
the reader. 1t is therefore only me-
cessary to state that she escaped on
the second day Of her captivity, and
after being unsuccessfully pursued and
narrowly escaping capture, she dis
covered herself to white frontiersmen
on the sixth day after her capture and
was taken back to her friends. She
had wandered down to a spot near
where Sandy creek is now located, part
Of the way carrying her infant in the
folds Of one Of her garments which she
held between her teeth. Her feet and
hands were literally filed with thorns,
and she was so fearfully emaciated as
to be unrecognizable.
The above is the story in brief of the
terrible adventures of Massey Harbi-
son, and although many are familiar
with it, there are but few of the num-
her that have the least idea that there
are lineal descendants of Massey Har.
bison living in Pittsburgh at the pres
ent time; yet such is the case. One
of her grandchildren is Mr.. Mills
Shoup, who resides in Forty-fourth
street, Pittsburgh; another is a lady
named Mrs. Anderson, and there are
still others living in and around the
city, one of them living at Freeport
where Massey HARRISON was buried in
the old graveyard situated on Market
street, in that town. But her grave
like that of many others whose lives
have formed part of the history of the
State and Nation, bears not the
slightest tribute to her fame from the
public.
There were also, at last accounts
two sons still living; one named Ben
jamin, who is now in his eighties, and
said to be remarkably well preserved
man, and another named John. The
last named is the one, who as an in
fAnt, she carried with her through al
her peril and in connection with him
there is story which is but seldom
seen excepting in the pages of novel
When he grew to manhood, he was
so impressed with the fiendish cruel
ties practiced upon his mother and two
brothers that he made VOW to worl
out q terrible retribution by killing
every painted savage that came in his
way, and he has devoted his whole
life to vengeance since. To attain this
object be has followed the Indians al
fast as they were driven toward the
setting sun, his only desire being te
kill.
When last heard from he was OF
the extreme borders of Kansas still re
lentlessly carrying out his relentless
work of destruction, and if he still ex
lists is between eighty and ninety
years of age. To be sure it is probable
that long ere this his vengeful hant
has been stayed by old age or death
but those who knew Of him say tina
he was so firm in his resolve tina
with his last effort he would deal ou
death to the remnants of the race
that tortured his mother and mur
dered his brothers.