Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-04-07
The Child CAPTIVE of Wyoming,

Al a " NANNh WI wv ~ NhNbNi
morning in 1913 left Easton, Pa, on d
stage-coach tor the Wyoming Valley
sixty miles distant.
Early the next morning | started on
a pilgrimage 10 places and persons
identified with the stirring scene.
enacted in the Wyoming Valley in the
summer of l77S first visited Mr..
Charles Miner, the early historian OF
the valley, who, with his blind daugh.
ter. blessed with a remarkable memo
nv, heard the fearful and pathetic sto-
nv from the lips of more than forty ill.,
tclligcnt survivors of the work OF des-
olalion. | then called on the rcncra-
BILE Mrs. Myers, near Kingston, a liv-
inc witness of the woes of Wyoming.
who was then eighty-sevcn years of
age, totally blind, but exceedingly
cheerful and kindly communicative.
Mrs. Myers. nee Bennett, was sixteen
wears old at the time of the mcinora-
bic invasion of the valley, and was in
Forty Fort when it was surrendered
She remembered every minute occur
renee there with perfect %clearncss.
She remained two weeks in the valley
after the surrender. The Indians kept
her face painted black and II white fill
let around her head as n protection
against the tomahawks of strange say
sgcs aud she was treated very kindly
bv them, After the barbarians, white
and red, had left the valley, she return.
ed with her family and had enjoyed
for seventy years the sweets of peace
and domestic happiness.
II am like a withered stalk whose
flower hath fallen" said the venerable
lady; "but," she added with a pleasant
smile. "tlIc fragrance still fingers.
Have you seen Joseph SlocumT' she
inquired,
Il have not even heard of him." re.
piled.
You ought not to leave the valley
without seeing him." she said, "tor he
can give YOU y more interesting story
about the events | have heen relating
to you than any other living person
the story of the captivity OF his little
sister, and the discovery o. her sixty
years attrrward. lIclives not far from
the hotel"
spent the evening pleasantly and
protitably with the venerable Joseph
Slocum, whose family was among the
sufferers in the Wyoming Valley, lie
gave mo n minute account of the cap
turc of his little sister Frances by the
barbarians, and the final discovery OF
her.
Mr.. Slocum's father was a Friend or
Quaker and WAS distinguished for his
Kindness to the Indians. lie remained
unframed at the time of the invasion
and his dwelling was untouched BY in.
cendiary fire. But his son Giles was
in the battle. This, doubtless, excited
the ire OF thc Indians, and they rcsolv.
ed on vengeance. Late in autumn
they were seen prowling about the
house, which was not tar I ON Wilkes.
Barre Fort. A ncighbor had been
made a prisoner, and his wife and two
sons found a welcome home in the Slo.
cum family. One morning the two
boys were grinding y knife near tho
house, when q ri1c-ihot and n shriek
brought Mrs. Slocum to the door. Ar
Indian was scalping the cides, boy, {
lad of fourteen. The barbarian rush
ed into the house and seized q llttlt
son of Mrs. Slocum. The frightened
mother exclaimed.
See! ..he can do thee no good; he i
lame"
The Indian released the boy, and ia.
king her daughter Frances gently in
his arms, seized the younger ofthe two
boys outside and fastened TO the noun
tains. Mrs. Slocum's little daughter
nine years old, caught up Joseph I'm,
Informant, who was two and a hal
years old. and.tcd in safety to the fort
when an ALARM was given, but the bar
barians were beyond successful pur,
suit.
About six weeks after this event Mr.
SlOrum and his tather-lm.law were
shot and scalped by prowling Indians
while toddcring cattle near the house
The savagcs escaped with their horrit
trophies. Mrs. Slocum, berctt of ia
ther, husband and child, aud stripped
of all possessions except the hous,
that sheltered her, could not leave tn,
valley, for nine helpless children were
yet in her household. She trusted IL
The God of Elijah, and il she was no
ted by the ravens she was spared from
the vulturcs. She mourned not for thu
dend, for they were at rest; but it'll,
Frances, her lost darling, where wa'
she? The lamp of hope Was kept burn
ing, but years rolled by and no tiding,
OF the little one came. When peace re,
turned and friendly intercourse will
Canada was established, two of the lit,
tie captive's brothers started in quesl
other. They trayersed the wilderness
10 Fort Niagara, on the border, offer
ing rewards for her discovery, but i,
vain. They returned convinced thai
the child was dead, But the mother,
heart was still the shrine of hope, ant
she felt assured that Frances was no
in the grave. Her embodied spiri
seemed to hold communion with tina,
of her child, and she often said,
II know Francois living. Some,
thing tells me that she is alive and
we'll"
At length the mothers heart WA
chccrcd. a woman tmsny years ha(
now passed, and Frances, if living
must be n full-grown woman) wa,
found among the Indians who answer
ed the description of the lost one. Sh,
only remembered being carried ava,
from the Susquchanna. Mrs. Slocnn
took her home and cherished her with
a mothers tenderness. Yet the IN, s,
FERROUS Ink OF sympathy that binds til,
maternal nature to its offspring wa
%untcli, and the bcrcavcd mother wa,
bereavcd still.
at may be Frances. yet it does no,
seem so. Yet the conner shall be wei
come" said Ms. Slocum. The found.
ling felt no tllial warnings, and botl
being convinced that no c0nsanguinit,
existed the orphan returned to her In
dian friends. From time to time tn,
nope of the mother would be refresh
ed. and journeys were made to distan
Indian settlements in search Of the los
sister, but in vain. The mother wa
finally laid in the grave. and it'll,
Franccs was almost forgotten.
The brothers oil the ciild-captivc hat
borome aged men, and their grand
children were PLAYING upon the YER,
spot from whence Frances was taken
In the summer oflS37, i%itty.ninc year