Morning journal and courier., 1892-12-24
THE sUsouEHAnNA COMPANY.

THE SUSQUEHANNA COMPANY.
Mr.. Henry r. Blake Reads the Sec.
ond Part OF His Paper BEFORE the
New Haven Colony Historical Socie-
ty-A Committee on DedicatorY Ex-
ercises Appointed.
The December meeting of the New Ha-
ven Colony Historical society, held at |
the society's room in the Insurance build
Ing last evening, was rather poorly at
tended on account of the cold and Santa
Claus, but those who were present listened
to another rare treat, Mr.. Henry T. Blake
reading the second part of his interesting
paper on the Wyoming Valley.
Preceding the reading of the paper the
board of directors held an executive ses-
sion, at which it was voted to appoint
committee of seven to take charge of the
dedication services of the new Historical
society building on Grove street, which
take place early next apring, probably in
May. The committee Ia as follows: Hon.
Simeon E Baldwin, Mayor Sargent, Thomas
R. Trowbridge, Hon. Lynde Harrison,
Henry F. English, Professor Adams, Major
T. Attwater Barnes.
The building has just passed out of the
hands Of the nasons and the carpenters
have commenced the inside 6nishings,
which will be very fine. The contract
calls for the completion of the building in
April, but it is thought that it will hardly
be done before May.
The throwing open of the building will
be notable occasion for the society, and 1t
will be great thing for the state to have
this building thrown open for historical
purposes.
Mr.. Blake then read the second part of
| his paper on "Connecticut's East India
Company; the Story of the Valley of Wyo-
ming" The first part of the paper was
read at the November meeting of the
society. He said:
The history of this fertile valley for the
years 1880, 1881 and 1889 was one story OF
/ Indian ravsges, plunder, murder and "a
| pine. In 1881 CORVALLIS surrendered.
The war was practically ended and a new
| face was put on the state of affairs. The
contest between the two states of Connec,
ticut and Pennsylvania for the ownership
of the territory was sharp one. A court
was called at Trenton and on December 80
| 1882, the decision was made in favor Of
Pennsylvania. Connecticut had been back
| ward in maintaining her rights, while
Pennsylvania had taken every opportunity
| for occupying the land. This decision
brought CONSERVATION to the Connection
settlers. They presented an eloquen
memorial to the Pennsylvania legislature
setting forth their trials and suffsrings, of
fering obedience and service to the stat
and begging that their lands and posses
sions be confirmed to them. The legisla
ture of Pennsylvania then passed resolu
ton non-committal as to giving them thei
possessions, but staying election suit
against the settlers, and appointed q com
mittee to go on the grounds to get full in
formation of the case. Two regiments o
troops were also sent, which caused tn
settlers some uneasiness. When the com
mittee came the settlers recognized som
of their most bitter antagonists. The
turned cold shoulder to- all overtures c
the settlers, and the final result of thei
mission was that one-half of the settlers
, possessions were to be given up at once
the other one-half to be given up at tn
end of eleven months. Special extensio
and of Rev. Mr.. johnson. The com
missioners occupied exactly nine days i
r their efforts to bring about peace in tn
Wyoming valley. The action of the CON
: missioners wastcommended by the Penn
sylvania government. To appeal to eve
| congress was In vain. A certain ma
named Patterson established himself 8
the leader of the troops, and commence
summary action against the suffering Sc
? tiers. The misery which they endure
during the season was unspeakable. Br
public indignation long suppressed 500
' made itself felt, and even through tx
legislature of Pennsylvania. The trool
y were dismissed, bat Patterson got togetht
a company of land claimants to take the
| place.
T The civil war which followed was know
as the fourth Pennamite war. Aft,
> | countless sufferings there seemed to be
lull in hostilities. Pennsylvania mac
some concessions, which she soon brok
o however, in her usual manner. job
? Franklin, q man of great ability and ste
ling integrity now became promine,
factor in the struggle. He was constant
travelling between Wyoming and Phil
o delphia, appealing congress to take SON
r notice of the abortive memorial from Il
? Connecticut legislature. He sddresse
spirited meetings of indignant citizen
going even to Connecticut to arouse IL
Q people there in bshalf of their sufferir
T. kinspeople in the Wyoming. The Su
4 quehanna company, which had SO lor
and issued public manifesto, deolarir
q that as they had paid out enormo1
d sums of money in purchasing lands 81
developing the territory under the chart
of Connecticut, which had always he
n good, they were now going to fight
maintain their legal rights. In the stru
a gle which followed Colonel Pickering
~ Philadelphia dealt the company a deaf
y blow by bringing about division among Il
7, Yankee settlers themselves and precipita
70 ing frstrieidal war. After few yea
of the stormisst of times peace was
length brought about in 1899 and Pennsy
B. vania authority was established. Nc
n certificates of ownership were issued to {
70 landholders, and thus every vestige of d
II tinction between a Yankee settler and
Pennsylvania was wiped out.
A vote of thanks was extended to N
y Blake for the magnificent paper which
,e had read before the society. The meeti
\ then adjourned.