Connecticut western news., 1897-07-01
The Wyomine Massacres.

Thomas Campbell has celebrated in Gertrude of Wyoming one of the most tragic and most pitiful events in our coun- try's early history. The poem, as all know, is in Campbell's most charming style. The poet sings:
 Delightful Wyomingl Beneath thy skies
 The happy shepherd swains have naught to do But feed their focks on green decliyities
 From morn till evenings sweeter pastime With 1imbrel, when beneath the forest brown Thy lovely maidenS would the dance renew, And, aye, those sunny mountains half way Would, echo fageolet from some romantic
 clown.
 The Wyoming valley on the Susque- hanna river was as beautiful spot 100 and more years ago as it is now. Posses sion of the territory was in dispute be- tween Connecticut and Pennsylvania, and strife between contending claimants was frequent. The Tories were turned out, and then, under command of Colonel John Butler, they allied themselves to the neigh boring Indians and returned with force of l, 100 men, 900 of whom were sayages. Colonel Zebulon Butler commanded the settlers, but he and his little army were enticed out of their fort on the plea of a barley and, having been led into ambus- cade, were slaughtered almost to 8 man. The fort was then attacked and forced to surrender, and many of its defenders were massacred. It is said that Queen uEsther, a half breed Indian woman, tomahawked with her own hand 14 persons to satisfy her revenge for the killing of favorite son. And when this dread Fourth of July ended it looked upon deyasted val | ley, ruined homes and mutilated corpses, while little band of suryivors-25 or 80 | men and 200 women-were driven out in to the trackless wilderness to find way as best they might to a friendly settle ment, long journey that was only ac- | complished after much suffering.
 The Washington Monument. When the cornerstone of the Washing l ton monument at Washington was laid | July 4, 1848, there was a brilliant assem | blaze. Among those in attendance were | a few men and women who had been con | temporaries of the Father of His Country | Upon the platform were seated side by | side the widows of Alexander Hamilton and President Madison, both of whom had witnessed the birth of the republic. Presi | dent Polk and his cabinet were present and Robert c. Winthrop delivered the ora | tion.
 | The date, July 4, 1851, the seventy -fiftf | anniversary of the nations birthday, wal selected as the occasion for laying the COT nerstone of the extension of the capitol a Washington. The celebration was dis tinguished affair. There were grand military and civic procession and impos ing ceremonies. Fillmore was president and Daniel Webster, then secretary O state, delivered the oration, which was on | lsa II. ol4 anI I,,1 pressiye public speeches.
 Memorable Battles.
 It was an anxious Fourth of July tha dawned upon the country in 1861. Civi war had become dread reality. Confed crate troops had been assembling fo weeks across the Potomac in Virginia Approximations for thn r,' -ty of WeGhiny ton were rife and Federal troops wer throwing up Qualifications and pushing ir to the field. Almost daily reports wer coming in of skirmishes and light engage ments between the opposing forces I
 this crisis the Fourth was celebrated wit renewed fervor. Congress met in specis session on that day, the only time in tn
 history of the country that the day h,
 been chosen for such purpose. The
 was a dramatic force In the arrangemel
 that was not without its effect in stim, lating patriotism in the then tense cond tion of the public mind. At once Pres
 dent Lincoln sent in his message oallir for 400, 900 men and s400, 900, 900 and UT
 ing prompt measures for the prosecutic
 of the war.
 The month of July, 1868, opened wit
 much of hope and anxiety throughout u
 country. All eyes north and south we
 turned toward Gettysburg and Vicksbur : and there was little thought anywhe
 save for the opposing armies that fact
 each other. For several weeks the inv