The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-29


On one corner of the boulder in small
letters is the further inscription: Bucks
Co. Hist. Soc, 1885,"
Quiet, very peaceful is the meeting
mouse yard with the ground covered at
this season of the year with the fallen
mantle of the shade trees.
Thick autumnal leaves that strow the
brooks in Vallombrosa."
A veritable antique in the yard is the
old, high horse block with four wide,
deep and stony steps. This is a re-
minder of the old days when the pretty
Quaker girl rode "pillion" behind her
father to meeting and had to be carefully
helped down from her mount by means
of the high block" We may be sure the
rustic cavalier was in attendance waiting
for the opportunity to help Beauty dis
mount
1t IS now an unusual sight to see a
Quakeress in plain clothes as an eques-
trienne, for carriages and automobiles are
numerous, to say nothing Of trolleys and
bicycles. But in old times there was Moth
ing unusual in the spectacle of lady
in the scoop bonnet and drab dress OF
the Society of Friends faring on horse
back where business called her.
Wrightstown Meeting House dates as
far back as 1887. It is well preserved,
and a fine example of the excellent archi-
lecture of the period when buildings were
strongly put up and furniture made to
last, not merely to hold together until
it had been sold.
William Penn founder of Pennsylvania,
mas sometimes been unjustly blamed for
the transaction known as the Walking
Purchase" But sinse he died in 171S he
cannot be held responsible for what hap
pened 10 years afterward in fragrant vio-
lation of his clearly spoken principles and
rule of life.
The facts are these: 1882. 1888, 1855 and
1886 are the dates mentioned by different
authorities as the year of William PENIS
treaty with some Lenni Lenape chiefs,
for lands bounded on the east by the
Delawares, on the west by the Neshaminy
Creek, extending to the north from his
previous purchase. 'as far as a man can
go in a day and a half" The land was
not required Immediately upon the de-
livery of the quid pro quo, and no effort
was made 70 fix the boundary until half
a century later, when the Lenni Lenape,
becoming uneasy at the encroachments
of their white settlers, asked to have the
boundary defined.
The proprietors of the Province at that
time were John and Thomas Penn, sons
of the founder. The Penns held a con-
ference with the Indian chiefs at Penns-
bury, and a day was duly appointed for
walking the boundaries. Instead of
walk it proved a run. Three fleet run
ners, Edward Marshall Solomon Jennings
and James Yeates were hired by the gov
ernor. Thomas Penn offered a reward
to the runner covering the greatest dis
lance. The reward was to be five pounds
of money and five hundred acres Of land.
It is said that Thomas Penn actually
sent out advance agents in secret in order
to blaze the way" by marking trees
showing the best course through the VIII
derhess. The start was made from the
chestnut tree by Wrightstown Meeting a
dawn on September 10. 1871. The sheriff
and surveyor general followed the walk
ers on horseback and two Indians &C
companied the party to see that all was
fair. The walkers stepped of quickly
when the sheriff gave the word to start.
and when they quickeaed their pace to
a run the Indians protested, but In vain.
Jennings gave out before reaching the
Lehigh river his health prematurely
shattered. Yeates, overcome by exertion,
stumbled into a creek and when rescued
was entirely blind. and died In three days.
Marshall. q famous hunter and walker
kept on with the aid OF a compass, when
ne passed the last Of the blazed trees.
When time was called 10 halt" Re
threw himself forward and graspsd sap
ling. very near to where the town Of
Mauch Chunk now stands. BY taking adj
vantage OF a flaw in the lease the sur
veyor general drew the line at right an
giles 10 the direction OF the walk
The Indians protested that the so-called
walk was a fraud. but their appeal fell
upon officially deaf ears. The afair made
a stir. however. and attached unsavory
reputation 20 the Penns Markham. Sur
veyor General Eastb0urne and the white
runners. all participants in The disgrace
full affair 4 sort - Nemesis waited
upon the actors. Marshall never obtained
his promised reward Of 800 acres. and his
wife was killed fl an Indian raid. Penn
repu6iated the surveyor general but no
body thought OF restoring the stolen land
to is rightful owners.
From this time We date the begin
ming II hloo5shed and hostile Teprtsa 8
between the white settlers aid rad na-
t5ves q Pennsylvania.
Al things considered. + was delicate
feeling which dictated The wording o. he
monument OF the Bucks County Hisfor-
zeal Society az Wrightst3wn Meeting