The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-10-10
HER GRANDMOTHER,S LIFE
AMONG THE INDIANS.
Rebecca Regina Walter, Who Was
Captured by the Red Men Near
ly $50 Years Ago-One of Her
Descendants Died in Read
ing Few Days Ago.

| Vic AAOpiACA VI MIS-. OdultS VI
Lyon, of Taylor township, and q
sister to the mother of the Sproat
children, formerly of Brush
Creek township. -EEIToR.1
With the death of Mrs. Mary
Statler Sproat Hillegass there
was removed one of the last links
that bound the early days OF
this section to the present era.
Mrs. Hillegass was a grand
daughter of Rebecca Regina
Walter, whose experience as an
Indian captive and her subse.
quent restoration to her home
and friends is one of the most
noteworthy incidents Of the early
days of Pennsylvania, when the
red men roamed the plains, wan
dered through the forests and
padded on the river of this state.
The story, according to tradition
and history, is as follows:
The great-grandfather of Mrs.
Hillegass was Joseph Walter,
who sailed from Rotterdam in
the ship "Robert and Mary" and
arrived in Philadelphia Decem-
Der 80, 1740. Some years later
he settled in the Conococheague,
Antrim township, Franklin coun-
ty, Pa. His name appears in the
list of taxables in the township
for 1851.
After the defeat of Gen. Brad
dock in July, 1855, the French
and Indians overran the entire
province west of the Susquehan-
ma river. On November 2, King
Shingas and Captain Jacobs, two
Shawnee Indians, started out
from Kittanning on marauding
expedition. sa,,
They killed many of the settlers
in the Great Cove and in the Ton
oloway settlement. They then
crossed the Tuscarora mountain
and devastated the Conococheague
settlement. s
1t was during this expedition
that Joseph Walter and several
members of his family were kill
ed and others carried into cap
tivity.
Rev. John Steel, a Presbyter-
ian minister, was preaching at
the White Church, in the Conoco-
cheague settlement, at the time.
He stepped into his pulpit and
hung his hat and rifle behind
him, and this was also done by
many of the congregation.
On Sunday, while Mrs. Walter
was at church, the Indians
stealthily approached the Walter
home. He was reading the Bi.
BILE. The children were playing
in the yard near the house. They
observed the Indians and scream
ed. Mr.. Walter grasped his ri
fle and walked to the door. There
was sharp report and he fell
dead in the doorway, being shot
by one of the redskins. The
marauders then killed neighbor
who happened by and scalped
some of the children. Then they
set fire to the house and barn and
left, taking Rebecca Walter and
two younger brothers with them.
When Mrs. Walter returned home
from church she found her home
desolate.
Rev, White and many of the
parishioners undertook to pur-
sue the Indians, but to no avail.
After leaving the burning dwell
ing and barn the Indians COM
PEELED Rebecca to carry her little
brother, but after going some
distance, they grew tired of the
child and one of the Indians kill
ed him.
They were about to kill her al
so, but a sqaw who had taken a
fancy to her saved her life. The
agony and suffering endured by
her on the journey of over 200
miles was beyond description.
She was compelled TO walk the
entire distance to Kittanning.
Some years later the Indians
were worsted in conflict and
the tribe moved to Ohio. Here
Rebecca and her brother remain
ed.