The National tribune., 1902-04-03

eral days. Then information was received
that a party of men were on their way
to relieve the besieged Pennamites.
Twenty-seven OF the Yankees went out
and met the party at Locust Hill. The
Yankees promptly opened fire on the PEN
Mantle reinforcements, killing one and
yyounding several of them, the others fee
ing 10 q house, in which they took refuge.
About this time several Justices and
the Sheriff of Northumberland County
came to Wilkesbarre and succeeded in re-
storing peace. The Pennamites remained
in the fort, while the Yankees returned to
their deserted homes. Three days later 4
body of about 800 armed men came in,
headed by John Armstrong. The Penna-
mites pretended to surrender, when they
called on the Yankees to surrender, claim
ing they came to disarm both bodies,
more fully to insure peace and as an ac-
acknowledgement of the supremacy Of the
law.
When the Yankees laid down their
arms they were promptly made close pris-
Oners and Pennamite sentinelS placed to
guard them. Those who were at Locust
Hill We're sent under strong guard, af-
ter being securely irOned, to EastoH Jail,
the others to Sunbury. Those who were
sent 10 the latter place were admitted to
bail and returned to their homes. Those
at EastOn were kept close prisoners five
OF SlA Weeks, "Heu tleg DEDhe Jdll, anu
fully half of them escaped. The remain
der were kept until October, and then, the
Grand Jury failing to find indictments
against them for murder, they were dis
charged, after paying jail fees, etc,
amounting to S25 each.
The Yankees who escaped, headed By
John Franklin, kept together and main
tained a semi-military organization, which
steadily gained in numbers. One night
| Franklins band of Yankees attacked the
fort, killing two officers. Soon thereafter
the fort was evacuated and all the PEN
namites who had been fighting the Yam
KEGS were Obliged to leave the settlement.
The feud between the Pennamites and
Yankees continued until the Fall of 1856,
when a law was passed forming the dis
puted territory into a County, which was
reigned and peace was fully restored. The
Penuamite and Yankee war was finally
terminated on the principle Of mutual con-
cession.
During the struggle Col John Franklin
WAS the recognized leader of the Yankee
forces, while the Pennamites regarded
Timothy Pickering as their General COM
manding.
At mass meeting held on the battle
ground Of Forty Fort, in May, 1877, Col.
Franklin denounced in vigorous language
the pretended compromise. As the Yam
KEGS Were without firearms, the men ran
to a grove near by and cut stout clubs A
free-for-all fight followed, with many
broken heads. This melee was facetiously
termed ''the second battle of Forty Fort"
Mrs. Jane Bedford, one of the heroines
Of the Pennamite wars. stated years ago
that while force Of PcnnsyIyanians un-
der Col. Plunkett was preparing TO invade
a settlement OF Connecticut people, DIR.
Smith assumed the leadership of the Yam
KEGS and ordered that every man who was
without gun or sword should make
swords Of their scythcs, and every boy
who can lift a bush must be on hand
Rusty old guns and bayOnets were secured
and many scythes attached TO poles. The
latter weapons did terrible execution
among the Pennamites at close quarters.
| Others seized axes, hoes, picks and crow
bars, and advancing upon the invaders
with blood-curdling yells repused them.
| The Yankee boys moved along with their
elders, carrying bushes. This caused the
Pennamites to declare: "Thc very hill
sides are alive"
The scenes of hardship and suffering
during the exodus which followed the de.
cree of Trenton were said to be beyond
description.