New-York tribune., 1902-02-18
THE MOHAWK VALLEY.
NOTES on A FAMOUS REGION.

NOTES OK A FAMOUS REGION
THE MOHAWK VALLEY, ITS LEGENDS AND
IT'S HISTORY. BY ~. Max Reid With Illus
TsfoRS TsneT offaTo ffam PR T @ G.
Sons
Mr. W Max Reid is president OF the Board OF
Trade in the fourishing little city Of Amster-
dam " y, where he born He writes or
the Mohawk Valley. therefore, a man writes
about his home. His book is not a history 1t
tells little Of the settlement Of the region with
which It is concerned. There is nothing of the
spread of populations little Of the conditions IN
which men existed The ,ife Of the pioneer
his enthusiasms the laws under which he
fhrived. what crops he raised and how he eN-
pended the products; what clothes women WORE
what books they read-all these things the
reader viii not find. But this criticism VIII not
affect the author. because it is evident that he
intended TO tell none Of these things. What ne
meant to do and what he has done with sue
cess. is TO give the history of different local.
ties or objects OF interest in the valley. In
separate chapters he takes these subjects and
discusses them exhaustively. In several in
stances he has succeeded in adding to our in
formation. especially where he gives the re-
suits OF his own research.
Sir William johnson is the most striking fig
ure in the pre-Revolutonary history of the
valley. He died in 11I4, escaping thus the
ne eessity that would have confronted him, OF
taking arms against his old neighbors and lead
ing the British forces against our settlements.
His 4 rough. strong nature Irish by birth,
he had Wit. tact, and was born leader Of men,
his talents and tastes qualifying him for sue
cess in the struggle for the control of natural
resources and the subiugation of the savage
owners. He left a name OF much honor around
which legends have grown. His residences
Hal at
SON at Amsterdam. are two of the most valuable
remaining relics of the early time. Mr.. Reid
has pictured them well. On the whole. it may
he said that his descriptions of Sir William
and his families and demesne compose the best
brief account that has appeared. OF some OF
the successors Of this great man our author
finds it difficult 10 say much that is favorable.
His chapter on the notorious Captain John But
Ter and his wicked Walter begins with those
lines from Shakespeare which show that the
evils for which men are noted live longer in
our minds than do their good deeds. The fact
that an attempt is made TO find much good in
the lives Of these men proves Mr.. Reid charita-
bic 10 a degree. but he finally says:
have searched in vain for a single kindly
act or generous impulse Of Captain Butler and
his infamous son. Walter n. When their acts
are compared with those Of Joseph Brant, their
deeds are the deeds of savages and Brant s
the acts of a noble generous man. The Buffers
appear TO have been not only arrogant and su-
peroilious in . high degree, but narharous'
treacherous. revengeful. feroCiOus, TeTciless,
disbolicaly wicked and cruel!
During the border wars Of the Revolution in
the Mohawk Valley. along the upper susque-
hanna and even in Pennsylvania, no name was
more execrated than that of Joseph Brant, the
leader Of the Iroquois IN most Of their raids
and massacres. He was born in 1142. Mo-
hawk of pure blood. but by the kindness Of Sir
- T1fla.
non, Conn. and obtained the usual education Of
the time Afterward he became the secretary
Of his patron, and was employed in many nego-
tistions. When the parting Of the ways came
for the dwelers in the horderlands Brant es-
poused the British side and soon became the
leader Of the hostile Indians. He was at the
battle If Cedar Rapids. 1716, and the next year
led a raid into Cherry Valley. IN J111. too he
took part in the ambush and battles at Oris-
kany. From this time until hostiiities ceased
Brsnt was in almost every massacre and devil
ment that took place. His name was one that
struck terror 10 the heart Of the pioneer, tor
he added TO the cunning and ferocity OF the
savage the acquired ability Of the white. The
warfare that was practiscd against the New
York borderers not civilized war. but a
policy Of murder and determination. A bounty
Of sS was offered for each white scalp. and it is
not surprising that this aided in creating the
long list of crimes that have come down TO
skrnlishes and battles There seems a de-
sire on the part Of later historians to show that
Joseph Brant has been a greatly misjudged man:
that. far from encouraging these crimes he
sought 10 lessen them: that in fact. when he
able 10 restrain his warriors he did So
This theory seems to be based upon the ad-
mitted fact that and then he had chance
70 kill and failed TO avail himself Of it, 1t is to
he noted that Mr.. Reid expresses no opinion Of
Brant's conduct, but contents himself with
calmly setting down his deeds, good and i'll, to-
gether
Two pleasing features Of this book are the
graphic setting forth Of many legends or ira
ditions and the appreciative descriptions Of the
romantic scenery for which the Mohawk Val
icy is famous.