The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-01-31
Continued from lst page.

mental soldiers. These relics re-
main to this day in remarkable
state of preservation. The Wyom-
ing Massacre took place July 3rd,
1878 Many of the panic stricken
inhabitants sought refuge in fight
down the river and shared the kind
hospitality of the Quaker settle
ment at Catawissa. The unfortu-
nate affair at Wyoming had very
serious and demoralizing effect on
the patriot settlers of the entire re-
gion where the Tories became more
pronounced and assumed bolder
attitude devoting themselves to Civ
ing information 70 the British and
Indians at Niagara, and to TIE dis
couragement of enlistments on the
frontier aud inducing those already
enlisted TO desert. The desperation
Of those who lost family and friends
either by the tomahawk and scalp
ing knife or by imprisonment or
beholding their homes devastated
knew no bounds. In the summer
Of 1878 Col. Michael Lindermuth
of the Be:ks County Militia station
ed at Fort Jenkins seized FIVE rifles
from one Webb, a citizen living
near the fort on the ground of his
disaffection. Later, however, Webb
made application to the authorities
aud removed his rifles. Patrick
Hill and Matthew Russell, citizens
cf the township of Wyoming,
Northumberland County, and Of
the same township in which
Fort jenkins was situated,
were both proclaimed attainted
traitors and their property con-
demned for con6scation. Patrick
Hill was of the Simon Girty stripe
and later in 1891 had joined him in
the western part of Pennsylvania
as related to the narrative of Mrs.
Thomas Rhea, who arrived at Pitts
burg from captivity with the In
dians on June 80, 1871. Matthew
Russell had a number of complaints
made against him before Thomas
Hewitt Esq, a Justice of the Peace
at Northumberland in consequence
of which he on the 9th Of April
1879 appeared at Fort Jei kins and
surrendered himself to Capt.
Sweeny the commanding officer
who Immediately sent him under
guard to Fort Augusta, where he
was confined in prison with Duncan
Beeth and Ci aries Carroll charged
with endeavoring to seduce Daniel
Galloway and William Russell,
two soldiers belonging to Col. Hart
ley's Regiment to desert to the
enemy; also David Fowler charged
with holding a criminal correspon.
lence with the enemy, and sending
Casper Ramey and others to the
Indians for the purpose OF giving
:hem information as to the situation
IN the frontier; also Casper Ramey
Tor going to the enemy and giving
information by the persuasion of
David Fowler and James McNeill,
llso William Dugan charged with
0eing a confederate OF the above
,amed Fowler, Galloway and Rus
sell; also the two soldiers, Daniel
Galloway and William Russell who
lad agreed to desert to the enemy
ont were discovered.
Duncan Beeth, Casper Ramey
md other inhabitants of Catawissa
md Fishing Creek confessed that
they had been sent with informa.
ion to the enemy at Niagara BY
David Fowler and others. Thomas
Hewitt Esq, Justice of the Peace,
august 29, 1880 in a letter to Presi-
dent Reed complained that on every
iucursion of the enemy into the
country all the disaffected flew to
catawissa for protection, while the
veil affected had either to leave
he country or shut themselves up
q garrison. On the 27th August
1879 Henry O'Neill appeared be-
ore Thomas Hewitt and under
9ath made statement that on the
,4th he and Peter Simerman at
Catawissa mill were engaged in re-
pairing the mill pond when they
heard two whistles on the charger
of gun, and soon heard an Indian
halloa and saw him wave his hand
to them to come to him. They ask
ed the Indian what he wanted. The
Indian asked if Ellis Pughes was
there? They answered No. He
then asked if they were Tories who
lived at the mill3
Peter Simerman answered No.
that they were Yankees. Then the
Indian answered Aye, Aye, twice
and did not seem well pleased and
took up his gun and went up the
hill. The following letter from
Thomond Ball Dep. Proty. bearing