Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-09-21
aront Frederick County, Maryland Thursday September 2 1922

On the other hand the unusual char
acter of their cortege attracted not
little attention on the part of the citi
zens, some of whom regarded he In
dams with suspicious and unfriendl!
looks, and Johann was again obliget
to explain the object of their journey
AS he could speak German, the Ger
man citizens, some of whom he fount
were acquainted with his relatives il
the county, soon became quite friendl,
and insisted in their stopping there
overnight, for which arrangements
were speedily made.
About noon they halted on the banks
of the broad Susquehanna and were
ferried over to small town on the
other side, long known as Anderson's
Ferry, but later named Marietta. Rid
i ing a few miles down the river they
arrived at Wright's Ferry, now Col
umbia. 1t was also small settle
ment, but seemed to be neater and
more orderly place than soma others
"Dannie," said Marie, as he was
walking by the side of her pony
"why do these people look so differ
ent? The men all wear such broad
brimmed hats, and long coats, and the
women such funny bonnets; but all
look so neat and kind"
81 don't know" said Dannie; "I've
never seen SUCH"
About thirty years earlier members
of the Society of Friends, from the
present Chester county, at that time
still embracing Lancaster county,
which, however, was separated from
Chester soon afterwards, had settled
here on the banks of the Susquehanna
and number of these and some Of
their descendants could be seen on the
street as the travellers entered the set
tlement. They halted to inquire where
they could obtain meal, or some pro-
visions, and Johann approached two
of the Friends, who paused in their
conversation to listen to his inquiry.
''Thee has a large company with
thee, FRIEND" said one of them. "Will
thee tell us what it signifieth?"
"These Indians are going to Phila-
delphia to give up their captives,"
said Johann.
"Does thee hear that, friend Reu-
ben? ?" said the questioner to his COM
panion, who appeared to be somewhat
deaf. "These are Indians with their
captives, whom they are about to de-
liver to the provincial authorities, in
accordance with the treaty recently
made"
"The poor souls," replied the other.
"What can we do for them, friend ia
bez:"
"Thee and will get them some food
Reuben, and then try to help them on
their way" To Johann he said, "Come
thee with US, friend, and let thy
friends come with thee"
Leading the way to a little house of
entertainment for travellers, he said to
the host, "Friend Israel, give these
travellers a meal; l will repay thee"
At the inn, where they were glad to
rest and enjoy substantial repast,
there was a rough-looking man, evil
IDENTIFY not Friend, who eyed them.
and especially Marie, very sharply.
He told Johann that he was from Lam
caster; that his daughter had been car
ried off by the Indians when he lived
"up country" and that that gal there
as he called Marie, resembled her very
much.
Going up to Marie he asked her
where the Indians got her.
"From my home in Maryland" she
told him.
"Huh! Maybe So" he grunted, "bu.
reckon you don't know, you only
think so. Never see me before?" he
asked roughly.
"No sir" replied Marie, quite fright
ened and repelled by his rough man.
ner. Dannie spoke up and said:
"She is from Maryland and so am l.
l reckon we know. What business is
it of yours anyway"
"Ho, no! my young buster; we'll see
about that some day." he concluded, az
ho saw several Friends approaching
with another man in the garb of a
well-to-do farmer. Him the Indians
recognized as an old friend, and greet
ed him heartily, talking with him ir
their own language, which he spoke
almost as fluently as they.
This was Conrad Weiser, the emf
nent and gifted German pioneer, well
known as a leader in church and civil
affairs, justice of the peace often
associated with the illustrious Benja-
min Franklin and other prominent
men in public transactions, and who
often acted as interpreter for the Gov
ernment in it's dealings with the In
dians, and played an influential part
in the making of treaties with them;
who had taught Indian languages tc
Moravian missionaries, and had ac-
companied Count Zinzendorf and 9th
ers as interpreter and protector on
their perilous journeys among the In
dian tribes, over whom he had great