The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-07-11

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~ 1na greatest contlagration in
M IN the history of mankind, the
SkSM%<S World war, but how many
%S/N& of them knew that the
murder of an American girl
by Indians in 1777 played a part in de-
termining the destiny of their own ma
ton? Yet there are historians who
will agree that her death, the one
hundred and ffty-third anniversary
of which comes on July % of this
year, was a factor in the sO-called
turning point in our struggle for
independence. in these years so many
seSquicentennial celebrations of i'm
pOrtant battles Of the Revolution are
being held, it is fitting that Ameri-
cans should hear again the story of
lovely Jane McCrea and her tragic
fate.
In June, 17T7, Gen. John Burgoyne
with an army of 1000 British and
Hessians and a large force of Cana
dian and Indian allies swept down
from Canada for the invasion of New
York by the way of Lake Champlain.
After he had captured Ticonderoga,
Crown Point and Fort Edward, he
expected Sir William Howe to come
up the Hudson river from New York
and join him at Albany. Thus they
would drive wedge between New
England and the other colonies and
put an end to the rebellion. Fort Ed
ward was in a dilapidated condition
and was held by only small rear
guard of Gen. Philip Schuyler's army,
which had been forced to retreat be-
fore Burgoyne's greater numbers.
Near Fort Edward stood three cab
ins, one of which was occupied by a
Mrs. Mcneil, who is described as "a
fat and talkative old woman, who had
been twice widowed" She was a
cousin of Brig. Gen. Simon Fraser of
BurgOyne's army, and for that reason
felt no apprehension at the approach
of the invaders, even though Bur-
goyne's Indian allies had been killing
and scalping settlers as they advanced
On July q she welcomed guest into
her home-Jane McCrea, twenty
three-yearold girl, who lived with her
brother, John McCrea, lawyer and
colonel of the local militia, near the
mouth of Moses Kill, south of Fort
Edward. Jane McCrea was noted
throughout the countryside both for
her beauty and for her long and lus-
trouS hair which would reach to the
floor when she stood and let it down.
Because of the near approach Of the
enemy, John McCrea was preparing to
move to Albany, but his sister refused
TO go with him or even to stay at their
home ON Moses Kill. The reason was
that she had a lover, David Jones, a
neighbOr who, being Tory, had fled
to Canada soon after the outbreak of
the war and was now returning as an
officer in one of Burgoyne's Loyalist
regiments. He had written to her,
proposing that she should ostensibly
pay Mrs. Mcneil farewell visit, then
slip away to the British lines and he
would have the chaplain marry them.
There are several contradictions in the
various stories of the Jane McCrea
tragedy. One Of them is in regard to
how she happened to fall into the
hands of the Indians. According to
one story Jones sent party of In
dians under the leadership of a half
breed to escort her to the British
camp, and Burgoyne's account of the
affair gives color to this version.
Some historians, however, do not
mention this fact. According to their
version, about nine O'clock on the
morning of July q party of Indians
attacked and drove into the fort a
picket guard of the Americans, killing
the commander and capturing one
man. Incidentally, this mans name
was Standish and he was descend
ant of the valOrous Miles Standish of
Pilgrim fame. The Indians then dis
covered the two women in the cabin,
entered it and dragged them out
Stand;sh saw them rushing their pris-
oners along the trail up the hill to a
place where they had two horses.
They tried to place the women on
these mounts and easily seated Jane
McCrea on one. Tut fat old Mrs.
Mcneil was IA different proposition
and. try as they coIild. the savages
could not lift her into the saddle
Meanwhile the othe.s led Jane Nc
frea away and, as she and her cap
tors r."i near the $40. where Stan