J
Ol
he
CHAS. R. KURTZ, Proprietor.
OUR HISTORICAL
REVIEY
Massacre of Friendly Indians at
Middle Creek, Snyder Co.
J
BY STUMP AXD IRONCUTTER
Who Were Arrested and taken to Jail at
Carlisle to await Trial —It Caused
much fear of an Uprising among
the Indians.
Massacre of Indians by whites. in ter-
ritory contiguous to Centre, now part of
Union county, an in parrative,
sting
as found below :
Below is given an account of this hor-
rid murder, Stamp’s apprehension, and
relative
proceedings of
thereto:
government
Two or three famzlies of Indians, one
called the White Mingo, another Corne
lus, one Jonas and one Cammell, three
Indian women, two girls and a child,
bad removed from the Big Island, on the
West Branch of Susquehanna, in the
Spring ot 1767, came and built them.
selves cabins on Middle creek, about 15
miles above the mouth of sald creek ;
where they lived and hunted, and were
on friendly terms with their white neigh.
bors—were always well received and
kindly treated. In the month of January,
1768, they came to the house of William
Blyth, who lived at the mouth of Middle
creek.
his
He treated them kindly. From
they
Stump’s, who live
house went to Frederick
ear Blyth's, where
it is supposed some differences h Appened.
Here four of the Indians were wrdered;
their Mid
through a hole in the ice. Stump,
n
bodies cast into lle creek,
with
his servants, Ironcutter, (Eisenhauer,)
then proceeded to a cabin about four
miles from his house, where he found
two Indian girls and one child, whom he
also murdered, and setting fire to the
cabin,
mains,
The body of oze of those thrown into
Middle creek, was afterwards found,
“lying dead within the water mark of
the river Susquehanna,” some distance
below the HarrisBurg bridge, and in.
terred in Allen township.
The murder of these Indians produced
a prodigious excitement, at the time. as
will appear from all the facts and pro.
ceedings arising from and connected
with it. As soon as
made known to the of the
province, and to Sir William Johuson,
Penn issued his proclamation, « ffering a
reward for the apprehension of Stump
and Ironcutter, promising punish
them with death: and this declaration,
with two strings of wampum, he sent to
be made known to the Indians living on
the Susquehanna, requesting them not
to break the peace in consequence of the
murder. A message was also sent to the
same effect, says Heckewelder, by the
governor to the Christian I[naians, with
the request that they should make it
known in public assembly ; and soon
after, a special message was sent to the
Christian Indians (at Friedenshueten)
»udeavored {0 consume the re.
this atrocity was
governor
to
from Sir William Johnson, desiring if |
they knew of the relations of those per.
sons murdered at Middle creek, to send
them to him, that he might wipe the
tears from their eyes, comfort their
afflicted hearts, and satisfy them on
account of their grievances. Sir William
Johuson also invited the chief of the Six
Nations, and other tribes of Indians
living on Susquehanna, and on the Ohio
to an amicable convention. A conven.
tion was held, peace and friendship
again re established.
Sworn at Philadelphia the 19th day of
January, 1768, before me, William Allen.
As soon as Capt. William Patterson,
(formely of Lancaster county, then re.
siding on the Juniata) heard of this atro.
cious act, went, without waiting orders
from the governor, with a party of nine.
teen men, and arrested Stump and Iron.
cutter, and delivered them to John
Holmes, sheriff, at Carlisle jail. Aware
that thejrelatives of the murdered Indians
would be, on the receipt of this news,
exasperated, he sent one Gersham
Hicks, with a message to the Indians at
Big Island, on the west branch of the
Susquehanna.
Carlisle, January 23. 1768,
The 21st instant, I marched a party of
nineteen men to George Gabriel's house
at Penn's creek mouth, and made pris.
oners of Frederick Stump and John Iron.
cutter, who were suspected to have
murdered ten of our friend Indians, near
Fort Augusta ; and I have this day de.
livered them to Mr. Holmes at Carlisle
Jail,
Yesterday I sent a person to the Great
Island, that understood the Indian lan.
guage, with a talk; a copy of which is
enclosed ee,
Myself“ and party, were exposed to
great danger, by the desperate resistance
made by Stamp and his friends. who
sided with him, The steps I have taken,
I flatter myself, will not he disapproved |
| of by the gentlemen of the government ; |
| my sole view being directed to the serv
| ice of the frontiers, before I heard bis
| Honor the Governor's orders, — The mes.
| sage I have sent to the Indi wns, I hope
| will not be deemed a: suming an author.
ity of my own, as you are very sensible
I am no stranger to the Indians and their
custows
I am, with respect,
Your most obedient
humble servant,
W. PaTrerso
Juniata, January 22
of X Nations
“Brothers the
and other inhabi
SD
wares, ant
Branch
have to say to you
grief, I have
Frederick Stump
hath,
of Susquehanna,
with
unadvisedly
friend [udians near Fort
inhabitants of the Provio
Sylvania do disapprove of the
and Ironcutter’s conduct: and
thereof, I have taken thed
aud will deliver them into the custody of
officers, that will keep them i |
prison
many
aud [ make no doubt,
guilty,
the
for trial;
as of them will be
as are
| condemned, and die for offence
‘Brothers, I being truly sensible
injury done
you, I only ads
words, with my heart's wi
may not rashly let go the
our chain of friendship, for
duct of one of our bad men
Englishtuen
Brothers, we
hath 1
same love for you that
sisted between
desire you to
trace with
you sta
woid that
any of y
I shall
Ww
answer t
PATTI
The following is an
Pattersou’s message, of January 22, 17¢
“February
“Loving Brother
I received sour speech
rth
Hicks, and have sent one of my relative
Ma
ww (3
with a string of wampum, and the
lowing answer
Loving Brother:
I am glad to hear from vou—I under.
stand that you are very much
and that the tears run from your eve
hands
as I
rhed,
with both my I now wipe » way
those tears : and lon't douit bat
your heart is distu I remove all the
sorrows from it, and make it easy as it
was before. I will now sit down and
smoke my pipe. I have taken fast hold
of the chain of friendship ; and when |
Rive ita pull, if I find my brothers, the
English, have let go, then
for me to let RO too, and take care of my
family—There are four of my relatives
murdered by Stump; and all I desire is,
that he may suffer for his wicked ac tion;
{ I shall then think that people have the
| same goodness in their hearts as for.
| merly, and intend to keep it there. As
it was the evil spirit who caused Stump
to commit this bad action, I blame none
| of my brothers, the English, but him.
| I desire that the people of Juniata may
'sit still on their places, and not put
themselves to any hardships, by leaving
their habitations; whatever danger is
| coming, they shall know it before it
comes on them.
fam,
Your loving Brother,
SHAWANA Bex.
it will be time
To Capt. William Patterson.
The Council, after examining Mr,
Biyth, immediately took this most im.
portant matter into consideration, and
were of opinion that warrants
forthwith be issued by the chief justice,
diregied to the sheriffs, and other officers
of the Province, and particularly to those
of the counties of Cumberland, Lancaster
and Berks, for the apprehending of the
above mentioned Frederick Stamp, and
bringing him before one of his Majesty's
Justices of Oyer and Terminer, to be
dealt with according to law. The Board
also advised the Governor to issue
should
a
proclamation offering a reward of / 200
for apprehending
bringing him to justice,
But bef those letters, and the proc.
lamation chief justice Allen reached
the magistrates and sheriffs, Stamp and
Ironcutter, as above stated, had bees
lodged in jail; but before they were
brought to trial, were rescued from
prison by their friends and neighbors,
whose fzprs were excited that Stump
| and Ironcutter were to be taken to Phil.
adeiphia, there to be tried, they "not
| properly distinguishing between exam.
ination and trial,” rescued them from
| prison, on the 29th of January, and car.
ried them off
| Governor Penn sent a message express
| to the chiefs on Great Island, on which
| he deplores the death of the Indians,
| The murdering of the Indians, abd
| Ironcutter, produced a great excitement,
not omly at Carlisle, but through the
whole country. The magistrates and
sheriff, it appears had Deen censured,
But, the general impression appears to
have been, judging from documentary
evidence, that the officers, sheyiff and
magistrates, did not favor the prisoners.
said offender, and
entre Lemocrat,
© BELLEFONT
EXPERIMENT WITH
ANGORA GOATS |
W. Fred Reynolds Purchased flock |
in Texas
FOR HIS BENNER TWP. FARMS
Animal With very fine fleece—Can
Endure the Extremes of Tempera
ture—Is and
considered Profitable
An
Exceedingly Cleanly
¢ ground for these
* they will need very
1 The Angora goat is a
thau the common sheep
Dried
prized
used
for the long silky
in the manufacture of
animal is an
its habits and
and
10 per head, are
clipped ounce a year and the fleece yields
brings
This
he
about pounds each, and
b
ex periment
a mu better price thas wool.
4
© (11
AREYRoiaGs wil
watched wit nuch interest by our farm
a There are plenty of
bs in the county that could
be used for such a purpose, that now are
use ess
ANEW COURT
the
creation of anew Federal Judicial district
Representative Conuvell's bill for
in Pennosylvania, to be known as the
Middie district, was favorably reported
in the Senate Monday by Senator Hoar,
chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and
was shortly after taken up and passed at
the request of Senator Penrose. The
House passed this bill February ¢, and as
| BO change was made iu in it by the Sen-
Ate it now goes to the President for his
Signature,
The provisions of this bill are that this
court be immediately established so as to
begin work next month.
is expected thai the President will not
deliberate long in making the necessary
Appointment. In some sections of the
state the opinion prevails that Judge
Archbald, of Scraoton, will be the ap-
pointee, at the request of representative
Connel, who is the promoter of the
measure. On the other hand it is claimed
that the present state administration, the
two state senators and other stalwart dig.
nitaries about Harrisburg, are urging the
appointment of John G. Love, of this |
piace, whoby the way isa personal friend |
of President McKinley and was one of
his classmates at the Albany law school
when a young man. The belief is exe
pressed here that if they can satisfy Con.
nel in some other appointment for his
friend, that Judge Love will get the posi.
tion. As it stands, it is hard to predict
the result, as both claims are strong and
both ten are abundantly well qualified
for the position,
In the event of Judge Love's appoint.
ment it will make a lively scramble in
local politics, as the governor would have
to appoint some one to siton the bench in
this county until a successor could be
elected this fall. Tuat would open up
the judicial fight on both sides of the pol.
itical fence from the very day the an.
nouncement would be made, At this time
there is a painful silence and a serious
Suspense among the judicial timber in
this county, which is abundant at this
time
-
Serious Charge.
Mrs, Jennie Ream, charged with in.
fanticide, was apprehended while in hid.
Ing in Reedsville, Mifflin county, Wed-
nesday night. At the inquest Thursday
the jury returned a verdict charging her
| with the death of the child, She was
committed to await trial,
E. PA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1901,
Io that case it |
| A GOLDEN WEDDING.
brated that Happy Event,
Wednesday, Feb 20, an
eventful day for the family of Mr. and
| Mrs. Frederick Decker, at the Decker
homestead about two mile s east of State
After a
tury of married life M1
erick
1901, was
College. period of half a cen
and Mrs. Fred
Decker, together with sixty five
friends, including « hildren, grandchild
ren, and neighbors met to celebrate the
Ary of their marriage
KO at the bride home ¢
who are
Dest
and
Citizens of Centre county are nving
most perous
ITO
prosj
Over a Thirty Foot Embankment.
A
Thursday
serious accident bappened last
night about half past seven
Mrs.
Hve back of Mi esburg,
o'clock as Mr. and Philip Iddings,
who weredriving
Py
ose to the edge
home in their two.horse wagon
ngs drove too
placed
hig
SUDETYINOTrs
town
{ ships each
distance, bu
left where
bere lies the trouble for one or the other
Mrs. Jddings was f I serwusly in ured:
yan
examination showed ber collar.-bote was
broken and it is feared that she is injured
internally
A
Alighted on Cattle Guard
Ira Hutchison and Ed
left on a late freight train on
Tuesday night
Laughlin
the Bald Eagle Valley road to search for
near When
Laughlin's hat blew off
jumped from the traia to
In alighting Hutchison struck a
cattle guard and The
wheels of two cars ran over his leg,
crushing it above the ankle Laughlin
ran back, when Hutchison informed
him of his accident. Laughlin with the
belp of a few men from the iron works
and a farmer's sled, took the injured
man to a doctor's office in Howard
| Hutchison was brought to this city om
| the morning train and taken to the hos-
| pital. He is about 30 years old, and up
| 0 a week ago was employed at the silk
|
{ mill. The foot was amputated Tuesday
work in a town Bellwood
near Howard,
both men
it
and
get
shipped back
afternoon above the ankle, says the Lock |
Haven Democrat,
J Strike at Lewistown.
{ On account of a reduction of 10 per
cent. in the wage scale at the works of
the Mann Edge Tool company, at Lewis. |
| town, al
|
| number,
i
| last
1 the employes, about eighty in
refused to go to work Monday
A notice posted next day states
| that un'ess the employes returned to work
| Wednesday morning the plant will be
closed permanently,
Got Desperate.
A shooting affray took place at the
{ Henderson settlement near Houtzdale, |
on Friday last. It was a case where a
| girl flatly refused to ATTY 8 young man
|and it seems that he was determined
{that she shouldn't marry anyone else,
| The girl was shot in the side; was taken
[to the Philipsburg hospital and will re.
cover,
-
The Colored Question to be Tested.
| George B. Brandon, formerly of this
| place, but now proprietor of the Mansion
House at Carlisle, has been arrested by
James A. Summers, a colored man of
Harrisburg, who charges him as having
refused to accommodate him at his hotel
account of his race and color. Mr.
Brandon gave bail for court,
-
An Aged Lady's Serious Fall.
Mrs. James Mauck of Rote, fell down
stairs Tuesday morning. Both bones in
her arm were broken, and several gash.
es were cot in her head. She was un.
conscious for some time, but was resstor.
ed by Dr. Dumm. She is 70 years old,
Her chances for recovery are good.
-
Appointed Mail Clerk,
Clyde Shilling, of Clintondale, has
been appointed railway mail clerk. He
Aged Frederick Decker and Wife Cele- |
‘SCHOOL DIRECTORS’
DUTY DEFINED
Why they Should Create Sentiment |
and not follow it.
SOME THOUGHTFUL REMARKS
An Read Before the State
Directors Association Pre
F. Fortney, E
Able Paper
School
$q Al
1
i
AIWAYS Inleresting
leading educators
readers
tensely interested in the advancement of
our public school system we publish Mr
Fortoey’s article ent re, believing that it
will be appreciated
Tue BnrLation or 1
is the very
REoveroment w
bunders that sche
And was broug
We the
iA
shout
The
} underlying our nations
Lo be a reverent belief in
ed pop
deas which consti ule the »
sir nt dre
God, a sine
nition of the value and power of moral pr
A0d those qualities of heart which make a
manhood to unreserved a
triotism, love for man's equality. unquestion
Ing trust In popular 1ule. the exaction of civie
virtue and honesty, faith in the savieg quality
| of universal education. protection of a free
| and Unperveried expression of the popular
will
ple
noble devotion
This seems to be full and complete enough
to cover the purpose of the question proposed
| for discussion. Pubile sentiment In relation
10 public education and the advantages 1t has
| been, and now a, te the public, has been a
| growth among the people of the Common,
weallh
AL the inception of the publie sehool sistem
oven before It was known whether it
produce good or evil, and when all sentiment
both among the people and in the halls of leg
Jalation was against it, Thaddeus Stevens in
spired by his theme. see BE all down the ages
A greal multitude to be educated belped and
profited by a system of publle education and
declaring “that he placed himself under the
banner that streamed with the Hght.” created
Anew sentiment, overthrew all opposition and
saved to the vouth of our state a system of
public education which bas since grown not
only to be loved and cherished b
but admired and fol
nations
would
¥ our §
owed by other states and
opie
Bo, again, at the legislative sassion of 18%
when an attempt was made to abolish the
office of County 8 perintendent, which had
been created under the Act of IS54, and under
which act the whole System had been reorgan
ized and perfected, public sentiment
Against the advancement created by legisla
tive enactment, and 1t would have turned the
| Mdvance Into an l¥nominious defeat, but for
| the fact that the then governor of the Com
| monwealth, supported by a few great leaders
sustained by the faith sentiment, if you please
that public education was A Kreat blessing and
help to the people, “had declared that no
backward step In common school affairs should
be taken during his term of office.”
These are Instances of the exhibition of
public sentiment toward the establishment of
| A aystem of public sducation. The sentiment
| Against the whole system, it history tells the
truth, was strong and positive, not only In
| legislative halls, but nearly all parts o the
Sate. As to the men who led the fight in the
halls of legislation for the establishment of
| the system we are indebted for the sentiment
| that carried them through: so the few self
| saerifieing, ARRTOMIVE ADA Drogressive men In
| the various sehool distriets of the state, men
| who believed in education A% the best means
| of advancing the moral and material interests
of the youth of our Commonwealth, and the
publie school as the bes means through which
this could be done, that were fortunate enough
to be elected to the offen of school director,
And who with persistent energy labored in
season and out of season for the advanoement
of the schools, we are indebted for += senti
—————————_
Continued on page 4, Solumn 3.
was
EU]
VOL. 23, NO. ¢
FACT, FUN AND FANCY.
Bright Sparkling Paragraphs Selected
and Original.
A CLOSI
Unprecedented Record
the blow on the shoulder bre
home
with
the father,
lents
father,
irom a
when three years
fence and bad his 1 knocked
When seven years of age,
in 1842, he had both b f the
1
: Arm oul of Yount,
EB arm
out of joint
nes same
caused
by failing from a horse, and Dec s, 1856,
In 1885 his
Lydia Stem, was
a broken hip
Joint by falling on the ice, Three years
later his daughter, Lydia H , now Mrs.
Rockey, had her collar bone broken ;
ber grandmother had her mount a bed-
stead to stretch the cord, and the gir}
falling over the side of the bed, sustained
the injury aforesaid. Michael H Grove,
arm broken and
had his right arm broken
mother-in-law, Mrs
laid up three months from
a son, in 1882, while wrestling wih a
neighbor's boy, was thrown and had his
arm broken. John W., another son. im
18go, was thrown under a stumbling
horse and had several ribs broken by the
horse falling on him. Next Hiram R .
another son, 1598, while ina
tussle with a schoolmate, had his right
arm broken, and the same son in 1599,
had a finger broken at the joint,
which also happened at school,
Nov
21,
last
If this Grove family didn't go through
the bone-breaking mill then tell us of
another to show a greater record in that
line ; and they are all on deck yet, won.
derful to tell, and all stand a good
chance of having a natural death ia the
end.
Burned to Death
The large bank barn on the farm
owned by C. G. and J. B. Furst, near
Salona, was entirely destroyed by fire
Tuesday morning with all contents.
+ The only articles that could be saved
by Mr. Bicker, the tenant, was a spring
| wagon, a buggy and & sleigh. In addi.
| tion to the building four head of horses,
| fifteen cows, all the farm implements
{and the remainder of last year's crops
| were burned. Eighteen sheep belonging
‘to George Hyatt, and a separator, owned
| by Thomas Lesher, were also destroyed.
| The loss on the building alone is abont
$2,000. This loss is covered by $1,000
insurance. No insurance on contents,
Sounds Like a L—.
Chas. Whiteman, a hackman, of
Williamsport, Monday found $40,000
worth of government bunds in an old
trunk in the attic of his home. The
bonds belonged to his father, who died
years ago, Mrs. Whiteman, his mother,
Is {11 at the Williamsport hospital,