The Columbia Democrat. (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, November 10, 1838, Image 2

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    ffte G j. s',u to Jo with if.o ;.riv.'fi-
Vru, whether to Ml us on tl.o a'po't or apnrd
ir live', he enmo to tho conclusion thai
there Intel been Blood enough shed, mid as
t' the men theyliad lost, it wn tho fatu of
war anil wo must be taken mid adopted in
to the fnmilic3 of those whom wo had killed;
wc were tlien divided amongst them accord
ing to ths number tjf fires; packs were pre
pared for us, und they relumed across the
iver nt tho Big Island in bark ratines; they
ihen mnde their wny acr053 the hills, and
cametoPhio Creek, above the first forks,
which they followed np to third fork, mid
trtok the most northerly branch to the head
of it, and thence to tho waters of the Gen
V.iee river. After two days travel down the
Genesee river, wo caino to. a place called
Via Pigeon Woods, where n great number
tif Iiidi.m families, old and young, had come
to catch young pigeons; there wo met a par
ty of about forty warriots, on their way to
tho frd:rtier' settlement!!; they encanipted
"soma iittio distance apart, tho warriors ol
tho two parties holding a council at our
tamp, I soon perceived that I was the
subject of their conversation; I was seized
iintl dragged to tile other tamp, where Hie
warriors wero silling on dwesidc of a large
fire; 1 was, seated alone on the opposite
ride. jLvt'ry eye was faxed upon me; 1
perceived they wero gathering around in
great numbers, in a short time I perccivedja
man pressing through the crowd; ho came
to me and sat down; I saw ho was a white
man painted in Indian dress. He:examined
me on the situation of the frontiers, the
'strength xif ourforts, the range of our scouts-,
After lie got through lie obrerved that
there wr.s only one besides himself there
that knew me. "Do you know mo,- sir?"
paid 1. "I do; you are the man that killed
'the Indians' I thought of tho fire and the
stke; he Observed that ho was a prisoner
und a friend; that his name was Jones, and
lie had been taken prisoner in the spring"
81, with Capt. John Boyd, in Bradford
county ; that he would not'exposc mcj and
if I could pass through undiscovered und
La delivered up to the British, I would he
p;:fe; if not, I would liavo to die at the
-tftske. The next morning they moved
down tho river; two days alter they caino
n tho Canada village, the iirst on the; (Jen
esce rivcr( where we were prepared to run
the Indian-gauntlet; the warriors do not whip
it h the young Indians and sqaws. They
meet you in sight of their councilhouse,
where they select the prisoners from the
'ranks of the warriots, bring them in front,
nnd wlran ready Ire word joggo is given
the prisoners start, tho whippcrs follow af
ter, and if they outrun, you will bo severely
whipped. I was placed in front of my men
ths word being given-, wo started. Being
then young 'a'hd"l'Utl of nerve I led the way?
twb ytfuriff -squaws cairie running up to
jomihe whipping -parly i and when they
"aiw us start thoy halted and stood' shoulder
to shoulder with their whips; when I came
Hour them I bounded and kicked them over,
-wo all -came down "together, there was icon
"6iderab)c kicking amongst us, so much so
'that they shotted their under Urcs's, which
appear'cdto be of a beautiful yellow color;
I had not time to help them up. It was
truly diverting to the warriors; they yelled
nndshnateri till they made tho air ring.
Thoy halted at that village for one day, and
thence went- to 1-Mrt Niagara, where I was
delivered up to the British. 1 was adopted,
according to the Indian custom, into Col.
Butler's rnmilyc Iheh the commadmg' officer
uf the British and Indians at that place. I
Was to supply the loss of his son. Papt.
Hutlei, who was killed late in the fall of
1781, by the Americans. In honor to me
jis -his adopted son, I was confined in a pri
vate room) and not put under a British
'guard.
My troubles soon began; Ui6 Indians Were
informed by tho tories that knew me that I
had been a prisoner before; "and had killed
my raptors; they wero outrageous, and sent
to tsutipr and uemahded me; and as I was
told, offered to bring in fourteen prUdners
in ihy place. Butler sent an officer to ex
amine mc on tlio subject! he dame and in
formed me their Indians laid heavy accusa
tions against mc; they wero informed that
I had been a prisoner before, and killed the
h3rty, and that they had demanded me to
be given tip to them, and that his Colonel
Vislied to know the fart. I observed, "Sir.
it is a terious question to-answer: I will
never deny the truth! I havo been a prison-
nr oeioroi- anu kiiicu ine party, and return
ed to tho sorvled of my country; but sir, I
consider myself to be n prisoner of war to
mo uniisn, nnu presume you win nave
mote InAior than to deliver' me up to the
navaaes. I- know what my fate Will be:
and plemo to inform your colonel that we
iinve it in our power to retaliate.' He left
me in a short time, and returned and stated
that ho was authorised to sty to me that
tfierti Wag no altrrnatire for me to save my
life lurt in abandon the rtmel causa and join
the "British etandardt 'that I should take the
ame rank lit the British service as I did in
the rebel service", 1 replied, ''No, sir, no
pita mo the slake, tho toulahawk, or the
knife, before the British ramniiKSinn; liber
ty or death.m our mnttnj" lie then left mo
ftome time aftor a lady come to my room
with whdirt 1 hutl been well oeqtlnjntrd bo
for the" revolution; We had been school
mates Bhe was thett married tq a British
ofuWt be camu will! her. She had been
lo Coli Dntler, fcnd flh& Was atllhorizCd to
niKn ma tlio same ofler the officer had
'nrtej 1 thsnkied her for tlio trouble she had
wnen mt ,ny sditMv, nut rotiiu not accept
4f thr ofn-r-, she observed how rnudi more
k'Jmlwn Wouju it ba lo he n officer in
the Blltish sartice. Iobisrved ilijt I could
not thus dispose of myself in that jynv; I
belonged lo tho Congress of the United
Stales, and that I would abide the conse
quences; she left mc, mid it was the Inst I
heard of it. A guard was set at tho door
of my apartment.
In about four days tlfler I was sent down
Lake Ontario to a place culled Carlton Isl
and, & from thenco down the St. Lawrence to
Montreal, were I was placed in prison, and
found forty or fifty of our American offi
cers, and whero wo had the honor to look
through tho iron gates. The fourth of Ju
ly Was drawing near; ten of us combined
to celebrate the political birth-day of our
country; we found ways and means to have
some brandy conveyed into us unknown to
the British guard, mid wo had a high day,
after making a compromise with the guard.
It was highly offensive to tlio British offi
cers, and we ten were taken out and sent to
Quebec, thnnrc down St. Lawrence, and
put on tho Ile of Orleans, where wc ro
maintid till the last of September, a British
fleet spiled about that tintb and bound for
New York; wt weie put on board of that
Heel'; when we cariic to New York there
was no exchange for us. Gen. Carlton
then commanded the British army at New
Yorkt lie paroled us to return home.
In the month of March, 1733, I was ex
changed, a nil .had orders to take up my
arms afraid. I joined my company in
March at Northumberland; about that time
Cant. Robinson received orders to march
his company to Wyoming, to keep garrison
at Wijkesbarre fort. He sent myself and
ftnsiirn Chambers with the company to her
station, where wo lay till November 178IJ.
Our army was then discharged and our
comrianv likewise: nonr arid pennvless we
retired to the shades of a private' life.
T'flftMFIC EXPLOSION!
On Tuesday, the ninth, day of October,
A-. D. eighteen hundred and thirty-eight,
the Steam Ship Anti-masonic Whiggery,
was Mown up, after a desperate fought bat
tle, with a terrible crash tho noise of which
was heard in every part oftthis Common
wealth. Sh'o had been fqr a long time in a
eakv condition, and, indeed, from the mo
ment that she weighed anchor, and started
on her voyage id December, 1S35, her fate
was crediotcd by a lluliiber of hardy demo
cratic seamen, who eveii Uteri pronounced
her to bo unseaworthy, and fit Only to be
aid up in dry dock.
During the whole voyage, she had been
carrying more sieam man uaitast, and was
especially noted for the derangement of her
machinery, the incompetency of herprincipal
and assistant engineers, the ignorance of
her commander, and tho rustv and ruinous
islate of her boiler's. Ilbw she held so lpng
together has been matter of inarvel to all ex
perienced hands; but the collapse, though
delayed, has come at length;
For the last sevcii br eight rhbn'ths, she
had steered into entirely different channels
from these for which she had originally pro
fessed to ue bound, and had bden principally
engaged in a system Of piracy upon the va
rious lines of ernal into which she could
make headway. While engaged in the ve
ry act, and with the Black Flag hoisted at
the mast-head, she was encountered, on
Pu sday Inst, by the mn:niliceiUlino of bat
tle Ship, DEMOCRATIC PENNSYLVA
NIA, under the command of COM.
DAVID RITTEN HOUSE PORTER
which bore down upon her in truly gal
lant stylo, poured In n succession of heavy
broadsides, and finally blow her, to pieces
1 lie crew, like those of all piratical craft,
presented a very molly appcarahcci AVhigs,
Aiitimaibns, Abolitionists, broken-down
Federalists, and Democrats patented for the
occasion, were stowed between decks in la
mentable confusion. Apptehensive of the
approaching catasltophe an immuiise num
ber of enlistments had been recently rriade,
and the boilrtty liberally paid down lit hand
and 6 questions asked. A number of
gre'en hands, called, for the occasion, Con
servatives, were taken into the Vessel on tri
al, who acted principally as lohololly boys
and powdermoiikies. lixtra Katiotls had
been liberally supplied to iufuso a tem
porary courage, and under the immediate
direction of that celebrated vetorari, Peg
Jieatltj, aided by the boatswain Storitbra
her, tiie main-braco had been spliced with
remarKahle prodigality;
i he Democratic I'ennsylvania was man
ned by fifty three guns, each of which was
named in honor ot one of the counlies of
the Keystone, State. Of thete, abodt forty
woie brought to bear with greitt precision
and wonderful effect on the pirate sieanier.
An old cannon, called Berks placed on the
stern fired nearly four thousand shots id tho
course of the enijiieeinent, while another fiun.
named JT'c.stmorcland, riddled tho enemy
to pieceTs from the bows. An Internlcdiato
nitie-pnuiider, bearing the name of tho gallant
Fcrryi raked the decks of tho enemy from
fore lo aft! and Centre, placed appropriated
ly, amidships, made every ball toll betwixt
wind and water, Old AJongomcrifs throat
was warmed by her continual explosions,
and "Hail Cofumbiu" played in fino style.
Th battle raged from 10 a. m, to II
p, m. about Which time the last brnadsido of
the Pennsylvania was fired. The pirate,
theft) in a despofato dndoaVour to escape
gmunded: when the bdilcrs buret and scat
tered the vessel into ten thousand fragments
hulling the killed and wbUndcd in every di
rection. Tho loss qr the enemy ip, dead mid woun
ded J'us been immense. ' The body pf tho
commander was found sliclfitig fast in d
mud hank into which it was driven head fore-
moat by the exploilon. t wbs recognized
by the stubbled growth of Ii'iir t over the
i'orejisad, extending down t nearly to tho
'eves the anticipated conflict not having al
IbVcd lltnc for a ihave in that quarter, for
several weeks; as, also, by a largo supply
of abolition wadding found in the pookets.
The money changers, by whom the ves
sel had been titled but, are in a stato of m
tlcscribablo agony ho insurance having
been effected. The vessel was built in the
port of Philadelphia, wli'elb lltir Bwners
principally reside, Their lengthened am
woe-begone phizzes indicate tlio despair
whidi has fastened on their hearts! It., is
supposed that Nicholas JJiddle, , who had
calculated largely on the voyage, will lose
his wits.
COMMODORE PORTER is at present
lying at anchor in Huntingdon Bay, from
which lie Will shortly make sail for Harris
(n'trg HarboW, there to receive the rich re
ward with whitili tho Democratic, crew of
the Pennsylvania Intend crowning his gal
lant exploit of last Tuesday. Lancaster
Intelligencer.
From tho Pltmtrr's Banner.
TERRIBLE AFFRAY IN LOUISIA
NA; We havb learned the following particulars
of a terrible alfray which took place near
Hairisonburg, in tho upper tart of .Ibis State,
from a gentleman trom that section of the
country.
Our informant slates tRat about lb years
since, a man by the hame bf Ilagerty, Hear
Harrisonburg, was, it lb said, by the malev
olence of one Humble, Charged with larce
ny. It appeared upon trial that the witness
was suborned, and Hagafty was hbnorably
acquitted. From that time forward a con
tinued and burning hostility has existed be
tween the two parties, producing of coiirse
niariy Scenes of outrage & disorder, the spi
rit of Which Was most naturally and readi
ly imbjb'cd by the young men of both par
lies. Some ycais after the charge of larce
ny, Ilagerty was murdered by one of his
slaves, Wh'b' at the execution declared that
"he was hired lo kill iis master by a man
in the ncighboih'rio'il." The young Hagcr
ly's believed it was b'rie ot the Ilurnble's
who had instigated tho assassination. The
war was thus continued Willi reat spirit,
and various success, though the' Hagurtys
were generallyoppressed their whole force
being but a young man and a little boy
but sixteen years old. About the first bf
this ilionth (September) Humble with his
two associates, Bass and Davis, caught this
boy, ducked liim, stripped him and then
whipped him id Uib most unmerciful man
ner. The next day mure was a ponce pioc
tion. The parjies met! Humble, Bass
and Davis armed With rifles ilhd pistols!
Young Ilagerty wiih a stick; rtKcl his broth
er with a double barreled gun. Ytiung i
Hascrlv told Humble thai his little brother
had been abused by them nieii, and he wish
ed to know whether either of them had spir
it enough to fight him? Humble raised his
rifle lo shoot him, and Ilagerty sprang be
hind a tree. Humble told Bass to gb round
the tree with Ills rifle and shoot him if he
did not "come out." The hoy nandc'll his
brother the double barrelled, gun, who in
stantly stepped out with his gun at an 'oruer'
and told Humble he should have a lair
chance if he wished, to kill him! Humble
then took deliberate aim and shot him then
turned in the door to get his pistol, advanced
with it cocked and raised to an 'aim when
he received the whole Contents of one bar
rel, from tho hands of the ljlile boy, and
fell dead." The litlejlellow had lustitune
to turn upon Bass who was advancing upon
him from behind with his riilri at a dead
aim. But he did turn without flinching,
and poured the contents of the second bar
rel into the bosom of Bass, who fell dead at
his feCt. 'flie boy was shot in tho right
breast reeled and fell, just in lime to avoid
tho fire of Davis, who took a pistol shot at
his back i Tltc boy and Bass were both
badly powder burnt. Davis was arrested
by the bystanders, bul a justice of the peaco
clinic up and told inem he did not think it
right lo keep a liiim ''tied in that manner,"
and "he thought it best td turn him loose."
It was accordingly done, and he absconded.
Of the remaining four engaged in Ibis terri
ble affray, the little boy alono survives.
Bank Robbery. Thb Smilhficld Union
Bank was entered, on Saturday,tbetweeii
the hours of 8 and 10 in the morning, and
robbed of S3400, all in tho bills' of the bank,
a portion of which can bo identified, The
cashier left tlio bank in tho morning dn
some husiuess; the roLbcis entered a vacant
tenement over the bank and cut through the
door, by which ineaii3 they effected u pas
Sac ittto the bmking room, and were able
to c;irry off the money without tho trouble
of forcing tho vault. A reward of $500 is
ottered tor the recovery ol the money
and tile detection ol the robbers.
Providence Jour.
BUuWflULIMUMl
Miners. "VVe are told that there exists ot
this time a great scarcity bj miners in the
Coal Mines. As hith as C cents a bushel
is paid for raising coal Arty number of
hands could lincl employment hero just
now. Wo are told that the works on the
Dcs Monies Raoids. Uoner Mississioni.
havo been neaily suspended. Tlio weatlior
has become so cold that the laborers refuse
to go into tho water. As high as $3 per
(lay has been paid by the Superinimidont
to workmen who will go into tho water, but
most ol them reluse. even to work lor that
sunt, o, Lows Republican, Oct, 10.
TITfi COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT.
agr-.'i.'., '.?"".arr- --' - - - -
"TltDTIl WITHOUT VEAU
AittrttvaY, jvovxjuisEiz to, teas.
For tlio Cpluihbld Democrat.
rbu Tiic urtioN fcLiity;
ON SEASONiNG TlMBKij.
There is it subject of considerable impor
tance to all worked In wood; which is ion
little attended to: t iricati tile culling and
seasoning timber. It is khbwii that all
kinds of wood shrink in seasoning, aiid this,
fact is easily accounted for. All kinds of
Wood shrink and swell as they are placed
iii d dry or moist atmosphere; but the de
gree differs greatly in different species.
Those kinds that aro least open grained, as
bass and poplar, sire life easiest affected, be
cause though the texture bf the wood is
pretty uniform and not marked by alternate
hard and soft strata, usually called "-3itmmer
and winter growths," ybl the wood is soft
and infinitely porusl These pOrcS aro more
numerous in soft, thaii in hard wood, and
morb evenly dispersed through the entire
body; dnd henco moisture pervades the
whole mass quicker by reason of capillory
attractioh: it is not, however, entirely cer
tain that these kinds ultimately expand any
more thrill the harder soils willj if exposed
to tho action of water a sufficient length of
time; This is wbrth the troubles of experi
ments; but ihy object is to examine ahdther
branch of the subject. Timber is always
liable to damage from insects and worms.
The result of my experience is, that oak of
all kinds, together with soma other kinds
of upland limber, is most liable lo he dam
aged if cut during the new of tho moon, and
seasons with the least, if cut during the
three last days of the last quarter.' Oak
woo'd U heaviest and fnost firm and elastic
if felled in February and August, and the
more light and britfle if felled when the bark
is loose. Ash, maple; hickory, pine and
some other sorts aro alrrfofhiu're to bo injur
ed unless felleil in the new of thb moon,' be
ing exactly the reverse of oak. Beech is
the most difficult of any timber to preserve,
and though best cut during the new of the
mooii, yet it will then be eaten unless strip
ped of the bark and put in a very dry place.
It is filrther; very liable to rot. I leave the
matter stand on tile basis of naked assertion,
and reserve the proof; Ifncccssary, till ano
ther occasion, and in tho riieanwhile, appeal
to the experience of all wbod-Workmen to
attest thb truth of the position
I have been accustomed to hear rill asser
tions of thl3 kind ranked with that species
ofsuperstition, familiarly called "pow-wov
ing," and the wiiolo catalogue " laughed to
scorn." No man despises these idle whims
supposed to be brought about by witch
craft and supernatural mcan3, more than I
do, The ridiculous farce 6'f shooting ma-
gle balls to wound persons hundreds of miles
off, dr hiding a stone to prevent a cifw from
ratur'ning to a former owner, I think scarce
'worth evert contempt; but tho circumstances
attending the seasoning of timber, though
at first view they Hppear of kindred growth
aro, I conceive of rrllidh higher birth, and
susceptible of rational demonstration. If
tlio facts cxisf a3 I have premised thoy do,
and admit of being accounted for on ration
al priumples, then I hope I shall be heard
without derfsion, and tho subject Will as
sumo a rank ip rational science.
It is admitted that the ebbing and flowing
of (he tides is caused by the attraciion of
the iho'on, Sometimes in conjunction with,
and sometimes in opposition to, tho sun.
This I assume as a fart demonstrated by
others.and therefore need not inquire wheth
er the influence is exertedf through the
agency or medium of light, or in some oth
cr way. It is sufficient for my purpose
that (he influence acts on tlio aqucbus fluid
thrdtijjh some medium.
Farmer's observe that rriantire nut on c?rass
ground at some times will raise up with tho
grass as it grows, but at oilier times the ma
nure sinks into the ground and is scarcely
to bo found in a tveek or two. So also if a
light board or shingle be thrown on tho
ground in the spring, it will raise with tho
grass as it grows, or it will imbed itself in
to the earth: Books tell me that a pieco of
beef, when boiled, swells out nearly even
with tlio bonesf if tho cuimal was slaughter
j eJ iu otlb'stcge of tlx moon's pluti, hm
that if killed during another sta'n. tho tU.i,
Will coulracl and tho bones will
nehes at eilhcr.sido. :
Now if these effects exist, they miiM
spring from some cause, and as the eficci.
are periodical, and change with the moon
that body must bo an agent in produclr!
them. If tho moon bo an agent, it, mu
operate on sOhib property, br romiluent
cdfyn)on to all tho substances and thin J
timber, flesh, iic. .Upon looking over thn
subject, I find no property column Ip.tljerA
all except water, and hence 1 pqpehtdo tfiaf
must bo the agent through whicK tboinflu,
mien renclin.q nil ihin kmlla. ti.1..& t
uiitu ic.iciius an incao oouies. t hn'rhni
contracts if the stato of tho animal at tin'
mornenl bY death was that of contracting'
aiid iiice versti. The contraction only tafe
place after being iioatcil bdeauss the riaidit j
of muscles prevents that result when cold
bin when iri a state of partial fusion, they
mm I'uojuuii io wnicn iney wera
inclining at tho time they were arrested bv
dcathi
Timber Is injured by insects and wrmi''
uuiuiueruni sons oi woou produce different
animals; and henco ono sort suiters damage
I in". . . . . , .. '
f cut at ono time, and another at another
The reason of this is, that tho nit ox egg of
onb species of insect is deposited in ono
stago bf the moon's changes, and of anothtr
at another. If the tree be felled when ti,
ast brood has flown dut and prior to a nsw
deposite, it will escape damage exoept from
a larger kind of worm which infects only
ftfS'lfl tmna nriA fn 1 1 n n titnl.n. L t t
uwwy. iiuug anu Ji411bll fcllI!Ut''l, IS OfiU JllIlCl
of infi'cel makes the deposite during the first
and the oilier during the last quarter of the
moon, it follows lhat the cutting must keep
pace with the deposite to atold tho efieets
thereof. Tlio nit bim? b nee dennailml !
eft to the action bf the fluids of the tree to
nialure; and hence it is matured only at that
time when the sap is operated on, or in
such state as to mature h. Orifihi. inn.,.
nee is upon the fluids of the insect, and
causes the deposite at a particular stage of
that efl'ect, the practical operation is tho
same, because the insect is, in either ease,
prouucea anu brought to( Me periodically,
and that period coincident with the chann'
oftho moon.
Such, it bcciirs to mc, is too oatise bf tins'
mysterious matter; and though I do nof pre
tend to know tho names, genus.foo. of thtia
insects, nor the time of depositing their niw,
jrci i uuutcivc uiu argument suiucienuy rc-
ovcrit' to remove the subject out of tho
ridiculous; the superstitious; or tvitchcraft
harbouring grade,' and to entitle It tbaean
did and scientific examination. For ths
purpose of having it examined by the Un
ion Club I have brought it thus hastily into
notice, in a very crude and unst'ientiHc
manner.
I have only mentioned the flesh as an in
cidental circumstance, because investigating
of that article, though it might be gratifying,
Will not be substantially beneficial to man
kind, tho weight of the animal being tho
same in either state. But investigatien to
far olS timber and manure aro concerned is
highly necessary and proper,J because im-
provoirfenl in knowledge of these topics
will be advantageous to the farmer and me
chanic, and through them to the community
at large.
Tlio farmer should certainly haul out ma
nure at the time most likely to benefit lift
land most; and the mechanic should cut
timber for wagons, bridges, houses, &c at
the tiirio which will insure the greatest du
rability and strength.
EZHA S. IIAYIIURST.
Read November 2, 1SU8, before the Un
ion Club, CattaWlssa, and directed to bo
published in the " Democrat," bv the Club.
The Governors of Maine, Connecticut,
New Hampshire and MassachusetU( have
appointed Thursday, the 29th dy o'f No
vember, inst. to bo observed as a day t
public Thanksgiving. O what a rumpus
there Will be among the turkovs.
It is said thai during tho fifteen days tlia
Giraffes have bUen exhibited in Philadel
phia, about tliirly-ievcn thousand person
havo visited them.
Mr. S. S. Phelps has been elected Uni
ted States Senator, by the Vermont Legis
lature, for sis yeais from the -1th of March
next.
The Cincinnati! Post says .It is esti
mated on apparently Correct data, that fif
teen hundred emigrants arrive daily in tf'3
vaiioy ot the Mississippi.
gfwwroii IIIWHII I
The Cincinnati! News states that tho vv
tor is so low in the Illinois river, tint i'1'
fish have to swallow each other iu ordor d
make room.'