were Samuel Adams. one Thornton and Bridges. After the alarm had somewhat subsided, they agreed to return to their property. A party started with pack horses, reached the place, and not seeing any Indians, collected their property and commenced their return. After proceeding some distance, a dog belonging to one of the party, showed signs of uneasiness, and ran back. Bridges and Thornton desired the others to wait whilst they would go back for him: They went back, and had proceeded but two or three hundred yards, when a body of Indians, who had been lying in wait on each side of the way, but who had been afraid to fire on account of the number of the whites, suddenly rose up and took them prisoners. The others, not knowing what detained their companions, went back after them; when they arrived near the spot, the Indians fired on them, but without doing any injury. The whites instantly turned and fled, excepting Samuel Adams, who took a tree and began to fight in the Indian style. In a few minutes, however, he was killed, but not without doing the same fearful service for his adversary. He and one of the Indians shot at, and killed each other, at the same moment. When the news reached the fort, a party volunteered to visit the ground. When they reached it, although the snow had fallen ankle deep, they readily found the bodies of Adams and the Indian, the face of the latter having been covered by his companions with Adams' hunting shirt.

A singular circumstance also occurred about that time in the neighborhood of the Allegheny mountain. A man named Wells, had made a very considerable improvement, and was esteemed rather wealthy for that region. He, like others, had been forced with his family from his house, and had gone for protection to the fort. In the fall of the year he concluded to return to his place and dig his crop of potatoes. For that purpose he took with him six or seven men, an Irish servant girl to cook, and an old plough horse. After they had finished their job, they made preparations to return to the fort the next day. During the night, Wells dreamed that on his way to his family he had been attacked and gored by a bull; and so strong an impression did the dream make, that he mentioned it to his companions, and told them that he was sure some danger awaited them. He slept again and dreamed that he was about to shoot a deer, and

when cocking his gun, the main-spring broke. In his dream he thought he heard distinctly the crack of the spring when it broke. He again awoke and his fears were confirmed; and he immediately urged his friends to rise and get ready to start. Directly after he arose he went to his gun to examine it, and in cocking it the mainspring snapped off. This circumstance alarmed them, and they soon had breakfast and were ready to leave. To prevent delay, the girl was put on the horse and started off, and as soon as it was light enough, the rest followed. Before they had gone far, a young dog belonging to Wells, manifested much alarm, and ran back to the house. Wells called him, but after going a hort distance, he invariably ran back.

Not wishing to leave him, as he was valuable, he went after him, but had gone only a short distance towards the house, when five Indians rose from behind a large tree that had fallen, and approached him with extended hands. The men who were with him, fled instantly; and he would have followed, but the Indians were so close that he thought it useless. As they approached him, however, he fancied the looks of a very powerful Indian, who was nearest him, boded no good; and being a swift runner, and thinking it "neck or nothing," at any rate determined to attempt an escape. As the Indian approached, he threw at him his useless rifle, and dashed off towards the woods, in the direction his companions had gone. Instead of firing, the Indians commenced a pursuit, for the purpose of making him a prisoner, but he outran them. After running some distance, and when they thought he would escape, they all stopped and fired at once, and every bullet struck him, but without doing him much injury or retarding his flight. Soon after this he saw where his companions concealed themselves; and as he passed, he begged them to fire on the Indians and save him; but they were afraid, and kept quiet. He continued his flight, and after a short time overtook the girl with the horse. She quickly understood his danger and dismounted instantly, urging him to take her place, while she would save herself by concealment. He mounted, but without a whip, and for want of one could not get the old horse out of a trot. This delay brought the Indians upon him again directly, and as soon as they were near enough, they fired; and this time with more effect. as one of the balls struck him in the hip and lodged in

his groin. But this saved his life; it frightened the horse into a gallop, and he escaped, although he suffered severely for several months afterwards.

The Indians were afterwards pursued, and surprised at their morning meal; and when fired on, four of them were killed, but the other, though wounded, made his escape. Bridges, who was taken prisoner near Johnstown, when Adams was murdered, saw him come to his people, and describes him as having been shot through the chest, with leaves stuffed in the bullet holes to stop the bleeding.

The Indians were most troublesome during their predatory incursions, which were frequent after the commencement of the revolution. They cut off a party of whites under command of Captain Dorsey, at "The Harbor," a deep cove formed by Ray's hill, and a spur from it.

One John Lane was out at one time, and a spy and scout under the command of Captain Philips. He left the scout once for two days, on a visit home, and when he returned to the fort, the scout had been out some time. Fears were entertained for their safety. A party went in search; and within a mile or two of the fort, found Captain Philips and the whole of his men, fifteen in number, killed and scalped.When found they were all tied to saplings; and, to use the language of the narrator, who was an eye witness, "their bodies were completely riddled with arrows."

In 1780, the inhabitants were again surprised and a number of them killed, as stated in the subjoined letter.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, August 7, 1780.

To his Excellency Joseph Reid, Esq.

Sir :--1 received the orders of council for the volunteers to be put in motion, in order to join the main army and for those classes of the militia to be in readiness--And was unfortunately long coming to my hand. I have sent agreeable to said orders to put the volunteers into motion that were raised on the north side of the mountain; but unfortunately I have sent one company to the frontiers of Northumberland county, and the other to the frontiers of Bedford, which was in a very distressed situation, about three weeks ago, the Indians came on a scout, a Captain and twelve men in a place called Woodrock Valley, and not one of the party escaped; they lay, I believe ten days without being buried; I went with a party from this county and covered them the best way we could, which was a very disagreeable task.

I am apt to think it will be a very distressing and disagreeable circumstance to the frontiers to have the volunteers taken from them.-My reason for sending them then as soon as they were ready, was to

support and assist the inhabitants in saving their harvest. I am afraid the militia of this county will not turn out so well as I could wish; but your excellency may depend upon it that every exertion in my power shall be used on the occasion, as I am fully convinced of the necessity of our utmost efforts this year in order to save the country. This county is now very scarce of ammunition, and I have not been able to find any trusty hand and wagon to send for, but expect one before long, when, I flatter myself, that council will supply us with a sufficient quantity of powder, lead and flints.

I doubt if the number required of the militia, turn out, we will not be able to arm them in this county, as we have already furnished the volunteers out of what state arms were here, but we have got a few muskets, but they all want bayonets. I am happy to inform you we have this year had a very plentiful harvest in this county, and appearances of fine corn and plenty of fruit, and also a good disposition in a number of the people to receive and give credit to the state money (if they could get it) but very little of it has come to this part of the coun ty yet. But if ready money of any kind could be had there could be plenty of supplies purchased. There may difficulty arise about procuring wagons, as I believe there is no wagon-master that acts for this county. I have the honor to be

your Excellency's most obedient

and humble servant,

ABM. SMITH.

CHAPTER XI.

INDIANS MASSACRED at carlisle-(1760).

Preliminary remarks-Doctor John, a Delaware Indian and family murdered, near Carlisle---Assembly makes inquiries into the case---West's letter touching the same--Tittel's and Davis's depositions-Loughry's deposition---Allusion to the murder in a conference held with the Indians in 1762.

The principal murders committed by the Indians upon the whites, within the limits of Cumberland and Lancaster counties, at their early organization (but now comprising also what is embraced by the several counties, of which a history is attempted) have been noticed from 1727 to the close of the Revolutionary war. As the whites, in their turn, did also commit, as they were unhesitatingly pronounced, "murders upon the Indians," within the geographical bounds of Cumberland and Lancaster, at the time alluded to, it is deemed as not inappropriate to notice these also, in this connection. As compiler, the writer does not wish to advance any thing in extenuation of the misdeeds of the whites. He would, however, passing, remark: that in war-in the midst of the calamities of a protracted war-it seems the ordinary sympathies of our nature, often forsook the inured warrior, There may be some exceptions (?). In the savage, war whets the destructive propensities, and his thirst for "blood and carnage" increases in ardency, as the number of his victims swells. Total extirpation only constitute the bounds of his sphere of slaughter; hence so many indiscriminate murders both of the innocent and offensive. Persons, civilized, savage, or demisavage, who once shuddered at the hearing, or seeing the murder of a single individual, can, when inured to the miseries of war, listen to the report of countless numbers slain, as an amusing tale; and be prepared to resent to the utmost, at his life's hazard, every real or imaginary wrong-avenge himself in the destruction of those whom he believes to be aggressor, or mere abettors. Striking exemplifications are recorded in the annals of every country: the cruelties "re