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"In addition to his misfortune, in running across a bay or morass, the Indians in close pursuit, every step over knee deep in mud and mire, by over exertion, caused a breach in his body, which has been a painful and troublesome disorder ever since.

"It is unnecessary to describe the entire destruction of the settlement by the enemy, dispersion and hardships of the fugitives, old men, women and children, fleeing through the wilderness, carrying with them scarcely enough to support nature by the way.

"The place was retaken in August or September following, by Col. Zebulon Butler, and Capt. Simon Spalding and a garrison replaced there. Your petitioner returned soon after and served as a volunteer during the years 1779, 1780 and 1781, and was subject to be called on in every case of emergency.

"The expedition of General Sullivan to the Genesee country did not prevent wholly the depredations of the enemy being frequently harassed by small parties. In the year 1782 Captain Spalding's company was called to join the main army at headquarters and a company of invalids was stationed at the post, commanded by Capt. Mitchell, soldiers that were not calculated for the woods, scoutings, etc., Col. Dennison gave orders to have the militia organized and classed, which took place."

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Afterward, April 3, 1832, Sergt. Gore wrote a private letter to Philander Stephens, member of congress, and from which is taken the following extracts: "I would take it as a favor if you would inform me what is the prospect of a bill for the general compensation of old soldiers and volunteers of the Revolution. Some cheering information on this subject would revive my spirits, which have been almost exhausted during the severity of the past winter. On reflecting back in these trying times, I would state some particulars respecting our family at the commencement of the Revolution. My father had seven sons, all zealously engaged in the cause of liberty. Himself an acting magistrate and a committee of safety, watching the disaffected and encouraging the loyal part of the community. * * * * Three of his sons and two sons-in-law fell in the Wyoming massacre. Himself died the winter following. One son served during the war, the others served in the continental army for shorter periods." Then he draws a picture of some of the things he saw in that war, and says: "Let any person at this time of general prosperity of our country, reflect back on the troubles, trials and suffering of a conquered country by a savage enemy. Men scalped and mangled in the most savage manner. Some dead bodies floating down the river in sight of the garrison. Women collecting together in groups, screaming and wringing their hands in the greatest agony; some swooning and deprived of their senses. Property of every description plundered and destroyed, buildings burned, the surviving inhabitants dispersed and driven through the wilderness to seek subsistence wherever they could find it." This," he says, and its truth is on its face, "is but a faint description of the beautiful valley of 1778," and it should be remembered the savages continued their depredations until 1782.

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"John Franklin was chosen captain. Your petitioner was appointed to sergeant and had the command of a class which was ordered to be ready at the shortest notice to scout the woods and to follow any part of the enemy that should be sent on their murderous excursions, that he performed four tours of scouting that season of about eight days each.

"Your petitioner never drew any pay, clothing or rations during the contest for independence, but ammunition he was supplied with from the continental store. "He had the charge of a family at the time (his father being dead); had to support himself as well as he could by laboring between spells and frequently plowing with his musket slung at his back."

He concludes with this pathetic sentence, after stating that he had been informed

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by the newspapers of the great spirit of liberality manifested by congress toward old soldiers: "I take the liberty to request of your honorable body to take my case into consideration; and if you in your wisdom and justice should think that your petitioner is entitled to any remuneration, to do what you may think right and just; and your petitioner will ever pray."

Such was the language of the old Revolutionary soldier who had served his country "without any pay or rations" and had to support himself and his dead father's family by "working between spells; often with his gun strapped on his back." It is much of the story of the war in Luzerne county.

The story of the wives and mothers of those times is condensed and typified in that of Samuel Gore's mother. When the battle was raging, she was watching at the door of the fort to catch the first news where were her four sons and two sonsin-law. The first panting courier told her the horrid story that her three sons, Ralph, Silas and George, and her two sons-in-law, John Murphy and Timothy Pierce, were dead, and their scalped and mangled corpses lay side by side-the brave woman's heart was broken, and her stricken soul cried: "Have I one son left ?" The fort was pillaged the next day, and the Indians carried all the feather beds to the river's bank, and scattered the feathers to the winds. They burned Mr. Gore's house, and the children, while the Indians were sacking the fort, gathered enough feathers to make the noted "Wyoming Bed," and hid them. Mrs. Gore procured a horse, threw this "bed" across it, and started on the long journey across the "Shades of Death" that lay before them on their way to the Delaware. The old people and the children rode alternately, and in hushed silence, not knowing what moment the red devil's would spring upon them. The small children endured agony in silence, and trudged on and on.

CHAPTER III.

HABITS AND CUSTOMS.

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THOSE WHO CAME PEEPING IN THE WILDERNESS "OLD PICKLE" OLD MICHAEL, OR SISTER PHEBE"-THE ANCIENT DUDE-SEVERE RELIGION-A PREACHER TRIED FOR DRUNKENNESS-THE PROPHECIES AND GROTESQUERIES THE BRUSH HUT AND LOG CABIN - A TYPICAL WOODS PIONEER - ETC.

THE

HERE were people enough here to begin to form scattered neighborhoods before there was such a thing as social life. The very first were nomads, wandering aimlessly across the mountains and along the winding streams, coming in sudden surprise upon the wigwams and brush and bark villages, and a few words in signs, and sit in that calm stolidity of the native about the camp fires, and then silently pass on and on. This strange creature was piloting the way across the continent -- the vanguard to the millions that were soon to follow — and those to, who came to possess - the "nation builders," as they have been proudly called by their descendants. Indeed, they were far more than that; they were both the world's map makers and the founders of the new civilization. The reflex of their lives have re-mapped the world—recast the fate of the human race. Bundled in this strange, uncouth creature, these lonely wanderers were the restless spirit of independence and liberty-the rights of man as against the "divine" rulers. These people were a strange development of their age and time- the marvel of all history- the glintings of the luminous civilization that was to follow them;

whose developing food had been persecutions by church and State, and sect and heretic, and whose strong and unconquerable manhood and supreme self-reliance had come of cruel blows, or risen phenix-like from the flames.

"Old Michael "-the ancient "sexton and high constable"-John Michael Keinzle, was a most interesting and typical character of the good old times. The wicked boys of that day knew him only as "Old Pickle." He commenced so long ago, that memory runneth not, as sexton and grave digger, and was elected high constable of Wilkes-Barre in 1806, and in his many offices served until his death in 1846. He was a stumpy, red-faced, bushy-haired and stub-whiskered Swiss. Beneath a rough exterior was a kind heart and infinite love of children, though the wild boys thought him a very ogre. In loyalty and obedience he was a martinet to his church and the law of the land, and yet he would rebuke the judge or the minister with equal bluntness at what he deemed the slightest departure from the proper form. All must behave in his presence little children, great judges or venerable divines. One of the olden time boys has furnished a reminiscence that is so graphic a picture of the times and customs of the people that we can not do better than give its substance, much of it in his own words: "I can remember being one of a soldier company of which Ned Mallery was captain and Ned Babb was first lieutenant. Our guns were made in the carpenter shop of John P. Babb, of good wood, with a snap spring on the side, which answered our purpose, and were not dangerous. We used to parade on the Saturday half-holidays. [Schools then commenced by the sunrise and kept until sundown.] We paraded on the river bank, near old Michael's residence, which was in the Arndt storehouse on the edge of the bank opposite Morgan's tavern. On these occasions Michael would frequently pass along our line and give each of the boys a penny, a great prize to every one of us. We knew he was poor, and we never forgot his kind heart. He was constable and sexton of the churches, and attended to the opening and cleaning, lighting and bell-ringing, and always snuffed the candles, wearing in the church pumps, and silently, with snuffers, would pass around during the singing. He was the servant of the town, and in many ways its master. On Sunday he sat in the gallery to watch the boys, and woe to the urchin who did not keep still or made a noise. Every night at 9 o'clock he rang the bell of the old meeting-house on the square, a notice to the merchants to close up, for all abroad to retire to their homes, and everybody to go to bed; this he did without pay or any reward save that of good conscience; and in this he was as punctual as the sun in all weather. He had a pound on the river near his residence, and cattle found at large at night were driven there and the owner must come and pay his fine. When he found a man

drunk and helpless on the ground he went for his wheelbarrow and on this took him to the pound and dumped him in with the other domestic animals. In the winter when the snow would cover the way or coal-ash sidewalks, Michael would be up before day while others slept and with his snow plow drive along the walks and have all the snow off before the people were up-this too was voluntary and with no pay attached. The pleasure of doing good was his reward. He had the only hay scales in the place, near his residence and the pound. Long chains were attached to a beam, fastened to the wheels of the wagon and all was raised clear of the ground, and the weight ascertained. Thus he was weighmaster too; his charge for each job was ten cents. No man was ever more fearless in the discharge of official duties; many a time he would make an arrest, take the prisoner to the door of the jail, when the man's goodness of heart would turn his prisoner loose after frightening him terribly and many promises of "never do so any more." This latter applied mostly to the youths of the town, when, which was not frequently, he could catch them. 66 He had clumb the mast" in vindication of this claim, when

a wag intimated a doubt, he ascended the steeple of the church and stood upon the small ball, 125 feet from the ground. The man had a strong temper as well

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