Elizabeth F. Ellet

“ With broken fortunes and blighted hopes, left to grapple with a hard world-while a compensating degree of prosperity awaited many of the ancient sufferers-the night of bloodshed and woe was not succeeded to them as to others, by a bright and cheering morning of sunshine. ”

“ In an attack upon the house of the widow Bevier, when, after it was fired, the two women sought refuge in the cellar, the daughter, Magdalen, took with her the Dutch family Bible. When the flames approached them, they decided to deliver themselves up to the savages, and made their way through the cellar window-the mother in advance. The daughter threw her apron over her head, fearing to see her parent killed. As she feared, the widow fell a prey to the cruel tomahawk, while the Bible was wrested from Magdalen's hands and stamped in the mud-she herself being retained a prisoner. ”

“ Mrs. Myers had even preserved the table on which had been signed the terms of capitulation, and repeated the conversation between Colonel Denison and Colonel Butler, overheard by herself and another girl on a seat within the Fort; with Butler's acknowledgment of his inability to check the savages in their plunder and slaughter of the inhabitants. At one time the Indians, to show their power, came into the fort. One took the hat from Colonel Denison's head, and another demanded his frock. The savage raised his tomahawk menacingly, and the Colonel was obliged to yield ”

“ MRS. BIDLACK was the daughter of Obadiah Gore, and about twenty years old at the time of the battle. Her family were devoted to the cause of liberty. The aged father was left in Forty Fort to aid in its defence, while five sons with two brothers-in-law marched to the conflict! At sunset five of the seven lay mangled corpses on the field. Mrs. Murfee, another sister, begged her way, among the rest of the fugitives, across the wilderness, and sought a home in the State from which she had emigrated. The mother of the Gore family lived to see prosperity return to her remaining children. ”

“ The names of a hundred others, who shared that memorable flight, might be mentioned; but these are sufficient.
In the enemy's ranks, some of the women were foremost in the work of carnage. Esther, the queen of the Seneca tribe of Indians-a fury in female form-it is said, took upon herself the office of executioner, passing with her tomahawk round the circle of prisoners, counting with a cadence, and sinking the weapon into the heads of the victims. ”

“ Changed completely by time and education exempted from the tasks usually imposed on women in the savage state, the most flattering deference being paid to her superior understanding-invested with the dignity of a queen among them-and happy in her family and connections-she had been led to regard the whites with a degree of fear and aversion, and to deem return to her kindred a calamity rather than a blessing ”

“ The savages soon after entered the house, seized her little boy, Ebenezer, and when the mother interposed to save the child caught up her daughter Frances, about five years old, and fled swiftly to the mountains. This was within a hundred rods of Wilkesbarre fort; but, though the alarm was instantly given, the Indians eluded pursuit, and no trace of their retreat could be discovered. ”

“ When her narration was finished, Frances, or Maconaquah, as she was called, appealed with solemnity to the Great Spirit, to bear witness to its truth. The next day, her brothers, with the interpreter, rode out to visit her. Everything bore the appearance, not only of plenty, but of rude abundance; the cattle and horses were numerous ”

“ On her capture, she had been carried to a rocky cave on the mountain where a bed of blankets and dried leaves had been prepared for the accommodation of the Indians. Thence taken to the Indian country, she was treated with kindness, and brought up as an adopted daughter of their people. When her Indian parents died, she married a young chief of the nation, and removed to the waters of the Ohio. ”

“ She was a widow, with two daughters-wealthy, respected and bearing an excellent character.
The sensation produced throughout Wyoming by this letter, can scarcely be imagined. Joseph Slocum, the brother of Frances, moved by affection, duty, and the known wishes of his deceased parent, made immediate for the preparations for the journey, though a thousand miles intervened; and with his younger brother, Isaac, who lived in Ohio, hastened to Logansport. The lost sister, known wishes of his deceased parent, made immediate preparations for the journey, though a thousand miles intervened ”