USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume III > Part 30
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"In Fish's Eddyt, at the lower point of the town, forty head of cattle were seen floating at one time. But one life, so far as we can learn, was lost, namely, that of Asat Jackson, in the the upper part of Wilkesbarre (Jacob's Plains). He was the son of Mr. William Jackson, killed by the savages in 1778§. His fate was peculiar. Daniel Gore and Mr. Jackson were standing on the river bank observing the ice break up, when suddenly there came a rush of waters deluging the flats, and pouring in huge masses between them and the hill. Jackson sprang on a horse he had beside him and rode for life to reach the high lands, but, becoming entangled in the ice, he was borne away by the flood. Mr. Gore stood still; flight for him seemed impossible, when, providentially, a canoe of his own, broken from its moorings, floated near him, and he contrived by skill and care to reach the shore in safety."
The Rev. Dr. Peck, in his "Wyoming" (see page 20, Vol. I), gives an account of the flood of 1784, based on facts related to him in 1841 by Mrs. Martha (Bennet) Myers|, who, as a young woman of twenty-one years, had either witnessed or participated in some of the overwhelming and disheartening occurrences of March, 1784. Dr. Peck says:
"At about two o'clock P. M. Colonel Denison and Esquire Meyers came riding down the river on horseback. Seeing the three families [of Thomas Bennet, Solomon Bennet and-Stevens
*See page 711, Vol. II. ¡At the bend of the river, at the foot of Ross Street. See page 59, Vol. I. #Frederic, not Asal. See page 1371.
§See page 1106, Vol. 11. ||See page 1241.
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at what is now Forty Fort] apparently unapprised of their danger, one of them cried out, 'Bennet, what are you about? The ice will soon be upon you in mountains.' Mrs. [Thomas] Bennet had previously been urging her husband to take the family to the high bank across the creek. He, however, relied securely upon the tradition communicated to him from 'the oldest Indians,' that the water had 'never been over these flats.'
"After the warning given by Colonel Denison and Esquire Myers, however, the old gentle- man gave up his policy of inaction, and 'began to stir about.' The big canoe was loaded, and went off carrying the old people and the children. The boys drove the cattle to Swetland's Hill, taking along the wagon and horses. They barely escaped, the water rising so rapidly that it came into the wagon-box just before they reached the hill. Martha [Bennet] staid at the house and assisted in loading the canoe, which Solomon Bennet and Uriah Stevens ran back and forth between the house and the bank.
"As they were engaged in packing up, the ice above gave way with a tremendous roar Martha cried out,' Boys, we are gone!' She says, 'In an instant we were in the canoe-I cannot tell how-and were lifted up among the tops of the trees, and surrounded by cakes of strong ice. The boys rowed, and I pulled by the limbs of the trees, but in spite of all we could do we were driven down stream rapidly. It was now dark, and our people, with lighted torches, came along the bank in the greatest anxiety of mind, frequently calling out, 'Where are you.' As we were swept along by the terrible current, and unable to make much headway in consequence of the obstructions occasioned by the ice, we saw the lights following along the bank, and occasion- ally heard our friends shout out, 'Keep up good courage, you will soon reach the shore.'
"We struggled for life, and at eleven or twelve o'clock at night we reached the shore. Uriah Stevens sprang upon a log which lay by the shore, and thence upon the ground. I followed him, but the moment I struck the log it rolled, and I was plunged into the water. I was fortunate enough to rise within reach of the young man, and he pulled me out. Solomon, in the canoe, was then driven out among the ice, and it was an hour or more before he reached the shore."
At Fort Dickinson, Wilkes-Barré, under the date of March 20, 1784 (five days after the great flood), Maj. James Moore wrote to President Dickinson, at Philadelphia, in part as follows *:
"The people in this Country have suffered Exceedingly by the late fresh; not less than 150 Houses have been carried away. The Grain is Principally lost, and a very considerable part of the Cattle drowned. The Water was thirty feet above Low Water Mark. * * * The water was so High in the Garrison that some of the ammunition was injured."
It will be recalled that the garrison, or Fort Dickinson, stood on the River Common, near the foot of Northampton Street.
At "Wyoming, on Susquehanna, March 24, 1784," the following letter was written and forwarded to Col. John Franklin, then in Philadelphia as the agent of the Wyoming Yankees :-
"The late breaking up of the River Susquehanna (on the 15th inst.) has been the most uncommon, and attended with the most extraordinary effects, beyond what has been known in the memory of any man now living in this country.
"The uncommon severity of the cold, congealing the ice to such an incredible thickness, and depth of the snow, together with the sudden thaws and rain, with a variety of other causes, contributed to the late uncommon inundation and swell of the stream, which came down in mountains of ice, and overwhelmed almost the whole country. The consternation of the inhab- itants was not more amazing than their salvation surprising, of which we cannot give a particular account, only observe to the public that their houses, most of them (where the flood came), were driven some of them one mile, some two, others five and seven miles, and some heard of no more.
"In one settlement (within a mile square) containing twenty-seven houses and 172 inhabi- tants, there were lost by the flood 90 head of horned cattle (most of them oxen and cows), 27 horses, 65 sheep, and 108 swine, with almost all their other effects. Five other settlements suffered much the same, excepting in live stock. And although the inhabitants were in the utmost danger of being swallowed up, some being in and some on their houses, some climbing the trees, some on floating islands of ice, and some saved the Lord knows how, yet none of them were lost, neither man, woman nor child, and one only missing, viz. Frederick Jackson. Thus, not unlike St. Paul's shipwrecked company-some on boards, and some on broken pieces of their houses-all came safe to land. A salvation never to be forgotten!
"But alas! for the suffering inhabitants, the ruin of their houses, and loss of all their move- able substance, and support of life for themselves and families for this and the current year; for that the Flats (their chief improvement) are covered with ice to an incredible depth, that
*See "Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X :222.
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to appearance will forbid a former, if not even prevent a latter, harvest. The state of the in- habitants is very deplorable (at least a very considerable part of them), and calls for the help of all who can afford them any. The narrators were present, and eye-witnesses of this amazing catastrophe, which is, in very deed, beyond description. It bears no faint resemblance to Noah's flood, or to the appearance of the frozen seas of Greenland. The ice went mountains high, and bore down all before it. The aboriginal natives tell us that once in about seventy years there is such a flood-that the mountains and hills only are seen.
The above certified per
[Signed] (Rev.) "JACOB JOHNSON, "JOHN JENKINS, "DANIEL GORE,
"Inhabitants of Wyoming, on Susquehanna, in behalf of many other sufferers there."
This letter was placed by Colonel Franklin in the hands of President Dickin- son on March 31st, and the latter, on the same day, transmitted it to the General Assembly with the following message:
"The late inundation having reduced many of the inhabitants at Wyoming to great distress, we should be glad if your honorable House would be pleased to make some immediate provision for their relief."
The House ordered that the message be laid on the table, and, so far as we can now learn, there it still lies! On April 1st the Assembly adjourned, and did not convene again until the latter part of July or the beginning of August, following.
At Wilkes-Barre, under the date of March 24, 1784, the Rev. Jacob Johnson wrote to a friend in Philadelphia, in part as follows :*
* * * "The vast depth of snow in the open ground and woods together with the sudden thaw and rain, contributed to the late amazing inundation and swell of the streams, the which, upon the breaking up came down in huge bodies, even mountains of ice, which being wedged up in the straits and narrows, caused a most extraordinary swell above and below us in the day time; and about 11 o'clock at night all the waters confined by the amazing bodies of ice gave way in an instant, with the most alarming omens of destruction, devastation, and an entire depopu- lation of this country, and caused such an overflowing as might fitly be termed a deluge of waters and ice which covered the earth almost from mountain to mountain, to a most surprising breadth and depth, and the whole country became like the frozen seas of Greenland.
"The rushing in of the waters and enormous loads of ice were so sudden, rapacious and un- expected that few could make their escape, which threw the inhabitants into the utmost con- sternation, amazement and anxiety of soul for their preservation. Such of them as could fled to the mountains and hills in a most confused and hasty manner, before the flood had surrounded them; but Oh alas! for the greatest part of the inhabitants, their retreat was cut off, and nothing but immediate death and watery graves before their eyes, occasioned by the rapidity and unexpected rise of the waters which were all around them 'ere they were aware of their danger; so that the distressed and almost despairing inhabitants had no other alternative but to implore the interposition of Almighty God for their deliverance and salvation, for they could make no escape either on foot, by horse, or boat, and were therefore under the fatal necessity to abide the consequence of the awful catastrophe, be it what it might.
"Such a night never was known here! Oh! the cries and screeches of mothers and children, together with the beasts groaning and bellowing-yea, every creature crying out with fear; while the people's houses, and all their substance, were enveloped with mountains of ice and . a deluge of waters, all in motion and convulsion, sweeping all before them like a second Noah's flood. Some were in their houses, racking and tumbling in pieces around them; others in their houses and on the roofs, hurrying along with the impetuous torrent; some in boats and canoes, wedged up and driving with the ice; some climbing and hanging on the limbs of trees in utmost jeopardy; others on islands of ice, driving in hideous commotion. In short, keen despair brooded upon every brow, for all human assistance was denied the people, and nothing but immediate death appeared to be their portion.
"In this important crisis it pleased God to rebuke and stay the proud waters in almost the twinkling of an eye! The whole body of ice stopped, and removed no more, which finally proved the salvation of many hundreds of the people; for had the waters and ice made a second movement, the people must have all perished. This great salvation, we trust, God was pleased to grant in answer to the prayers and cries of the distressed, otherwise, to all appearance, every soul must have perished, excepting those who had made their escape to the mountains in season. But Oh! who is able to delineate, to point out, the horrors of that never-to-be-forgotten night, or even realize them, though present, much less such as were absent, or believe one-half when told them! God was pleased in the midst of wrath to remember mercy. For ever blessed be His name!
"We expected that the greatest part, if not all, who had not made their escape in season has perished; but to our great surprise and joy there was but one person lost, who is since found
*This letter was printed in the Pennsylvania Packet, Philadelphia, May 27, 1784.
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dead; but the situation of hundreds was indeed tremendous. Some were taken from their houses all in ruins; numbers of families were taken from their houses after being driven and hurried along the impetuous torrent, some one mile and others two miles, and their houses all broken in pieces; some from limbs of trees, others off islands of ice, and some the Lord knows how. Some were 24 and others 48 hours in the wrecks of houses (wedged up in the ice and water) before they could be relieved, and were almost perished.
"But to behold the desolation made-houses and effects mostly swept off and destroyed- cattle, horses, sheep and swine mostly drowned-clothing, household furniture, provisions, flax, farming utensils, and other necessaries of life, mostly driven down the torrent and forever lost-our fences all gone-our fields of winter grain and grass loaded with ice from 10 to 30 feet thick, which threatens the loss of our former harvest, if not even forbid the later. Upon the whole, at a moderate computation, there are not half the necessaries of life to support the inhabitants. However, we trust in the mercies of God, that He who hath in a wonderful, if not even in a miraculous manner, saved so many lives from such apparent awful death, will still in mercy provide for them.
"The inhabitants were settled in several small districts up and down the River, extending in the whole about fifteen miles in length, and had built houses on the low-lands near the river, and in compact bodies, for better defense against the savages. The uppermost district is Lackawanaek*, and consisted of about 20 families. Their houses all swept off and destroyed except four; the principal part of their cattle, horses, and other effects lost. The settlement known by the name of Wintermoot's Fortt consisted of about 20 houses, and contained up- wards of 20 families, every house gone, their goods, provisions and other effects almost totally lost, except cattle and horses, a considerable number of which were driven to the hills when the flood was coming on.
"In the neighborhood of Jacob's Plains were about 30 families, every house gone and destroyed except three, and they much damaged; the greatest part of their cattle, horses, and other effects lost and destroyed. In the lower part of Kingston were 27 houses and upwards of 30 families; every house carried off and laid in ruins; their cattle, horses and other beasts totally drowned even to a single creature (except the cattle and horses belonging to three families) ; all other of their effects almost totally lost. At Shawanese district [Plymouth] were upwards of 40 families, living in 30 houses, on the lowlands, 20 of which houses were swept off and destroyed, and the others much damaged; cattle and horses almost totally drowned, and the greatest part of their other effects lost and destroyed.
Wilksbarret district is the largest neighborhood, and is built on high lands, was about five feet under water, several houses damaged, and some cattle and horses and other effects drowned and lost. A number of houses in other parts of the settlement were swept off and torn in pieces, cattle, horses, goods, provisions, and other effects lost. The greatest part of the sheep and swine, in all our settlements, are drowned. In the whole settlements there are at least 150 dwelling houses swept off and rendered unfit to live in, besides all other buildings; numbers of houses driven a mile, others seven miles, and there left in ruins; others lying in pieces all over the lowlands, and some not heard of yet.
"The distresses of the war obliged us to build on our lowlands, yet few or none were ever exposed to danger before this time-the water and ice have risen 12 or 15 feet higher than ever was known in our days, and in some turns of the river 25 feet higher than what it usually raised in former freshes, and was so sudden that, after the banks were overflowed, and the water had hegun to be in the houses, it raised 10 feet perpendicular in 15 minutes, and almost from mountain to mountain!
"This is the distressed and unhappy situation of the unfortunate inhabitants of Wyoming, who have suffered every danger this side death during the distresses of the war, many of their most near and tender connections having bled and fallen, and their whole country laid waste hy the relentless fury of the savages."
At Philadelphia, April 5, 1784, Col. John Franklin and Robert Martin, Esq. (see page 1344), addressed the following memorial§ to the Supreme Execu- tive Council of Pennsylvania.
"The Memorial of Robert Martin and John Franklin on behalf of the distressed People of Wyoming humbly sheweth:
"That on the 15th of March last the River Susquehanna rose into a flood exceeding all Degrees ever before known; that its rise was so sudden as to give no time to guard against its Mischief; that it swept away about 150 Houses, with all the provisions, House furniture, farming Tools and Cattle of the Owners, and gave but just opportunity for the Inhabitants to fly for their lives to the high Ground; that by this dreadful Calamity 1000 Persons are left destitute of Provisions, Clothing and every means of Life; and to add to the Calamity, the Winter Crop of Grain on the Ground is so harrowed up by the Ice as to he nearly ruined. Their deplorable
*Now the city of Pittston.
tSee page 1013, Vol. II, and other references in Vol. II, as to the location of Wintermute's Fort.
#The principal part of the village of Wilkes-Barre at that time lay between the present Market and South Streets and the River Common and Washington Street.
§See "Pennsylvania Archives", Second Series, XVIII : 636.
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Case was laid before the late Assembly for their consideration, but they Adjourned without taking , any resolution thereon.
"Your Memorialists therefore pray that these suffering People may be recommended to publick Charity, or such other method for their relief may be adopted as your wisdom shall devise; and your Memorialists shall ever pray."
Concerning the foregoing memorial, Pelatiah Webster* wrote as follows, from Philadelphia, under the date of April 20, 1784, to the Hon. Roger Sherman, `Delegate from Connecticut in the Congress of the United States, then sitting at Annapolis, Maryland. (Some years ago the original letter was in the possession of the late Hon. George F. Hoar of Massachusetts, who furnished the present writer with a copy of the same.) *
* * "The Wyoming people have been Dreadfully ruined by the Inundation of the River, as you have doubtless heard. 150 houses, with all the stock, farming Tools, Furniture & provisions were swept away, and the people are left in the most Distressed Condition, and the humanity of our people toward them I think somewhat Sparing. Their Case was Laid before the Assembly by ye President & Council, but they adjourned without Taking the matter up or forming any resolution.
*PELATIAH WEBSTER was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1725; was graduated at Yale College in 1746; studied theology, and preached for a time in 1748-'49 at Greenwich, Massachusetts. About 1755 he removed to Philadelpha where he engaged in business and soon accumulated a small fortune. At the same time he devoted himself to study and literary work. In 1767, as noted on page 446, Vol. I, he was voted by The Susquebanna Company one share in the Company's Purchase. During the Revolutionary War Mr. Webster was an active patriot, aiding the American cause with pen and purse, which resulted in his being seized by the British in February, 1778, and imprisoned in the Philadelphia city jail, where he was confioed for 132 days. In addition, part of his property was confiscated by the British.
Mr. Webster gave much time to the study of the currency, finance, and the resources of the country, and was often consulted on these matters by the members of Congress His "Dissertation on the Political Union and Coostitution of the Thirteen United States of North America", published at Philadelphia io 1783, is mentioned by President James Madison as having an influence in directing the public mind to the necessity of a better form of Government. By more than one writer he has been given priority in inventing "the idea of the Supreme federal Goveromeot, strictly organized, and operating directly on the citizens and not on the States composing the federation."
Io the Spring of 1784 Mr. Webster retired from business, leasing his house, stores and wharf in Philadelphia to Major Lockwood. Thereafter he devoted himself to writing and publishing. He published essays on Public Credit, Public Finances, Money, etc. He died at Philadelphia in September. 1795. He had a daughter Sophia, who was the wife of Thaddeus Point.
CHAPTER XXIV
EVENTS OF THE SECOND PENNAMITE-YANKEE WAR - OPPRESSIONS OF SETTLERS BY PENNAMITES MULTIPLY-THE INTERVENTION OF CON- GRESS AGAIN INVOKED-YANKEES, DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES, ESTABLISH FORTS LILLOPEE AND DEFENSE-SKIRMISHES BETWEEN THE CONTENDING PARTIES CAUSE A DIS- ASTROUS FIRE - THE FIGHT AT LOCUST HILL.
"They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. They
turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together. * * * They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold." -- Job, XXIV : 3, 4, 7.
"They were driven forth from among men, * to dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in * caves of the earth, and in the rocks. Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together." -Job, XXX : 5, 6, 7.
And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword." -Leviticus, XXVI: 7.
Early in March, 1784, the General Assembly of Pennsylvania appointed a committee of its members to confer with the Supreme Executive Council of the State respecting the proper time for withdrawing the troops stationed at Wyoming. On March 25th the committee reported in part as follows: "That they have performed that service, and find Council unanimously of opinion that it would be highly improper to remove the troops before the first day of December next; but notwithstanding the opinion of that honorable body, which seems to be founded upon no other reasons than those already mentioned, and fully debated by this House, your committee beg leave to offer the following resolution: Resolved, That the blank in the resolution of the 11th instant, re- specting the discharge of the troops now stationed at Wyoming, be filled up with 'the first day of June next.' "
This resolution was adopted by the House, and the fact was duly communi- cated to the Supreme Executive Council; which body, under the date of March 30th, informed Major Moore (who about that time had been promoted Lieut. Colonel) and John Weitzel, (contractor for provisions at Fort Dickinson) that the garrison at Fort Dickinson would be discharged on June 1, 1784, and that
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it was the sense of the Council that no provisions should be furnished "to the troops stationed at that place after that day."
The committee of the Pennsylvania Assembly, to which had been referred the report of the Committee of Inquiry into Wyoming affairs, and certain letters and memorials relating to the same subject made its report to the House on March 19, 1784. Having been read, it was laid on the table till March 31st, when it was read the second time and the resolution attached to it was adopted by the House-but not unanimously. The report and the resolution read as . follows *:
"The committee to whom was referred the report of the committee on the charges contairied in the petition from divers inhabitants of Wyoming, the letter from Alexander Patterson, Esq., and two petitions from the inhabitants of Wyoming, beg leave to report :
"That after examining the different depositions accompanying the report of the committee on the charges contained in the petition from the inhabitants of Wyoming, they do not find that the same contain any matter of complaint but such as, if true, the laws of this State are fully sufficient to redress, and that, therefore, an application to this House was unnecessary and im- proper. A greater part of the irregularities alleged against Alexander Patterson, Esq., appear to have been done by people in his name; but no order or warrant appears to have been given by him for any such acts. Your committee therefore offer the following resolution to the House: "Resolved, That the petition from divers inhabitants of Wyoming, presented to this House on the 8th day of December last, be dismissed, and that the parties be referred to common law for redress of any injuries they may have sustained."
It will be noticed that this resolution was adopted by the House on the same day that it ordered the message of President Dickinson, concerning the inunda- tion of Wyoming, to be laid on the table.
The foregoing report and resolution provoked considerable discussion in the House, some members being in favor of indefinitely postponing the subject under discussion; but this was objected to by a number of the members, who called for a reading of the depositions which had been taken at Wyoming by the Committee of Inquiry. Col. Daniel Clymer, a Representative from Berks County, took up the deposition of Robert McDowel, which he read in his place, and then declared: "There is evidence enough in that alone to show that Alexan- der Patterson ought to be removed from his office of Justice of the Peace!" Colonel Clymer insisted that all of the depositions should be read, but this was opposed by several, especially by the Speaker of the House.
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