USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Annals of Luzerne County; a record of interesting events, traditions, and anecdotes > Part 33
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A horse was drowned in a stable, near the present residence of S. Leonard Thurlow, Esq., in Wilkesbarre.
The late Mrs. Myers, with her father's family, escaped from their dwelling in Kingston, during the ice flood, in a canoe, soon after which the house was carried away, and the spot where it stood covered by an immense pile of ice.
Persons familiar with the localities referred to in the foregoing statements may form a pretty correct idea of the extent of these floods.
It is said the Indians informed the whites that they had no tradition respecting any flood having swept over the plains of Wyoming. This may be doubted, but if true, it may be an interesting question how far the clear- ing out of the country, and the removal of the forests, 31
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have affected the river, by allowing the snows to melt more rapidly, and affording a freer passage for the waters of the tributary streams. The channel of the Susque- hanna is wider and deeper now than it was a hundred years ago, though bearing no greater volume of water to the ocean, and since the ice and pumpkin floods the valley has been several times more or less inundated.
In July, 1809, the Susquehanna rose 16 feet above low-water mark, and, inundating the lower flats, destroyed the grain. In January, 1831, the flats were again inun- dated; and again, in May, 1833, the low-lands were flooded by the high water. Arks and rafts, torn from their moorings in the smaller streams, came floating down the swollen flood without men to guide them. Stacks of hay floated by covered with living poultry. As they passed Wilkesbarre the cocks crowed lustily, intimat- ing to their brethren of the borough that their heads were still above water. In January, 1841, the weather suddenly changed from cold to warm, accompanied with rain, which rapidly melted the snow, and produced an inundation of the low country along the Susquehanna and Lackawanna. But its effects on the Lehigh were of the most terrible and destructive character. The water rushed into the cellars and first stories of the stores and dwellings in Mauch Chunk in the night. Several build- ings were swept away, and the streets were filled with logs and trees, washed down from the surrounding moun- tains. The whole population, roused from their beds, fled, in the utmost alarm, to the high grounds above the village. Bridges, saw-mills, grist-mills, dwellings, barns, household furniture, canal boats, horses, cattle, and human beings were hurried promiscuously away on the bosom of the angry waters.
The works of the Lehigh Navigation Company, the
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Beaver Meadow Company, and the Schuylkill Navigation Company, sustained great injury ; and the villages of Lehighton and Weissport shared the fate of Mauch Chunk. In this dreadful catastrophe thirteen persons, principally women and children, lost their lives.
In 1842, and 1843, extraordinary floods again occurred in the Susquehanna and its tributaries ; and in the spring of 1846, the water stood 3} feet deep on the river bank opposite the Phoenix Hotel, in Wilkesbarre. This was the highest freshet known since the pumpkin flood of 1786 .* It, indeed, caused much more damage, reckoned in dollars and cents, but the country was much better able to bear the loss then than in the last century. The flood of 1846 carried away a number of costly bridges on the Susquehanna, and greatly damaged the public im- provements of the Commonwealth. For many weeks after the flood had subsided, the flats were covered with ice.
In July, 1850, a dam on Racket's Creek was swept away by the high water, and Carbondale was inundated. At the foot of Plane No. 1, cars, buildings, and drift- wood were heaped together in a promiscuous mass of ruins. The Lackawanna flooded several of the mines, but the workmen, with the exception of two, who were drowned, escaped.
The loss sustained by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company exceeded $75,000. The Susquehanna over- flowed its banks, and, it being the midst of harvest, the river was covered with sheaves and shocks of grain. Bridges were carried away, and no mails reached Pittston, Wilkesbarre, or Scranton for several days.
But the most destructive flood that ever occurred in Luzerne and adjoining counties, was occasioned by a con- tinued heavy rain, which fell in the early part of Sep-
* For an account of the destructive flood in the Lehigh in 1862, and the great flood in the Susquehanna in 1865, see Appendix Y.
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tember, 1850. In our county the loss of life and property was greatest on the small streams. Solomon's Creek rushed down the mountain's side with fearful impetuosity, destroying the public highway and the improvements of the Lehigh and Susquehanna Company at the foot of the plane. The Wapwallopen, with its increased volume, dashed madly over the country, sweeping away two of the powder-mills of Messrs. Knapp and Parrish. The Nescopeck, undermining the dam above the forge of S. F. Headley, Esq., bore off to the Susquehanna on its turbu- lent flood the lifeless bodies of twenty-two men, women, and children.
These unfortunate people had assembled in one house near the forge. The house stood upon elevated ground, and was supposed to be the best place for safety. One man, fearing to trust to the stability of the house, took up his child in his arms, and calling to his wife, who refused to follow, rushed through the rising waters, and gained the hill-side. When he turned to look behind him, house, wife, and friends had disappeared.
All the low lands along the Susquehanna were covered with water, and as usual on such occasions, the commu- nication between Wilkesbarre and Kingston was carried on by means of boats.
At Tamaqua forty dwellings were swept away, and thirty-three persons were drowned, sixteen being members of one family ; and the damage sustained at this place was estimated at $500,000. At Port Clinton twenty-six persons were drowned, eleven of whom constituted a family of father, mother, and nine children.
HURRICANES.
The first hurricane or tornado in Luzerne, of which we have any record, made its destructive passage through
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our forests in 1796. It passed over the country from west to east, unroofing barns and dwellings, and produc- ing on the head-waters of the Lehigh what, among the old inhabitants, was called " The Great Windfall." The road leading from Wilkesbarre to Easton was completely barricaded with fallen trees, which it required several months of labor to remove. Our county appropriated $250 towards the expense.
In February, 1824, a most terrific hurricane passed up the Susquehanna river, prostrating fences, trees, barns, and dwellings. Such was its power that it lifted the entire superstructure of the Wilkesbarre Bridge from its piers, and bore it some distance up the river, where it fell on the ice with a thundering crash.
On the 3d of July, 1834, a hurricane, sweeping from the north-east to the south-west, nearly destroyed the village, now the borough, of Providence. The office of E. S. Potter, Esq., was raised from its foundation, and, with Mr. P. and Otis Severance, who were in the building, it was removed several yards from its original position. An unfinished church was blown down, and the frame was carried to a great distance. Dr. Hollister informs us that a young woman, who had taken refuge in a feather- bed during the storm, was lifted, bed and all, through the roofless house, and safely landed several rods distant. We visited Providence a few days after this catastrophe, and if our remembrance is correct, there was only one uninjured building in the town. Every tree within the sweep of the wind was laid low.
In 1835, a similar hurricane passed through Wilkes- barre township from west to east, blowing down orchards, unroofing buildings, and prostrating the trees of the forest. Mr. McCarrier was lifted by the wind, and transported from his barn to the door-yard of his house.
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Almost every region of country is subject to floods and hurricanes of a more or less violent character. We have noted only those occurring among us, which were par- ticularly destructive, and which, at the time, made a serious impression on the public mind. To many they will appear of small consequence, but there are some to whom they will ever remain subjects of curious, if not of fearful interest.
DISEASES, PHYSICIANS.
Man, of course, is subject to disease and death in our climate, as well as in all others; but, according to the census of 1850, the number of deaths in Luzerne during that year, was only 383. This in a population of 56,072 is a very small proportion, and argues well for the health- fulness of the climate or the skill of our physicians. The proportion of deaths in Pennsylvania is estimated at seven annually for every hundred families, and as the families of the county numbered 9672 at the last census, the number of deaths among us, by this calculation, should have been about 675.13
Dr. William Hooker Smith, Dr. Joseph Sprague, and Dr. Gustin were the earliest physicians in the valley. They were all in the battle of 1778, and the last-named gentleman received a bullet through his hat.
In 1777, Jeremiah Ross returned from Philadelphia, where he had been on a visit, and brought with him the small-pox. This terrible ravager of the human family could at that time be only successfully met by the process of inoculation. Others in the settlements contracted the disease, and great alarm prevailed among the people. Pest-houses were established in each township, half a mile from any road, where persons who had not been inoculated were placed under treatment. The small-pox was a great terror to the Indians, and it is related that
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when they entered Forty Fort after the battle the women cried out, " Small-pox ! small-pox !" The savages, how- ever, understood the ruse, and were not to be deterred from their work of plunder.
A malignant disease, called putrid fever, prevailed in 1778. It was contagious, and several died. In 1794, a fatal form of typhus fever raged along the Susquehanna, and baffled the skill of the physicians. The disease was supposed to be yellow fever, and in some localities whole families fell victims to its ravages.14
The fever and ague has raged at various periods along the Susquehanna ever since the white man appeared on its banks. Shikellimus, the viceroy of the Six Nations. residing at Shamokin, died from this disease in 1749.
Dr. Nathaniel Giddings located himself in Pittston township in 1783, and pursued his profession for more than half a century. Dr. Matthew Covell, previous to the present century, located himself permanently in Wilkesbarre. Dr. Samuel Baldwin resided part of the time in Wilkesbarre, and afterwards in Kingston. Dr. Oliver Bigelow was located at Forty Fort, and left Wyo- ming sixty years ago. Dr. Crissey, one of the early physicians, was located at Plymouth. Dr. Samuel Hay- den lived in Huntington township, and afterwards in Braintrim. He was a very successful practitioner, and a very eccentric man. Between 1800 and 1810, Drs. Covell and George W. Trott were practicing in Wilkes- barre ; Drs. Baldwin and Eleazar Parker in Kingston ; and Drs. Gaylord and Crissey in Plymouth.
From 1810 to 1820, Drs. Covell, Baldwin, W. B. Gid- dings, Gaylord, Parker, Asa C. Whitney, and Dr. John Smith, were practicing in Wyoming Valley.
Dr. Silas Robinson, who died lately in Providence, was the oldest physician in the Lackawanna Valley. He commenced practice in 1811.
CHAPTER XVII.
WILD ANIMALS .- HUNTING .- FISHING.
" Listen how the hounds and horn, Cheerily rouse the slumbering morn, From the side of some hoar hill, Through the high woods echoing shrill."
OUR valleys and mountains were once favorite hunting- grounds for the Red men, who came down annually by hundreds from the country of the Six Nations, to supply themselves with delicious game. The streams in the land of the confederacy abounded in excellent fish, which prof- fered a sweet repast to the hungry Indian, but when he sought to stir his blood with the excitement of the chase, and follow the steps of the bounding deer, he visited the high mountains and deep forests of Pennsylvania. After the whites began to spread themselves through this por- tion of the state, many of them, like the aborigines, pre- ferred the pleasures of the chase to the pursuits of agriculture, and found it more agrecable to depend on their rifles than on their plows for the comforts of life. Almost every pioneer family had one or two rifles, some- times more, and the young as well as the old were expert in handling them. Even the gentler sex did not hesitate occasionally to lift the manly weapon, and send the leaden messenger on its errand of sport or of death.
Of the wild carnivorous animals which inhabited this region the cougar was the largest, and was known among
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the early settlers and hunters as the panther, generally called the painter. Its color is of a brownish red, with small patches of a deeper tint, which disappear as the animal advances in age. The abdomen is of a pale red- dish color, and the lower jaw and throat are white. It belongs to the species of the cat kind, is sly and treach- erous, climbs trees, wanders at night in search of food, and bounds from the earth towards its prey with an agility and power and deadly aim unsurpassed by any other animal. When full-grown, its weight is about one hundred and fifty pounds.
From 1808 to 1820, the bounty paid by Luzerne county on "panther scalps, amounted to $1822, upwards of 50 being killed in one year.
Since arriving at manhood's years, we have read the works of Cummings and Gerard, the great Scotch and French lion-hunters, and, when a boy, we listened with the most soul-absorbing interest to the wonderful adven- tures of the old hunters of Luzerne, their surprising achievements, their hairbreadth escapes, and we are con- fident the hunters of our own land displayed as much coolness and courage, as much skill and physical endur- ance, as the famous forest heroes of other climes. Gerard, it is said, is the best rifle-shot in Europe, but one of the Lutzeys could cut a wild turkey's throat with a rifle-ball at twenty rods.
About the close of the Revolutionary War, a Captain Mitchell was stationed with a company of troops at Wyo- ming; and one of his sergeants, named McNeily, was said to have no superior in the army as a rifle-shooter. When he came to Wyoming, however, he surrendered to Ishmael Bennett, and such was his complete confidence in Ben- nett's aim, or sight, that he frequently held a board, six inches square, with a white spot in the entre, under his
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arm, while Bennett, at twenty rods distance, would send bullet after bullet through the centre.
There are no panthers in this county at present, except occasionally one may be met with in the great swamps, or on the North Mountain. One was killed about three years ago in Sullivan county, near the Lu- zerne line, which measured nine feet from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. A volume of interesting panther-hunting adventures could be written, but space will permit us to record only three.
WHEATON AND THE PANTHER.
Wheaton had lived at Wyoming, but about the year ·1790, the population increasing, he chose rather to re- move into the woods, where there was less of human and more of the wild brute creation. One day, when on his way to the valley, he became weary, and lay down to rest on the Capouse Mountain. Thrown off his guard by fatigue, he unwarily suffered sleep to overtake him. After reposing for a time, he found himself in a singular situation. He was covered with leaves and sticks, which might have been done by the wind, but from a knowledge of the habits of the panther, he shrewdly suspected it was the work of that beast. The panther, when she finds prey which she is desirous of reserving for her young, covers it over with leaves with her feet, and then retires to bring her offspring to the banquet. Wheaton, lying perfectly still, heard the heavy tread of an animal near him. There was a pause. The step retreated, then stopped. He lay quiet, for his life depended on his being inotionless. Again there were retreating footsteps, which became fainter and fainter, until they entirely died away. Wheaton still retained his motionless position for some
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moments, when he slowly and cautiously raised himself, and, looking around, saw no animal near. He hastily gathered some old sticks and wood, and laid them in the place he had occupied, and covered them with leaves. He then mounted into a tree near by, and rested his gun, well loaded, on a limb bearing directly on the spot where he had slept. Scarcely had he made his arrangements, when, in the far distance, his quick eye detected the ap- proach of a huge panther, accompanied by two of her young. Leaving the kittens a short distance behind, she came near the place where she had concealed their din- ner. She now crouched with her belly to the earth, and stretching out her horrid claws, she sprang aloft into the air, and down on the spot covered with leaves. The dust and sticks and rotten wood flew in all directions. She drooped with disappointment, then quickly cast her eye about to every quarter of the compass. Suddenly as the thought that struck her she looked upwards, and saw Wheaton in the tree. With a low, ferocious growl she crouched for a deadly spring. If his gun misses fire, if he misses his aim, he has not thirty seconds to live. But old smooth bore, as usual, proves true ; two buckshot pene- trate the brain of the savage monster, and she lay quiver- ing and dying on the spot where Wheaton had enjoyed his mountain dream.
SOX AND THE PANTHERS.
George Sox, who still resides on the Easton and Wilkesbarre Turnpike, beyond Bear Creek, was a great hunter. He was particularly fond of pursuing the panther. However, no sort of tenants of the woods could escape the unerring aim of George's trusty rifle. He once shot a deer which was perfectly white. It had frequently been seen in the forest, and had been shot at by the wandering
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hunters, but no bullet had ever hit it. A report became current that it was a witch deer, but George destroyed the charm. Having obtained a sight one day of the beautiful creature, it fell before his rifle, and rumor said the shot was made with a silver bullet.
In 1819 he caught in a trap a large bear which weighed upwards of 400 pounds. In the morning, about the breaking of day, he approached his trap, and saw the bear engaged in a contest of defense against three pan- thers, which fled as he came near. Taking the bear home on a sled, he filled his knapsack, and, without a word of explanation to his family, with his rifle and dog as companions, he started in pursuit of the three panthers, which had been about to breakfast on his bear. There was a good tracking snow on the ground, and the hunter found no difficulty in keeping the trail of the beasts. On, on, from daylight to sunset, he pressed his way until, in the shadows of the evening, he came upon a fine buck which the panthers had killed, and which was still warm. We condense George's own statement of this hunt: "They had killed the buck where he lay. I had not expected to come on them so soon, and had pushed ahead without caution, so that they had heard my approach, and must have started away just as I came up. As it was sunset, I concluded to encamp there ; but first I thought I would look around a little, and see which track it would be best to follow in the morning, as they had all started off in different directions from the buck. So I went a little way into the swamp, and, will you believe it, one of the curses had been watching me all the time, and I heard him start within ten rods of me. Away went the dog after him, full yelp. I heard the panther take up a tree. I ran as hard as I could, tumbling over old logs, and scrambling through the laurel, till I came where Toby
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was barking and shaking his tail, mightily tickled that we had got one of them, anyhow. As it was getting dark I scarcely knew whether to venture a shot or not, for I could faintly see him stretched out on a limb of a large hemlock. However, I thought I would try it, so I took the best aim I could and fired away. The devilish thing never stirred. In a short time I saw motion in his · tail, and I could hear his nails gritting in the bark of the tree; then I saw his body slide round the limb till he only hung by his claws. The ball had hit him, he let go his hold, and down he came souse! dead as a door-nail ! I let him lay there and went back ; cut off some slices of the buck, which the panthers had left, roasted them before a fire, eat and lay down to rest till morning. Next morning started early, and soon got on the track of the other two panthers. About noon one of them took up a tree ; oh, said I, I have got another one. Directly I came up and spied him. I let drive, and down he came as dead as if he never had been alive. Well, I skinned him and fastened his skin to my knapsack, and away I started for the other one. The last fellow kept dodging about, first one way and then another, as if he expected to find his companions. In about two hours I roused him from behind a log. The dog was close on him, so he thought it was best to tree. I knew by the barking that the panther had tree'd. When I came up it was a long time before I could find him, he was so hid away in the limbs and the leaves. I could only see what I took to be his shoulder. I took a fair sight and drew trigger. He
did not budge ! I started to climb up to him, for I was sure I had hit him. Before I had got half up, his head and foreparts slid forwards, and down he came! I skin- ned him, went back to the one I had killed first, skinned him, and got home that night."
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George is the worthy son of a worthy sire. His father, Conrad Sox, Esq., was a justice of the peace for many years, in Luzerne county. He once shot a huge panther, resting his rifle on the shoulder of his wife, George's mother. This scene is well described by Wilson, in his poem of the Foresters. We have often stopped at George's house, when traveling that way, and have drank many a cup of excellent coffee, and have eaten delicious slices of venison, at his table. Long may the bold hunter and generous man live to enjoy the blessings of life in a good old age.
ARNOLD AND THE PANTHER.
Arnold, a hunter, lived in Hanover township, on the mountain, about six miles south-west from Wilkesbarre. As he was returning home one day in the dusk of the evening, after his work was done, he discovered a large panther crouched overhead on a limb of a tree, which stood near the path he was traveling. Hastening to his home, about half a mile distant, he loaded his rifle, and, accompanied by his wife and a small dog, he set off for the attack. They cautiously approached the spot where the crouching panther lay. Mrs. Arnold held up a pine torch-light, which threw its feeble rays on the surround- ing darkness. By this imperfect light the old hunter drew up his gun and took aim. He fired, and only wounded the panther. The beast, now rendered furious, leaped instantly down, and sprang upon Mrs. Arnold. There was no time to reload the rifle, the torch-light was out, and Mrs. Arnold was on the ground under the tear- ing claws of the savage panther. The dog seized the beast by the hind-leg inflicting wounds, while Arnold himself, nerved by the screams and groans of his wife, dealt heavy blows on his head with the butt of his rifle.
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Suddenly the panther turned about, took up the little dog in his mouth, and amidst poor Jack's distressing cries rushed into the thicket and disappeared. With consider- able difficulty Arnold bore his mangled and bleeding wife to his house, and after several weeks of much suffering she recovered, but was dreadfully disfigured.
The Wolf, of the genus Canis, or dog kind, was formerly abundant among our mountains, but it is now chiefly confined to the North Mountain, and the head-waters of Bowman's Creek. It is a crafty ravenous wild dog, about three and a half feet in length, and about two feet five inches in height. It is of various colors, mixed, black, gray, and brown. From 1808 to 1820, Luzerne county paid $2872 in bounties for the scalps of these destructive animals. As many as 273 were killed in one year.
George A. Crockett, a cousin of the celebrated Colonel David Crockett, and a resident of Ross township, occa- sionally brings the scalp of a wolf to Wilkesbarre, for which the county treasurer pays him $25. This is equal to the price of five wolf scalps in the olden times. Mr. Crockett is a great hunter and trapper, and if the reader be desirous of the sport of a wolf or bear hunt let him visit Mr. C. He will show you the wild hunting-grounds of the North Mountain, and the rough and tumble sports of a hunter's life. He will lead you among the deep and intricate defiles along Bowman's Creek, and its vicinity, where a few years ago a hunter named Lumeraux, was lost, and whose mangled remains, when found, showed he had been eaten by wild beasts. Crockett has killed hundreds of deer and bears, and wolves and foxes by the score. He informed the writer that a short time ago he was out in company with a fellow-hunter named Long, and, the night being very wet and stormy, they took shelter in a deserted house in Pike's Swamp. This is
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