USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Annals of Luzerne County; a record of interesting events, traditions, and anecdotes > Part 34
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496
ANNALS OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
near the place where Abraham Pike and his wife were' taken prisoners by the Indians, on the head-waters of Hunlock's Creek. During the night hunters came in to the number of fourteen, which shows that that class of men is not yet extinct in Luzerne. In the morning they took a circle hunt. Soon after they had separated, Crockett shot a large buck, which fell to the ground. Long, his companion, instantly rushed upon it, and cut its throat, but not a drop of blood would flow. The buck sprang upon his feet, and with widely distended eyes, green and glassy from the death struggle, rushed towards Crockett, and fell lifeless at his feet. Upon an examination it was found that the ball had struck the deer's horn near the head, and did not break the skin, but stunned the animal so completely that the circulation of its blood ceased. Crockett next shot, but only wounded a black bear, when the beast, infuriated with pain, advanced with savage growls upon the hunter. He retreated, and as he fled he reloaded his rifle, turned, fired, and laid his pursuer dead on the earth. Its weight was 360 pounds.
A great number of large black bears formerly dwelt on our mountains. In 1803, Rosett & Doyle, merchants in Wilkesbarre, advertised for one thousand bear-skins, which were supplied by the hunters of Luzerne and parts adjacent.
SCOTT AND THE BEAR.
Many years ago, while hunting along Stafford Meadow Brook, a little south of Scranton, Elias Scott started a huge bear, which he shot but did not kill. Before he could reload, the infuriated beast rushed upon him with open jaws, striking, as he advanced, heavy blows with his powerful paws. Scott retreated backwards, punching the bear with the end of his rifle. He had retreated but a short distance when the heel of his boot caught in the
497
WILD ANIMALS. - HUNTING. - FISHING.
root of a tree, and he fell to the ground. The bear was instantly upon him, and seized one of his hands in his mouth; at the same time striking him over the head and shoulders with his paws, inflicting severe wounds. The blows fell thick and fast, and Scott grew faint from suffer- ing, but at length he found himself in a position that he could reach his long hunting-knife. Exerting his remain- ing strength to the utmost, he plunged it into the bowels of the bear, which fell dead at his side. Scott is still /living, and will carry the evidences of this conflict to his grave. He has been a mighty hunter in his day. In one year, he has killed 175 deer, 5 bears, 3 wolves, 1 panther, and scores of wild-turkeys and other game.
John McHenry, who resides on Fishing Creek, Colum- bia county, not far from the Luzerne line, is perhaps the oldest hunter now living in this part of the state. In 1848, he informed the writer that he kept a record of the number of deer, &c., which he had killed down to the year 1840; and that this record numbered upwards of 1900 deer, 65 bears, besides immense quantities of other wild game. A considerable portion of these was pro- cured within the limits of Luzerne county. Since 1840, he has killed annually from 10 to 30 deer, chiefly in Sul- livan county, on the waters of the Loyalsock. A few years ago we joined a party of six for the purpose of hunting. We went to Elise's, on the Loyalsock, where, just as we arrived, we met at the door of the tavern our old friend, McHenry, then about seventy years of age. With cane in one hand, and rifle in the other, he was starting for the woods. We had four long-eared hounds with us; and when the old man saw them he shook his head, and remarked, " Deer run by dogs is not fit to eat." He is a quiet hunter, slowly penetrating to the haunts 32
498
ANNALS OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
of the deer, and shooting them when browsing or at rest; and woe betide the dog that meets him in the woods ! He shoots with a rifle, and has shot three deer with one bullet. Two of the deer stood close and parallel to each other, while the third was lying down on the hillside. The bullet passed through the bodies of the two, and en- tered the neck of the third. He did not see the third deer until the first two fell ; when, observing it to be wounded,
DEER.
he hastened and cut its throat. The reader may con- clude this to be too marvellous a story for belief; but Mr. McHenry is a man of noted veracity, and a sure shot. He, with George Sox, who shot 9 bears in succession as they came forth from the hollow of a single tree, must be numbered among the living hunter-kings of America.
On Friday, the 4th of December, 1818, about 700 men, residents of old Luzerne, formed a hunting-party. The signal was given on Frenchtown Mountain, which was answered by all the horns of the hunters, comprising a circuit of 40 miles, in the space of fifteen minutes. The hunters then progressed towards a centre in Wysox town- ship, shooting and driving the game before them, until the circle became too small to use guns with safety ; the
499
WILD ANIMALS. - HUNTING. - FISHING.
animals were then attacked with bayonets fixed on poles, clubs, pitchforks, &c., with great success. Nearly 300 deer, 5 bears, 9 wolves, and 11 foxes were killed. It was calculated that 500 deer, 10 bears, and 20 wolves escaped, together with a great number of smaller animals. The expedition was attended with many circumstances highly interesting to hunters, and closed as usual with great mirtlı.
Tradition has brought down to us many interesting incidents connected with elk, fox, raccoon, beaver, and other hunting, and a number of pleasing sporting ad- ventures of recent date have come to our knowledge. But our prescribed limits will not allow us to be tempted into making a record of them here. We have our modern hunters, bold and skillful, who frequently repair to the haunts of the foxes, the deer, and the bear. About one year ago we saw, in Wilkesbarre, the carcass of a black bear weighing more than 300 pounds, which had been killed on the Bald Mountain by John Warden and others ; and, not long ago, we were shown the skins of four very fine otters taken at Harvey's Lake.
During the fall of the year the sportsmen from Wilkes- barre, Pittston, Scranton, Carbondale, as well as those who live in the mountains, chase the bounding deer, and supply the villages with delicious venison. They find, too, along our rivers and lakes, ducks of several varieties, the black, wood, summer, buffle-head, blue-wing and green-wing teal, widgeon, redhead, and mallard. They also find in the woods wild turkeys, pheasants or rough grouse, quails, woodcock, English snipes, passenger or blue pigeons, and about ten species of plover.
It may be remarked here that, at an early day, a great number of beavers harbored on the Lehigh. That river was almost choked in the fall and winter with their
500
ANNALS OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
numerous dams. They went to more northern climes long, long ago, where the homes of the white hunters are few and far between.
FISH AND FISHING.
As early as 1772, a seine for catching shad in the Sus- quehanna was brought from Connecticut to Wyoming, and was held in common as the property of the town or settlers. The shad were very abundant in the Susque- hanna, and, it is said, were superior in flavor and size to those of the Delaware. The construction of the canal, and the river dams, which cost the people many millions of dollars, though affording facilities for conveying coal and other products to market, have deprived us of a most valuable and abundant article of food. There were 21 shad fisheries in Luzerne county, 9 of which were in Wyoming Valley, each furnishing annually thousands of delicious fish. Shad were so abundant that they sold for from 3 to 6 cents apiece, and upon several occasions a sufficient quantity of salt could not be procured for euring purposes. From about the 10th of April to the 10th of June, almost every man, woman, and child within twenty miles of the Susquehanna, feasted and fattened on fresh shad, and every family salted down from one to three barrels for use during the remainder of the year. This question occurs to our mind-Suppose the dams in the river were destroyed, and the business of the canal were done by railroad, would not the annual supply of shad add more to the comfort and wealth of the people than the river in its present condition ?
There was a fishery at Berwick and Nescopeck, one at. Beach Haven, and three or four between Beach Haven and Nanticoke. There was one at each of the following
501
WILD ANIMALS. - HUNTING. - FISHING.
places : Fish Island, Stewart's, Plymouth, Wilkesbarre, and Forty Fort. There were two on Monockacy Island, one on Scovel Island, and several others, all producing the article in vast quantities. Many years ago, at Stew- art's fishery, 10,000 shad were taken at a single haul. The seine could not be drawn to the shore, and the shad were scooped into boats, thence loaded into wagons, and drawn away. This story, emphatically a fish story, is nevertheless true. We obtained the statement from the lips of a most truthful person, who was present, and saw the extraordinary haul. This was called the widow's haul, because a certain widow had an interest in the seine, and the fish taken on that occasion belonged exclusively to her.
A few hundred shad were caught at a fishery below the Nanticoke dani as late as 1832-3, but none are now taken in the Susquehanna above Columbia, in Lancaster county, and they sell in this region at from 35 to 50 cents apiece. If the dams were removed and the fish could pass freely up the river, we might calculate on ten millions of shad annually between the mouth of the Chesapeake and the New York state line. These at 10 cents apiece would be worth one million of dollars, and the poor man might always have an abundance of a cheap and nutritious article of food in his house.
In 1802, an attempt was made to introduce salmon from the Connecticut into the Susquehanna river, at Northumberland. Money to defray the expense was pro- cured by subscription in Wilkesbarre, Northumberland, Sunbury, and at other points. Dr. Joseph Priestley, Thos. Cooper, John Cowden, B. F. Young, and Wm. Spring, of Northumberland county, were appointed a committee to procure and introduce the finely-flavored inhabitant of the New England waters, to their new aquatic territory
502
ANNALS OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
in Pennsylvania. The salmon were placed in both branches of the Susquehanna, at Northumberland, but the experiment proved a failure. Very few, if any, of the genuine stock of that fish have ever been taken in the waters of our river.
We have heard it stated that the rockfish, Golius niger, frequented the upper waters of the Susquehanna, and we have a record of one being caught at Wilkesbarre, on the 26th of June, 1779, by a soldier in Sullivan's army. It measured two feet nine inches in length, and weighed twenty-seven pounds. General Sullivan and Staff dined on the big fish.15 But we doubt that this was the genuine rockfish, of the species above mentioned. It was probably what is known as the Susquehanna bass, of the genus Labrax, an excellent fish, weighing from eight to thirty pounds, and frequently taken in deep water, through holes cut in the ice.
The pike, Esox, is a long, sharp-pointed fish, of vora- cious appetite, and may be called the shark of the fresh water. It is found in the deep and sluggish pools of the rivers. It has been introduced, at various times, into Harvey's and other lakes and ponds of the county, until they are now quite abundant. They have, however, destroyed nearly all the trout in these lakes, to which they are, in our opinion, inferior in flavor, and whose loss they cannot replace.
The trout is a scaleless fish, variegated with spots of beautiful appearance, and considered by most persons as by far the most deliciously-flavored fish in our waters. They are seldom taken in the Susquehanna, but are con- fined to the headwaters of the creeks, the cool mountain streams, overhung by evergreens, where only are heard the singing of birds and the sound of crystal waters, dashing along the shores as they pass to the valleys
503
WILD' ANIMALS. - HUNTING. - FISHING.
below. To these charming shades the fisherman repairs, and
"Far up the stream the trusted hair he throws, Which down the murmuring current quickly flows; When if or chance, or hunger's powerful sway, Directs the roving trout this fatal way, He greedily sucks in the twining bait, And tugs and nibbles the fallacious meat ; Now, happy fisherman, now twitch the line, How the rod bends ! behold the prize is thine."
Many extraordinary fishing stories are related of the early times in our valley; as, for instance, catching a chub and eel, at the same time, with one hook. The chub swallowed the hook, which passed out through the gill, with the bait remaining upon it, which was then taken by an eel.
We have often heard an incident related, which oc- curred at the Nanticoke Falls, several years before the · dam was erected. A fisherman placed his eel-basket above the rapids, and caught a pike six feet in length, weighing one hundred and sixty pounds. The pike was of such enormous size and strength, that the basket was torn from its fastenings, and went whirling and dashing with its contents through the falls. But it was taken up and brought to shore by fishermen further down the river. The story of the big pike spread through the neighbor- hood, and the curious flocked to the fishery to behold the monster. To their astonishment, they were informed that Abraham Pike, a noted old soldier and Indian killer, had visited the eel-basket in a canoe, which had capsized and plunged him headlong into the river. He was caught in the basket, and both basket and Pike were carried down stream together.
CHAPTER XVIII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
BANKS AND BANKERS.
THE Jews, it is said, were the first bankers or money changers, and seated themselves, in ancient times, on benches, in the market-places, where they loaned and exchanged money. From this custom, continued for hun- dreds of years in the cities of Italy, is derived the word Bank, in the Italian language, Banco, signifying bench. In Holy Writ we read that, at one time, a number of the money-changers seated themselves in the great temple at Jerusalem, but that their tables were overturned, and they were expelled by our Saviour. This circumstance teaches us to be careful to what uses we appropriate our houses of worship,
The first bank of issue, discount, and deposite, of which we have any correct information, was established in Venice, in 1171. The second, the Bank of Amsterdam, originated in 1609; the Bank of Hamburg, in 1619; and the Bank of England, in 1693.
In the United States, during the Revolutionary War, the, government issued paper, called continental money, which depreciated in value, until $600 were required to purchase a pair of boots. These notes finally took the
1 name of shin-plasters, and became entirely worthless.
The first incorporated bank of issue, discount, and deposite in this country was the Bank of North America.
(504)
505
BANKS AND BANKERS.
It was located at Philadelphia, and started in the year 1781, with a capital of $800,000. The Massachusetts Bank and the Bank of New York were incorporated in 1784. The Bank of the United States was incorporated in 1791, with a capital of $10,000,000. In 1803, there were twenty-five banks in the United States, with an aggregate capital of $26,707,000.
In 1810, the Philadelphia Bank established a branch at Wilkesbarre, of which Ebenezer Bowman was presi- dent, and Jolın Bettle cashier. The latter gentleman was succeeded by Joseph McCoy. The banking-house was located on River Street, and is now owned and occu- pied by Mrs. Ulp. Here deposites were made, good and bad paper discounted, and the notes of the parent bank, payable in Philadelphia, were issued until 1820, when the institution was discontinued. One effect of this branch bank was to drain the country of its silver, gold being almost unknown. Mr. S. Butler, who was a clerk in the institution, informs us that, at one time, forty thou- sand dollars in silver were sent to the city. The money was carefully enclosed in forty small boxes, and the whole then placed in one large box, which was put in Philip Reed's four-horse wagon, and covered with straw, grain, bags, &c. The valuable load was accompanied by Mr. Butler and Colonel Isaac Bowman, one of the bank direct- ors, and five days were occupied in the journey. " Had you fire-arms ?" we inquired. "Yes," said Mr. B .; " I had a small pocket-pistol in my saddle-bags." One day they were hailed by a man, who asked if they had any rye flour ? "No," said Reed, "we have money." On being cautioned by Colonel Bowman, Reed replied, "The fel- low is not such a d-d fool as to believe me." Fortu- nately no Rinaldo Rinaldini or Jack Sheppard lay con- cealed, with their comrades, in the " shades of death,"
506
ANNALS OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
or other thickets, along the old Easton Turnpike, watch- ing for prey, and the $40,000 were safely brought to Philadelphia.
In 1811, the Easton and Wilkesbarre Turnpike Com- pany issued notes of the denomination of $1 and $2; also of 25, 122, and 6} cents. The great pressure of the times, and the scarcity of money, seemed to excuse this extraordinary measure. Ten thousand dollars were signed by Lord Butler, President, and Stephen Tuttle, Treasurer, and the whole was redeemed. During the war which followed, between England and the United States, the banks of the cities and country, south of New England, suspended specie payments, whereupon turn- pike and bridge companies, corporations generally, and some individuals, issued shin-plasters. Wilkesbarre was a recruiting station during the war, and the military . officers issued their individual notes for $1 and $2, which circulated among the soldiers, and also the farmers, who received them for provisions. No one, we believe, ever lost a farthing by them, as they were eventually redeemed.
In 1816, the Susquehanna Bank, at Wilkesbarre, was incorporated and organized. Joseph Sinton was chosen president, and the notes were engraved and signed, but, owing to the depressed condition of the money market and to other causes, they were never issued, and the bank never went into operation. To relieve the pressure, the former plan of issuing shin-plasters was resorted to by both companies and individuals. The Wilkesbarre and Nescopeck Bridge Companies put out large amounts, all of which were redeemed.
The Wyoming Bank was chartered, in 1829, with a capital of $150,000. In 1830, it went into operation in the dwelling of E. Lynch, Esq., on Franklin street.
·
507
BANKS AND BANKERS.
Benjamin Dorrance, Esq., was chosen the first president. Mr. Dorrance was succeeded by Garrick Mallery, Esq., and he by Colonel G. M. Hollenback. Edward Lynch, Esq., was chosen first cashier, lately succeeded by E. S. Loop, Esq. The Pittston Bank was incorporated in 1857, capital $100,000. George Sanderson, Esq., president, succeeded by William Sweetland, Esq .; T. M. Burton, cashier, succeeded by T. F. Atherton, Esq. Now merged in the First National, Pittston. The following list ex- hibits the number of banks in the county, and the capital of each under the present National system : -
Names of Banks.
Location.
When organized.
Capital.
First National
Wilkesbarre.
Aug. 4, 1863.
$250,000
Second National
do.
Sept. 23, 1863.
400,000
Wyoming National
do.
Feb. 1, 1865.
150,000
First National .
Scranton. do.
May 30, 1863.
200,000
Second National
Sept. 1863.
200,000
First National .
Pittston.
June 23, 1864.
500,000
First National .
Carbondale.
Dec. 1864.
110,000
First National .
Plymouth.
Jan. 14, 1865.
100,000
Total capital
$1,910,000
In addition to the above there are in the county 5 private bankers, employing an aggregate capital of $400,- 000, making the total banking capital of the county $2,310,000. From 1830 to 1860 the actual banking capital employed did not exceed at any one time $500,- 000. Notwithstanding the above statistics show a very large increase of capital, the increased developments in coal and other branches of industry throughout the county will warrant a still further addition within the coming year. Under the National system the notes of the state banks are rapidly disappearing, and it will be a happy day for the people of Luzerne and the whole
508
ANNALS OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
country when uniformity of currency and the rate of interest are firmly established. The power to regulate the currency and rate of interest should belong to and be exercised by the National Government, and this can be done without danger to the rights of the states or the people.
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
To trace the history of insurance companies would in- volve us in labyrinths and mazes, from which we could never creditably extricate ourselves. There are, at pre- sent, two established, and, we believe, prosperous insur- ance companies in the county. The Wyoming Insurance Company, at Wilkesbarre, was incorporated in 1857, and organized in the same year, with a capital of $100,000. L. D. Shoemaker, Esq., was chosen president, and R. C. Smith, Esq., secretary.
The Nescopeck Mutual Insurance Company, at Nesco- peck, was organized in 1856; Michael Raber was chosen president, and John T. Davis, secretary.
The Huntington Valley Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated in 1859, and is about to be organized at New Columbus.
DISTILLERIES.
The cultivation of the grape, and the manufacturing of wine, were among the early pursuits of the inhabitants of the Old World. The pure juice of the grape is refresh- ing and exhilarating, but not intoxicating until fermented. Although men, in ancient times, got drunk, yet intoxica- tion was not a common vice. It was reserved for the ingenuity and art of subsequent ages to discover the latent spirit of alcohol, which steals away the senses. property, and lives of so many people.
509
DISTILLERIES.
The manufacture of whiskey was carefully attended to in the early settlements along the Susquehanna, and whiskey drinking was considered among the essentials of frontier life. Prior to the Revolution distilleries were erected on the lower waters of the Susquehanna, and the distillers sent agents, in 1775, to Wyoming, to purchase grain. We have been unable to ascertain when, by whom, and at what particular place, the first distillery in Wyoming was built. It was undoubtedly one of the earliest institutions of the valley.
In 1804, there were 6 distilleries in Wilkesbarre town- ship, 2 in the borough, and 11 in other parts of the county. Besides these there were numerous domestic stills for making peach brandy, apple jack, &c. In 1840, there were 5 distilleries in the county ; in 1850, only 2; and now there is not one.
The spirits manufactured in those early times were pure, and could not be bought for 25 or 50 cents a gallon. To give the reader an idea of the prices of whiskey, rum, and other articles, we insert the following items from the store-books of Matthias Hollenback, kindly furnished for our perusal by Colonel G. M. Hollenback.
Mr. Hollenback was the second storekeeper in Wyo- ming, commencing in 1773.
1 quart of whiskey, 9 shillings, or $1.50
2 quarts of apple brandy,
£1,
3.33}
1 nip of toddy, · .
.08
1 quart of rum,
2s. 6d. or .413
¿ sling,
.08
1 egg-nog, .
18. 4d. or .22
2 bowls of toddy,
3s. .50
1 bowl of sangaree,
2s. 10d. « .47
1 gill of rum,
·
.06
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ANNALS OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
1 dram,
$0.06
2 yards of tobacco,
.04
1 bushel of wheat
5s. or
.83 }
1 elk skin
£1 4s.
4.00
1 pound of coffee,
. 1s. 6d.
.25
1 spelling-book,
3s. 6d.
.58}
1 pound of loaf sugar,
6s. 10d. «
1.14
1 pound of sugar,
1s. 6d.
.25
1 pound of tobacco,
2s. 10d.
.47
1 ream of paper,
£1 2s. 6d.
3.75
20 bear skins,
each 1s. 10d. “
.30
December 15, 1774, Queen Esther Dr. to sundries £3 11 pence.
We have taken the & s. d. of Mr. Hollenback's books to be Connecticut currency, and reduced them to dollars and cents. It will be borne in mind that money in that day was very scarce in comparison with our own times, and that the prices, relative to the articles purchased, are actually higher than appears from the statement. There appear on these books the names of nearly all the settlers, Pennamites, Yankees, and several Indians who occasionally visited the valley from the country of the Six Nations. Unless prohibited by town meeting for a particular purpose, it was considered lawful and legiti- mate to sell liquor to Indians. Their excessive fondness for intoxicating drinks is one powerful cause which is operating to produce their extermination.
Joseph Jameson informed the writer, that, in the fall of 1777, Mr. Hollenback received a Durham boat laden with store goods, among which were several casks of rum ; and, as the liquor was being removed from the boat, a tall Indian, who had just arrived from up the river, at Wilkesbarre, on seeing the well-known casks containing
511
WITCHES.
his favorite beverage, raised his rifle over his head, fired, and then began to dance with joy.
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