LANCASTER COUNTY. 359 



regiment of Highlanders* were at that time quartered at 

 the barracks in the town, and yet these murderers were 

 permitted to break open the doors of the city jail and 

 committed the horrid deed. The first notice I had of 

 this affair was, that while at my father's store, near the 

 court house, I saw a number of people running down 

 street towards the jail, which enticed me and otlier lads 

 to foUowt them. At about six or eight yards from the 

 jail, we met from twenty -five to thirty men, well mounted 

 on horses, and with rifles, tomahawks, and scalping 

 knives, equipped for murder. I ran into the prison yard, 

 and there, oh what a horrid sight presented itself to my 

 view ! Near the back door of the prison lay an old 

 Indian and his squaw, particularly well known and 

 esteemed by the people of the town on account of his 

 placid and friendly conduct. His name was Will Soc ; 

 across him and squaw lay two children, of about the age 

 of three years, whose heads were split with the toma- 

 hawk, and their scalps taken off. Towards the middle 

 of the jail yard, along tlie west side of the wall, lay a 

 stout Indian, whom I particularly noticed to have been 

 shot in his breast ; his legs were chopped with the toma- 

 hawk, his hands cut off, and finally a rifle ball discharged 

 in his mouth, so that his head was blown to atoms, and 

 the brains were splashed against and yet hanging to the 

 wall, for three or four feet around. This man's hands 

 and feet had also been chopped off with a tomahawk. — ■ 



■*Captain Robinson's company, on their way from Pittsburg. 



f Of the lads present then ; a few as old men are still living. 

 We spent a few pleasant hours with each, lately. They 

 are Mr. David Dieffendekfer, at New Holland, and Mr. Peter 

 Maurer, near the city of Lancaster, now in his eighty -seventh 

 year. Both enjoy remarkable health — both had been in the 

 service of their country, during the war '76. 



