Mason/Dixon Journals Excerpt

[RedBug]

The following is from _The Journal of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon_,
American Philosophical Society, 1969. These passages, like most in the
Journal, were written by Charles Mason:

"Sun. 9/22 1765:

Went to see a cave (near the Mountain about 6 miles South of Mr.
Shockey's.) The entrance is an arch about 6 yards in length and four feet
in height, when immediately there opens a room 45 yards in length, 40 in
breadth and 7 or 8 in height. (Not one pillar to support nature's arch):
There divine service is often (according to the Church of England) of Time,
with the tears of the Rocks: The imitation of Organ, Pillar, Columns and
Monuments of a Temple;  which, with the glimmering faint light; strong and
melancholy reflection: That such is the abodes of the Dead: Thy celebrated
in the Winter Season. On the sidewalls are drawn by the Pencil
Columns and Monuments of a Temple; which, with the glimmering faint light;
makes the whole an awful, solemn appearance: Striking its Visitants with a
strong and melancholy reflection: That such is the abodes [sic] of the
Dead: Thy inevitable doom, O stranger, Soon to be numbered as one of them.
>From this room there is a narrow passage of about 100 yards, at the end of
which runs so large as the first." (p.111)


Left Brandywine and proceeded to Lancaster (distance about 35 miles) a Town
in Pennsylvania, distant from Philadelphia 75 Miles, bearing nearly due
West. What brought me here was my curiosity to see the place where was
perpetrated last Winter the Horrid and inhuman murder of 26 Indians, Men,
Women and Children, leaving none alive to tell. These poor unhappy
creatures had always lived under the protection of the Pennsylvania
Government and had Lands alloted [sic] for them a few Miles from Lancaster
by the late celebrated William Penn, Esquire, Proprietor. They had received
notice of the intention of some of the back inhabitants and fled to the
Gaol (jail) to save themselves. The keeper made the door fast, but it was
broken open; and two men went in and executed the bloody scene; while about
50 of their party sat on Horse Back without; armed with Guns, etc. Strange
it was that the Town though as large as most Market Towns in England, never
offered to oppose them, though its more than probable they on request might
have been assisted by a Company of his Majesties Troops who were then in
the Town ......no honor to them! What was laid to the Indians charge was
that they held a private correspondence with the Enemy Indians; but this
could never be proved against the men and the women and children (some in
their Mothers wombs that never saw light) could not be guilty. (p.66)

RedBug