Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/437

Rh brought to a close the active military work of the colonies, and the frontiersmen were now more exposed to marauding Indians, who, having tasted war under the influence of the French intrigues, nourished memories of hatred against the English settlers and sought in some cases to avenge themselves for past injuries. The whites dreamed of a war of extermination of the Indians, and awoke to the reality of a murder of a band of peaceful Indians who had for two generations dwelt in Lancaster county in amity with all their neighbors, the oldest of them being Shehaes, who had assisted at Penn's second treaty in 1701 and had ever since continued a faithful and affectionate friend to the English. In the middle of December, 1763, a body of less than sixty men from Paxtang Township, in that county, marched one night and surrounded their settlement in Conestoga Manor, and massacred without note of warning the few they there found, for the most happened to be away from home at the moment. These latter, hearing of this cruel work, sought refuge in Lancaster and were by their friends secured in the jail to spare them from attack of the same party, who became known as the Paxton Boys. News of the massacre of the 14 December was speedily carried to Philadelphia, and produced intense indignation; the Governor issued his proclamation calling upon all officers to make diligent search for the murderers. But unheeding this, and undaunted by the shame and cruelty of their proceeding, they came to Lancaster where they heard the remaining villagers were in hiding, and on the second day after Christmas, appeared in force, and broke into the jail, and murdered all the Indians they there found. Governor Penn issued a second proclamation on 2 January, 1764. Franklin wrote his well-known Narrative of the late Massacres in Lancaster County of a number of Indians, friends of this province, appealing to the people by every instinct of mercy and justice to stand by the honor of the government and protect peaceable citizens, even though they might be Indians whom they were asked to shield from unprovoked slaughter. He says:

Let us rouse ourselves, for shame, and redeem the honor of our province from the contempt of its neighbors; let all good men join heartily