All endeavors in this line proving unsuccessful, war was declared in the spring of 1642. Ilendrick Van Dyck, an ensign in the company's service, was placed in command of eighty men, with, instructions to proceed against the Weekquaesgecks and kk execute summary vengeance upon that tribe with Are ami sword." This party crossed into our county, and, under the direction of a guide supposed to be experienced and trustworthy, marched through the woods with the intent of attacking the Indian village, which then occupied the site of Dobbs Ferry. But they lost their way, and were obliged lo come ingloriously back. Shortly afterward a treaty of peace was signed at Broiick's house, the Indians engaging to give up the murderer of Smits, dead or alive. The first period of the war was thus brought to an end. But causes of irritation still existed, which were not done away with as time passed. The assassin was not surrendered according to agreement, and the savages continued to commit outrages, which greatly incensed the not too amiable Dutch director-general. The next event of importance was an act of aggression against the Indians, quite as barbarous as any ever perpetrated by the latter, which

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

Early in February 1643, a has covered Kieft's name with infamy. descent upon the Mohican a made band of Mohawks from the north Many of the Wecktribes, for the purpose of levying tribute. the hands of the inat death escape to ns, qnaesgecks and Tappae and thus large parties of vaders fled to the Dutch settlements; against whom Kieft Indian fugitives belonging in part to a tribe within close cherished bitter resentment were gradually congregated opportunity the seizing , director The proximity to New Amsterdam. a body of soldiers ched dispat y secretl ed, present thus nce vengea for d by most of across the Hudson to Pavonia, which had been selecte between night the on and , arters the fleeino- savages as their headqu iminately indiscr were natives these ry Februa of 26th and the 25th " Nearly a hundred," says Bancroft, " perished in the massacred Davbreak did not end its horrors; men might be seen, carnage ; children were mangled and helpless, suffering from cold and hunger to their rescue d plunge parents their as and stream, the into tossed parent might and child both that , the soldiers prevented their landing drown » Similar scenes were enacted at Corlaer's Hook, where forty In 1886 the remains of some of these vicIndians were slaughtered. tims of Kieft's inhumanity and treachery were unearthed by persons ay Street, making excavations at Communipaw Avenue and Hallid recitafter time, the at hed publis report per newspa Jersev City. lars: particu ng followi the gave , tragedy the of ing the historical facts them "Trenches were dug [bv the soldiers] and the bodies thrown into Lafayas known now is y butcher the of The scene indiscriminately. has ette and after nearly two and a half centuries one of the trenches the while ay yesterd place the around d gathere Crowds opened. been The bones. and skulls the at looked and on, going excavating was number of the bodies can only be determined by means of the skulls, the as the bones are all mixed together, and many of them crumble at * dust." fine touch into A furious war of revenge was now proclaimed by the savages, a cveneral alliance of the tribes being effected.