December 2, 2003
Have you investigated the "Cat People" of the upper Susquahana Valley? If not I believe it would be worth your time.
My father was one of the last pure blood Susquahanock Indians. He passed the stories of old on to me.
To start with, the Susquahanock were considered "giants" themselves. The average male was 6' 6" tall. Not impressive, but that was in the 1600's. If you can get access to John Smiths journals (of Pocahontas fame) He wrote extensively and made many drawings of the Susquahanock. The average European male was only 5'2" tall.
One of the great war chiefs of the Susquahanock during the Dutch wars in Baltimore was around 7'6" tall. He was said to be the son of one the "cat peoples". He also was said to posses 2 sets of teeth. (this is all on record at the Susquahanock museum in Ephrata PA)
Now on to the "Cat people". They were given that name by the Susquahanock and Delaware Indians, due to the fact that when they spoke it was like listening to a panther scream. They were feared by all tribes of the inland northeast.
The cats were by legend and if you look closely at the archaeological evidence said to be over 10' tall. They were of fair skin and had hair that was red/black. They were a savage people. Never taking prisoners but rather taking "food" in the bodies of their enemies. They also had 2 sets of teeth.
It is said in the legends of my father that they would also eat the rocks from the river. My guess is for the iron content. I have found the bones of these people all along the river with my metal detector. Their bones contain alot of iron. This would also explain the legends of Cannon balls bouncing off them. (the Susquahanock were a fierce war tribe in their time, using cannon supplied by the English against the Dutch)
The Archaeological evidence of these people contains things like bowls measuring 48" to 90".
There have never been any found smaller than that that couldn't be linked to another tribe. A village was unearthed that showed homes measuring over 35' in length. and 20' in width. Arrow heads that measure over 6" in length are found on a regular basis all along the river.
Most of this archaeological evidence has been locked away (including remains) in several museums all along the river valley and at the William Penn Museum in Philadelphia. Also at Millersburg University in Lancaster.
They may be able to hide the evidence but they will never silence the legends that i have been taught. The truth is out there. Please never give up finding it.
I have moved away from Pennsylvania. Certain "organizations" have been pressuring me to forget the past. I will not. Now....I have some one to pass on the stories and legends to. That is if you are interested in them.
Even though i do not live there now i can still guide you as to where to search. There are remains yet to be found. The river valley "recycles" the ground at a rate higher than the rest of the country. (just look at Gettysburg where they found the remains of union soldiers a few years ago) There are remains found all over but they are whisked away by unknown persons. A farmer friend of mine calls them the reall men in black. He has found 2 sets of remains measuring approx. 11'. When he reported them they were whisked away by "men in cheap black suits and even cheaper sunglasses"(his words).
I now live in your area, Sandpoint, Id. And I have already started to learn the legends that this area holds. And I will always search out the strange and abnormal. I am half Susquahanock Indian and half Scottish Celt. So the strange and unusual always seem to find me.
If you are interested in more I can be reached at this email addy. I will freely tell you all i know. If you are not interested then this will be the last time I will communicate with you. But either way thank you for hearing my legends.
Keep the excellent work up.
FuzzyBear
