Island of Death

Episode 72: History is full of death, tragedy, and injustice. In this episode we explore how history has imprinted some of its darkest shadows on a region marked with blood in early Pennsylvania history. We begin our journey at the Isle of Que, or the Isle of Death, as it was called by 18th century Indian interpreter Conrad Weiser. On this small strip of land along the Susquehanna River, Conrad and Shikellamy stood together, unaware that in 1755 it would mark the beginning of the Penns Creek Massacre, one of the most brutal frontier attacks in Pennsylvania colonial history. Along the waters of Penns Creek, fourteen settlers were killed and eleven were captured in a violent raid that would shift the course of the colony. The massacre forced Pennsylvania's Quaker leadership to reconsider its commitment to pacifism, leading to the construction of frontier forts and the raising of a provincial militia during the French and Indian War. The tragedy is said to have left an imprint on the land itself, where settler blood soaked into the soil. Local legend claims the cries of victims are still heard along the meandering creek, and that mutilated apparitions are still seen near its banks. This episode explores the Penns Creek Massacre, Isle of Que, Conrad Weiser, Shikellamy, Pennsylvania frontier history, Quaker pacifism, French and Indian War conflict, Native American and settler warfare, haunted history, and the paranormal legends surrounding Penns Creek. Sources: Pennsylvania Fireside Ghost Tales by Jeffrey R. Frazier 2016 "The Headless Dog" and Other Extraordinary Far-Fetched True Tales of Central Pennsylvania by Beverly Conrad and Gregory Burgess 2013 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn's_Creek_massacre?wprov=sfti1# https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/pennsylvania/isle-of-que-pa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikellamy?wprov=sfti1#External_links