Seneca, NY Council House Fire, Aug 1838

FIRE.---The new Council House, in the Seneca (Indiana) village, about six miles east of this on the Indian Reserve, was consumed by fire this morning. The circumstances attending the erection and destruction of this building are these, as we learn them from Mr. Allen, who keeps the tavern at the village, and built the house. It appears that a portion of the Seneca Nation who are opposed to the consummation of the treaty to sell their lands, objected strenuously to the holding of a council in the old Council House for the purpose of confirming the treaty as amended by the Senate. Accordingly, Mr. Allen, by the advice of the party in favor of the treaty, constructed a rude but commodious house for the holding of the proposed council, which we believe was to have been holding this present week. Between the hours of one and two this morning, the building discovered on fire, and from the various points at which the fire was raging a the same time, there is no doubt that it was communicated by some persons, to several parts of the building, with the intention of destroying it.

Fire was also communicated to some straw within a few feet of the barn belonging to the tavern, and much exertion was required to save the building. This is, we think, but an expression of the feeling that at present exists among that portion of the Seneca Nation who are hostile to the proposed treaty.---- Buffalo Com. Adv.

The Farmers' Cabinet, Amherst, NH 31 Aug 1838
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!