100 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. however, they tied the hands of the boys as well as their feet, which for this purpose they drew close together with strips of bark. They were then compelled to lie down between two of the Indians who stretched a blanket over the bodies of the boys upon on the ends of which they laid themselves down, while the third Indian seated himself upon a fallen log in front to keep watch. Deering, the eldest boy, who was about fifteen years of age, managed to disengage his hands from the thongs which bound them and slyly drew a knife from the belt of one of the sleeping Indians, with which he succeeded in loosening his feet. Overcome with fatigue the third Indian had braced his back against the trunk of a friendly tree with his legs astraddle of the log upon which he sat. Whispering to his companion to lie perfectly quiet, he sundered the thongs which bound him. One of the Indians lying beside him had rolled over in his sleep off of the blanket. With great caution, so as not to disturb the sleeping Indians by their movements, they quietly arose and the elder of the two took the loaded rifle of one of their captors, placing it upon a log for a rest in a line with the head of one of the sleeping savages and gave it in charge of the younger boy, about twelve or thirteen years of age, and instructed his young companion not to fire until he gave him the signal to do so. He himself took a tomahawk, and stealing on the sleeping Indian who had been placed on watch, instantly buried his tomahawk in his brains and then rushed to the Indians lying on the ground, at the same time giving the signal to his companion to to fire, struck deep into the skull of his sleeping victim. The Indian at which the younger of the two boys had fired instantly sprang to his feet howling with rage and pain. The boys not stopping to ascertain what was the effect of the shot, at once took to their heels, and following the trail over which they had passed the preceding day, late in the afternoon of the day following, reached the fort in safety to the surprise of their friends, who had given them up as lost completely. The relation of this adventure seemed to be so incredible that several of the scouts determined to ascertain the truth or falsity of their assertions, and made preparations to visit the place where the tragedy occurred. A hunter who was present and heard the recital given by the boys, who stated in the course of their narration that they believed the bags contained gold, was shortly after missing. This individual, whose conduct in the past justified the belief (which was general among the settlers), was looked upon as dishonest. The scouting party set out, and from the description given by the boys of the country through which they had passed, and the location of the Indian camp, found no difficulty in fixing the spot. There they found the bodies of two Indians who had been tomahawked just as the boys had stated, and in pursuing their investigations they found concealed in an old hollow tree the third Indian, whose whole lower jaw was shot away. He was barely alive when discovered, and they dispatched him. After this they commenced a search for the bags, but no sign of them was visible, notwithstanding they spent two or three hours in HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 101 looking for them. On their return to the fort they found the suspected hunter was still absent, which confirmed the common belief that he had anticipated the visit of the scouts, and reaching the place ahead of them had secured the plunder of the Indians and hidden it. At all events, some years subsequent to the events here recorded he became one of the largest landowners and wealthiest settlers in the section of country in which he resided. During the summer of the year 1783, occurred the death of a noted Indian spy and hunter, John Neiswanger, a brother of Peter Neiswanger, who was one of the defenders of Fort Henry, when it was besieged by the English and Indians in the fall of 1782. He was one of the earliest settlers on the waters of little Wheeling creek, in Ohio county, having taken up a tract of some 400 acres of land now owned by the Stewart brothers, worthy citizens of the said county, and others. He had at first established himself in quarters erected by him on the north side of the tract in close proximity to his boundary line, and had deadened two or three acres of timber in the immediate vicinity. As the troubles on the border increased and danger became imminent, being inconveniently situated and at some distance from the sheltering protection of a fort, he resolved to change his location, which he accordingly did, to the opposite side of his farm, where he built a cabin and cleared some ground. Under a shelving rock of a water-fall, in a ravine near his new location, which was narrow, deep and wild, he arranged and improved a cave in which he forted in times of apprehended danger from the savages. When he went out on hunting and scouting expeditions it was his custom to dress himself in complete Indian costume. It was on one of these occasions that he met with his tragical end. He, in company with Joseph Heffler, another efficient and successful spy and hunter, started on an expedition down the Ohio dressed in the fashion indicated. They descended the river in a canoe, and on the evening of the same day, on which they had started, they put into the mouth of little Grave creek. A party of Indians, who had been in concealment, had watched their movements, and during the night made a sudden attack upon them with great fury. Neiswanger was killed in his canoe, but Heffler succeeded in eluding the pursuit of the Indians with the loss of two fingers, shot away at the time of the attack. However, while in pursuit of Heffler, the canoe had by some means become unfastened and floated away and descended the river, and thus the sav ages lost the opportunity of scalping the unfortunate Neiswanger. After the lapse of some months the canoe, containing the remains of the hunter with his gun, were found lodged at the head of Captina Island, some miles distant from the scene of the catastrophe. On a beech tree, something like a half mile distant from the Neiswanger tract of land, on lands now owned by Hon. C. D. Hubbard, of Wheeling, which was cut down a few years ago by a former owner of the land, was plainly carved in a rude manner the. initials, P. N., with the date, 1776, together with the representation of a gun, a tomahawk and a pipe. The initials were doubtless those of Peter, a younger brother of John Neis- 102 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. wanger, the same who, as before stated, was one of the brave defenders of Fort Henry at the time of the siege at that post in the year 1782, and who was well-known along the border as an efficient Indian hunter and scout. An event which occurred during this year, 1783, and which aroused the indignation of the settlers to a high pitch of excitement, was the murder of a portion of the Van Metre family: The following account has been furnished to us by Vincent H. Van Metre, Esq., a descendant of the family now living near West Liberty, in Ohio county, W. Va: In this year, the wife, an infant child and a daughter fifteen years of age, all of the family of John Van Metre, were wantonly and cruelly murdered by a roving band of Indians during the absence of the father at a house-raising. The wife and child were deliberately butchered at the door of her house. The girl was engaged in washing clothes at a spring some distance from the house, and had on a sun-bonnet, which prevented her from discovering the approach of the stealthy savage before he was upon her, and who tomahawked her while she was in the act of bending over the spring. When the Indians gathered around her as she lay on the ground in the. rigidity of death and gazed upon her mute, but young and lovely countenance, even their hard, stern hearts relented and lamented the sad result, saying, " she would have made a pretty squaw." The information of the expression of their regret at her taking off, was subsequently communicated by the renegrade, Simon Girty, who was with the party who committed the murders, to a prisoner who, after his exchange, told it to one of the members of the family. Three of Mr. Van Metre's sons, aged respectively, eleven, eight and six years, were at the time playing in a field near to the house, but discovered the Indians in time to attempt an escape in which two of them succeeded, but John, the youngest, not being so active as his brothers, while in the act of mounting a fence was caught and carried away by them. While these events were transpiring, Mrs. John Spahr, a niece of Mrs. Van Metre, was on her way to visit her aunt. When nearing the house she observed feathers flying in the air, which aroused her suspicions that something was wrong, which were confirmed by more closely observing the surroundings which, clearly to her eye, indicated the presence of Indians. Instantly reaching her hand under the neck of her horse she grasped the clapper of the bell which was suspended therefrom, and held it while she urged her beast to its utmost speed in the contrary direction, and was thus the first one to convey the intelligence of the presence of the red men. After securing a quantity of bed clothes and other articles, they set fire to the cabin and then made off toward the river with their plunder, and were safely on the western side of it before any organized pursuit could be made to overtake them. The place where this tragedy occurred is now owned and occupied by Eugene Ridgely, being the same farm formely owned by one Matthews, and is situated on the waters of Short creek, about four miles southwest of West Liberty. Some time in the year 1805 a party of Wyandot Indians, from the HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 103 northern part of the state of Ohio, were on a trading and hunting expedition to the southern part of that state, when they stopped on their return at a trading post, which had been erected and was controlled by Isaac Zane, near the site where the city of Columbus now stands. Mr. Zane had, for a number of years, been a prisoner among the Wyandots, and was well versed in their language and habits, he was engaged in conversing with some of them in their own tongue, while other white men standing around were talking with some who could speak English. One of the Indians, as he took him to be, addressed Mr. Zane, speaking in broken English and said: "Me John Metre." Upon inquiry concerning him, an Indian volunteered to give the desired information about him, and an account of the circumstances attending the capture of the person who had addressed him. After a time they left and continued their journey. Mr. Zane, who was acquainted with the Van Metre family, at once communicated with them, giving an account of the interview he had had with John Van Metre, for it was no other a person than he, the same who had been captured by them at the time of their making the incursion in the settlements, in the year 1783, and enquiring as to the facts connected with the capture of young Van Metre and the circumstances, and stated that the Indians contemplated returning in about six weeks and that they could see him on that occasion at his post. Mr. Van Metre, the father, was still living, but was unable at the time to make the journey, and perhaps entertained doubts whether it really was his son. But he sent his two sons at the time when Mr. Zane informed him that the party was expected to return, with instructions that if it was their brother, that they were to urge him to return home and take up a civilized life. But if they could not prevail on him to return and remain permanently, they were to pursuade him, if possible, to visit his parents and his old home. They arrived at the post about the same time that the Indians did, and saw John and were convinced of his identity, while he, himself, was convinced of the identity of his brothers. But it was with great reluctance and hesitation that he could be prevailed upon to accompany his brothers on their return. They represented to him, among other arguments, that their father was a cripple and could not visit him, but that he was young and strong and could easily go to his father, moreover, they portrayed before him the pleasure it would give his aged parent to see him once again. The efforts made by the brothers to induce him to accompany them were seconded by Mr. Zane. Finally he consented. In the company there were six or seven squaws, one of whom was John's wife who, when the determination of John was made known to her, opposed it most strenuously until upon being informed that she could accompany him, yielded her opposition. At length they started on their journey for Virginia, John and his wife and his two brothers. That night they camped in the forest, but on arising next morning one of their number was missing. John's wife had decamped during the night while they slept. He was exceedingly vexed at the discovery. The brothers urged him to con- 104 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. tinue without her, but he sternly refused. Collecting a bunch of twigs from spice bushes growing there, he stuck each twig on end in the ground, making with them a circle, inside of which he enkindled a fire, and taking a pouch from his person which he said contained a powerful medicine, he sprinkled some of it in the flames and indulged in mysterious incantations and indescribable movements and gyrations, during all of which time he hovered closely over the fire, while his dilated eyes seemed almost ready to burst from their sockets.. Suddenly raising himself to an erect posture and straightening himself to his full stature, he announced that his wife would overtake and reach her party in safety, but that her feet would be very sick. After this mysterious performance he announced his readiness to continue his journey, and, in company. with his brothers, cheerfully proceeded the remainder of the distance without manifesting any further reluctance. His visit extended over a period of several weeks, but he resisted all appeals to abandon his Indian mode of life and return to his own people. While he seemed much gratified in once again meeting his father, and appeared to enjoy his visit, yet his restlessness and anxiety grew upon him to such a degree that he could no longer restrain his instincts, but, yielding to their influence, he surprised them all one day by unexpectedly saying, " good-bye," and bounded away out of sight at the top of his speed. In the course of two or three years after his unceremonious departure, he made another visit to his early home, remaining, on this last occasion, for some five or six weeks, at the end of which period he again took his departure in much the same manner in which he did on the occasion of the first. In the meantime, however, his father had died. This was his last visit, for shortly after his return to his tribe he died. Several years after the murder of his family he married the widow of Mr. John Beekey, who was an early emigrant from New Jersey to Western Virginia. Mrs. Beekey had four daughters by her first marriage, named respectively, Mary, Marcy, Jemima and Susan. Mary, the eldest, became the wife of Maj. John McColloch, a brother of the famous Maj. Samuel McColloch, the border scout and hero of the celebrated leap; Marcy, the second daughter, married Col. Harmon Greathouse, a noted frontiersman, and resided for many years in Lexington, Ky.; Susan, the third one, married John Roland, who resided at West Liberty, Ohio Co., Va., and Jemima, the fourth, became the wife of the Rev. Joseph Doddridge, of Wellsburg, Brooke Co., W. Va., the celebrated author of the" Notes on Western Virginia." One child was the issue of Mr. Van Metre's second marriage, whose name was Sarah. She married Mr. Robert Patterson, of Wheeling, Va., who died a few years since. In the beginning of the year 1785 and especially in the spring of that year, the settlers on the frontiers were again seriously menaced by the Indians, who had commenced their incursions much earlier than it was customary for them to do. Many of the settlers with their families resorted to the fort at Wheeling, and the private forts above HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 105 and below, for greater protection. Others, however, remained on their clearings, prepared at the first alarm to vacate them.  It was in the spring of this year that two boys went out one morning for the purpose of catching horses which were needed at the fort (Shepherd's) . One of these boys was John Wetzel, aged about sixteen or seventeen years, the son of John Wetzel, Sr., whose clearing was in Marshall county, and a brother of the celebrated Lewis Wetzel. The other was a lad slightly younger than John Wetzel, his companion. One of the animals they were instructed to catch and bring in, belonged to a sister of young Wetzel, and was a mare with a young foal. This foal she had given to her brother sometime prior to this. While engaged in the search for the horses they ran into the midst of a party of Indians who had captured the horses, and placed them in a thicket, expecting that the sound of their bells would attract the attention of their owners, whom they could then easily capture and take their scalps. The boys were attracted by the tinkle of the bells to the place where the Indians lay concealed, rejoicing that they had experienced so little difficulty in finding the horses, when they were at once seized by the rascals. John, however, made some resistance and had succeeded in breaking away from his captor and was making his escape when he was shot through the arm by one of the savages and re-taken. They directed their course toward the Ohio river. The companion of John indulged in such grievous crying and was so loud in his lamentations and groanings, that the Indians tomahawked him and left his body where it had fallen. This was not the first time John had been taken a prisoner by the savages. Once before he had been captured, but succeeded in making his escape. Notwithstanding he suffered severe pain from his wounded arm, he kept up his spirits, and wore an air of cheerfulness and satisfaction, which was apparently approved of by his captors. About noon of the same day they reached the river at a point near the mouth of Grave creek, and but a short distance from the cabin of Mr. Tomlinson, which, at the time, was deserted on account of the unsettled and threatening condition of affairs along the border, he, with his family, having removed to Wheeling for the time being. Here finding some of Tomlinson's hogs straying about, they killed one of them, putting it into a canoe which they had secreted after crossing the river on the occasion of their raid into Virginia. Three of the Indians, together with their prisoner, got into the canoe, while the other Indians engaged in swimming the stolen horses over the river. That day three individuals, viz.: Isaac Williams, Hamilton Carr and a German by the name of Jacob, were looking after the stock left at the deserted settlement, having come down from Wheeling on that business. While at the mouth of Little Grave creek, about a mile distant, they heard the report of a rifle. Williams exclaimed on the instant, " Dod rot 'em, a Kaintuck boat has landed down there at the creek and the crew are shooting my hogs." Quickening their steps, they 106 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. hurried along and in a few minutes reached the vicinity of the creek, when they heard the whinnying of a horse. Carr, who was a much younger and more active man than Williams, was some distance in advance, and reached the bank first, and looking down the creek he saw three Indians in a canoe, one in the stern, one in the middle and one in the bow of the vessel. On the bottow of the canoe were four rifles and a dead hog. A fourth Indian was swimming a horse across the river not very far from the shore. The Indian in the stern of the canoe had just put his paddle into the water to shove the canoe from the creek into the river. As he made this movement Carr drew his rifle to his shoulder and shot the Indian in the stern, who fell overboard into the water. Just as Carr fired„ Williams had reached his side, and shot the Indian in the bow of the canoe, who also fell overboard, plunging headlong into the water. Jacob, the German, then came up, and handing his empty rifle to Jacob, took the Ger-  man's and shot the third Indian in the middle of the canoe. He also fell overboard, but grasped the side of the canoe as he arose with one of his hands. So astonished was this last Indian at the fate of his two companions, that in his dazed condition, he never moved to take up one of the rifles which lay in the bottom of the canoe, in his defense. The canoe was now caught by the current and carried out into the river, and had floated some distance below the mouth of the creek. Carr having observed another person lying in the bottom of the canoe, loaded his gun, raised it and was about to fire, when the recumbent individual arose and cried out, " Don't shoot, I'm a white man." He was told to loosen the hold of the Indian's hand to the side of the canoe. He replied that he could not as his arm was broken. The current bore the canoe near to some rocks, not far from the shore, on which he jumped, and from which he waded to land. Carr now took a shot at the Indian on horseback, who by this time, was more than a third of the way across the river. The shot struck near his person, splashing the water over him. Seeing the fate of his companions, and recognizing the fact that his life was at stake, he slipped from the back of the horse and bravely swam toward the abandoned canoe in which were the four rifles. The white men were on the upper side of the creek now and the canoe was below the creek. To cross the creek the white men would have to go some 'distance up to find a fording place, which would consume time and this was in his favor. He therefore succeeded in gaining possession of the canoe, crossed to the opposite side of the river, mounted the horse which had gained the opposite shore, and with a wild whoop and a yell of defiant anger, made his escape into the forest. The canoe was turned adrift by him and. was not taken up until it had floated 200 miles below the scene where this affair occurred. When found, the dead hog was still in it, the shooting of which had led to their discovery, and was the cause of the misfortunes which attended .them. HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 107 CHAPTER VI. PREDATORY INCURSIONS OF THE INDIANS - THE CAPTURE AND RELEASE OF MRS. GLASS-THE CAPTURE OF HENRY BAKER - A REMINISCENCE OF PIONEER LIFE - AN ATTACK UPON A HUNTING PARTY - AN ATROCIOUS MURDER - THE ATTACK ON KIRKWOOD'S CABIN - A TIMELY WARNING - THE KILLING OF GRI NDSTAFF -THE CAPTURE OF THE CROW GIRLS - MEMORIAL OF THE IN HABITANTS OF MIDDLE WHEELING -LETTER OF COL. SHEPHERD-THE DEATH OF PARRON THE SCOUT - ESCAPE OF CUPPY - JOSHUA MEEK THE SCOUT - THREE HUNTERS WAYLAID AND KILLED -THE LAST BATTLE BETWEEN THE WHITES AND INDIANS IN THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. THE TREATY of peace entered into between the mother country and the colonies which ended the war of our revolution having withdrawn the aid of their English allies, the Indians were less able to carry on the bold and open warfare in which they had been engaged for so many years past. Yet while this was the case it did not put an end to the harassments by them of the whites on every occasion which presented itself. That section of the country —the borders—now began to develop more rapidly and population began to increase since the cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and the United States. The Indians in their incursions now rather sought plunder than to take human life, and although individuals sometimes were sacrificed by them yet this was not of frequent occurrence. At long intervals the people of the upper portion of northwestern Virginia would be startled by some blood curdling episode perpetrated on individuals, or the capture of some settler. But so far as organized attacks by large bodies of Indians were concerned, there were none such that we have been able to discover. There were bands numbering from two to twenty, perhaps, who roamed about at times in the vicinity of the settlement, seeking opportunities to steal, and the murders which they perpetrated were rather exceptional than otherwise. There were some, of course, whose bloodthirsty natures could only be appeased by the taking of human life. In the early spring of 1789 two Indians suddenly appeared at the cabin of a Mr. Glass, who resided in that part of Ohio county, now Brooke county, the first discovery of whom was made by a negro woman, who,' in great terror, ran into the cabin where Mrs. Glass was engaged in spinning, exclaiming—" Indians! Indians!" Mrs. Glass jumped up from the spinning wheel and running to the door, there met an Indian with gun presented at her. She grasped the muzzle, 108 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. pushing it to one side, and plead with him not to kill her. Walking into the house he was joined by the other Indian who had the negro woman and her boy about four or five years of age. Selecting some articles of clothing, they departed with their prisoners — Mrs. Glass and her little boy two years of age, the negro woman and her boy, and her infant child. They had not gone very far before they stopped and consulted together, and from their gestures and their pointing towards the children, inferred that they were deliberating about them; whereupon she placed her little boy in front of them and asked that his life might be spared, and added: He will make a fine Indian chief after a while." By a motion they waved her to one side, when one of the Indians struck the negro boy on the head with the pipe end of his tomahawk, knocking him to the ground, and with the edge gave him a blow across the back of the neck, and then scalped and left him. They reached the river about a mile above the creek and pulled a sunken canoe out of the river, which they had concealed there, and after emptying it of water, got into it and paddled down to the mouth of Rush run, a small steam which flowed into the Ohio about five miles from Wellsburg on the Indian side of the river, where they landed at the mouth of that stream and went up the run and encamped for the .night. During the entire night the black woman lamented in an audible manner the killing of her child, which so aggravated the Indians that they threatened if she did not cease her mourning that they would dispatch her. In the early morning they hurried their prisoners away and in the early afternoon halted on Shoat creek, about twenty or twenty-five miles from the mouth of Rush run. Here there was a depot of articles which they had carried away from Van Metre's, whose family they had so ruthlessly murdered. This plunder they had deposited in. the hollow of a tree. Before this the same spot had been used by them as an encampment. There were a number of sugar trees here and they started a fire and put on a kettle in which they placed a turkey which had been killed on the way. Tapping the sugar trees they filled the kettle with sugar water, in which they placed the turkey and proceeded to boil it. At the time of the appearance of the Indians at his cabin Mr. Glass was absent, and with a companion, was working in a field distant about a half mile from his cabin, and knew nothing of what had transpired there until his return to his home at the noon hour. Unable to account for the absence of his family he visited several cabins in search of them, but not finding them, he then visited Wells' fort, where he secured ten men to accompany him in quest of them, and reaching the bottom on which the town of Wellsburg now stands, remained there during the night. Early on the following morning they started in pursuit and discovered signs of Indians and their tracks at the spot where they had embarked. The track of his wife was discovered by Mr. Glass from the impression of her shoe, the, print of its high heel identifying it. HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 109 Crossing the river they followed down the shore until they came to the mouth of the run, up which the Indians with their prisoners had encamped, but discovering no signs of Indians, some of the party concluded that they would continue by water to the mouth of the Muskingum, and proposed to turn back. The importunity of Mr. Glass, however, prevailed upon them to go as far as the mouth of Short creek, which was but a few miles distant. Upon 'reaching the mouth of Rush run they found the canoe of the Indians. This was known by a proof which showed the sagacity of Mrs. Glass. One of the Indians had taken from the cabin several papers belonging to that person. As they were on their way down the river he had thrown these into the stream, and some of them were picked up. by Mrs. Glass, who, under the pretense of giving them to her child to amuse himself with, dropped them on the bottom of the canoe. These dumb witnesses gave evidence that they were on the right track, and searching the ground in the neighborhood they soon discovered the trail of the savages. Within an hour or two after they had halted Glass and his companions came within sight of their camp. Their object was now to save the lives of the prisoners by making a sudden attack, and by surprising them, thus preventing them from killing their captives. With this view they stealthily approached the camp and concealed themselves until they had succeeded in reaching within a few yards of it. The son of Mrs. Glass had stepped to one side and was attempting unsuccessfully to pour the water from one of the sugar troughs, when the mother perceiving his inability to do so had gone to his assistance. The negrO woman was sitting apart from the two Indians, who were curiously examining a garment which they had stolen. Suddenly dropping the garment they turned their gaze in the direction where the whites were lying awaiting a favorable opportunity to attack them, who supposing they were discovered, at once discharged several of their guns and rushed upon them, at the same time shouting at the top of their voices. One of the Indians appeared to have been wounded as he fell, at the same time dropping his gun and shot pouch. Recovering his feet, he ran a short distance when a second shot was fired at him which brought him to his hands and knees. But the pursuit was not continued, as there was another encampment not far distant, where were a number of Indians, and as they accomplished their purpose, in obtaining possession of the captives, they at once started on their return, and reached the fort at Beech Bottom that evening. At the first fire the other Indian who had run a short distance beyond Mrs. Glass, thus placing her in a direct line between him and the whites, halted for a second to put on his shot pouch, which Mr. Glass mistook for an attempt to kill his wife by tomahawking her. His life was saved because the whites could not shoot at him without endangering the life of the woman. The foregoing, we believe, is in main the correct account of this episode. Sometime in the " eighties" information was received by James Marshall, lieutenant commandant of Washington county, Penn., of an apprehended attack by the Indians on Fort Henry. What foundation 109 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. there was for this report, whether well or ill founded, we have been unable to ascertain. At all events Col. Marshall deemed it sufficiently authentic to justify him in communicating the information to the military authorities of Ohio county, and accordingly dispatched Henry Baker, Lewis Yoho and one Stalnaker, to warn them. Proceeding on their mission they had succeeded in reaching a point near the mouth of Woods run, about two miles from the Wheeling, when they were intercepted by a party of Indians who were lying in ambush, who fired upon them, killing Stalnaker. Baker's horse was shot and as it fell imprisoned the leg of Baker, by falling upon it, he being unable to disengage his foot from the stirrup, and he was captured. Baker had returned the fire of the Indians and killed a brother of the chief. Yoho succeeded in effecting his escape. The savages, indignant at the killing of one of their number, sought to slay Baker. and would have done so had not the old chief interfered and prevented them, who claimed him as his prisoner. This chief spoke broken English. Baker was carried by them to Chippewa Plains, where they proposed to put him to the torture and then burn him. The Indians in one of their raids some short time prior to this had captured nine Kentuckians. A council was held by them to decide on the fate of their prisoners and it was resolved that they should be burned one on each successive day until the whole of them were disposed of, reserving Baker to the last because he was the youngest. The fearful programme was strictly followed, and each day Baker saw one of the Kentuckians led to the stake where he suffered the most horrible tortures which Indian ingenuity could invent, while the flames kindled upon him, the Indians the meanwhile dancing and yelling around their doomed and helpless victim as the flames leaped with angry tongues over his body and licked the roasting flesh from his bones. Thus day by day he was reminded of his own end. His day at last arrived and he was required to prepare himself for death. As he was being led forward to the fatal stake, he saw in the distance a horseman advancing at a rapid speed, who, as he drew near he discovered was a white man, and although it was not until he arrived upon the scene that he identified him, yet his despairing heart for no other reason than he was a white man, began to have a faint hope that through his instrumentality he might be relieved from his perilous situation. Hence he lingered and held back and as far as possible delayed until the arrival of the horseman. It proved to be none other than Simon Girty. Baker was well acquainted with him, having frequently met him, and Girty was well acquainted with Baker. On recognizing the prisoner, Girty at once interposed in his behalf and for an hour he used all the power of eloquence and argument at his command to save the life of the captive. Nor did his efforts prove to be in vain as his influence preserved his life. After Baker was released he questioned him closely concerning points on the border and in particular about Wheeling fort, its condition, its means of defense and who was in command there, and endeavored to obtain from him such information as would prove to be most useful HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 111 and important. Baker was retained by the savages as a captive about one year, when again owing to the influence of Girty he was .sent to the English commandant at Detroit where he was retained for two years longer, when he was set free and permitted to return, making his way from Detroit to Wheeling on foot. On the occasion of his return a number of the settlers from the Virginia side of the river were gathered on the island engaged in making sugar. As Baker was spied in the distance approaching, clad in his Indian costume, the alarm was given that the Indians were upon them, and without stopping to investigate they at once fled to their canoes and made for the opposite side of the river arousing the inmates of the fort by the same alarming intelligence. In the meantime Baker had come down to the shore of the island and was endeavoring to reassure those on the opposite side by calling to them to come over and help him, that he was a white man who had been a prisoner at Detroit and was returning to his friends. Convinced of their mistake, they responded to his appeals and several persons at once went to his aid. He died in the year 1847 or 1848 at his home opposite the head of Captina Island, at the extreme old age of one hundred years, leaving surviving him six children—two girls and four boys, all of whom are deceased at this time. The following occurrence in chronological order was omitted in its proper place and is inserted here for the purpose of preserving a local traditional reminiscence of life upon the border in the early days of which we write. It was written by Dr. J. C. Hupp, of the city of Wheeling, W. Va., and is a thrilling account of one of those attacks which so often and so suddenly overtook the pioneer in his infant settlement: " In the spring of 1782 Indian hostilities commenced much earlier than usual along the western frontier. As early as the month of March hordes of savages were ascertained to have crossed the Ohio and were making their way into the settlements. The settlers thus threatened with the massacres, plunderings and captivities with which they had already become too familiar, were filled with spirit stirring excitement, commingled with alarm. In this predicament of apprehension and danger, the settlers along the Buffalo valley be took themselves with their families to the forts and block houses.. About three miles northeast of West Alexander, Washington Co., Penn., on the right bank of the " Dutch fork " of Buffalo, is a peninsula formed by the meandering creek on the one side and Miller's. run on the other. The isthmus next to the run is skirted by a narrow strip of bottom land which expands to many acres towards the creek and its confluence with the run. The side of the isthmus washed by the creek has a bold and precipitous bluff. On this isthmus was cated Miller's block house* which was besieged by a party of about seventy Shawnees on Easter Sunday, 1782. * Miller's block house stood on land now owned by William Miller, Esq., about midway between his residence and the " Old Graveyard." Here, too, is the perpetual spring now in use by the fourth Miller generation, from which this beleaguered block house received its supply of water. 112 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. "With their characteristic cunning and caution the Indians arrived in the vicinity the night previous, distributing themselves in ambush around the block house and along the paths leading thereto. Thus, lying concealed among the bushes or ' pea vines,' behind trees or fallen timber, they awaited the operation of circumstances. Nearly all the men were absent from the block house on this occasion; some of them being at Rice's fort, which was about two miles further down the creek. Of this fact the Indians most likely were apprised, and on this account the attack on the block house is supposed to have been deferred and the ambush protracted in order to destroy the men on their return hither. "Of those who were in this rude shelter on that fatal Sabbath morning were: John Hupp's wife and children, Mary, Margaret, John and Elizabeth; Jacob Miller and several of his family; the family of Edward Gaither, and an old man named Mathias Ault. The devotional morning appeal had ascended with its wonted fervor to the Father of Mercies for preservation and protection. The sun had appeared above the eastern hills tinging with its feeble rays the summits of the lofty trees of the dense forest that surrounded this primitive place of defense. The quietude of the woods was undisturbed save by the occasional chirp of the wooded songster carrolling his morning anthem One of the matrons of the block house had fearful forebodings that some terrible calamity was about to befall her husband, and followed him to the door entreating him not to carry into execution his determination to accompany his friend on that morning in search of a colt that had estrayed. The night previous she had dreamed that a ' copper' snake struck, fastening its fangs in the palm of her husband's hand, and that all her efforts to detach the venomous reptile were unavailing. This vision she interpreted as ominous of evil to her husband. But, notwithstanding his wife, John Hupp set out in company with his friend, Jacob Miller, in search of the estray. "They entered the path leading across the run and through the woods in a northeasterly direction and were soon out of view. Soon the quietude of the woods was disturbed by the crack of a rifle, quickly followed by a savage war whoop issuing from that part of the forest in which Hupp and Miller had entered. This alarm filled the minds of the women with consternation and apprehensions as to their fate. But Hupp being in the prime and vigor of manhood, fleet and athletic, if merely overpowered by numbers, his prompt return to the block house was confidently expected. But he had fallen a victim to the foe that lay concealed, patiently awaiting the approach of some ill-fated person. "The two unsuspecting men were allowed to follow the ambush path unmolested until they reached the second little ravine on land now owned by William Miller, Esq. Here,from his concealment behind fallen timber, a savage fired upon Hupp, wounding him mortally; he, how ever, after he was shot, ran sixty or seventy yards to rise no more. Miller, being an elderly man, was boldly rushed upon by the merciless wretches with loud and exultant yells, and tomahawked on the spot. HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 113 Flushed with success the savages now left their hapless victims scalped and pilfered of all clothing, to join in the beleaguering of the block house. While this tragic scene was being enacted the wild excitement and confusion amongst the women and children in the block house, with no male defender but the old man Ault, can be more readily imagined than described. " But at this trying moment Providence panoplied a female hero with courage sufficiently unfaltering for the dire emergency, in the person of Mrs. Ann Hupp. Having now realized the dread forebodings of her vision, and shaking off the shackles of despondency, she turned to calm the moral whirlwind that was raging amongst the frantic women and children, to inspire them with hope and to rally the only male defender. She, in the meantime, had deputed Frederick Miller, an active lad, aged about eleven years, as messenger to Rice's fort for aid. But in this strategy she was foiled. For the lad had gone willingly and heroically only a few hundred yards down the peninsula on his dangerous embassy when he was interrupted by the Indians. Retracing his steps, he was pursued by two ferocious Indians with hideous yells and uplifted tomahawks. "This frightful race for life was witnessed from the block house with anxiety most intense. Every moment it seemed as though the lad would fall with cloven skull beneath the deadly stroke of one or the other of the two blood-thirsty pursuers, each vieing with the other which should strike the fatal blow. A fence had to be scaled by the boy without a blunder, or death—certain, instant death—was his doom. Summoning all his boyhood and failing strength he leaped the barrier, touching it merely with his hand as the' foremost Indian's tomahawk struck the rail, accompanied by a yell of disappointment, when both Indians fired at him. One of the balls took effect and passed through the flexed arm, shattering the bones both above the elbow and between the joint and the wrist, whirling the lad around several times. Now subdued shrieks of terror commingled with joy were heard in the block house as the female hero, who sent out the boy embassador, received him in her arms as he bounded to the door, exhausted from the race and the loss of blood. At this moment the Indians, leaping from their concealment, appeared in every direction around the block house, and a hot and continuous firing was commenced. The female band, with the now trembling and weeping Ault as their counsellor, in despair and anguish were forced to the conclusion that the block house would soon be taken by storm or envelope them in its flames, and with no hope of successful resistance was about to 'give up.' "Again in this crisis of terrible trial and danger, Mrs. Ann Hupp proved equal to the emergency. Encouraging the trembling Ault and the weeping women with the consoling language of hope—nerving her arm and steeling her heart to the severe duties of the moment, she, with true Spartan courage, snatching up a rifle, fired at the approaching Indians, and then `ran from port hole to port hole' protrud- 8—A. 114 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. ing its muzzle in different directions—to convey the idea of great forces in the house— at each presentation, causing Indians to cower behind trees or other objects for protection. This happily conceived and promptly executed strategy of this pioneer heroine, without doubt, saved the handful of women and children from what otherwise was inevitable—a wholesale massacre. * "A party of the Indians had taken shelter behind a stable that stood not far from the block house. Emboldened by their firing not being promptly returned, one of them would occasionally step out to view, holding up before himself, as a shield, a clapboard, and then quickly retreat again to his shelter. At length, he stepped out boldly into an open space, defiantly stretching his giant frame high in the air, at which Ault was prevailed upon to fire; but probably without doing any harm. This exasperated the besieging foe, causing the assault to become still more terrible. At this state of the siege the women saw and recognized three of their men approaching in great haste from the direction of Rice's fort, when they commenced screaming at the top of their voices and beckoning the men in the direction they supposed to be the safest point to pass the Indians in gaining the block house. While the Indians stood in confusion and wonderment, not comprehending the meaning of the screams, the men rushed forward, passing very near to where some of the savages stood, and before the Indians sufficiently recovered from their surprise to fire upon them, with faces red and turgid from their race, bounded into the block house unscathed. " The names of these three daring spirits, who periled their lives to save their helpless mothers, brothers and sisters, from savage fury, or perish with them, were Jacob Rowe, Capt. John Miller and Philip Hupp. After the arrival of these men the boldness and fury of the Indians abated, and during the remainder of the day only occasional shots were exchanged. Evidently, filled with chagrin and disappointment, they skulked about the neighborhood till night fall, and nothing more was heard of them, they, no doubt, fearing a reinforcement, left during the night, bearing away with them only the scalps of Hupp and Miller. " The loss to the neighborhood of these two men was severely felt at a time when men were so much needed; but all hearts in that block house were overflowing with thanks and gratitude to a kind and merciful Preserver for vouchsafing to them His aid and protection when their great and terror-filling peril was impending for saving them from the ruthless hands of the merciless savages. About noon on * After the loss of her husband Mrs. Hupp and her children, in accordance with her own wish, were taken by her brother-in-law to his cabin on the bank of the Monongahela, near where the village of Millsborough now stands, where they remained about four years, and returned to Buffalo where she contracted a second marriage with John May, and subsequently Benjamin, Ann and George were added to the family as before enumerated. She died on the 28th day of June, 5823, in the sixty-sixth year of her age. Two of her children, George May and Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers, still survive, the former residing in Nebraska, the latter on Buffalo creek, who having seen the pioneer heroes and heroines of their youth one by one gathered to their fathers, they now stand the last of a race who learned from their lips these thrilling incidents of pioneer life. HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 115 Monday the men ventured out from the block house, going sadly and cautiously in search of Hupp and Miller, with the purpose of performing for them the last sad rites of the dear departed. They found the body of Miller lying near the bloody path, and following the traces of blood on the leaves and other objects over which Hupp had run, after he received his mortal wound, his remains were promptly recovered. "Their mutilated and frozen bodies were borne to the peninsula and laid side by side a few yards from the block house in the same grave, with ' puncheons ' for their coffins, and to-day are lying clustered about the graves of those two pioneer martyrs, the remains of Jacob Rowe, † Capt. John Jacob Miller, Frederick Miller, ‡ the heroine, Mrs. Ann Hupp and her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Titus. When living, the cement and panoply of affection and good-will bound them together in the tender, natal, social and moral ties of domestic kindness, friendship and love, and the union for defense, and when dead they were not separated." The following account, of an attack by the savages on a party who had gone to Fishing creek on a hunting expedition for elk, was obtained from one of the descendants of the Crow family who is now residing on the same farm on Big Wheeling creek, which has been occupied by the family and their descendants for more than a century. In the month of August in the year 1789, Frederick, Martin and John Crow, together with a man by the name of Davis, left their homes on Big Wheeling creek, for the purpose of killing elk. Having reached their destination on Fishing creek they went into camp. On the evening of the second day, as Frederick and Martin, who had been out in search of game during the day, were returning to camp and had nearly reached it, they were suddenly [attacked by Indians and fired upon from the rear of the camp, which was built after the fashion of the old style sugar house. Frederick was shot in the left breast, the ball passing through his arm and severing the artery near the shoulder. At the same time Martin had a portion of one of his † Jacob Rowe being about ten years old in the fall of 1776, when, in company with his mother and three brothers and his father, Adam Rowe, on their way to Kentucky, made a hair-breadth escape from the Indians at a point not far from the mouth of Grave creek. Here the little party was attacked by a band of marauding savages, who killed Mrs. Rowe and her eldest son, and captured Daniel, the youngest son. Jacob escaped by running into a thicket of willows near at hand, when closely pursued by a large muscular Indian who had his little brother Daniel a captive on his back —and this is the last account ever heard of the captive boy. After his escape, Jacob, trembling with fear, traveled all the day stealthily through the wild and dense woods, along the deep and dark hollows, and over the precipitous hills lying in his way back to Buffalo, and when night-fall overtook him with all its hideousness in the midst of the deep woods, he, overcome with fright, fatigue and hunger, nestled himself down among the leaves at the root of a fallen tree for the night. (He died of a throat affection, which, without doubt, was founded on that cold, dread and dreary November night.) The next day he arrived at Buffalo, and was received into the arms of his sister. Mrs. Ann Hupp, to whom the weeping lad related the tragic scenes he had witnessed on the previous morning. Adam Rowe, and his son Adam, also returned to the neighborhood, and afterward emigrated to Kentucky, and Jacob remained with his sister and was her survivor some three or four years. ‡ Frederick and Capt. John Jacob were sons of the unfortunate Jacob Miller. Frederick died on the 27th day of March, 1814, aged forty-three years, and Capt. John Jacob died August 2o, 1830, aged nearly sixty-eight years. 116 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. ears shot away. Frederick being seriously wounded and bleeding profusely, had started to run, being closely pursued by the savages. He ran a distance of some three or four hundred yards when, looking back, he found that his pursuers were rapidly gaining upon him. Without hesitation, for he had no time to deliberate, he plunged into the waters of the creek, which were about waist deep, and waded across to the opposite bank. Instead of following him through the creek at once, they paused for a moment on the brink of the bank near the spot where he had entered the waters. On reaching the opposite bank he looked back to see whether they were following him, when one of the savages hurled his tomahawk at him, which, fortunately, missed him, although it came in unpleasant proximity to his head: Their guns having been emptied at the time of the attack, in their haste to follow him in his retreatthey had had no opportunity to re-load. During their brief pause, however, one of his pursuers had reloaded his gun. They promptly re-commenced their pursuit, following him up the stream, the side of which he closely hugged, to a long point extending out from the south side of the creek, with which they were familiar, and where they expected to succeed in cutting him off and effecting his capture. This, however, proved to be unsuccessful. As the wounded man ran, he placed the leaves of the sassafras, which grew in abundance in the neighborhood, with which he filled his mouth, and chewed them into a mucilage and pressed them into his wound, thereby staunching the flow of blood, the free loss of which was beginning to enfeeble and exhaust him. Upon turning again to look back upon his pupursuerse discovered a savage with his gun to his shoulder taking aim and in the act of firing at him, but he eluded the deadly messenger by quickly throwing himself upon the ground, and the shot passed over him. At once jumping to his feet he gathered up his rifle, and realizing that it was a race for life he bent all his energies to the occasion, and in the rapidly gathering darkness which was settling down upon the scene he succeeded in eluding his pursuers and making good his escape. Frederick and his companions, at their first setting out, had agreed upon certain signals to be used by them in case of emergency — such as the hooting of an owl or the howling of a wolf, by means of which in no long time they discovered the whereabouts of each other, and in company made their return to their homes, with the exception of John. It is supposed that this latter person, being absent at the time of the attack, on hearing the firing at once hastened back to the camp to render assistance if needed, and in so doing became a target for the Indians, as it was afterward found that five musket balls had entered his breast, which were so close together that they could be covered with the palm of an ordinary-sized hand. He must have been instantly killed. He was buried on the third day after he was killed, near the fatal spot where he fell, by a party of his neighbors who had gone out in search of him, under a large beech tree, which served the HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 117 purpose of his monument and on which, in rude letters, was cut his name, age, and date of his death. One of the most atrocious murders perpetrated by the savages in Ohio county, was that on the family of a Mr. Purdy or Prudy, which of the two names being the correct one, is uncertain. He, with his wife and four children, had but lately settled near Wheeling. Perhaps it was a year or more since any Indians had appeared within that distance of the settlement of Wheeling, and a degree of confidence prevailed which led to the belief that they had entirely abandoned that section of the country. This caused a feeling of security which induced the exercise of less caution than would have been the case under other circumstances. In the spring of this year, just after dark one night, four or five Indians suddenly forced their way into the cabin of the unsuspecting family and mercilessly butchered the head and husband of the family, attacking the wife and mother whom they left lying senseless, tomahawk ing a boy and dashing out the brains of another. Two daughters were made prisoners and carried away. After plundering the house they hastily quitted the neighborhood and made with all possible speed for the Ohio, which they crossed and successfully effected their retreat. Mrs. Purdy or Prudy, who had not been fatally hurt by the blow which had been dealt her, but only stunned, soon recovered from its effects, but fearing that the Indians were still in the vicinity, secreted herself until morning in a thicket, when she went into the settlement at Wheeling and gave information of the occurrence, but too late to pursue the murderers. The girls were retained by the Indians for a period of ten or twelve years, when they were released. This occurrence took place in the spring of 1790. A few years after the close of the Revolutionary war, Capt. Robert Kirkwood, of the Delaware line, and who had been aid-de-camp to Gen. Washington, settled near the mouth of Indian run on the west side of the Ohio river in what is now Belmont county, Ohio, opposite to Wheeling. He here built a cabin and cleared the ground, and commenced farming. About a year after his arrival he began the erection of a block house, but before it was completed in the early spring of the year 1791, a large body of Indians attacked his cabin. At the time Capt. Kirkwood was absent in the east, but on this occasion Capt. Joseph Biggs with a company of his scouts was in the cabin, together with several persons who were sheltering there. Early in the morning Capt. Biggs arose and went to the outside of the cabin, stretched himself for a brief space and returning, closed the large oaken door, and without any well-defined purpose in his mind for so doing, barricaded the door to make it more secure. Returning to his bed, in a few minutes he was startled by the familiar Indian yell, acompanied by their efforts to burst in the door, which they were trying to accomplish by a furious assault upon it with rails, logs and tomahawks. The lights in the cabin had all been extinguished and Biggs so stationed his men as to fire upon the savages from every point. The night being clear and the moon full the be- 118 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. sieged had the advantage of the besiegers, as they could plainly see any movements upon the part of the Indians, while they themselves were concealed from view. While Capt. Biggs was standing near one of the windows of the cabin watching the movements of the savages, one of them unobserved by Biggs had stolen close along the side of the building and suddenly thrust his rifle through the window where he was standing and shot the captain in his arm just below his shoulder. Notwithstanding the serious character of the wound, he concealed the fact and did not make it known until day-light. All attempts at battering down the door having failed, they next had recourse to fire and succeeded in setting the roof in a blaze. While the captain and the inmates were pushing off the burning roof, the Indians under the cover of the unfinished block house, opened upon them with a fierce fire. But the whites succeeded in pushing off the blazing roof. This aroused the fury of the Indians, and they made renewed efforts to burn the cabin by piling brush and dry wood against the sides of the building, which they fired. But with cautious perseverance they succeeded in extinguishing the flames, which at times threatened them with dire destruction. To accomplish this, they used water, milk and other liquids, and in their state of almost hopeless despair, the damp earth was dug up from the cabin floor and thrown upon the burning piles of brush and wood. The rapid exchange of shots aroused the people of Wheeling, who commenced firing their swivel gun, the heavy boom of which was echoed by the surrrounding hills. This gave the besieged heart and they were encouraged by the hope of succor. The savages became disheartened, knowing full well what it betokened and promptly gathered up their wounded and disappeared. Five of the white were severely wounded, one of them mortally. They were Capt. Joseph Biggs, John Walker, Elijah Hedges, John Barrett and Joseph Van Metre. Walker, who had been shot through the hip during the fight, died the next day, having been taken to the residence of Col. Zane at Wheeling, where he died and was buried in the old cemetery, which at the time occupied the site of the present residence of Mr. George K. Wheat, on Main street, in the city of Wheeling. In the cabin at the time of the siege was a man by the name of James Simpson, who had emigrated to the west in 1783, and settled in Washington county, Penn.; Kirkwood, who had been a neighbor of his in Delaware and also a comrade in arms during the war of the revolution, learning that he was residing in Washington county, urged him to come and see .him and he would give him all the land he wanted if he would only settle near him on that side of the river. At his urgent solicitation Simpson went, but on his arrival found that Kirkwood was absent, but concluded to stay that night and the next day set out on his return journey to his home. That night the cabin was attacked. After the experience he passed through on that occasion he concluded that he would not settle there for all the land on that side of the river. A singular incident connected with this affair of the attack on HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 119 Kirkwood's cabin is related, concerning a niece of his, who lived at a distance of something like twenty miles from the scene of the occurrence. She dreamed that her uncle's cabin was in flames, and the impression produced upon her mind was so deep and lasting that she visited the scene to assure herself of its truth or falsity. She arrived a few hours after the departure of the Indians to find her dream fully verified. A short time after his return Kirkwood joined the army of Gen. St. Clair in the expedition against the Indians, and was present at the overwhelming defeat of that officer, falling in a bayonet charge against the enemy. In the summer of this year a band of Indians entered the cabin of a man by the name of Martin, who was located on a clearing near Wheeling, and, after murdering him and his family, set fire to the cabin and departed. When the news of the murder reached Wheeling, a party composed of eight or ten men, commanded by one Howser (a private in Captain Grant's company) left in pursuit of the Indians. They had traveled a distance of some six or eight miles through the forest without discovering any signs of the marauders, and were about returning when Howser's attention was attracted by the sight of an Indian girl at a little distance from the party, descending a hill in front of them. He promptly halted his men and made signs of peace to the girl to assure her, who approached to within a few rods, and drew from her bosom a small strip of paper and throwing it toward them, turned and bounded away into the forest. Howser advanced and picked up the paper and on perusing it found the following written caution as if inscribed in great haste: "You must make your escape, the Indians are following after you and are on your trail." After reading this Howser and his men made all dispatch and hastened their march in the direction of Baker's fort, a few miles below Grave creek. Before reaching it they were overtaken and fired upon by the Indians. The suddenness of the attack produced some confusion among them, from which they, however, soon rallied, and made a successful stand by keeping up a well-directed fire which finally caused the Indians to disperse. They then proceeded on their march to Baker's fort, which they reached without further molestation. On arriving at this place they related the particulars of the skirmish in which they had been engaged, and the notable incident of the appearance of the Indian maid. It was subsequently learned that the note was written by a white man by the name of Watson, who was with the Indians, and by him given to the girl who, under his instructions, proceeded to warn the whites of their danger. It was generally believed, among those at the time who were cognizant of the affair, that the girl was a daughter of a Delaware chief, friendly to the whites. Among others who had settled on the waters of Wheeling creek was a worthy family of the name of Grindstaff. The head of it was an industrious and laborious person who, by his energy, had converted a portion of the wilderness into a pleasant home and well-improved farm, it being the same farm now known as the Buchanan farm, situ- 120 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. ated a few miles above the "forks of Wheeling." When the frequent incursions of the Indians in the neighborhood occurred, he took the precaution to remove his family to Shepherd's fort for greater security. He, however, statedly, from time to time, visited his farm to look after his improvements and to exercise a general supervision over his property, but never, on such occasions remained absent from the fort over night. In accordance with his usual custom, he one day set out to visit his improvements, and remained there until late in the afternoon when he started to return to the fort. No indications of the presence of Indians were visible. Shortly after leaving the farm, while on his way to the fort, he was set upon by a party of Indians, who were lying in ambush, by whom he was killed and scalped. The firing of guns attracted the attention of the inmates of the fort, a portion of whom started out, to discover the cause of the alarm, in the direction from which it proceeded. They had not proceeded far in their search before coming across the body of Grindstaff lying in the trail where he had fallen a victim to the blood-thirsty savages. They took up the body and bore it back to the fort where it was interred the following day. The Indians seemed to indulge a special spite against the settlements along Big Wheeling, and took every opportunity to wreak it upon individuals and families living along it. Why this was the case we can only surmise, and the only explanation we can attempt may be found in the fact that it was here where the Wetzels, Bounetts and Mersers lived, all of whom whom were implacable enemies of their race, and hunted them with relentless perseverance and energy. One of the most terrible murders perpetrated in that neighborhood occurred on the first day of May, in the year, 1791. Four sisters of the Crow family left home on the morning of that day with a view of visiting a couple of aged people who lived some eight miles further up the creek, above the late residence of Michael Crow. Their brother was the father of the late Michael Crow, who resided on the farm of his father, and which still belongs to the descendants of this family. He was a boy of fourteen years of age. Prior to his sisters leaving home in the morning, he had been sent up the creek on an errand by his parent, and as he was returning homeward, having discharged his mission, he met his sisters who were leisurely pursuing their way to, their destination. The girls were named, respectively: Elizabeth, Susan, Catharine and Christina. At the time of his meeting them they were not more than a mile from home. Checking his horse, he halted and held a.brief conversation with them, and urged. Christina, the youngest of the sisters, to mount behind him and return home. She declined to accede to his proposition and insisted upon accompanying her sisters. Finding that all his pursuasions were in vain, he finally desisted in his efforts to change her purpose, and the respective parties parted and continued their opposite journey. But no sooner had young Crow gotten out of sight and hearing, than two Indians and a renegade white man, by the name of Spicer, sprang out from a rock behind which they had lain concealed and arrested the HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 121 sisters, at the same time informing them that if they gave any alarm, or attempted to attract attention by any noise, threatened them with instant death. Ascending the hill at the base of which the capture had taken place, a distance of some two hundred yards, they compelled the girls to seat themselves on a fallen tree while they took seats with them and began to ply them with numerous inquiries, particularly as to their knowledge as to the means of defense in the neighborhood, the number of effective men, etc. One of the Indians who was seated between two of the youngest of the females held a tight grasp on the wrist of each. From their significant gestures and looks, and the conversation carried on between the three in the Indian tongue it was evident that they were discussing the disposition which they should make of their prisoners. The girls realized from what they saw and could understand that no mercy was to be extended to them; but that their death was determined upon, and that their fate was imminent. Christina, the youngest, a bright and sprightly girl, had formed a resolution in her mind that, as death was to be her doom, she would, at the first propitious moment which presented itself, make a break for liberty. Hence, while her captors were engaged in the heat of the discussion and the vigilance of the Indian who held her wrist was somewhat relaxed, with a sudden effort she withdrew it from his grasp by a dexterous twist of her arm and springing to her feet darted away, but she had not taken but a step or two when she received a blow on her back with the butt end of the gun which, with his freed hand, he had snatched from the ground where it lay beside him. The blow prostrated her, but only for a moment, when promptly recovering herself she sped down the hill to the bank of the creek, along which, with swift feet, she hastened to her home and carried the sad tidings of the capture of her sisters. The Indians might have overtaken her if they had been so disposed, but in that event the other sisters might have successfully made their escape, and therefore they refrained from pursuit. As soon as Christina communicated the news to the distressed family, they made a hasty departure from their home and fled to Findley's block house for shelter and protection. It being late in the evening when they arrived there, no efforts could be made that night to overtake the captors and their prisoners, but with the first streaks of dawn on the following morning a party set out with a view of rescuing the prisoners and at the same time to visit condign punishment upon their captors. Upon reaching the spot where the capture had occurred, to their horror and dismay they found that the tragedy, which all along they had apprehended, had been accomplished. They found the oldest girl — Elizabeth — still living, but fatally wounded. A little distance from where Elizabeth lay writhing in her pain were found the dead bodies of the two other sisters — Catherine and Susan. Elizabeth retained sufficient vitality to give an intelligible account of the incident of their surprise and capture, together with the details of the affair subsequent thereto, and the treatment which 122 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. had been accorded them by the savages and the renegade Spicer. She survived until the third day after the event when she expired. The remains of the three were buried on the farm hereinbefore mentioned. Several years after the happening of this occurrence, when the brother we have alluded to had grown to manhood, the renegade Spicer and one of the same Indians who had been an actor in the cold-blooded murder of innocent and helpless females, one day came along and stopped at the house of the father of the murdered girls. The family had just sounded the tin horn announcing the noon repast, and the father, and a number of neighbors who had been engaged in a log-rolling, were leisurely strolling along toward the house at an easy gait when an Indian and white man, each of whom were on a horse, passed them, and reaching the house in advance of them, dismounted and demanded of the inmates a drink of milk. Christina, who, at the time, was engaged in the kitchen lifting the dinner, heard the demand, and looking in the direction from which the voice proceeded, caught sight of the visitors. No sooner had her gaze fallen upon them than she rushed after her mother, who had started to get them some milk, crying out in anguished tones, "Those are two of the men who killed my sisters, don't give them any." Upon hearing which the two thereupon hurriedly re-mounted their horses and left before the men had reached the house. After the arrival of these latter, Christina related to them the circumstance, and assured them that she well knew Spicer and his companion, and that she could not be mistaken, and positively asserted that they were two of the three who, years before, had taken herself and her sisters prisoners. Convinced by the positive assurances of the girl, on whose memory was daguerreotyped with fearful distinctiveness the identity of the actors on that occasion, Crow, the father, and a man by the name of Dickerson, left the table at the same time and went aside to consult. The result of their deliberation was soon made manifest. Leaving the house they arranged between themselves that if they were successful in overtaking them Dickerson was to kill Spicer and Crow was to kill the Indian. Being well acquainted with the country they determined to take a route along the summits of the hills, by which they could gain both in time and distance, and speedily overtake their prey unless they had ridden at an unusually rapid pace. This proved to be the case, for apprehensive of being followed, they had pressed forward at the highest speed of their animals. The pursuit was therefore lengthened to a greater distance than had been anticipated. But the spirit of revenge had been awakened in the bosoms of their pursuers, who determined not to give up the chase until it was gratified. Hence, they continued on their course, taking advantage of every short cut which opened to them, following them to the head of Wheeling creek where they discovered their fresh trail, which they followed down Dunkard's creek to near the waters of the Monongahela. Here they lost the trail in the darkness which had fallen upon them, and they camped out for the night. The next day, on HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 123 coming back along the stream, they found the lost trail of the night before, on exploring which they found the spot where they had camped the preceding night, the evidences of their presence there having been made known by their tracks and the smouldering embers of the fire which had been kindled by them. Our informant states that the Indian and Spicer succeeded in eluding their pursuers, and that nothing more was ever heard of them. But from another source, which is esteemed by us to be perfectly reliable and trustworthy, we learn that upon the return of Crow and Dickerson from the pursuit, when inquiry was made of them as to the result of their expedition, their reticence on the subject was marked, and their replies were generally formulated in such a manner as to convey the impression that their pursuit had not been in vain and unattended with results, as, for instance, when pressed, they would say in terms "that they did not believe that they would trouble that section of the country any more." The general opinion which was prevalent among the friends and neighbors was, that they had succeeded in overtaking them and accomplished their mission, and that both Spicer and the Indian slept their last sleep, from which they would only awake at the sound of the resurrection trump. At all events, they were not seen nor heard of any more in that neighborhood nor elsewhere, so far as any information at the time or since could be obtained. As indicative of the feelings entertained by the settlers on the frontier in the year 1792, and their exposed and dangerous condition, we submit the following memorial of the inhabitants of Middle Wheeling, which is a copy of the original in its orthography and style. It is headed, " Memorial of Inhabitants of Middle Wheeling": "We the inhabitants of middle Wheeling Now in a distressed and dangerous situation Have imbodied ourselves and we are tow weak to make a stand without asistens. We your humble petitioners do Pray your assistance in men, arms and ammunition, as we gudge William Craig to be the suitable plase for the station, We flatter ourselves that you will do Everything that is in your Power, and humbly submits to your will In the fair; we your petitioners do pray. " Thomas Orr, David Hosack, Thomas Hosack, Samuel Moore, William Morrison, James Hosack, James McDonald, Andrew Hannah, Samuel Holmes, George Whitehill, William Bohanon, Robert McCoy, Ferdinand Moore, Thomas Harpon, William Hults, Andrew White, Devet Howell, William McCaskell, Robert Pendergast, George Knox, James Knox, James Steter, Hilian Sleater, Hugh McCutcheon, John Brice, William Porter." During the spring of this same year Col. Shepherd reported to Col. Beard concerning depredations committed by the Indians in his vicinity, as shown in the following letter: " Sir:— Last evening two Indians shot at a man within one mile of my house and snapped at another in the night. They have also taken two boys, sons of James Behanis, living on Middle Wheeling, 124 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. one of which they have killed, the other has got in though he is scalped and badly tomahawked. The spies inform me that there is great signs of them on Captina and Stillwater. We expect nothing else but a general onset; our peopele are generally moving to the forts, and seem to be in great confusion. I shall give you every information as early as possible, and am with respect your humble servant, DAVID SHEPHERD." " Col. Beard." Col. Beard was lieutenant-commandant of Washington county, Penn., at the time when this letter was written, and Col. Shepherd was lieutenant-commandant of Ohio county, Va. During the spring of 1792, one Parron, a famous scout who forted at Fort Van Metre on Short creek in Ohio county, Va., in company with Abraham Cuppy, his son-in-law, started on a scouting expedition on the Ohio side of the river, and night coming on they went into camp at the mouth of the run known as Parron's run, which empties into Big Short creek, camping under a large elm tree, which still stood there a few years since. During the night a party of Shawnees on their way to make an incursion on the settlements on the opposite or Virginia side of the river; attracted by the light of the white men's camp-fire, surrounded them while they slept, and firing upon them, shot Parron through the hip, disabling him to such an extent as to prevent him from making an effort to escape and hence secured him as a prisoner. Young Cuppy made his escape and secreted himself under the roots of a large sycamore three which grew upon the banks of the creek. His hiding place was near enough for him to hear the conversation which passed between Parron and the Indians. The Indians who were well acquainted with his courage and ability as a scout, determined that he must die and favored burning him. But Parron reminded them that he had always been an honorable warrior and as a favor asked them to give him the tomahawk. His captors held a council among themselves, and after a lengthy deliberation concluded to grant the request of their captive, whereupon the leader stepped forward to the prostrate man as he laid upon the ground unable to rise, and tomahawked and scalped him. After this they continued their journey without making any search for Cuppy, his companion. The young scout remained in concealment until sufficient time had elapsed to place many miles between the Indians and himself before he ventured from his hiding place and when he left it he hastened with all his speed to make secure his escape, and reaching Fort Van Metre, communicated the information of Parron's death. The commander of the fort instructed Cuppy to return to the spot where the occurrence had happened, taking with him a sufficient number of the men in the fort to recover and bury the body in a respectable manner. This they successfully accomplished. Some seventy or eighty years subsequent to this event, some of his descendants disinterred the remains, that they might be interred in a more suitable resting place. Upon taking them up the ball which had disabled him was found