Richland Township (part 2 of 5)

Belmont County, indeed the country immediately bordering on the upper Ohio River, was not occupied by the Indians as homes or villages, but was rather a vast hunt- all kinds was found in abundance. And it is not surprising that the encroachments of the white man upon the western shores of the Ohio should be regarded with jealousy, or that the Indians should seek to repel it by driving the aggressors away.

The tribal towns were located as follows: The Shawnees in the central part of the State, and extending westward to the Indiana line, the Delawares bordering on the Mus: kingum and Cuyahoga, and the Ottawas bordering the Great Lakes in the North and Northwest. There was also a number of less prominent tribes, such as the Wyandottes, Chippewas, Miamis and Pottowatomies, sur-

However, for a period of 10 years tranquility prevailed through the eastern section of Ohio, because of the treaty entered into by the Delawares and Shawnees, and Colonel Bouquet, the French commander. Prior to the year 1774, many emigrants had crossed the Ohio, and acquired claims in the new territory, but as previously stated, some ot these claims were only tomahawk rights. Encouraged' by the peace and quiet that prevailed between 1764 and 1774. numerous land jobbers in addition to the regular settlers appropriated thousands ot acres. This of course aroused the jealousy of the neighboring Indian tribes. This jealousy was intensified by the appropriation ot lands below the mouth of the Scioto River, and claimed by the Shawnees as Indian territory. And now there were in circulation exaggerated stories of Indian outrages, retaliatory measures, such as thieving, plundering and robbing, and fears were expressed that the Indians would fall upon and slaughter the white intruders. In this emergency Col. Ebenezer Zane, who was in command of Fort Henry, just opposite Bridgeport, counseled peace and moderation, and if his advice had been heeded, the bloody Dunmore war would have been averted.

Doddridge in his notes says: "Devoutly might humanity wish that the record of the causes which led to the destructive war of 1774 might be blotted from the annals of our country, but it is now too late to efface it, the black lettered list must remain, a dishonorable blot in our national history; good, however, may spring out of evil. The injuries inflicted upon the Indians in early times by our forefathers may induce their descendants to show justice and mercy to the diminished posterity of those children of the wilderness whose ancestors perished in cold blood and by the scalping knife of the white savages."

The Tragedies At Yellow Creek And Captina

In the month of April, 1774, a rumor was circulated that the Indians had stolen several horses from some land jobbers on the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. No evidences of the fact having been adduced leads to the conclusion that the report was false, This report, however, induced a pretty general belief that the Indians were about to make war upon the frontier settlements, but for this apprehension there does not appear to have been the slightest foundation.

In consequence of this misapprehension of being attacked by the Indians the land jobbers ascended the river and collected at Wheeling. On the 27th of April it was reported in Wheeling that a canoe containing two Indians and some traders was coming down the river, and was then not far from the place. On hearing this Captain Cresap proposed taking a party and go up the river and kill the Indians. This project was vehemently opposed by Colonel Zane, the proprietor of the place. He stated to the captain that the killing of those Indians would inevitably bring on a war, in which much innocent Blood would be shed. and that the action itself would be an atrocious murder, and a disgrace to his name forever. His good counsel was lost. The'partv went up the river. On being asked at their return what become of the Indians, they cooly answered, "They had fallen overboard into the river." Their canoe on being examined was found bloody and pierced with bullets. This was the first blood which was shed in this war, and terrible was the vengeance which followed. In the evening of the same day, the party hearing that there was an encampment of Indians at the mouth of the Captina, went down the river to the place, attacked the Indians and killed several of them. In this affair one of Cresap's party was severely wounded. The massacre at Captina and that which took place at Baker's,

The last was perpetrated by 32 men under the command of Daniel Greathouse. The whole number killed at this place and on the river Opposite to it was 12, besides several wounded. This horrid massacre was effected by an hypocritical strategem which reflects the deepest dishonor on the memory of those who were agents in it. The report of the murders of the Indians near Wheeling induced a belief that they would immediately commence hostilities, and this apprehension furnished the pretext for the murder above related. The ostensible object for raising the party under Greathouse was that of defending the family of Baker, whose house was opposite to a large encampment of Indians at the mouth of Big Yellow Creek. The party were concealed in ambuscade while their commander went over the river under the mask of friendship to the Indian camp to ascertain their number; while there an Indian woman advised him to return home speedily, saying that the Indians were drinking and angry, on account of the murder of their people down the river, and might do him some mischief. On his return to his party he reported that the Indians were too strong for an open attack. He returned to Baker's and requested him to give any Indians who might come over in the course

The plan succeeded. Several Indian men with two women came over the river to Baker's, who had previously been in the habit of selling rum to the Indians. The men drank freely and became intoxicated. In this state they were all killed by Greathouse and a few of his party. I say a few of his party; for it is but justice to state that not more than five or six of the whole number had any participation in the slaughter at the house. | cious murder. From their number being by far the majority, they might have prevented A httle Indian girl alone was saved from the slaughter, by the humanity of some one of the party whose name is not now known.

The Indians in .the camp hearing the finng at the house sent a canoe with two men in it to inquire what had happened. These two Indians were both shot down as soon as they landed on the beach. A second and larger canoe was then manned with a number of Indians in arms; but in attempting to reach the shore some distance below the house were received by a well directed fire from the party, which killed the greater number of them and compelled the survivors to return. A great number of shots were exchanged across the river, but without damage to the white party, not one of whom were even wounded. The Indian men who were murdered were all scalped. The woman who gave the friendly advice to the commander of the men in the Indian camp was among the slain at Baker's house.

The massacres of the Indians at Captina and Yellow Creek comprehended the whole of the family of the famous but unfortunate Logan, who before these events had been a lover of the whites, and a strenuous advocate for peace; but in the conflict which followed by way of revenge for the death of his people, he became a brave and sanguinary chief among the warriors. The settlers along the frontiers knowing that the Indians would make war upon them for the murder of their people, either moved off to the interior or took up their residence in forts.

The Disastrous Dunmore War

A plan for the campaign for the purpose of putting a speedy conclusion to the Indian hostilities was adopted between the Ear] of Dunmore, the governor of the colony, and Gen. Andrew Lewis. General Lewis was appointed to the command of the southern division of the forces to be employed on this Occasion, with orders to raise a large body of volunteers from the southeastern counties with all dispatch. These forces were to rendezvous at Camp Union in the Greenbriar country. The Earl of Dunmore was to raise another army in the northern counties of the colony, and in the settlement west of the mountains, and assemble them at Fort Pitt, and from thence descend the river to Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the Great Kanahwa.

The tract of country between these two points was a trackless desert. Aíter a painful march of r9 days the army arrived on the rst of October at Point Pleasant. General Lewis was exceedingly disappointed at hearing no tidings of the Earl of Dunmore, who was to form a junction with him at this place. Very early on the morning of the IOth, two young men set out fsom the camp to hunt up the river. Having gone about three miles they fell upon a camp of the Indians, who were then in the act of preparing to march to attack the camp of General Lewis. The Indians fired upon them and killed one of them; the other ran back to the camp with intelligence that the Indians in great force would immediately give battle. General Lewis instantly ordered out a detachment of troops under Colonel Fleming and another under Col. Charles Lewis, remaining himself with a reserve for the defense of the camp. The detachment met the Indians about 400 yards from the camp. The battle commenced a little after sunrise by a heavy firing from the Indians. At the onset our troops gave some distance until met by reinforcements, on the arrival of which the Indians retreated, and formed a line behind logs and trees. By this maneuver our army was completely invested, being enclosed between the two rivers, with the Indian line of battle in front, so that no chance of retreat was left.

An incessant fire was kept up on both sides until sundown, when the Indians retreated in the night across the Ohio, and the next day commenced their march to their town on the Scioto. Our loss in this destructive battle was 75 killed and 140 wounded.

Colonel Lewis, a distinguished and meritorious officer, was mortally wounded by the first fire of the Indians, but walked into the camp and expired in his own tent. The Indians during the battle were commanded by the Cornstalk warrior, the king of the Shawnees. This son of the forest in his plans oí attack and retreat, and in all his maneuvers, displayed the skill and bravery of the con: summate general During the whole of the day he was heard from our lines shouting with, the voice of stentor, "Be strong, Be strong." It is even said that he killed one of his own men with his own hand for cowardice. On the day following General Lewis commenced his march for the Shawnee town This march was made through a trackless desert and attended with great privations and difficulties.

In the meantime the Earl of Dunmore, having collected a force, and provided boats at Fort Pitt, descended the river to Wheeling, where the army halted at Fort Henry for a few days, and then proceeded down the

It was with the greatest reluctance and chagrin that General Lewis returned from the enterprise in which they were engaged. The order of Dunmore was obeyed with every expression of regret and disappointment.

every precaution on the part of our people was taken to prevent the Indians from ending the treaty in the tragedy of a massacre. Only 18 Indians with their chiefs were permitted to pass the outer gate of their fortified encampment, after having deposited their arms with the guard at the gate. The treaty was opened by Cornstalk, the chief of the Shawnees, in a lengthy speech, in which he boldly charged the white people with having been the authors of the commencement of the war, in the massacres of the Indians at Captina and Yellow Creek. This speech he delivered in so loud a tone of voice, that he was heard all over the camp. "The terms of the. treaty were soon settled, and the prisoners delivered up. Logan, the Cayuga chief, assented to the treaty, but, still indignant at the murder of his family, refused to attend with the other chiefs at the camp of Dunmore. According to the Indian mode in such cases, he sent his speech in a belt of wampum, by an interpreter to be read at the treaty. "I appeal to any white man to say if he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat; if he ever came cold and naked and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an peace, Such was my love for the whites, and said, 'Logan is the friend of the white man. I had even thought to have lived with you but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap the last spring, in cold blood - and unprovoked, murdered all the relatives of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in any living creature. This called on me for revenge. 1 have sought it. l have killed many. I full glutted my vengence; for my country I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one." Thus ended at the treaty oi Camp Charlotte in the month of November, 1774, the disastrous war of Dunmore. It began in the wanton and unprovoked mur ders of the Indians at Captina and Yellow Creek and ended with an awful sacrifice of life and property to the demon of revenge On our part we obtained at the treaty a ces sation of hostilities and a surrender of prisoners, and nothing more. The plan of operations adopted by the Indians in the war of Dunmore shows very clearly that their chiefs were by no means deficient in their foresight and skill necessary for making the most prudent military arrangement for obtaining success and victory in their mode of warfare. At an early period they obtained intelligence of the plan of the cam paign against them concerted by the Earl of Dunmore and General Lewis.

epeedily collected their warriors and by forced marches reached the Point, before the expected arrival of the troops under Dunmore. Such was the privacy with which they conducted their march, that General Lewis knew nothing of the approach of the Indian army, until a few minutes before the commencement of the battle, and it is probable that if Cornstalk, the Indian commander, had.had a little larger force at the battle of "Poit Pleasant, the whole army of General Lewis would have been cut off, as the wary savages had left them no chance of retreat. Had the army of Lewis been defeated, the army of Dunmore, consisting of but little more than 1,000 men, would have shared the fate of those armies which at different periods have suffered defeats in consequence of venturing too far into the Indian country. It was the general belief among the officers of our army at this time that the Earl ot Dunmore, while at Wheeling, received advice from his government of the probability of the approaching war between England and the colonies, and that afterwards all of his measures with regard to the Indians had for their ultimate object an al liance with those ferocious warriors for their aid of the mother country in their contest with us. This supposition accounts for his not forming a junction with the army oí Lewis at Point Pleasant. This deviation from the original plan of the campaign jeopardized the army of Lewis, and well nigh occasioned its total destruction. The conduct of the Earl at the treaty shows a good understanding between him and the Indian chiefs.

He did not suffer the army of Lewis to form a junction with his own, but sent them back before the treaty was concluded, thus risking the safety of his own forces, for at the time of the treaty the Indian warriors were about his camp in force sufficient to have intercepted his retreat and destroyed his whole army.

The Foremost American Heroine

Perháps the severest battle with the Indians, fought within the boundaries of Belmont County, was the attack on Fort Kirkwood in the spring of 1791, as narrated in the story of "A Revolutionary Hero." But there were many acts of heroism and deeds of daring and danger familiar to the people of that generation that history needs to preserve for generations to come. Perhaps the foremost is the thrilling adventure of Elizabeth Zane, the heroine of Fort Henry, and who was for many years a resident of Martin's Ferry, and her remains are interred there.

Laughlin of Martin's Ferry, and second to Mr. Clark, and her lineal descendants still reside in Belmont County. A few years ago President Roosevelt, in a circle of eminent literary characters in New York State among whom was William Dean Howells, pronounced Betty Zane the foremost American heroine. He said her daring deed in replenishing the powder supply at Fort Henry had never been surpassed, a sentiment in which Mr. Howells heartily concurred.

Siege Of Fort Henry

The story is briefly told in Judge Cranmer's report of the siege of Fort Henry. In September, 1782, a large force of Indians, headed by a company of British soldiers laid siege to Fort Henry at Wheeling. East of and but a short distance from the fort stood the log dwelling of Col. Ebenezer Zane, attached to which was a small maga: zine containing the military supplies which had been furnished by the government ol Virginia, and also a kitchen or outbuilding occupied by "Daddy Sam," so called (a negro slave owned by Colonel Zane, and tc whom he was much attached), and his wife, familialy known by the name of "Katey." On the occasion of the attack upon the fort by the Indians in the year 1777, Colonel Zane and his family had abandoned his cabin and sought shelter in the fort, at which time it was reduced to ashes by the besiegers. He then declared that if the Indians again made their appearance he would not abandon his dwelling, but would defend it to the last extremity. As an outpost for the protection for the fort, and as an annoyance to an hostile force, it could not be excelled.

Hence on the appearance of the Indians at this time he made all necessarv prepara tions possible for its defense. Had he retired from it; all the military stores and ammunition stored there would have fallen into the hands of the enemy, and have been destroved or appropriated by them.

him in his cabin are: Andrew Scott, George | Green, Elizabeth Zane, Wallace Scott, Miss | McColloch, a sister of Maj. Sam McColloch | from Short Creek (who at this time was on | a visit to her sister, Mrs. Zane); "Daddy Sam," and "Katey," his wife. The savages approached under cover of the British flag, which was unfurled to the breeze and waved face of the little band of heroic defenders Before commencing their attack they demanded the immediate surrender of the fort, in the name of His Brittanic Majesty, to which no other reply was given than by the firing of a shot by some one in the fort at the offensive colors which were flaunted before them. Thereupon the assault commenced in dreadíul earnest, the frenzied savages rushing forward like mad men, and in their wild attempt striving to destroy the pickets so as to effect an entrance to the fort, and take it by storm. Colonel Zane had

As the Indians sounded their war whoop and-made their desperate rush, he opened upon them with a well directed and brisk fire simultaneously with the one from the fort, so as to cause them to fall back in great disorder, and to seek cover where their persons would be less exposed.

But others, again, seeing the discomfiture of their comrades, promptly with loud and deafening yells rushed forward to take the places of those who had retired, only to be repulsed again, and although these charges were repeated again and again, they suffered a recoil These unsuccessful efforts upon their part were continued until night threw her mantle over the earth and a brief cessation of conflict and a temporary rest was secured. Yet it was but for a brief time this respite was granted. 3

Their assailants were engaged in holding a consultation and deliberating among themselves how best to obtain possession of or destroy the cabin of Colonel Zane, which had

The conclusion arrived at was to make an attempt under the cover of darkness to destroy it by firing it and reducing it to ashes. After an interval of an hour or two, when silence had settled down upon the scene and the campfires of the savages had been put | out, and it was presumed that the whites had relaxed in some degree their caution and vigilance, a savage with a half burned brand in his hand crawled in the direction of the kitchen of the house, upon nearing" which he slowly rose from the ground and waving the brand to and fro, and blowing upon it to rekindle it, was about to stealthily apply it to the building, when of a sudden the quiet was disturbed by the sharp crack | of a rifle which rang out in the stillness of the night, which a moment later was accompanied by a sharp yell of pain and rage, ere the echoes of the shot had ceased to resound in the mazes of the forest. The vigilant and quick eye of "Daddy Sam" had detected the savage in time to foil him in his design and spoil his calculations, thereby saving his master's property from destruction. Other similar attempts were made on the same night, but in every instance "Daddy Sam" was on the alert, and always frustrated them. And here we will be pardoned if in passing we say a word or two concerning this individual.

He was an original importation from Guinea, and had all the characteristics of a native of the country, believing in charms, incantations and signs, and was a bundle of strange superstitions and beliefs, and these he retained until the day of his death. He and his wife were cared and provided for by Colonel Zane and his family until their decease.

This gentleman erected for them a cozy cabin on the upper portion of the island, immediately opposite the city of Wheeling. "Daddy Sam" died in peace and content- | ment, honored and respected by the whole community, worn out with age and its at tendant infirmities. At his death he left strict injunctions to have his rifle and his ac coutrements - tomahawk, knife and silver snufíbox - buried with him, that they might bear him company to the happy hunting grounds of the African., So greatly was he esteemed that he was buried with military honors, and he was followed to the grave by an immense concourse of citizens, composed of the most prominent as well as the humblest members of society. In stature he was small and of light frame, with arms of unusual length, and a complexion as black as coal.

But to resume our narrative. At daylight on the following morning the lines of the enemy showed that they were tightly drawn and in compact order, but they were laggard in renewing the assault. However, they were not idle, but were actively employed in making preparations evidently for some important event. Shortly after dark of the preceding day a canoe, loaded with cannon balls from Fort Pitt and destined for the falls of the Ohio, had put ashore under the cover of the fort. It was discovered by the Indians, but its occupants succeeded in effecting an entrance for themselves into the fort, in their efforts to do which, however, one of them Daniel Sullivan, was wounded in the foot The savages secured the canoe and took possession of its contents. A new idea now dawned upon them - why not utilize these missiles and make them play a part in the reduction of the forts. The idea was approved and the suggestion was at once put into execution. Securing a hollow log which they deemed adapted for the purpose, they proceeded to bind it with iron chains which they found in the blacksmith shop of the village. Filling it with a heavy charge of powder, they rammed home as many of the captured balls as it could conveniently hold, and with as much accuracy as possible soon as it was primed, for which purpose a big Indian stepped forward, emptying from his powder horn a sufficient quantity around the vent. A crowd of Indians collected around to witness the new engine of destruction, and the effect produced upon the fort by its discharge, not doubting in the least that it would prove more or less destructive in its effects. In this supposition they were not deceived, but were sorely disappointed in the nature of the result which ensued. All things being ready, an Indian advanced with a lighted brand; which he applied to the vent hole and thereby stamped "finis" on the last page of his own and the life history of his curious companions who were near by him at the time. Several were killed, many were seriously and some sliehtlv wounded, and all were terror stricken bv the unexpected result. The unlooked for and unexpected havoc caused among their number, by the explosion of their wooden artillery which burst into fragments, led them to become wild and furious under their disappointment, and the loss and wounding of so many of their number, and wild with rage in their excitement they redoubled their exertions, renewing the assault with heedless desperation. and 'exposing themselves in the most careless manner to the shots from the house and the fort. At times it appeared that the Indians would succeed, but then the fortunes of the day would change, and the fortunes of the inmates of the fort appeared to be in the ascendant. Thus the conflict wavered until noon, when the forces of the Indians were drawn off temporarily. It was exceedingly fortunate for the little garrison that thev did, as the ammunition of the defenders of the fort was beginning to grow short. The alarm given by Linn of the approach of the enemy having, as we have stated, been so limited, and the fact that the fort was destitute to a great extent of any large supply of ammunition to enable it to withstand a der stored in the magazine at Colonel Zane's house, but for all practical purposes it might as well have been a hundred miles away. The contingency which now happened could not have been foreseen, and the emergency now upon them was a grave one.

But it was one which had to be met, and the question was how could they best replenish their almost exhausted stock. An effort at least to obtain powder from Colonel Zane's house it was absolutely necessary should be made, for should the enemy return to the assault in their then .condition the danger of the inmates was not only imminent, but their doom was almost sealed. Among the many propositions which were made and the one which seemed to obtain favor, was that one of the fleetest runners among the younger men should be selected for the perilous undertaking of obtaining a keg of powder from Colonel Zane's house and hasten with it to the relief of the besieged. It was an undertaking full of daring with the prospect of almost certain death to the person who should essay the task. But undeterred by the magnitude of the feat and the peril which attended it, at the call of Captain Zane for a volunteer, several brave sisted on being permitted to make the attempt. The loss of a single man at this juncture would have been keenly felt by the entire company. While Captain Zane was hesitating in arriving at a decision and making his choice from among those chivalric spirits who had so promptlv offered their services, there came bounding into his presence his own sister, Elizabeth Zane, in the elasticity of her youthful strength, and volunteered to attempt the accomplishment of the errand, regardless of what might befall her if thereby she could be instrumental in saving the lives of others. When told that a man would encounter less danger by reason of his superior fleetness, she nobly replied that the loss of a man under the circumstances would be more severely felt than her own. "You have not one man to spare," she said. "A woman will not be missed in the defense of the fort." All the arguments adduced by her brother and others to dissuade her from making the attempt together with the expostulations of the other females had the effect of only confrming her in her resolution.

Reluctantly they finally acquiesced in her purpose and her services were accepted. Divesting herself of all unnecessary clothing which might impede her in her progress, she appeared ready for the dangerous ordeal.

The gate was swung open and the young heroine sprang out in the swelling buoyancy of hope, knowing no such word as fail in the full confidence of success, and swift as a deer she sped away on her mission, arriving safely at the cabin of her brother, Col Ebenezer Zane, who saw her coming and promptly opened the door to receive her. When the Indians saw her bounding along at the top of her speed they were amazed at her temerity but did not offer to fire at her, but contented themselves with simply exclaiming with contemptuous sneers, "A squaw, a squaw." Upon reaching her destination she lost no time in stating her business. After a brief breathing spell she announced her readiness to return, whereupon Colonel Zane, taking a tablecloth and fastening it securely around her waist with two of its ends, while the other ends were hel d by her in her hands, emptied into it a keg of powder when she again ventured forth on het return to the fort. Her black hair, like a banner, streamed out upon the air as with swift feet she lessened the intervening distance.

But she had not covered more than half the space between the cabin and the fort when the savages, apprehending her purpose, showered a rain of bullets around her, none of which, however, did any execution, as she reached the fort in safety and delivered the powder without losing any percepti- ble portion of it. Subsequently in recounting her experience on this occasion, she would relate how the bullets whistled around her so thick and fast that the dust thrown up by them as they struck the ground blinded and confused her so that she could scarcely distinguish her way.

As she neared the fort the gate was again thrown open for her entrance when the Indians made an unavailing effort to reach it, before it could be closed, by making a sudden rush. Finding themselves foil led, they quickly withdrew. This act of heroism on the part of Elizabeth Zane doubtless saved the lives of the inmates of the fort, and enabled them successfully to withstand the siege. As night closed in, the enemy renewed their efforts to reduce the fortress, and continued them until daylight. Times almost without number, during that trying and eventful night, the enemy attempted to accomplish by the torch what they could not by superior numbers and advantage. Bundles of hemp and wood and rubbish were heaped by them against the pickets and set fire to at different places.

The hemp, fortunately being wet, would not burn, and the dry wood and rubbish proved also vain in accomplishing their end When the day dawned after that terrible and trying night, it was greeted by the besieged with a renewal of hope which had been well nigh banished. When the intelligence reached Shepherd's Fort, located at the forks - of Wheeling Creek, of the investiture of Fort Henry by Indians and British soldiers, a party left the former fort with a view of rendering assistance to the inmates of the latter, but on arriving in the vicinity they found that it would be impossible to gain admission and therefore reluctantly determined to return.

This conclusion was arrived at in opposition to the views of their leader, Francis Duke, a relative of Colonel Shepherd. He insisted that if no one else would. he alone would make the attempt to gain ingress at the fort at the risk of his.life, To. all. per suasions against the undertaking he turned a deaf ear. He recognized their force and complained not at the resolution of his men to return, but his chivalric character and determined spirit could not be curbed by argument or persuasion.

He did not regard the imminent danger attaching to the bold undertaking, but, subordinating this to the higher and nobler prompting s of his nature which enabled him only to see the peril of friends, he spurned all restraint, and taking his life in his hands and putting spurs to his horse, he sped swift as his horse could carry him toward the gate of the fort, calling aloud as he rode, "Open the gate; open the. gate.'

He was recognized by those within the fort and the gate was swung open for his admisston, but. before reaching it he was pierced with bullets, and this young and gallant chevalier fell a martyr to his reckless daring and noble disinterestedness.

On the morning of the third day the enemy, despairing of success and abandoning all hope of the reduction of the fort, resolved on raising the siege. This resolution was announced to the inmates by a series of terrific yells and deafening whoops, which was the means adopted by them to give expression to their disgust at their failure. Turning their backs upon the scene, they took their departure and recrossed the river into Belmont County.

It was a trying experience for a young and refined woman like Mrs. Zane to be called upon to pass through - to sever the ties of home and kindred and forego all social advantages and the pleasures of civilized life, and be deprived of much of its conveniences, and plunge into the depth: of the wilderness, the abode of savages and wild beasts.

"Her consistent work and Godly conversation was proverbial, and her zeal kept pace with her piety. It was esteemed no hardship those days to travel long distances to attend divine worship, and the meetings were largelv attended by young and old.

"At one of these meetings there was no one to start the tunes. In this dilemma Betty Zane, the heroine of Fort Henry, volunteered to 'whistle' the tunes, and those who could not sing might catch up the tune and "carry it along.' The proposition was accepted and the forest was soon ringing with the melody of their voices." i

Killing Of William Cochran

Judge Cochran of Martin's Ferry has often heard his grandfather tell the tragic story of his father's death. Said he: "About the time of father's death there were great disturbances on the frontier. It was customary for us to keep our horses hobbled or belled. One morning, failing to hear the sound of the bells as usual, father sent me to the block-house at West Liberty, while he and my older brothers started out in search of the horses. It was arranged between them after starting that they should separate and pursue the object of their search in different directions, my father taking one direction and the boys in company another. The latter soon discovered signs which led them to believe that the horses had been captured or driven off by the Indians, and they at once started on the nearest way leading to the block-house, upon reaching which they gave the alarm. From Billy Boggs, who was held by the Indians as a prisoner at the time, but who shortly afterwards escaped, we learned the particulars of father's death, as told to him by the Indians while he was in captivity.

placing six of their number in ambush, to capture father, or anyone who might venture to search for them. Not finding the horses, he started on his return toward the: block- . house, on the way passing in sight of his own house, in expectation, as he hoped, of seeing the boys. The Indians meanwhile had gone into his cabin. Intending to enter, he was prevented by having his suspicions aroused from certain appearances around and in the vicinity, which only the keen eye of a disciplined woodsman would detect, and which caused him to change his purpose, and start for the block-house at the top of his speed. The Indians at once started in pursuit of him, but when they found that the gap between the pursued and the pursuers was widening, and they could not overtake him, a half-breed, wearing the cognomen of 'Dolway Jim, suddenly dropped on his knees and, taking fatal aim, fired and killed him just as he was crossing a piece of rising ground. His remains were afterwards found and buried by a party from the fort on the spot where he fell. His scalp had been taken by the Indians to their camp, where it was flaunted in the face of Boggs, the prisoner, who recognized it.

"Boggs subsequently escaped, having run the gauntlet, and these details of my father's death he repeated to me and my brothers, as related to him by his captor."

Block-House

About 1795 Lieut. Duncan McArthur and a posse of men, numbering in all a dozen, were stationed at the block-house on the lands of Robert Kirkwood. One morning they noticed a young Indian dodging along not far from the fort among the trees. He had been sent by a body of Indians, who had ambushed about three miles below, on the

And-Representative Citizens

As soon as he was discovered, Lieutenant McArthur and his men started out to catch him. They followed him as he ran down the river about three miles to where the Indians had secreted themselves, when r5 of the redskins fired into their number, killing six of them instantly. ;

So unexpected was the attack that the remaining six, completely bewildered and frightened, turned and retreated, McArthur behind. As he turned his head to take in the situation his foot caught in a grape vine and he was sent sprawling on his face just as the Indians fired a volley of bullets after him and the limbs and leaves dropned all around him. i

He regained his feet and started at full speed, following the course of his men. He was closely pursued Ly the savages, but being very swift of foot, the latter soon gave up the chase, and the remnant of the party gained the block-house in safety. Lieutenant McArthur was afterwards made governor of Ohio. i

Chapter Ii Indian Tragedies And Life Of The Early Pioneers

THE INDIAN SUMMER - ANECDOTES Or Lewis WETZEL - ' HUNTING THE Cows'" - " THE GOBBLER INDIAN'' - THE EARLY SETTLERS - GATHERING THE PIONEER'S CnoPs - THE PIONEER's DRESS- - -DISEASES AND REMEDIES OF THE PIONEERS - BUSINESS METHODS - LAW AND MORALITY - AMUSEMENTS AND GAMES - THE MECHANIC ARTS - SUPERSTITIONS OF THE PIONEER AGE - CHANGES IN THE WEATHER - THE HORRORS OF

Slavery The Indian Summer

As connected with the history of the In dian wars of the Western Country, it may not be amiss to give an explanation of the term "Indian Summer." This expression, lke many others, notwithstanding its original import, has continued in general use, while its meaning has been forgotten

A backwoodsman seldom hears this ex pression without feeling a chill of horror, because it brings to his mind with painful recollection its original application. The reader must here be reminded that during the long continued Indian wars sustained by the first settlers of the Western Country, they enjoyed no peace excepting in the winter season, when, owing to the severity of the weather, the Indians were unable to make their excursions into the settlements. The onset of winter was therefore hailed as a jubilee by the early inhabitants of the country, who throughout the spring and the early part of the fall had been cooped up 1n their little uncomfortable forts and subjected to all the distresses of the Indian war.

the joyful feelings of a tenant of a prison on recovering his release from confinement. All was bustle and hilarity in preparing for winter by gathering in the corn, digging potatoes, fattening hogs and repairing the cabins.

To our forefathers the gloomy months of winter were more pleasant than the zephyrs of spring and the flowers of May. It, however, sometimes happened that after the apparent onset of winter the weather became warm; the smoky time commenced and lasted for a considerable number of days.

sun chilled every heart with horror. The apprehension of another visit from the Indians and of being driven back to the detested fort was painful in the highest degree, and the distressing apprehension was frequently realized. Toward the latter part of February we commonly had a fine spell of

Days," from the supposition that the Indians were then holding their war councils, for planning off their spring campaigns into the settlements. Sad experience taught us that in this conjecture we were not often mistaken. A man of the name of John Carpenter was taken early in the month of March in the neighborhood of Wheeling. There had been several warm days, but the night preceding there was a heavy fall of snow. His two horses which he took with him nearly perished in swimming the river into what is now Belmont County. The Indians as well as himself suffered greatly before they reached the Moravian towns. In the morning aíter the first day's journey the Indians sent out Carpenter to bring in the horses, which had been turned out in the evening after being hobbled. The horses had fallen into the trail by which they came and were making their way homeward. When he overtook the horses and had taken off their fetters, he had to make a most awful decision. He had a chance, and barely a chance, to make his escape, with a certainty of death should he fail. On the other hand. a horrible prospect of being tortured to death by fire presented itself, as he was the first prisoner taken that spring, and the general custom of the Indians was to burn the first prisoner every spring. After spending a few minutes in making his decision, he resolved on attempting an escape, and effected it, bringing both his horses with him. The capture of Mr. Carpenter and the murder of two families contributed materially to the Moravian campaign and the murder of that unfortunate people.

Anecdotes Of Lewis Wetzel

On the farm of J. B. McMechen, two miles east of St. Clairsville, on the National Road, better known in the early days as the "Zane Trail" there is a celebrated spring known as the "Indian Spring," where in 1782, a short time before the siege of Fort Henry, occurred one of the most stirring events in our history. In the interval after Crawford's defeat and before the attack on Fort Henry in September of this year, oc curred an incident of local interest, which shows the dexterity and skill of the famous Indian scout, Louis Wetzel. Thomas Mills. who lived on Wheeling Creek, had accompanied Crawford on his campaign, and on his return had left his horse on the west side of the Ohio River near the spot where St Clairsville now stands, and distant 12 miles from Wheeling. One day, securing the services of Wetzel, Mills and his companion left Fort Henry to get his horse and bring the animal home. When within a mile or two of St. Clairsville they were met by a band num bering 40 or 50 Indians, who were roaming around in search of stragglers on the return from the army of Crawford: The Indians and white men discovered each other about the same time. Wetzel fired first and killed one of the savages, which shot. was promptly re turned by one of the Indians. The Indian's fire had. wounded Mills in the foot, which prevented him from eluding the savages. who soon succeeded in overtaking and kill. ing him. Four of the Indians then dropped their guns and pursued after Wetzel, who at first succeeded in keeping a respectable dis. tance between him and his pursuers, and loaded his rifle as he ran.

But after running some distance one of the Indians rapidly gained upon him unti! he approached within a few steps of Wetzel, who wheeled around, shot him down and ran on loading as he ran. After running some distance farther a second In- to fire, the Indian clinched the muzzle of the gun and he and the Indian had quite a tussle for the possession of it. He, however, succeeded in killing the savage. The pursuit was continued by the two remaining In. dians, who now exhibited signs of caution, tor when Wetzel would wheel to fire on them they would seek cover behind trees. After running some distance Wetzel thought he would practice a little piece of strategy, and so made for a small piece of comparatively open ground. The Indians were not far behind him, and as he was passing over this he suddenly wheeled and stopped with a view of shooting the foremost one, who as promptly jumped behind a small tree, which failed to cover his body. Wetzel shot and wounded him in the thigh, which put a stop to further pursuit on his part.

Of this noted hunter it may be said that while his home was on Big Wheeling Creek east of Wheeling, the most of his exploits took place on the Ohio side of the river and in what 'is now Belmont County. Lewis Wetzel was a son of John Wetzel, a German emigrant, and his education, like that of all the frontiersmen, was that of the hunter and Indian fighter. Attaining manhood, he was courageous, manly, yet cunning as an Indian in warfare.

In stature he was tall, with jet black hair, broad shoulders and deep chest; though his face was slightly pock-marked, his countenance was pleasing.

Of this noted hunter a writer in the history of Belmont and Jefferson Counties says: "In early youth Lewis Wetzel acquired the habit of loading his gun while at full run, which gave him a great advantage as an Indian fighter, and was of immense consequence in the next important event of his life. This incident in his career occurred when he was but 16 years old, and was a most remakable event, an exploit rarely equaled for courage and daring in any age. Some time during the summer of 1780 a party of Indians had crossed the Ohio and stolen several horses from settlers on Wheeling Creek and were making their way back through Belmont County.

"A party of the whites were soon gathered and en route to recapture the horses and punish the savages. In the pursuit, the party passed the farm of the elder Wetzel, who was then absent. Lewis was engaged in cultivating a crop of corn. They urged him to join their party, but he had been forbidden by his father to leave home, but the adventure was too great a temptation for the spirit of young Wetzel and he was easily persuaded to join them. He accordingly took from the plow a favorite horse of his father and started along in pursuit. They had not proceeded far until they came upon the enemy, who were carelessly loitering about their camp, apparently off their guard. The stolen horses were spanicled and grazing at a short distance. The Indians were easily surprised and fled, leaving the horses, which were recovered. The party of settlers, having accomplished their purpose, prepared to return, but their horses were jaded and hungry and they agreed that they should be turned out to grass, and three of their number left to bring them, after they had refreshed for a short time.

"They had not proceeded many miles until they were overtaken by three of their number they had left behind to bring their horses, who informed them that soon after their departure they were surprised by the savages, leaving them no alternative in saving their lives but to abandon everything and escape by flight.

"To this determination Wetzel earnestly remonstrated. He protested he would never return alive to his father without the favorite horse - swore he preferred the mare without his scalp to his scalp without the mare, and urged the company to return and retake the horses. In this he was overruled. He then swore he would go alone; that the mare he must and would have, when two others who had been active in persuading him to go agreed to accompany him. The three left their companions and soon reached the camp and found the Indians engaged at their meals, with the horses safely secured at a safe distance. The plan of attack was soon agreed upon. They were to advance in single file, Wetzel in front until they passed two trees, behind which his companions were to ambush. When he reached the third it was a signal for attack. Wetzel reached his tree and discovered that the Indians had also treed; but in looking around for his companions he found they had retreated at the top of their speed.

"The hat was literally riddled, and Wetzel still secure behind the tree, quick, but cautiously, dropped the hat to the ground. At this the Indians, believing they had killed their adversary, all sprung from their ambush and rushed towards him. Wetzel, taking advantage of the enemy, whose guns were empty, left his tree and firing on the foremost, brought him to the ground, and then with the fleetness of the wind ran from the scene, followed by the survivors. Wetzel loaded as he ran and, wheeling quickly, fired into the breast of the foremost savage, again ran, loaded and fired on the last of the Indians just as he was in the act of hurling his tomahawk at the head of Wetzel. His fire was successful, and all three were dead on the plain. Wetzel secured the evidence of his victory, obtained the horses and overtook his companions before they had stopped for the night. The news of this daring adventure soon made him the man of the frontier."

It was during the summer of 1782 that two boys belonging to Wheeling were sent out for the purpose of driving back some stray cows which had wandered away. They concluded that they had swam the river and crossed to the Ohio side, so jumping into a canoe they paddled across, and commenced their search for them. While so engaged, they were surprised by three Indians, who were watching them, and by them taken prisoners. Cranmer says: "At once the In. dians set out on their journey, compelling each of the boys to carry a large bag, ot which they had several in their possession. "From the weight of the bags the boys concluded that they must be filled with gold. Urged as they were to their utmost speed, one of them when he could do so unperceived would break off twigs from the branches of trees, to mark the direction in which they had traveled. When night came on, the Indians selected a camping place, and prepared to retire, before doing which, however, they tied the hands of the boys, as well as their feet, with strips of bark. They were then compelled to lie down between two of the Indians, while the third Indian seated himself upon a falien log in front to keep watch. Deering, the elder of the two boys, who was about 15 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 loosing 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, Deering sundered the thongs which bound him. With great caution so as not to disturb the sleeping Indians, 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 brother, and instructed him not to fire, until he gave the signal.

"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 fire and struck deep into the skull of his sleeping victim. The Indian at which the younger of the two boys had fired, sprang to his feet howling with rage and pain. The boys not stopping to ascertain the result 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 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 afterward 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 found the bodies of two Indians who had been toma hawked, just as the bovs had stated, but no signs of the bags were visible. On their re turn to the fort they found the suspected hunter still absent, which confirmed the common belief that he had anticipated the visits of the scouts, and secured the bags of gold: for afterwards he became one of the wealth jest settlers in all the section of country in which he resided."

The Gobbler Indian

The gobbler Indian incident is so familiar to the youth of the past generation that its repetition scarcely seems necessary today But for the benefit of future generations we give Joshua Davis' account of it, as related to R. H. Tannyhill 50 years ago: "Well in January, 1783, on the twelfth day, or old Christmas which was always punctually kept at the fort, we had two large turkeys roasted and a lot of twelfth-day cake baked. Twelfth. day cake is made of unleavened dough slightly sweetened with spice, cloves and cinnamon bark worked in it and then baked in a Dutch oven. It was baked a day or two before and eaten cold. When we were killing the turkeys, Wetzel had the feet of

"These he put away in his hunting bag very carefully. Now for several winters in turkey time, we had been plagued by an Indian, who could call so much like a turkey that no one could tell the difference. He would secrete himself, and when our men would be creeping along expecting every minute to shoot a turkey he would shoot them. His operations were carried on usually on the ridges north or south of Wheeling Creek in Belmont County. The next morn- up, took his riflle down, flung his hunting bag over his shoulder, and took with him the turkey's feet. The rest I will tell you as he told me.

"'It was now good daylight. I went as carefully as 1 could down to where the snow was still on and made some tracks along its edge with my turkey feet. I then came on down the ridge within a hundred yards of the place where I intended to hide myself. And wherever there was snow on that line I made turkey tracks, but kept clear of the snow with my own feet. When I got within about 20 steps of my place to hide, I made tracks as near as I could like a turkey does when it is about to fly to roost. I then fixed the wings and flapped them in the snow. I then went up the point of the ridge to my hiding place and took my drumsticks and began to call like a turkey. In a little while my call was answered, and presently a large Indian came in sight, leaning down, and going to and fro, as if hunting a trail. I kept on calling; he answered. After a little, he came to my line of turkey tracks, and examined them closely looked up into the trees and began making long, cautious steps. I still called; he answered, and came on towards me. I now examined my priming and rubbed the flint with a piece of punk to be sure of my shot. By this time he had got to the little raise, then looked about in the trees, then down at the tracks again. He kept moving, so I was afraid to shoot. He now lifted his gun in his left hand and turned it sideways, and struck it with his right.

" He then stood still and looked right towards me. I pulled on him. He threw up his hands, trembled, and fell backwards. He didn't get his turkey this time. We were no longer plagued with the gobbler Indian.' "

The Early Settlers

The deprivations oi early settlers of Belmont County were inconceivably great. The farmers and citizens of today with their well filed larders, and overflowing granaries, have little conception of the wants and deprivations of their forefathers.

The first settlers in this mountainous, densely wooded, though rich soiled county, did not find it a paradise. The giant oak, walnut, beech, maple, poplar and ash trees of more than a century's growth, locked and intertwined with grape vines, could only be subdued and removed, so that the rich soil might be utilized, by earnest, persistent labor. There were some favoring circumstances; the land was covered with the wild pea vine, and other forage plants, which proved beneficial to the pioneer, in furnishing forage for his stock. The soil also yielded liberal crops, while the large number of deer, wild turkeys and smaller game, furnished abundant meat for the family. The first effort of the settler was to build a house. At most it was but a rude los cabin. The logs stones, and plastered with mud. The floors were of puncheon, and sometimes of mother earth. The doors were of heavy timbers, and the windows were of greased paper, stretched over an opening in the logs. The of the entire family, and some clapboard shelves, supported by pins in the logs, served the double purpose of cupboard and closet. The scanty furniture consisted of a split slab table, and some three-legged stools, a forked pole with one end fastened to a joist overhead, and the other sunk in the floor, and cross poles extending to cracks between the logs afforded the rude bed. Bunches of seeds and herbs, which the good wife had collected, as simple remedies for the ailments of the family, hung in festoons over the high mantel, and the trusty flintlock and powder horn were suspended írom a pair of polished buck's horns. The tableware consisted of a few pewter dishes, with wooden bowls and trenchers, and if these were scarce, gourds and hard shelled squashes supplied the deficiency. The rude articles of furniture corresponded with the plain but wholesome diet that made up the pioneer farmer's bill of fare; hog and hominy for breakfast was followed by mush and milk for supper; roasting ears, pumpkins, potatoes and beans from the little truck patch varied the diet in summer, and wild turkey, venison and bear's meat were the variations in winter. For years, corn bread, corn pone, and johnnycake, were the only form-in which bread was made, and sometimes, when the supply of cornmeal was exhausted, pumpkin meal was used instead, or the children grated the new corn upon coarse tin graters to minister to their necessities. As water was a primary object, the location of the home was always near a spring of water or a flowing stream. Their implements of labor were no less simple and rude. Before the days of the water mill, the hominy block and hand mill for crushing and grinding corn were rude attachments to every farmer's home - deerskin sieves took the place of bolting cloth in these primitive machines, and the whole were operated by the good wife and the children, who, in addition, wove and spun the flax and the wool that composed the warp woof of the substantial linseys with which the entire family were clothed. While natural ingenuity that developed in many oí them a fertility of resources oí which the modern farmer has little knowledge. was a tanner, a shoemaker, a tailor, a carpenter, and a blacksmith, and to his neighbors who could not exercise the mechanic's art, he was willing to exchange his hand craft for their labor. The implements of labor employed by the farmers of the upper Ohio Val ley a century ago were very simple and rude. Primitive plows with wooden mold-boards, and harrows with wooden teeth were employed; and scvthes (with straight handles) reaped the wheat and cut the grass, and the grain was threshed with a flail, or trodden by horses or cattle. With these crude in struments of labor, and amid dangers, de privations and discouragements, the charac ter of which I have only hinted at, our forefathers began the herculean task of felling the primeval forests and opening up its fruitful valleys and fertile plains.

Gathering The Pioneer'S Crops

GATHERING THE PIONEER'S CROPS. The crops cultivated by these early settlers were gathered with infinite toil and danger; from the opening of spring until the advent of winter, the pioneer farmer was forced `

When the rigors of winter locked field and forest in its icy embrace, he was exempt from the depredations of his savage foes, but just at the time when his constant presence upon the farm was of the utmost need, when the spring was opening and the time of seeding was at hand, the implacable savages started on the war path and began their work of pil.

for the farmers to go out upon their farms to work in companies, one party doing guard duty with their muskets in hand, while the other party cultivated the growing crops; thus they alternately worked and stood guard until the shades of night forced them to again seek the shelter of the block-house or Not unfrequently, while thus involuntarily absent from their cabins, the savages would make a raid during the night, burning their scanty store of grain. Amid dangers and discouragements like these the intrepid farmers of a century ago, aided by their heroic wives and children, "made the wilderness to blossom," and pushed the fronter a little nearer the setting sun each pass ing year. The necessary labors of these pio neer farmers were performed amid dangers and difficulties little understood or appreciated by their descendants of the present generation. The disheartening losses they sustained by the wolves and bears, destroying their flocks and herds, were oftentimes aggravated and augmented by the total destruction of their crops of corn by the multitudinous squirrels and raccoons, and thus it was that many families, after a hazardous and laborious spring and summer, would enter upon the long and dreary winter but illy provided with the necessaries of life.

The Pioneer'S Dress

Referring to the pioneer's dress, Doddridge says: "On the frontiers, and particularly among those who «were in the habit of hunting, and going on scouts and campaigns, the dress of the men was partly Indian and partly that of civilization. The hunting shirt was universally worn. This was a kind of loose frock, reaching half-way down the thighs, with large sleeves, open before, and so wide as to lap over a foot or more when belted.

"The cape was large and sometimes handsomely fringed with a raveled piece of cloth of a different color from that of the hunting - shirt itself.

"The bosom of this dress served as a wallet to hold a chunk of bread, cake, jerk, tow for wiping the barrel of the rifle, or any other necessary for the hunter or warrior. The belt, which was always tied behind, answered several purposes besides that of holding the dress together. In cold weather the mittens and sometimes the bullet bag occupied the front pocket. To the right side was suspended the tomahawk; to the left the scalping knife in its leathern sheath. The hunting shirt was generally made of linsey, sometimes of coarse linen, and a few of dressed deer skins.

"These last were very cold and uncomfortable in wet weather. The shirt and jacket were of the common fashion. A pair of drawers, or breeches and leggins, were the dress of the thighs and legs; a pair of moccasins

These were made oí dressed deerskin. They were mostly made of a single piece, with a gathering seam along the top oí the foot, and another from the bottom of the heel without gathers as high as the ankle joint or a little higher.

"Flaps were left on each side to reach some distance up the legs. These were nicely adapted to the ankles and lower part of the leg, by thongs of deerskin, so that no dust, gravel or snow could get within the motcasin. The moccasins in ordinary use cost but a few hours' labor to make. This was done by an instrument denominated a moccasin awl which was made of the back spring of an old clasp knife. This awl with its buckhorn handle was an appendage of every shot pouch, strapped together with a roll of buckskin, for mending the moccasin. the labor of almost every evening. They were sewed together, and patched with deerskin, thongs, or whangs as they were commonly called. In cold weather the moccasins were well stuffed with deer's hair, or dry leaves, so as to keep the feet comfortabiy warm, but in wet weather it was usually said that wearing them was 'a decent way of going barefooted,' and such was the fact, owing to the spongy texture of the leather of which they were made.

riors were afflicted with rheumatism in their limbs. Of this disease they were all apprehensive in cold or wet weather, and therefore always slept with their feet to the freto prevent or cure it as well as they could.

"This practice unquestionably prevented many of them from becoming confirmed cripples in early life. In the latter years of the Indian war, our young men became more enamored of the Indian dress throughout, with the exception of the match coat. The young warrior instead of being abashed by his nudity was proud of his Indian-like dress. In some few instances I have seen them go into places of public worship in this dress.

"Their appearance, however, did not add much to the devotion of the occasion. The linsey petticoat and bed gown, which were the universal dress of our women in early times, would make a strange figure in our day.

^A small homemade handkerchief in point of elegance would illy supply the place of the profusion of ruffles with which the necks of our ladies are now ornamented. They went barefooted in warm weather, and in cold, their feet were covered with moccasins, coarse shoes, or shoepacks, which would make but a sorry figure beside the elegant

"The coats and bed gowns of the women, as well as the hunting skirts of the men, were hung in full display, on wooden pegs round the walls of their cabins. They announced to the stranger, as well as neighbor, the wealth or poverty of the family in the articles of clothing."

In writing of the diseases that afflicted the early settlers the same author says: "For many years there was no person who bore even the name of a doctor. The diseases of children were mostly ascribed to worms for the expulsion of which a solution of common salt was given. The dose was always large. I well remember having been compelled to take half a tablespoonful when quite small. To the best of my recollection it answered the purpose. Scrapings of pewter spoons was another remedy. This dose was also large and commonly given in sugar. Green copperas was a third remedy for this disease. The dose of this was larger than we would venture to give at this time. For burns a poultice of Indian meal was a common remedy. A poultice of scraped potatoes was also a favorite remedy with some people. Roasted turnips made into a poultice was often used by others.

"The croup, or what was then called the 'bold hives, was a common disease among the children, many of whom died of it. For the cure oí this, the juice of roasted onions or garlic was given in large doses. Wall ink was also a favorite remedy with many of the old ladies. For fevers, sweating was the general remedy. This was general performed by means of a strong decoction of Virginia snakeroot. The dose was also large. If a purge was used, it was about half a pint of a strong decoction of white walnut bark. This when intended for a purge was pealed downwards; if for a vomit, it was pealed upwards. For the bite of a rattle or copperhead snake a great variety of specifics were used." Doddridge says when a small boy he saw a man, bitten by a rattlesnake, brought into the fort on a man's back.

and laid on the wound to draw out the poison. When this was over, a fire was kindled in the fort yard and the whole of the serpent burned to ashes. After this process was over, a large quantity of chestnut leaves was collected and boiled in a pot. The whole of the wounded man's leg and part of his thigh were placed in a piece of chestnut bark fresh from the tree and the decoction poured on the leg so as to run down into the

Aíter continuing this process for some time a quantity of boiled leaves were bound to the leg. This was repeated Whether owing to the treatment or not, the man got well. "Cupping, sucking the wound and making deep incisions which were filed with salt and gunpowder were among the remedies for snake bites. The cure of the fever occasioned by this animal poison must be effected with reference to those general indications which are regarded in the cure of other fevers of equal force. The truth is that the bite of a rattle or copperhead snake in a fleshy or ten- neither numerous or large, soon healed under any kind oí treatment. But when the fangs of a serpent, which are hollow, eject the poison into a blood vessel of any considerable size, a malignant and incurable fever was the immediate consequence, and the patient often expired in the first paroxysm. Horses were frequently killed by them, as they were commonly bitten somewhere about the nose, in which the blood vessels are numerous and large. Cattle were less frequently killed because their noses are of a gristly texture. Hogs when in tolerable order were never hurt by them, owing to the thick layer of fat between the skin and blood vessels.

"The hog took immediate revenge by instantly tearing to pieces and devouring the serpent which bit it. The itch, which was a very common disease in early times, was commonly cured by an ointment made of brimstone and hog's lard. Gunshot and other wounds were treated with slippery elm bark, flaxseed and other such poultices. Many lost their lives from wounds which would now be considered trifling and easily cured. For the relief of rheumatism, the oil of rattlesnakes, geese, wolves, bears, groundhogs and pole cats was applied to swelled joints and bathed in before the fire. Coughs and pulmonary consumption were treated with a variety of syrups; the principal ingredient was commonly spikenard. These certainly gave but little relief. Charms and incantations were in use for the cure of many diseases. The erysipelas or St. Anthony's fire was circumscribed by the blood of a black cat. Hence there was scarcely a black cat to be seen whose ears and tail had not been frequently cropped for a contribution of blood. The pleurisy was the only disease which was in any considerable degree understood by our people. A pain in the side called for the use of the lancet if there was any to be had, but owing to its sparing use the patient was apt to be left with a spitting of blood, which sometimes ended in consumption. Remittent and intermittent fevers were treated with warm drinks for the purpose of sweating.

Business Methods

"They had no stores of any kind," says Doddridge, "no salt, iron nor iron works, nor had they money to make purchases where those articles could be obtained. Peltry and furs were their only resources before they began to raise cattle and horses for sale in the Atlantic States. |

"Every family collected what peltry and fur they could obtain through the year for the purpose of sending them over the mountains for barter.

"In the fall of the year, after seeding time, every family formed an association with their neighbors for starting a little caravan. A master driver was selected from among them, who was to be assisted by one or more young men and sometimes a boy or two. The horses were fitted out with pack saddles to the hinder part of which was fastened a pair filled with feed for the horses; on the journey a part of this feed was left at convenient stages on the way down to support the return of the caravan; large wallets well filled

"The barter for salt and iron was made first at Baltimore, Frederick, Hagerstown, Oldtown and Fort Cumberland in' succession became the place of exchange. Each horse carried two bushels of alum salt, weigh- The common price of a bushel of alum salt was a good cow and calf; and until weights were introduced the salt was measured into the half bushel by hand as lightly as possible. No one was permitted to walk heavily over the floor while the operation of measuring was going on. The following anecdote will serve to show how little the sons of the forest knew of the etiquette of the Atlantic cities. Among the hands employed to drive a caravan from here was one who never had seen any society but that of a woodsman. At one of their lodging places in the mountain the landlord and his hired man in the course of the night stole two of the bells belonging to the drove. The drove had not gone far in the morning before the bells were missed and a detachment went back to recover the stolen bells. The men were accused of the theft, but denied the charge.

"The torture of sweating, according to the custom of that time, that of suspension by the arms pinioned behind their backs, brought a confession.

"The bells were procured and hung around the necks of the thieves. In this condition they were driven on foot, before the detachment, until they overtook the drove, which by this time had gone nine miles. A halt was called and a jury selected to try the culprits. They were condemned to receive a from the hand of each drover. The man who was the owner of the bells, when it came his turn to use the hickory, said to the thief, "You infernal scoundrel, PI work your jacket nineteen to the dozen. Only think what a to the performance of military duty, every man on attaining majority was expected to do his full share of public service. Such was the situation of our people along the frontier of our settlements. Doddridge*says that they had no civil, military or ecclesiastical laws, at least none that were enforced, and yet they were a law unto themselves. The turpitude of vice and the majesty of moral virtue were then as apparent as-they are now, and they were then regarded with the same sentiments of aversion or respect which they inspire aat the present time. Industry in working and hunting, bravery in war, candor, honesty, hospitality, and steadiness of deportment, received their full reward of public confidence. The punishments which they inflicted upon offenders by the imperial court of public opinion were well adapted for the

The punishment for idleness, lying, dishonesty, and ill fame was generally that of "hating the offender out." This mode of chastisement was a public expression in various ways, of indignation against such as transgressed the moral maxims of the community to which they belonged.

This commonly resulted either in the reformation or banishment of the person against whom it was directed. At house raisings, log rollings, harvest parties, everyone was expected to do his duty faithfully.

A man who without a reasonable cause did not perform military duty was hated as a coward. A man failing to go on a scout or campaign when it came his turn met with an expression of indignation, and epithets of mercy. Debts which make such an uproar in civilized life were but little known by our forefathers at the settlement of this countrv. They had no money of any kind; everything purchased was paid for in produce or labor. If a contract was not punctually fulfilled, the credit of the delinquent was at an end. Any petty theft was punished with all the infamy that could be heaped on the offender. If a theft was detected in any of the frontier settlements, a summary code of punishment was always resorted to; their maxim was a thief must be whipped.

If the theft was of some value, a kind of jury of the neighborhood after hearing the testimony would condemn the culprit to Moses' law, that is, "forty stripes save one." If the theft was of some small article, the offender was doomed to carry on his back the stripes of the flag of the Union, which then consisted of 13, and the stripes were sure to be well laid on. This punishment was followed by a sentence of exile; if he did not decamp in so many days the stripes were doubled. If a woman was given to tattling or slandering she was by common consent given the right to say whatever she pleased without being believed.

Her tongue was then said to be harmless. If one man called another a liar he was considered as having given a challenge to fight, which the person who received it must accept or be deemed a coward, and the charge was generally answered on the spot with a blow. If the injured person was unable to fight he might get a friend to do it for him. The same thing took place on a charge of cowardice or any other dishonorable action.

Andorepresentative Citizens

employed at will; but above all the detestable practice of gouging, by which eyes were sometimes put out, rendered. this mode of fighting frightful indeed.

Amusements And Games

stances, as well as education, set a higher value on physical than on mental endowments, and on skill in hunting, and bravery in war, than on any polite accomplishments or fine arts. Doddridge says: "Amusements business of life, or some of its particular objects of pursuit. Many of the sports of the early settlers of this country were imitative of the exercises and strategems of hunting and war. Boys were taught the use of the bow and arrow at an early age, so they acquired considerable adroitness in the use of every bird and beast in the woods. This faculty was not merely a pastime, but a very necessary part of education, on account of its utility in hunting. The imitations of the watchful, tenants of the forest within the reach of the rifle. The bleating of the fawn brought its dam to her death in the same way. Throwing the tomahawk was another boyish sport, in which many acquired great skill. A little experience enabled the boy to measure the distance with his eye, when walking through the woods, and strike a tree with his tomahawk in any way he chose. The athletic sports of running, jumping and wrestling were the pastimes of boys in common with the men.

"Singing and dancing was another, but not very common, amusement among our first settlers. Their dances, to be sure, were of the simplest form.

The last were denominated 'love songs about murder.' Cards, dice, and other games of chance were unknown. These are among the gifts of civilization." farming utensils? Who were the carpenters. tailors, cabinet workmen, shoemakers and weavers? The answer is those manufacturers did not exist, nor had they any professional tradesmen.

narrow at the bottom, so that the action of the pestle on the bottom threw the corn up to the sides toward the top, from whence it continually fell down into the center. In of a house or a large stump; this pole was supported by two forks placed about one third of its length from the butt end so as to elevate the smaller end about 15 feet from the ground. = "To this was attached by a large mortice a piece of sapling about five or six inches in diameter and eight or ten feet long. The lower end of this was shaped so as to answer for a pestle. A pin of wood was put through it at a proper height so that two persons could work at the sweep at once. This simple machine very much lessened the labor and it was kept going almost constantly from morning to night by our neighbors for several weeks. Our first water mills were ot the description denominated tub mills. It consists of a perpendicular shaft to the lower end of which an horizontal wheel of about mills were built with but very little expense. Instead of bolting cloths, sifters were in general use. These were made of deerskins in a state of parchment, stretched over a hoop and perforated with a hot wire. Our clothing was all of domestic manufacture. We had no other resource for clothing and this indeed was a poor one. The crops of flax often faled and the sheep were destroyed by wolves. Linsey, which is made of flax and wool, the former the chain and the latter the filling, was the warmest and. most substan tial cloth we could make.

"Almost every house contained a loom and almost every woman was a weaver Every family tanned their own leather. The tan vat was a large trough sunk to the upper edge in the ground. A quantity of bark was easily obtained every spring in clearing and fencing the land. This, after drying, was brought in, and on wet days was shaved and pounded on a block of wood. Ashes were used in place of lime for taking off the hair Bear's oil, hog's lard and tallow answered the place of fish oil. The leather to be sure was coarse but good. The blacking for the leather was made of soot and hog's lard.

Almost every family containec its own tailors and shoemakers. Those who could not make shoes could make shoe packs. These like moccasins were made of a single piece of leather, with the exception of a tongue piece on top of the foot. To the shoe pack a sole was sometimes added. The women did the tailor work. They could all cut out and make hunting shirts, leggins and drawers. There was almost in every neighborhood someone whose natural ingenuity enabled him to do many things for himself and his neighbors, far above what could have been reasonably expected with the few tools which they brought with them into the country.

Superstitions- Of The Pioneer Age

"The belief in witchcraft was prevalent among the early settlers of the Western Country. To the witch was 'ascribed the power of inflicting strange and incurable diseases, particularly of children; of destroying cattle by shooting them with hair balls, and a great variety of other means of destruction: of inflicting spells and curses on guns, and other things; and lastly, of changing men into horses, and after driving and saddling them, riding them in full speed over hill and dale to their frolics, and other places of rendezvous. Wizards were men supposed to possess the same mischievous powers as witches; but these were seldom exercised for bad purposes. The powers of the wizard were exercised almost exclusively for the purpose of counteracting the malevolent influences of the witches of the other sex. The means by which the witch was supposed to inflict diseases, curses and spells could not be learned; they were sciences which no one was supposed to understand except the witch herself. Diseases which could neither be accounted for nor cured were usually ascribed to some supernatural agency of a malignant kind. For the cure of the diseases inflicted bv witchcraft, the picture of the supposed witch was drawn on a stump or piece of board and shot at with a bullet containing a little bit of silver. This silver bullet transferred a painful and sometimes a mortal spell on that part of the witch corresponding with the part of the portrait struck by the bullet. The witch had but one way of relieving herway, which was that of borrowing something of a family to which the subject of the exer. cise of her witchcraft belonged. When cattle or dogs were su influence of witchcraft they were burned in the forehead by a branding iron, or when dead burned wholly to ashes. This inflicted a spell upon the witch which could only be removed by borrowing as above stated. "Witches were often said to of their neighbors. This they did by fixing a new pin in a new towel for each cow intended to be milked. This towel over her own door and by the means of certain incantations the milk from the fringes of ner of milking a cow." scribe them. ever had a single warm night during the whole summer. At the first settlement of the country, the evenings were cool and the mornings frequently uncomfortably cold. The coldness of the nights was owing to the

"Hunting snows usually commenced about November was regarded as a winter month. The winter frequently set in with severity that month and sometimes at an earlier period. Fora long time after the settlement of the country we had an abundance of snow in comparison to the amount we usually have now. It was no unusual thing to have snows from one to three feet in depth and of long continuance. Our people often became tired of seeing the monotonous aspect of the country so long covered with a deep snow, and longed to see the ground bare once more.

"Ihe labor of getting wood after a deep fall of snow and Qpening of the roads was est degree disagreeable. A tree when fallen was literally buried in the snow, so that the driver of the horses had to plunge the whole length of his arm into it to get the log chain around the butt end of the trees in order to haul it home. The depth of the snows, the extreme cold and length of our winters, were indeed distressing to the first ers, who were but poorly provided with clothing, and whose cabins were mostly very open and uncomfortable. Getting wood, making fires, feeding the stock, going to the them but little time for anything else. As our roads in early times did not admit of the use of sleighs, the only sport we had in the time of a deep snow was that of racing about on the crust on its surface. This was formed by a slight thaw, succedeed by a severe frost.

brush, and owing to great drifts of snow in many places, over the highest fences. These Wolves, dogs and men could pursue them without The deer on hard. The hunters never killed the -deer in the dead of winter, as their skins and flesh was then of but little value. On the whole, although the same variable system of weather continued, our springs were formerly somewhat colder, and accompanied with more snow than they are now. But the change in these respects is not favorable to vegetation, as our late springs are uniformly followed by the most fruitful seasons. It is the law of the vegetable world that the longer the vegetative principle is delayed, the more rapid when put in motion. From this it appears that our seasons have already undergone great and important changes. Our summers are much warmer, our falls much milder and longer, and our winters shorter by at least one month and accompanied with much less snow and cold than formerly. What causes have affected these changes in our system of weather. and what we may reasonably suppose will be the extent of.this revolution we can only conjecture."

The Horrors Of Slavery

The horrors of slavery as practiced 1n pioneer davs and in the slave State adjoining Belmont County, is but little understood by the people of this generation and in this free State. When Dr. Doddridge lost his mother he was placed under the care of relations in Maryland for the purpose of being sent to school. The Doctor says: "When I arrived there I was in a new world. I had left the backwoods behind me. I had exchanged its ings, plenty, and polish of civilized life. My residence was in a neighborhood were slaves and convicts were numerous and where tortures inflicted upon them had become the occurrences of almost every day, so that they were viewed with indifference by the population of the neighborhood as matters of course.

against the most intense suffering of a fellow creature. Not so with me who never had witnessed such tortures. I had not beer long in my new habitation before I witnessed a scene which I shall never forget. A servant accused of some trivial offense was doomed to the whip, tied with his arms extended upwards to the limb of a tree, a bundle of hickories were thrown down before him, and he was ordered to look at them and told that they should all be worn out on him, and a great many more, if he did not make a confession of the crime charged against him. The operation began by tucking up the shirt over his head so as to leave the back and shoulders naked. The master then took two of the hickories in his hand and by forward and backhanded 'strokes, each of which sounded like a wagon whip, and applied with the utmost rapidity and with his whole muscular strength. In a few seconds the lacerated shoulders of the poor miserab!e sufferer were covered with not less than 50 scourges, so that in a little time the whole of his shoulders had the appearance of a mass of blood, streams of which soon began to flow down his back and sides; he then made a confession of his fault. A fault not worth naming, but this did not save him from further.torture. He had put his master to the trouble of whipping him and he must have a little more. His trousers were then unbuttoned and suffered to fall about his feet; two hickories were selected from the bundle and were so applied that in a short time his posteriors like his shoulders exhibited nothing but laceration and blood. A consultation was then held between the master and the bystanders, who had been cooly Jooking on, in which it was humanely

"A basin of brine and a cloth were ordered to be brought, and with this his stripes were washed, or salted, as they called it. During this operation the suffering wretch writhed and groaned as if in the agonies of death. He was then untied and told to go home, and mistress would tell him what to do.

From this scene of torture 1 went home with a heavy heart and wished myself in the backwoods again. It frequently happened that torture was inflicted upon slaves and con- Victs in a more protracted manner than in that above described. When the victim of cruelty was doomed by his master to receive the lash several of his neighbors were called on for their assistance. They attended at the time and place appointed.

"A jug of rum and water was provided for the occasion. After the trembling wretch was brought forward and tied up, the number of lashes which he was to receive was determined on by lot or otherwise, and it was decided who should begin the operation; this done, the torture commenced: at the conclusion of the first course, the Operator pretending great weariness, called for a drink

"A certain time was allowed for the subject of their cruelty to cool, as they called it. When the allotted time had expired, the next one took his turn, and in like manner ended with a drink and so on until the appointed number of lashes were all imposed. This operation lasted several hours, sometimes half a day, at the conclusion of which the sufferer, with his hands swollen with the cords, was unbound and suffered to put on his.shirt. His executioners, to whom the operation was rather a frolic than otherwise, returned home from the scene of their labors, half drunk.