Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-11-04

From tie Illinois Magazine.
A FRONTIER SCENE


he following anecdote, which is hioblv
Characteristic of the period of our history in
With 1t occurred, and of the persons TO
whm it relates, was communicated 70 us in
conversation, from highly authentic source.
| andis given without alteration, except such
as havoidably occurred in clothing it in our
oyn language.
captain Crawford, of Virginia-the same
mo afterwards, under the name of Colonel
Cawtord, was taken prisoner, inhumanly
tqtured, and murdered by the Indians-was
ilqrching company from the frontiers of
n own state TO the Ohio river. The occa-
SIP is not exactly known it might have
ben during Braddock' S expedition in 1903.
o1n some ofthe expeditions previous TO Dun
nIre' s war, which occurred ia-4f37A From
Hayes OF the parties, we rather incline TO
III former date. Crawford S men were. of
cdrse, hunters and farmers from the cut
Sifts OF the Virginia settlements; most prob
atF young, daring, hardy volunteers, of the
sane class as the pioneers who shortly after
thdpeTlod overrun the forests of K entucl,v.
andhe himself, was a bold enterprisine man.
PrNlous to his leaving the neighborhood of
thSettlements, Crawford, from some acct
def, found himself in want of the means of
transportation for some of his baggage or
siops, and at place where he halted in the
wods, fortunately fell i'm with a WAGNER who
hadstopped TO rest his horses on the same
spo, In such an emergency, Captain Craw-
ford felt no hesitation in pressing the team
andits driver into the service, and ACCORDING
~ communicated his design to the wagner.
L he latter, highly incensed, was inclined to
resist what lie considered an oppressive act
hut he was aone, in the midst of military
band, who were ready and able, at word TO
enforce theircommander's order The wac
Oher was great, gigantic, two-fsted. SQUARE
built fellow, Who bore on his face the marks
OF many harl fought battle. He was. in
fact, noted btUiSer He received CANAAN
crawford S orocr with an air fgreat dissatis
faction, and remained for a moment silent
looking SullenB at the troops, as ifindipnant-
ly measuring fleir strength against his own
weakness Hethen observed TO the CAPTAIN
mat 1t was hardto be forced TO 90 against his
own Wlll-that Every man ought TO have a
yqTc hance-that he had not fair chance.
! inaS'huch as the odds were so great against
MN as TO deprive him of the power OF pro-
teCtmg hisown rights. He would, however.
make u, a proposition, which he thought the
:, aPmin was bound in honor TO acCcde to
'''' ''5ht yOuJ SdIu nc, OT any man IN your
company II ! am whipped, will go with
you cheerfully; but i'll conquer, YOU must
let me oil. - In making this proposal. the
wagner showed hmselfan able neootiator
lie either knew Crawlord's character. or he
had read 1t during the interview. III, Can
tam was an expert woOdsman, stout. active
and chIyaIrous, and prided himselfon his per.
sonal prowcss, for which he had already OBJ
tanned some celebrity. To have declined the
wagoner's challenge might have seemed TO
indicate want of manhood-it might have
lcssencd him in the eyes of his men-and hi,
own disposition and code of ethics. uerhaps
that the WAGNER was entitled in
Justice, to the fair chance which he claimed
e accordingly accepted the challenge. and
both parties began TO strip for the combat.
AT this moment, tall young man. who
had recently joined The company, and was a
stranger to most ofthcm, who lad been lean
ing against a tree, cycling the scene with an
parent unconcern, stepped forward and drew
Crawford aside. Captain" said he. "you
must let me fight that mamie will Win.
joU' Crawford was not willing to back oui.