Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-09-29
A FROM TIER SCENE.

The following anecdote, which is highly
characteristic Of the period o our history in
which It occurred. aud of the persons to
whom II relates was communicated to us IN
conversation, from a highly authentic source,
aud Is gwen without alteration, except such
as ubayM1,tly occurred in clothing il in our
own language.
Captain Crawford, OF Nitgina-the same
who afterwards. under the name OF Colonel
Crawford was taken prisoner, iuhumanly
tortured, aud murdered bt the lndiaus--vds
inatehinz company from the frontiers oi his
own state T. the tlhio river Tie occasion is
MOI exactly known; il might have been du-
rlrg Braddock : expetiIti9n IN 1868, or in
come olthc expeditions previous To Dunmore S
war, winch CGeuGed IN IVA From the a.
gcs oil the partles, we rather incline 10 the
former date. CraWlords men were, OF course.
hunters and farmers from the outskirts of the
Virginia settlent ns--most probably young,
daring, Lardy volunteers, OF the same class
As the pioneers who shortly after lhat period
oyerrun the forests OF Kentucky; and he hun
sell was bold, enterprislng man. Previous
20 has leaving the ncIghhouhood oil the set
Elements, Crawford, from some accident,
found himself III want of the means of trans
portatIon for some of bis baggage or stores,
and al place where he halted in thc woods
fortunately fell in with a WAGNER who had
stopped to rest his horses AT The same spot -
In such an emergency. captain Crawford felt
no Hesitation in pressing the team and its dri-
yer into The service, and accordingly COM
nluncatcd his design to the wagner. The
latter, highly lnccns cd, was inclined 70 resist
what be considered an oppressive act; bot he
was alone. in the midst of a military band
who were ready and able, at Il word, TO en-
force their commanders order The wa
eoner was great, gigantic, two listed,
square built fellow, who bore on his face the
marks OF many a hard fought battle He
WAS, IN fact, a noteu bTplSer He receiv
cd captain Craviord's order with an air of
great dissatisfaction, and remained for a mo
m@nt silent, looking, sullenly at the troops,
as If Indignantly measuring their strength a.
ganst his own weakness lie then observed
20 the captain, that it was hard to be forced
90 60 against his own will-,that every man
ought TO have fair chance-that he had not
fair chance, insonuch as the odds were so
great against him as 10 deprive him OF the
power OF protecting hts own right. He would.
however make proposition, which he
thought the captain was bound in honour to
accede to: Il will fight you, said be, "or any
man in your con pany II ! am whipped,
wall 20 with you checriully; bat if conquer,
You must les me off" In making this plopo-
sal, the WAGNER bowed himself AN able ne
gocIator. He either knew Crawford cha
ractcr, or he had read it during the inter
view. The car tam was an EXPERT woods
man, stout active, and chlyalrous, and prid-
ed himself on his personal proves. Tor which
he had already obtained some celebrity 10
have dechr ed the wagoneF's challenge might
have seemed TO indicate want of manhood
lit might have lesscued him in the ewes of
his meu-and his own disposition and code
OF ethics, perhaps, suggested that the wa
soner was entitled. IN justice, to the fair
ear,iicc which he climed lie accordingly
accepted Tie challenge, aud both parties be
gan 80 stip for the combat
Al THIS n.ouitnt, a tall young man. who
had recent Joined The company. and was
stran 4er to n.ust Oi them, who had been l..n
n3g caroiesslY against 2 tree, 81 eng The scene
NHh apparent urcUpCt IN, sic tad RAN
aud drew Crawford aside. ''Captttp.n sand
n, you must lct as h-ht that nian-he win
Whip g9u" Crawford VAS not Wiling 10 au
pear 20 bacE otg Uut the youth insisted thai
I" 'iaNe lht cariaIu ht.,cu. which ,,calu h,
u" result u hc persisted, Would taItl.n III.
honor Of the conn., tu5; and moreover. liza.
He hIn'Ncii was thv ONLY man who could vim,
lac W"%tH"r lie "a.l.. chc, OF the vuuu'
"n.i CERTAIN snui' ,a.uG aO0ut iim which,
sIITed confidence 80 Others, -uab.yI li.,
carry Iis point. taptt,u Crawford na,i.
done oil Thai pol,eE .cl4ired, IN aceepsll.