Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-09-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
FROM THE ILLINOIS st,GIzIxx.
A FRONTIER SCENE

The following anccdo,c. which j. highly char
acieristc 81 the period cf our bistory in which II,
occurred, aud ct the persons o. whom il relates
was communicated - us ~ conversation from a
highly authentic source, and i. given withou, al
trration, except such unavoidably occurred IN
clothing II in our own language.
Captain Crawford, Of Virginia-the
same who afterwards, under the name
Of Colonel Crawford. was taken pri.
soner, inhumaniy tortured. and muir.
dered by the Indiars-was marching
4 company from the frontiers Of his
own state to the Ohio river. The &C.
casion Is not exactly known: il might
have been during Braddock's expedi-
ton IN 1868, or in some Of the expedi.
tons previous TO Dunmore's war.
which occurred in l-15. From the
ages ct the parties, We rather incline to
the former date. Crswford's men were,
Of course. hunters and farmers from
the outskits of the Virgins settlements
most probably young, daring. hardy
volunteers, of the same class as the
pioneers who shortly after that period
overrup the forests of Kentucky; and
he himself was a bold, enterprising
man. Previous TO his leaving the
neighbourhood Of the settlements,
Crawford, from some accident, found
himself in want of the means of trans.
portation for some Of his baggage or
stores, and NJ place where he halted
in the woods fortunately fell in with
WAGNER who had stopped to rest hi.
horses at the same spot. In such an
emergency, Captain Crawford felt no
hesitation in pressing the team and its
driver into the service. and according
" communicated his design to the
wagner. The latter. highly inccns.
ed, was inclined TO resist what he
considered an oppressive act; but he
vas alone. IN the midst of q military
band, who were ready and able, at a
word, to enforce their commander
erdsr. The WAGNER was q great. ci.
gantic. two listed, square bailt fellow.
who bore on HE face the marks of ma
ny hard fought battle. He was, in
fact, noted bruiser. He received
Captain Crawford's order with an air
OF great Dissatisfaction, and remained
for moment silent, looking suilenIy
at the troops, as if Indignantly measuf.
ing their strength against his own
weakness. lie then observed to the
Captain, that it was hard TO be forced
TO go against his own will-that every
man ought to have fair chGtee--that
he had not fair chance, inasmuch as
the odds were 80 great against him a.
to deprive him of the power Of protec-
ting his own right. lie would. how
ever, make proposition. which he
thought the Captain was bound in no.
nor to aecede 70: ~ will fight you, ~
SAID he. ''or any man in vour conpA.
ny. IL | am whipped. I will 60 with
you ehcerfOily; but IL conquer, you
must let me of" In making this pro-
posal, the WAGNER showed himself an
able negOciator. lie either knew
Crawford's character. or he had read
" during the interview. The Captain
was an expert woodsman. stout, active.
and chivalrOus, and prided himself on
his personal prowess, for which he had
already obtained some celebrity. To
have declined the waEoner's challenge
might have seemed to Indicate = want
ol m1nhOod-it might have lessened
him IN the eyes of bis men-and his
own disposition and code Of ethics.
perhaps. suggested that the wagner
was entitled, in justice. - the fqir
chance which he claimed. lie accord.
~ accepted the chslIetge. and both
parties began to strip Tor The combat.
NJ this moment tall young man.
who had recently joined The company,
ana vas stranger In most Of fhcn.
"io had been leaning earelessl- srairs,
tree, eycing the scene with Apparent
Lneoneern' stepped forward. AID drew
crawford aside. Captain" said be-
"yo1 mast let me- fight tina, mani,
w,ll ~hIp y0t'." Crawford vas mol
willing 70 appear 20 Lock out. bot the
youth insisted that 70 have ;he Captain