Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-09-05
POPULAR INDIAN TAIn
THE WOOD RIVER MAssACRE.

r..
Among the various incidents of the
early settlements Of Illinois, and those
OF the last war with Great Britain. that
nave commanded the attention of wri.
tiers, there rs one which do not ,emem.
Der to have seen in print, that well de.
serves To be preserved among the re-
CORDS OF frontier hardihood and suffer.
ing. refer TO the massacre of a wo.
man and six chrild,en. by the Indians.
IN the forks Of Wood river in 1914
The following is given as an authen.
TIC sketch Of the facts, taken from the
lips oil Capt. Abel Moore and his wife.
VINO we're sufferers in the transaction.
Travellers, who have passed ON IN.
direct road from Edwardsyille 10 Car.
roliton, will remember, ct a pleasant
plantation on the banks Of the east
branch OF Wood river, 4 short distance
from The dwelling. house and Dowder
mali OF MIR. George Moore, an old
building, composed Of rough, round
ioss' tue upper story Of which projects
aoont d foot on every side, beyond the
basement. This. IN times Of peril,
was block house, or in the common
phrase. fort, to which the early set.
Hers resorted for safety. Pursuing The
ROAD about two miles, to an elevated
spot on the bank Of the west fork. where
the road turns abruptly dow n into the
creek, another farm, now in possession
Of younger member Of the family Of
Moores. exhibits the former reaidenee
oil Reason Reagan; and midway be.
tween these points, resides captain
Abel Moore, on the Same spot which
be occupied ct the period 10 which
our narrative relates. William Moore
lived nearly south Of Abel's, on a road
which passes towards Milton. Upper
Alton 10 from two to three miles, and
Lower Alton four or FIVE miles distant
from the scene Of action.
II appears, that while the gallant ran.
gers we're securing the country, ever
on the alert, the inhabitants, who for
several years had buddled together in
forts, for fear Of the Indians, had, in the
summer Of 1914, attained 20 such n
sense OF security, that they went 10
their farms and dwellings, with the
hope OF escaping further depredations.
La the forks Of Wood river, were some
s'x or eight families. whose men were
Tor the most part in the ranging ser.
vice f; and whose women and children
we're thus left 10 labor for and defend
themselves. The block house which
have described, was their place Of re.
sort on any alarm but the inc onveni.
enee and difficulty Of clustering so
thiek'y, induced them to leave il Is
sOon as prudence would at all permit.
Nor bad the hardy Inhabitants for.
gotten, amidst their dangers, the duties
Of social life, nor the higher obligations
to their Creator. The Sabbath shone
not only upon the domestic circle, a.
q gathered Tovnd the Preside altar, but
i,s hsllowed light vas she'd on groups
collected 10 the rustic edl6ces which
the pisiy Of the people had erected for
divine worship.
IL ~as 90 the Sabbath, the tenth Of
July, 1914, that the painful occurrence
took place, which I now record. Rea.
son Reagan had gone 10 attend divine
worship 1t the meeting hO9se, some
two OF three miles Ell, leaving he wife /
and tSO ehlldTen az the house Of Abel
Moore. which was on the way. About
four o'clock IN the afternoon, Mrs.
Reagan went over 10 her own dwelling,
70 procure some little articles Of convs.