The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-07-27
Srlrtt Mi5tslIanll.
OLD CROSS FIRE.
A Tale Of the Northwestern Border.

ATale Of the Northwestern Border.
.'te .'. BY o. 6. KIERNAN.
The early history Of North. Western
Virginia is rife with incidents of roman
tic character. The extraordinary perse.
verance and courage which characterized
The pioneers Of That region Of country. and
The most incredible suferings they were
compelled TO endure, are, perhaps, with
oul parallel in The history Of any country
but our own. Whilst many of those who
penetrated far into The western wilds went
lhilher TO hew down The forest trees, and
make The wilderness assume The cheerful
aspect OF the abode of civilized man, a
large number of persons were attracted to
that country. merely by The love of dan.
gerois adventure, and londness for liv.
ing in state of comparative freedom from
the forms of social life. The latter class
of advehturers, though not so Numerous as
the first, Furnished most of the heroes of
those desperate partisan rencouners with
The natives, which occupies SO large a
space in the annals of hhe west.
During the first eight years of that long
end bloody war with The savage tribes,
which commenced in tn year l774, the
settlers on the upper portion of the Ohio
river seems 10 have been peculiarly OBJ
noxious to the Indians. Several furious
assaults were made by large bodies Of
Mingoes, Wyandolts, and Shawnees, up
on Fort Wheeling, and other slockade
forts in that vicinity; and small parties of
marauders were continually prowling about
the settlements, employing themselves in
burning houses, destroying crops, driving
off cattle, and murdeths the people as fire.
quenlly as occasion offered. 80
Among the most nolorious of the lead
ers of these savage brigands, Was a Mingo
chief, called by the selllefs a0ld Cross
Fire"--not so much on account Of his
years, as from the circumstance of his f..
ring his rifle from his left der.-This
chieflain had, at the head OF hi, party,
committed numerous depredaiions upon
The settlements, but always succeeded in
escaping unharmed, despite The many ex.
erions made to arrest his infuriale career.
OLD Cross Fire was an expert woodman;
and many borderer was willing to bear
testimony to his, surprising skill as a
marksman. He had frequently came in
collision with Major MColoch, Lewis
Welsel, and other famous Indian hunters;
but all their stralagem and powers were
vainly exerted-lhe Mingo invariably
came off unscalhed, and emboldened 10
inilci his acts of wanlon cruelty with in.
creased lemeri,y. Ills person was faml.
.liartb most of the settlers. He was of
herculean fabric, his height being several
inches over six feet; and every part Of his
vast frame was buiii in admirable proper.
lion, il we except his arms, which like
those Of Rob Kay M'Gregor, were so long
that y
"That the Chief could stand an upright mein,
And fairly grip his knees"
He carried rifle of more than ordinary
weight, which he crOss.6red from his left
shoulder, and, though contrary to the com.
mon rule, with almost unvarying accuracy
and effect.
At the time Of the incident about to be
related, the Indians had, in a great meas.
nre, ceased their hostile 'ncursions into
Western Virginia. Most of them had re-.
tired farther west, 10 operate against the
settlements on the lower section of the
Ohio. Even Old Cross Fire himself who
fingered about Wheeling long after his
twenty comrades had changed their seat
of war, was now seldom spoken of by The
settlers. The preuailing idea was that he
had lorsaken his old theatre of operations
for another that promised a better remn.
neralion for his tolls. The only individu.
al who dissented from this opinion was
Lewis Wetsel, one of The most successful
Indian scouts ever known. We,zel was,
perhaps, possessed Of more thorough
knowledge ofibe character and and habits
If The Mingo chief than any white man on
the border for he had 6iten been an eve.
witness Of his crafty movements when
besel by his enemies. The chief had long
been the especial objec, of Welzel's .ha.
tired; and though he had often laid deep
plans TO ensnare him, The WHY savage al.
ways found means to lruslrale Them. 10
The course Of his recent rambles through
the country Welzei frequently discovered
some peculiar mark or sign which con.
Grmed him in his conviction that the In
dian had not left The neighborhod. His
friends endenvored 10 persuade him that
he was mistaken; bu, he resolultly adhe.
red TO his opinion, and declared that he
would yet "be the death Of The cursed old
red dog" - ''.r
As WeIzel could not convince ihe set
tiers that Old Cress Fire was still lurking
about the nelghborhood, he ceased to men
tion his name; but never allowed a week
to elbpse without taking a scout through
the country in"the hope Of coming ia con.
tact with him. The settlers, however,
lulled themselves into security; and appre.
hensive Of no impending danger Engaged
in agricultural pursuits, They cleared the
rich bottom lands, bull, substantial fences,
planted their corn and potatoes, and soon
gave an air Of comfort, and plenty, to their