Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-08-15

ence, with no inmates than the meanesi
Imalefactors that were ever incarceTated
for crime. Hope of Obtaining his liberty
had fed. His friends that had previous
" made such disinterested and noble ef-
forts for his relief, had long since given
over in despair, or regarded him as having
fell victim to his confinement, and by
that unwelcome monitor been released
from his chains. Wetzel regarded hin-
self, for the balance of his days, as q per-
manent fixture to the damp floor of his
prison, and almost ceased to pray for lib
erty.
s'While Wetzel was counting with fe7
vered anxiety. every day as it passed. as
bringing him nearer the day Of his deliv-
erapce from his miserable and loathsome
dungeon, to that house not made with
hands, the light Of hope suddenly broke
upon the solitude of his cell. Previous
to this time there existed in Western
Pennsylvania what was familiarly known
as the whiskey insurreotion, One of the
leaders of the insurgents was Gen. Brad
ford, of Pennsylvania, who was prosecuted
for resisting the execution of the laws,
and to avoid which he fed to Louisiana.
Bradford was man of education, talents.
and 6ne address. He claimed the pro-
lection of the Spanish Governor, and soon.
became favorite at his Court. He soon
learned the condition Of Wetzel. He
knew his former character and great sue.
cess, and deeply sympathized with him
in his misfortunes. Bradford Immediately
set himself about procuring the release of
his old friend and countryman from that
loathsome prison house in which he was
dying by the inch. He approached the
Governor in person, in behalf Of 'Wetzel.
He represented his services, his suffcrings,
and former good character, and soon
found that the kind nature Of the Govern
or, too, sympathized with the Unfortunate
prisoner in his suffefings. Bradford's
hopes Of success soon ripened into reality,
and through him Wetzel once more en-
joyed his liberty.
Z" In those days a story was current
concerning the manner in which Bradford
effected the release of Wetzel, that savor-
ed strongly of the marvellous. The Gov
ernor, it is said, through fear Of his; sov>
ereign, refused to exercise the pardoning
power, although he very much desired
that Wetzel. should be discharged from
imprisonment aud to supply the want Of
unbiased power, resort was had to. o.strat.
agem. The plan was briefly this Wet-
eel was to feign himself sick !; a report
was to be put in circulation that he had
died coffin maker and undertaken was
to be called on. His body was coffined
and carried out Of prison, and delivered
to his friends, amongst whom was Brad.
ford, and by them carried out Of the city,
where the dead man was taken alive outI
Of the coffin, and itsunk in the Mississippi
Wetzel was conveyed to Natchez, and
was taken into the family of a relative OF
his, who was a wealthy planter near that
place. Whether the story was true orl
not, could make but little difference to
the unfortunate victim Of circumstances 81
but the facts about which there is no dis
pute, give it the color of probability
Certain it was that Wetzel was taken
from prison to NaLchez, where he lived
for number of years in the family Of
Mr.. Scks, a cousin of Wetzel's. His
long confinement in the damp and un.
healthy prison had undermined his COM
stitution and rendered him unfit for his
former vocation of frontier service. From
long inactivity, his limbs had become stiff
and clumsy his stalwart arms had lost
their strength, and his whole system lack
ed the physical power to qualify him for
the woods. He was kindly treated and
cared for by his friends, working when
it suited him, and playing when he pleas
ed. - ~
'' After the purchase of Louisiana By
~, TaSk l. be 1xN
the Brazos, in Texas, taking Wetzel with
him. He remained member Of the FAM
lily of his friend for number Of years,
gradually yielding to the eucroachments
Of disease, until his powerful form could
resist no longer, when he died. On the
banks of the Brazos, in the far distant
wilderness, sleeps, without mark or mon.
ument, the ashes of the intrepid scout, the
fearless and gallant spy. Who can listen
10 the winds, as they moan among the
branches that overhang his grave and re-
feet upon the services, persecution and
sufferings Of the fearless spirit that once
animated the entombed remains, without
shedding tear of sympathy for the name
of Lewis Wetzel.
Welzel could never forget the wrongs
he had suffered from his own country and
countrymen. Piatt. In particular he dee
nounced as william. InHsmuch as he
(Piau) is one of the prominent charaC-
ters mentioned in this letter, brief mo-
tice of his career and end might by the
curious. be desirable.
after the conviction of Wetzel, PiattI
was arrested for killing an Indian on Red
River, was tried, convicted and placed in
the calaboose at New Orleans, where he
remained nine years, and then taken out
and hung.
within my knowledge, not already before
the public. 1 regret my inability to ix
dates. but have given historical events