Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-04-27

ana pleased with the energy of his new ac
quaintance, Wetzel agreed to accompany him
! shortening their way with their mutual tale.
/ OF hunting excursions, and hazardous contest:
| with the common enemies of the country
| Amongst other things, Wetzel stated his man.
| ner of distinguishing the footsteps of white
man from those of an Indian, although cover
ed with moccasins, and intermxed with the
tracks OF the savages- He had acquired this
| fact from closely examining the manner OF
placing the feet the Indian stepping in paral-
lei lines, and first bringing the toe TO the
| ground, while the white man almost invariably
! nEst touches his heel to the earth. and places
his feet at an angle with the line of march.
An opportunity they little expected, soon
| gave him chance Of putting his skill to the
triai. Oh reaching the young mans house.
| which they did late in the afternoon they
found the dwelling a smoking ruin. and all the
! family murdered and scalped, except q young
woman, who had been brought up by his pa
rents, and to whom the young man was tender
~ attached. She had been taken away alive,
as was ascertained by examining the trail of
inc saVages WetZel soon discovered, by a
close inspection OF the foot marks that the
party consisted OF three Indians and rena-
gade white man, an occurrence not uncommon
In those days. vixen for crime or the baser
purpose OF revenge, the white outlaw fled to
the sayages, and was adopted on trial int their
tribe. As 1t was late in the day. the nearest
help stlIl at some considerable distance, and
as there were only four to contend with they
decided on immediate pursuit. And more
over, as the deed had very recently been done,
they hoped to overtake them in their camp
that Light, or perhaps before thev could cross
the Ohio river, to which the Indians always re-
treated after affecting a successful foray con-
Siderlng themselves, in a manner, safe from
pursuit when they had crossed to its right
bank, at that time wholly occupied by the In
dian tribes. Ardent and unweatied was the
pursult-the one 10 recover his lost love, and
the other to assist his new friend and take re-
Venge TOR the slaughter of his countrymen;
slaughter and revenge being at that period the
daily business Of the borderers.
Wetzel followed the trail of the retreating
saVageS with the unerring sagacity of a blood
hound, and just at dusk, traced them TO the
Ohio, some miles below Wheeling nearly op-
posite the mouth of Captina creek. Much TO
their disappointment they soon found that the
Indians had crossed the river, by construct
ing raft of logs and brush-their usual man
ner OF passing stream when at distance
from their villages. By carefully examining
''the signs' on the opposite shore, Wetzel di-
rectly discovered the fire of the Indian camp,
IN hollow way, few rods from the river.
Lest the noise of constructing a raft should a.
larn the Indians and give notice of the pur-
suit, the two hardy adventurers determined TO
swim the stream few rods below. This they
swimmers. Fastening their clothes in a
bundle on the tops of their heads, with their
rifles and ammunition above, they reached the
opposite shore in safety. After carefully in
specting their arms, and putting every article
OF defence in its proper place, they crawlcd
very cautiously to a position which gave them
full view of their enemies, who believing
themselves safe from pursuit. were carelessly
reposing around the fire, th0ughtless of the
fate which awaited them. They soon discov-
cred the young woman alive and seated by the
fire, but making much moaning and complaint,
while the white man, whose voice they could
distinctly hear from their position, was trying
to console her with the promise of kind usage,
and an adoption into the tribe.
The young man could hardly restrain his
rage, but was for firing and rushing instantly
upon the foe. Wetzcl more cautious, told
him to wait until daylight appeared, when they
could make the attack with better chance of
success, and of also killing the whole party
while if they attacked in the dark a part OF
them would certainly escape. With the ear
liest dawn the Indians arose, and prepared to
depart. The young man selected the white
renegade, and Wetzel one of the stoutest In
dians; they both fired at the same instant,
each killing his man. His companion rushed
forward knife in hand, to release the young
woman, while Wetzel reloaded his piece and
pushed in pursuit of the two Indians, who
had taken to the woods until they could dis
cover the number of their enemies. When
he found he was seen by the savages, Wetzel
discharged his rifle at random, in order to
draw them from their cover. Directly they
heard the report and found themselves unhurt,
they rushed upon him before he could again
reload, thinking on an easy conquest. Ia
king to his heels, he loaded his gun as he ran,
unnoticed by his pursners, then suddenly
wheeling about, discharged its contents thro'
the body of his nearest and unSuSpectlng en-
emy. The remaining Indian seeing the fall
of his companion, and that his antagonists
gun was now certainly empty, rushed forward
with all energy-the prospect of revenge fair
ly before him.
Wctzel led him on. lodging from tree to
tree, until his rifle was again ready, when sud-
denly facing about, he shot the remaining en-
envy dead at his feet. After taking their
scalps and recovering the lost plumber, w et&el
and his friend returned with their rescued cap
tive unharmed to the settlement.
Like honest Joshua Fleehart, after the
peace of 1895, the country becoming hlied
with new settlers, Wetzel pushed for the dis
tant frontiers on the Mississippi, where he
could trap the beaver. hunt the buffalo and the
deer, and occasionalIy"shoot an 1ndian-whom
he mortally hated. He died as he had always
lived, ga free man of the forest"
How THE BEAN CLIMBS THE PoLE.-Profes-
sor Brewer, of Washington College, Pa, COM
to The .7nierican Journal OF Science
and Arts the result of some experiments made
bv him on climbing vines-the hop, the Lima
bean, and the morning glory. lie hnds tna'