Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-03-07
alisfeliasaeons.
From Erans' Life Of Le,ois Wetzel.
THE WESTERN RANGERS.

ments, along the river Ohio, between Wheel
| ing and Mingo Bottom, sometimes killing
and capturing whole families, at other times
| stealing all the horses belonging to a station
| or fort, company, consisting of seven men,
rendezyouzed at place called Beech Bottom,
| on the Ohio river, few miles below where
WeIlsburg has been erected.
This company were John Wetzel, VIII
| liam Mccullough, John Hough, Thomas
| Biggs, Joseph Hedges, Kinzie Dickerson.
and Mr. Linn. Their avowed object was to
20 to the Indian town to steal horses. This
| was then considered legal, honorable busi-
ness, as we were then at open war with the
Indians. 1t would only be retaliating upon
them ID their own way.
These seven men were all trained to Indian
warfare, and life in the woods from their
youth. Perhaps the western frontier, at no
time, could furnish seven men whose souls
were better fitted. aud whose nerves aud sin
ews were better strung 70 perform any enter
prise which required resolution and frmness
They crossed the Ohio, and proceeded with
cautious steps, and vigilent glances, on their
way through the cheerless, dark, and almost
impenet-abie forest, in the Indian country,
TIL they came to an Indian town. near where
the head waters of the Sandusky and Musk
ingum river interlock. Here they made a
fue haul, and Sc off homeWard with about
fifteen horses. They travelled rapidly, only
making a short bait, TO let their horses Craze
and breathe short time, to recruit their
strength and activity.
In the evening of the second day of rapid
retreat, they arrived at Wells Creek, not far
from where the town of Cambridge has since
been erected. Here Mr. Linn was taken vio-
Lntly sick, and they must stop their march,
or leave him alone, to perish in the dark aud
lonely woods Our frontier men, notwith-
standing their rough aud unaccomplished
manners, had too much of Uncle Toby's
sympathy for suffering humanity" to for
sake comrade in distress. They halted, and
placed sentinels on their back trail who re-
niaincd their TIL late in tae night, without
seeing any signs of being pursued.
TIE sentinels on the back trail returned to
the camp, Mr.. Linn still lying in excruciating
pain all the simple remedies IL their pow
er were administered to the sick man, with
out producing any effect Being late in the
night, they al lay down to rest, except one,
who was placed as guard. Their camp was
Oh the bank OF small branch.
Just before day break the guard took a
small bucket, aud dipped some water out of
the stream; on carrying it to the FIRE, he
muddy water walked his suspicion that the
enemy might De approaching them and were
walking down III the stream, as their footsteps
would be noiscless in the water He walked
bis companions and communicated his sus-
piciOns. They arose, examined the branch
little distance, and listened attentively for
sumo time; but neither sawuor heard anything,
and then concluded it must have been racoons,
or some other animals pudding in the stream.
After this conclusion the company all Law
down to rest. except the sentinel, who was
stationed just outside the light. Happily for
them the fire had burned down, ard ouly
few Goals afforded dim light 20 point out
where they lay. The enemy had come silent
ly down the creek, as the sentinel suspected,
to within ten or twelve feet of the place where
they lay, and fred several guns over the
bank. Mr.. Linn, the sick man was living
with his side towards the bank, aud received
nearly all the balls which were at first fired.
The Indians then, with tremendous wells.
mounted the bank with loaded rifles, war
clubs, and toniaha@ks, and rushed upon our
men, who fed barefooted and without arms.
Mr.. Linn, Thomas Biggs, and Joseph
Hedges, were killed in or near the camp.
W illlam Mccullough had run but a short dis
tauce when he was fired at by the enemy.
At the instant the firing was giving, he jdmp-
ed into quagmise and fell; the Indians sup
posing that they had killed him, ran past in |
pursuit of others. He soon extricated him
self out IF the mire, aud SO made his escape. |
He fell in with John Hough and came into |
Wheeling.
John Wetzel and Kinzie Dickerson met |
in their retreat, and returned together. |
Those who made their escape were without |
arms, without clothing OR provisions. There |
sufferings we're great; but this they bore with
stoical indifference, as it was the fortune of |
war. Whether the Indians who defeated our
heroes followed in pursuit from theie towns, |
Or were party of warriors, who accidently
happened to fall in with them. has never been
From the places they had stolen the horses,
they had travelled two nights and almost two
entire days, without halting, except just a
few minutes at time. to let the horses Craze
From the circumstance of their rapid retreat
with the horses. it was supposed that no pur-
suit could possibly have overtaken them, but
hat fate had decreed that this party of In
lians should meet and defeat them.
As soon as the stragglers arrived at Wheel
ng, Captain John Mccullough collected
,arty of men, and went to Wells Greek, and
ourried the unfortunate men who fell In aud
near the camp. The Indians had mangled
he dead bodies at a most barbarous rate
Thus was closed the horse stealing tragdy.
Of the four who survived this tragedy none
ire now living to tell the story of their suf-
ering. They continued to hunt and to fight
Is long as the war lasted. John Wetzel and
)ickerson died in the country near Wheeling
John Hough died q few years since, near