The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-03-02

ling laid I'm ashes; Samuel Adams Kill.
Ell by Indians.
Immediately upon the breaking out
of the Revolution, the Indians again
became troublesome on the frontier.
and Bedford county was once more the
scene of their savage cruelty. Wefnd
some reference to their incursiOns into
the county, scattered through the Colo
NAL Records, but tradition furnishes ac-
counts Of murders committed by them
at this period which were of the most
horrible charac er. About three miles
east of the borough of Schellsburg, and
six miles west of Bedford, there is a
small ridge known as "Tull's Hill"
which derives its name from the fact
that family by the name of TullWere
there massaced by the Indians. We
are indebted for an account of this bar
barous affair, to the narrative furnished
by Messrs. Burd and Mower to the au-
thor Of the Historical Collections of
Pennsylvania" These gentlemen tell
us that sin the year 1777, a family ma
med Tull resided about six miles west
of Bedford, on hill to which the name
of the family was given; there were
ten nchildren-nine daughters and a son /;
but at the time referred to, the son was
absent, leaving at home his aged pa
rents and nine sisters. At that time the
Indians were particularly troublesome,
and the inhabitants had to abandon
their Improvements and take refuge in
the Fort; but Tull's family disregarded
the danger and remained on their i'm
prOvements. One Williams, who had
made a settlement about three miles
west of Tull's and near where the town
of Schellsburg now stands, had return
ed to his farm to sow some fiaX-seed !;
he had a son with him and remained
out about week. The road to his i'm
provement passed Tull's house. On
their return, as they approached Tull'S,
they saw a smoke, and coming nearer,
discovered that it arose from the burn
ing ruins of TulI's house. Upon a
nearer approach, the son saw an object
in the garden, which, by slight move
ment, attracted his attention, and look
ing more closely, they found it was the
old man (TulD just expiring. At the
same moment, the son discovered on
the ground near him an indian paint
bag. They at once understood the whole
matter, and knowing that the Indians
were still near, fed at once to the Fort.
Next daya force went out from the Fort
to examine, and after some search found
the mother with an infant in her arms,
both scalped. y short distance, in the
same direction, they found the eldest
daughter, also scalped. A short dis
tance from her the next daughter, in
the same situation, and scattered about
at intervals the rest of the children but
one, who. from some circumstances,
they supposed had been burned. They
all appeared to have been overtaken in
fight, and murdered and scalped where
they were found. 1t seems the family
were surprised in the morning, when
all were in the house, and thus became
an easy prey to the savages."
Anothermurderb by the Indians srela-
ted as having ,aken placeduring the lat
ter part of this year 1777). Anumber of
families had come into the Fort from the
neighborhood of Johnstown. Among
them were three men named Samuel
Adams, - Thornton and - Bridges.
After thealarm had dsOmewhatsu subsidized,
they agreed to return to their property.
4 party started with pack horses, reach
ed the place, and not seeing any In
dians, collected their propertyand COM
menced their return. After proceed
ing some distance, dog belonging to
one of the party, showed signs of un-
easiness, and ran back. Bridges and
Thornton desired the others to wait
whilst they would go back for him.
They went back, and had proceeded but
two or three hundred. yards, when a
body of Indians, who had been lying
in wait on each side of the way, but
who had been afraid to fire on account
of the number of the whites, suddenly
rose up and took them prisoners. The
Others, not knowing what detained
their companions, went back afterthem;
when they arrived near the spot, the
Indians fred on them, but without
doing any injury. The whites in
/ stantly turned and fed, excepting Sam
uel Adams, who took a tree and began
/ tn fioht in the Indian Style. In a few