Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-10-22
A SCRAP OF OLD TIMES.

&.
The Clipch Valley News, published in Taze
well county, says the following thrilling repre-
sentation of the tragedy of the "Moore Fami-
ly"-one of the most stirring and romantic le-
gends in the annals of this country-was writ
ten on the occasion of visit to the Natural
Bridge, where one of the captives resided
With view to rescue from oblivion this fra
grant memorial of the past, we have thought
proper to insert it in the Spectator. Several
descendants of those illustrious pioneers and
victims of Indian barbarity, portrayed in the
narrative, reside in Tazewell county. Conspic-
uous among these, is William I. Moore, Esq,
owner of the original homestead Of the Moore
family, and whose mansion is distant only few
PAGES from the site of that memorable tragedy.
He is worthy Of his noble ancestry-a model
christian, and in every relation Of life, an orna
ment to the community in which he lives.
Some miles this side of Staunton on the right
of the road, my attention was arrested by the
venerable appearance OF a large stone church,
densely surrounded by forest trees, on whose
'sere and yellow leaves the setting sun shed
his most gorgeous rays The Presbyterian con-
gregation first worshpping here was organized
in 1740 the house was originally built of logs;
the present edifce was begun in l747, at which
time there was not one wheel carriage In the
settlement; the stone was hauled on sledges-
the sand transported on pack.horses and the
glass and nails brought from Williamsburg. At
the time of Braddock' S defeat this part of the
Valley was in state Of universal alarm; some
of the people wished to fly beyond the Blue
Ridge into the present county OF Albemarie,
but the pastor, the Rev. Mr.. Craig, vehement
ly opposed it, and on his suggestion the people
built stone stockade around their church, the
lines of which are still visible. Here on each
Sabbath they worshpped- preacher taking
his rifle into the pulpit, and every male nearer
being armed In the same manner They acted
on the direction OF Oliver Cromwell, who al
keep their powder dry. 1t is most remarka-
bic that the present incumbent is only the fourth
minister in the space of l43 years. Among
these was Conrad Specie, man OF eXtraordl-
nary learning and eoquence, who, had he -four
lshed during the reformation, would have been
among the ablest co-ad tutors Of the illustrlous
and intrepid Luther. The clergyman who now
serves this people, is a son Of the Rev. Samuel
Brown and Mary his wife, a lady known to fame
alike for her unparalleled sufferlngs In early
life, and her ardent piety during her pilgrimage
on earth. She was the daughter OF James and
Mary Moore, who resided in Botetourt county
until 1895, when they removed to Abb's Valley,
on Blue Stone creek, in the new county OF
Tazewell.
IA wild and lonely region, where retired
From little scenes of art great Nature dwelt
In awful solitude"
Here, retired from all the world he built his
cabin, and worshipped the God Of his fathers,
with household, contented and happy. In 1871
ho .tb SnOt
the American camp and fought in the well con-
tested field of Guilford. Who remained to pro-
tect his family, while he was absent In the army
is unknown; but it is certain, that at this time,
and tor many years prior and subsequent to this
period, numerous hostile tribes of Indians, ex-
tending from the Northern lakes and the Wes-
tern rivers, down to the Valley of Va, were
committing frequent and wanton murders on
the helpless inhabitants and carrying terror to
every bosom. Still he remained In his perllous
location. On the 7th of September, 1854, his
second son was captured by the sayages, within
a few miles Of his fathers house, and carried
away to the forests Of the West. How many
anxious days and nights the distressed parents
spent on account OF a lost son none can tell
There were then no teegraphs, railroads, or
public stages, and not a single post office beyond
the Allegheny by which intelligence of his fate
could be obtained and to have gone In search
of the unfortunate boy. would have been to
court certain death.
Notwithstanding this premonitory event, Mr.
Moore still continued in this dreary and almost
unfrequented region until July IA, 1886. And
now an awful scene of blood began. Thirty
armed Indians, with heartrending yells, rushed
on this unofending family Mr.. Moore was
first slain In the yard, and his ashes now repose
on the very spot which then smoked with his
blood Three Of his children soon fell !; next
the house was broken open, plundered and
burnt Mrs Moore and her four surviving
children, (of whom Mary then In her eighth
year was one,) together with Martha dvlns,
domestic, were on the same day bound fast and
hurried off by their captors to the Shawnee
towns on the margin OF the Scioto.
Thus in one short hour their peaceful home
is DESTROYED, the dead bodies of its inmates are
exposed to burning sun; silence and desolo-
ton reign where so lately joy and happiness fill
ed every bosom. The captives must have cast
"a longing, lingering look behind as they,
babe adieu to the lieless bodies OF their murder
ed relations-to the green fields where the chill
dren had played and sported in innocent mirth
and now they were going they knew not where,
doomed to toll, privation and exposure in
traversing mountains, wading through streams,
and crossing deep rivers, destitute of the neces-
saries of life, lying down at night with no hope
of mitigation of their sorrows, and rising from
the hard earth with no refreshment from sleep.
On their march two other children of Mrs.
Moore were killed by their savage captors, and
now on the spot where Chilicothe stands, in a
council held by the chief, it is determined that
Mrs Moore and her daughter Jane shall be
| burned at the stake. Martha WINS and little
Mary were the only white persons who witness
| ed the awful and horrid scene. The shrcks and
| cries of the child must have re echoed through
the surrounding woods, mingling with the
savage yells Of their tormentors. Not SO with
her mother She was calm and serene-con-
| versed with Mary and the faithful Martha, and
earnestly prayed in the midst Of the surrounding
flames for the moment when her spirit should
take its flight to those blessed mansions in Heav-
en-, where not wave Of trouble would roll
across her peaceful breast. Her death was