Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-06-14
Death of a Noted Indian Hunter.

the life of Joseph Worley, who died at
Bridgeport, Ohio, a few weeks ago, at the
age of l02 years. He was an adept in iron
! tier life, and was the chosen leader in many
expeditions against the red skins After
recounting the history of his early life and
training, the correspondent says:
Simon Girty, the notorious white rene
gade, was at this time with the Indians on
the Sandusky plains, and frequently headed
their marauding raids upon the settlements.
1t was the aim of the settlers to vanqUish
this most formidable foe, and Mr.. Worley,
with others, undertook the task of capturing
him. In this new work Mr. Girty, at the
head of the Ottawa warriors, was pursued
across the Ohio at Meigs Island up the
waters of Cross creek, and far into the in
terror of what is now the State of Ohio, his
pursuers enduring unparalleled priyation
and encountering perilous difficulties, but
always unsuccessful in his capture.
Some time early in life Worley and his
brother Jacob, who seems to have been as
heroic as the other, drifted toward Fort
Henry, occupying the point where Wheel
ing now stands, and here they became ac-
quainted with the famous Lewis Wetzel. one
of the most noted Indian hunters of Amer
lean pioneer history. Worley, who was sev
eral years Wetzels junior was his very in
innate friend, and his almost constant com
nanion in the woods Ga one occasion hay
i l. =. Il,
ence of Indians in the neighborhood of the
settlements, Wetzel and Worley undertook
to ascertain their whereabouts. They fol
lowed their tracks for several miles, and
scarcely become aware of the distance they
had wandered from the settlements until
they had gone eleven or twelve miles South,
and nearly opposite the point where the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad now strikes
the Ohio river. Here trey came upon a
camp of Indians, who discovered the hun
ters about the same time they were them
selves discovered Both parties took to the
trees, after the custom of Indian fighting,
but the Indians greatly Outnumbered the
others. Six or seven stalwart and trained
Indian warriors of the Huron tribe were
now pitted against two determined hunters !;
and, as if to add to the danger OF their 20
sition, Wetzel was recognized by the lndl
ans as their impacabe and life long enemy.
Now began duel-a running fght-a life
and death contest n" ,";nfarcaments cnnid
reach the hunters until they had travelled at
least ten miles, and long before that their
willy foes would overpower them in all prob
ability. Yet they determined to sell their
lives dearly. Wetzel took command, aud
Worley obeyed him implicitly. In recount
ing it oftentimes aftcrward Mr.. Worley grew
animated, and nobly attributed to Wetzel
the salvation of his life.
A tall Huron warrior was the first to fall.
He rushed out from his covert with demo
MAC yell, thinking that they were unprepared
for sudden attack, or would readily yield
to the force of superior numbers But in
this he was mistaken, and his life paid the
penalty For a moment or so afterward the
other Indians were silently and apparently
awestruck, but in that interval Wetzel had
again loaded his gun. Several shots were
fired at him, but he was securely shielded
by a tree. And so from tree to tree for four
exciting miles, the hunters lodged and crept.
Another warrior, in seeking stealthily to cut
off their retreat, was killed, and the others
became more cautious. Once Wetzel put
his cap on the ramrod, as though he was
peering round the tree, and when the Indian
shot bullet through it he let it drop to the
ground The Indians all rushed out, when
two others fell. The movements we're now
carried on on both sides, with the utmost
caution The hunters worked their way
gradually to the fort. the three remaining
Indians becoming every moment more anx-
ious. One of their number, perhaps while
carefully climbing a tree on the opposite
side from the hunters, with Il view of start
ing them from their lurking place, uncon-
sciOusly exposed himself, and was wounded
by one of the hunters whereupo4 the other
Indians, having trusted so long to the su-
periority of their numbers, and having a
peculiar awe of Wetzel, stole away into the
depths of the woods, leaving the hunters to
return to the fort to recount what was even
then esteemed marvelously heroic feat.
This circumstance was related to your cor
respondent years ago, when Joseph Worley
was even then called an old man.
80 "