The Shasta courier., 1871-07-15
SHASTA COURIER.
a NOTED INDIAN HUNTER.

Co spondence Pittsbur. Commercial.
SteuA 4ville, Ohio, May 25.-A few weeks
ago most extraordinary character and
venerable pioneer died at Bridgeport, a
few miles below this city. l refer to
Joseph " orley whose early history and
subsequent career have been so intim-
ately connected with the frontier annals
of that portion of the country that it is a
wonder his death has been unnoticed by
the local press.
Joseph Worley was born in 1869, Just
lO2 years ago His relatives say that his
birthplace was at West Liberty, in Ohio
county, now West Virginia, but it is GER
tainly true that whether born there or not,
his early childhood was spent in that locali
ty, which is not more than twelve miles
distant from the spot, h. died. At the
time OF his birth, this part of the West
was an uubroken wilderness. Worley
from his early childhood, discovered an
aptitude for frontier lite He was partic-
ularly skilled in the use of the.rife, and
all his early thoughts and plannings had
reference to the savage foes that surround
ed him The numerous expeditions for
which he was chosen, showed the confd-
ence his fellow pioneers had in HIM
Simon Girty, the notorious white renegade
was at this time with the Indians on the
San lusky plains, and frequently headed
their plaruading raids upon the settlers.
to vanquish this most formidable foe, and
Mr. No.ley, with others undertook the
task of capturing him. To this work.
Girty at the head of the Ottawa warriors,
was pursued across the Ohio at Meig's
Island up the waters of Cross G eek, and
far into the interior of what is now the
State OF Ohio, his pursuers enduring priva
tons and encountering perilous d fficuities,
but always unsuccessful in his capture.
Sometime early in bis life Worley and
his brother Jacob, who seems to have
been as heroic as the other drifted toward
Fort Henry, occupying the point where
beeilng row stands, and here thew be-
came acquainted with the famous Lewis
W etzel, one of the most noted Indian hunt
ers OF American pioneer history Worley,
who was several years Wetzer's Junior was
his very intimate friend, and his almost
constant con panion in the woods On
one occasion, having discovered fresh evi-
dences of the presence of indians in the
of the settlements. Wetzel
and Morley undertook to ascertain their
whereabouts They followed their track
for several miles, and beclme so intent up
on their prey, as to scarcely become aware
of the distance they had wandered from
the settlements, until they had gone eleven
or twelve miles south, and nearly opposit
to the point where the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad now strikes the Ohio River.
Here they came upon a camp of Indians,
who discovered the hunters about the same
time they were themselves 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 Indians of the
Huron tribe were now pitted against two
determined hunters; and, as if to add to
the dangers Of their position, Wetzel was
recognized by the Indians as their impla-
cable enemy. Now began duel-a run
ming ight-a life and death contest No
could reach the hunters
until they had travelled at least ten miles,
and long before that their willy foes would
overpower them in all probability Yet
they determined to sell their lives dearly
Wetzel took command and Worley obeyed
him implicitly.
A tall Huron warrior was the first to fall
He rushed out from lis covert with yell,
thinking that they were unpreparcd for
sudden attack and would readily yield to
the forcs of superior numbers But in
this he was mistaken, and his life paid the
penalty. For moment or so the other
Indians were silent apparently awe-struck,
but in that interval y etzel had again load
ed his gun. Several shots we're fred at
him, but he was securely shielded by
tree and so from tree to tree, for four
excited miles, the hunters crept An
other warrior, in seeking steathily to cut
off their retreat, was killed and the others
became more cautious. Once Wetzel put
his cap on the ramrod as though peering
round the tree and when the Indian shot
bullet through it let it drop to the ground.
The Indians rushed out when two others
fell The movements were 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 anxious.
One of their number perhaps while care
fully climbing tree on the opposite side
OF the hunters. with view of starting
them from their lurking place, uncon-
sciously exposed himself, and was wound
ed BY of the hunters; whereupon the
other Indians, having trusted SO long to
the superiority of their numbers, and hav-
ing peculiar awe of Wetzel, stole away
into the depths of the woods, leaving sbs