Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-06-21
Death Of aNOted Indian Hunter at the
Age OF log Hears--A COmpatriOt OF
Lewis WetEel.


Correspondence OF Pittsburgh Commercial.
A few weeks ago a most extraordi-
nary character and venerable pioneer
died at Bridgeport, Immediately oppo-
site the city Of Wheeling. / refer to
Joseph WOrley, whose early history
and subsequent career have been so
intimately connected with the frontier
annals.
Joseph Worley was born In 1859,
just one hundred and two years ago.
His relatives say that his birthplace
was at West Liberty, in Ohio county,
now West Virginia, but it is certainly
true that whether born there or not,
his early childhood was spent in that
locality, which is no more than
twelve miles distant from the spot
where he died. At the time Of his
birth this part Of the West was an IN
broken wilderness. 1t was vet thir-
teen years before the first white man
had fixed his abode west Of the Ohio
river; q few hunters held Kentucky
against the Indians north Of the river.
and sustained with that region the
primitive relations Of hOrse-stealing
and scalpingi in Virginia, the frail
and lonely settlements (Of which
West Liberty was One) creeping west /
ward, made friends with the desert /
and produced population nearly as
wild as its elder children, and quite as
fierce and truculent-
Into snch a heritage was young
WOrley born and from his earliest
childhood he discovered an aptitude
for frontier life. He was particularly
skilled in the use of the rifle, and all
his early thoughts and plannings had
reference to the savage foes that SUI
rounded him. The numerous eXpe-
ditions for which he was chosen show
ed the confidence his fellow-piOneers
had in him. Simon Girty, the nOto-
riOus white renegade, was at this
time with the Indians on the San
dusky plains, and frequently headed
their marSuding raids upon the settle
ments. It was the aim Of the settlers
to vanquish this most formidable foe,
and Mr.. WOrley, with others, under
took the task Of capturing him. In
this 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
Of Ohio, his pursuers enduring un-
parelleled privatiOn and encounter
ing periloUs difficulties, but always
unsuccessful in his capture.
Some time early in life WOrley and
his brother Jacob, who seems 20 have
been as heroic as the other, drifted
toward Fort Henry, occupying the
point where Wheeling now stands,
and here they became acquainted
with the famous WetZel, one Of the
most noted Indian hunters Of Ameri-
can pioneer history. Worley, who
was several years Wetzel's junior,
was his very intimate friend, and his
almost constant companion in the
woods. On one occasion, having dis
covered fresh evidences Of the pres
enee Of Indians in the neighbOrhOOd
Of the settlement, WetZel and Wor-
ley undertook to ascertain their where
abOuts. They followed their tracks
for several miles, and became so in
tent upon 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 opposite 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 hunt
ers about the same time they were
themselves discovered. Both parties
took to the trees, after the custom Of
Indian fighting, butth Indians great
ly outnumbered the others. six or
seven stalwart and trained Indian
HsfHs
pitted against two determined hum
teIs, and, as IL to add 70 the danger OF
their position, WetZel was recognized
by the Indians as their implacable
and lifelong enemy. Now began a
duel-a running fight-a life-and-
death contest. No reinforcements
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. In
recOunting it Oftentimes afterward
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 a demOniac yell, thinking that
they were uupFepared for q 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
silent and apparently awe-struck, but
in that instant Wetzel had again load
ed his gun. Several shots were fired
at him, but he was securely shielded
by atree. 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 be-
came more cautious. Once WetZel
put his cap on the ramrod, as though
he were peering round the tree, and
when the Indian shot a bullet thTO'
it he let it drop to the ground. The
Indians all 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 toward
the fort, the three remaining Indians
becoming every moment more anx-
ious. One Of their number, perhaps
while carefully climbing tree on the
opposite side from the hunters, with
a view Of starting them from their
lurking place, uneOnsciously exposed
himself, and was wounded by one Of
the hunters; whereupOn the other
Indians, having trusted so long to the
superiority 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 a marvelousiy heroic feat.
This circumstance was related tOyOur
correspondent years ago, when Joseph
WOrlsy was even then called an old
man.
For many years after civilization
had claimed and metamorphOsed
these Western wilds, the WOrley
brothers lived not far from Bellaire,
on the Ohio river. y numerous pro-
geny grew up around them, and their
interest never abated in the march of
progress and in the surrounding i'm
prOvements. Until few weeks pre-
viOus to his death this interest in cur
rent events continued very lively, and
his memory and strength were re-
markable. His death took place at
the house Of William H. Robinson,
with whom he had lived several years
previously.
.4Os-s
No more graphic and terrible pic
ture Ofa plague-strieken city was ever
l. I. l.