The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-06-23

rearrested however, by a guard Of
soldiers, one day, a few weeks later
and taken to Cincinnati for trisl
This second seizure aroused the set
Elements among which the youn0
scout was a faYorite, and great ex-
citement followed. The people re-
/ solved to rescue the prisOneTat all
hazards-an enterprise thWa1ted BY
! the good sense Of a civil magistrate,
who, under action ola writ Of aABEAs
CORPUS set him free. A real ovation
followed, and Lewis was reconfrmed
in'his zeal for Indian killing by these
plaudits.
He was thus described at this time,
August 26th, being then about 26
years of age:
He was full breasted, very broad
across the shoulders, his arms we're
large, skin darker than the other
brothers, face badly pitted with small
pox: his hair, of which he was verv
careful, reached, when combed ont.
to the calves Of his legs: his ewes re-
markably black, when excited shark.
ling with such vindictive Glance SO
to indicate the dreadful fury of his
nature. He was taciturn in mixed
company, but joyous enough with
his chosen companions. His moral
habits, ,eomapred with those of his as
sociates, were exemplary.
He usually hunted Indians alone.
going off on his expeditions for mur.
der just as ether hunters would to
hunt ordinary forest game. He.
seemed literally to know no fear.
he would attack at any hazard, re-
lying on his skill and immense DOW
er for endurance for escape. He
became kind of forest knight. be-
friendiRg the weak settlers and ever
ready to take the trail where Indians
had made an appearance. Once on
their trail he was a dreadful foe, and
he became at once their dread and
the objects of their intense hate.
Many noted brave vowed his death,
no savage was fortunate enough to
seize his coveted scalp, so richly
loaded with its magifcent length Of
raven hair. This pursuit of the i'm
plaeable Shawnee and of the willy
Wyandot only ceased as the line Of
settlements advanced and Wayne's
treaty of 1895 gave peace to the bor-
der
After this peace, Wetzle led a row
ing wood life. Finding it now a
dangerous matter to kill a peaeeable
Indian, he grew restless and finally
embarked on a fat boat for New Or
leans. There getting into trouble
with a Spaniard he was arrested and
thrown into prison. New Orleans
then being under Spanish dominion,
(the Louisiana Territory was trans
ferred to our Government, the
friendless man was incarcerated for
two years, and treated most igno-
miniously by the tyranical power in
authority, and not until our govern
ment authorities interceded was he at
length released.
This incarceration much impaired
his robust health and spirits. He re-
turned north by a sailing vessel to
Philadelphia. For few months he
lowered around his old haunts
among his friends along the Ohio;
but, at length, suddenly disappeared
down the river. 1t is stated that
ne went to New Orleans and took
ample revenge for his wrongs; but
nothing certain is known regarding
his acts. He never returned north,
but died with a relative near Natchez
in 1908.
His brothers become settlers and
farmers, and their descents are now
to be found in the Ohio valley in con-
siderable numbers. Lewis never
married. 1t was not possible for
his wild, restless nature to submit
to the bonds of wedlock. He
lives on the page of history as an
ayenging spirit, whose mission was
OF blood. Such men should not
leave descendants. Like the red
savage whom he resembled in form,
feature, complexion and disposition,
there is no place for such greatness
as was his on our new civilization.