The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-02
A LONG FORGOTTEN REMINIs.
CENCE,
A Tragedy Near TrIadeIphIa in l777
-ReeollectlonS ofthe Grist Family.
EdItnYa NJ ina To a1It......

A Tragedy Near TrIadeIphIa in l777
-ReeollectlonS ofthe Grist Family,
Editors Of the Inelligenear.
With the advance guard that led the
"star ol empire" to this region on itl
westward way, was q family that settled
In the neighborhood Of Triadelphis, by
the name OF Grist-not Grice, as II IS IN
correctly written In De Hass's history,
In the year 1777-slmost 0 century ago.
this family, with others In the vicinity,
was gathered for safety from the Indians
to Shepherds tort, which occupied me
site OF the late residence Of Mrs. Cruger
at Elm Grove.
After the siege Of Fort Henry Wheel
ipgl Of that year had been raised-owiug
to the severe losses in its defense two Of
the killed being members OF the Shepherd
tamily-it was determined TO abandon
shepherds Fort In order to strengthen
the more important one at tho mouth OF
the Greek. They determined, also to
send the non.combatant members Of their
families to RGdStone (Drownsville) for
greater security. The Grist family was
not satisfied with this arrangement, and
ioolishly determined to go back TO their
Improvement" They accordingly Get
out with that intention, the family con-
sisting Of the two parents and five chill
dren. Their movements were observed
by q party Of Indians, eleven in number,
who were watching the fort from the
hills, and stealthily followed them to a
point short distance below Triadelphia,
when they suddenly attacked them. Two
daughters were "scalped" and left for
dead. The eldest boy, John, aged about
fifteen, and rather small OF his years, but
quite active, "took to his heels" and, az
ter an exciting race, was captured within
the present village limits Of Triadelphia,
The admiration excited by his display of
muscle and pluck, about the only qualities
his captors could appreciate, doubtless
led them 10 spare his lie.
1t is not very clear to this writer what
became Of the other members Of the fam.
lily. Early records Of this affair are very
mesgsr, and the facts are becoming quite
dim in the memory Of the few CEN
teDarians that still linger with US who
were conversant with them in youth, but
II seems pretty certain that they were not
all killed, as some accounts say.
The younger daughter had her skull
fractured by stroke with war.club. II
was "trepaned" by DR.. Moore, Of Catfish
(WashingtoD). She recovered, and after. |
wards became the wife Of q Captain Jolly, |
"a well known citizen Of Ohio" She said |
The man that scalped her had blue eyes
and light hair. The other, a married |
daughter, was hurriedly buried near the
spot OF the tragedy, where she still sleeps
in her bloody grave that "No funeral rite |
Or prayer has blessed" and no stone or
other mark shows its exact location.
John escaped eleven years alterward 10
3 tort In Kentucky, whittier he had &C
party Of Indians on horse.
stealing expedition. He returned to his
Iormer home and resumed civilized life.
He was an inofensive man, but his INTEL
lect had nearly perished. he was often
The unconscious victim Of much rude fun
BY the "roughs" Of the neighborhood.
He was noted for telling improbable
stories. According 10 one Of his stories,
he had once jumped the Ohio river, after
a race ot ten miles, with keg Of whisky
on his back, lighting in to the knees in 4
rock. He died in Belmont county, Ohio,
at an advanced age. Peace to his ashes.
W. C.a
Ohio County, ". Ha, Apnl a4, 1874.