West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-03-03
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wETzsL sHocTs AT GEORGE WASHING

North West. He built a fort at the
mouth of the Muskingum, where Aarietts
now stands. It was bis wish TO adjust the
difficulty with the Todians without the
further shedding of blood, If it could bt
done.
Accordingly, he sent a flag of true,
among the various tribes, inviting them IA
come TO the ioit. At the same time ht
published a proclamation declaring tn,
war suspended Till the utility of conclu-
ding a general peace could be Investigated,
The Indians were always ready for any
thing Of the kind; for, in the aggregate,
treaties were 10 their advantage. There
fore, in acceptance of the offer a larg
number of them gathered in from various
parts of the country, and pitched a gen
rrsl encsmpment ON the Muskingum, a
few miles above Marietta.
Treaties with the Indians had grown 60
common, and were so universally disre-
garded and broken, that TO make new
ones seemed a mere farce. The Indians
were not always to blame for the violation
OF the treaties, but they generally were;
and be this as it may, the peace was al
ways of short duration, and conducive TO
no ultimate good.
SO when General HaFmar published his
proclamation, declaring the war suspend
ed for tho time, many persons oneDl,
avoWed their disapprobation of the meas
ure, and declared themselves not bound
by 1t. Among them were Lewis Wetzel
and Nesch Dickerson. They publicly an
nounced their intention of fighting the
Indians in despite of General Harmar and
his proclamation.
Accordingly they set ont for the front,
where the General Vas busily engaged
in threatening, olarneying aud ~haranguinp
the peihdious savages 10 another peace.
AS the Indian camp was some distance
from the tort, and as they would be al
most constantly passing back and forth
between the two places, it occurred e.
Wetzel and his companion that the most
effective mode 0f attack would be 10 wsy-
Icy the path between the two pisces.
This they did. They sought out G suita-
Die place and set themselves in ambush.
Presently a big burly Indian, who was
known by the name of George Washing
ton, came down the path at full gallon
They called on him 10 halt. lie did no,
comply probably did Eot hear them on
account OF the clstter of his horses feet.
When he was apast them they decided To
give him a shot any how. They fired, but
he did not fall. He rode on aud reached
The fort, where he gave the alarm. He
had been shot through and through, and
died OF his wounds that night.
GENERAL HARNAR ATTEMPTS TO ARREST
wRTzRL.
as o as it was known that an Indian
had been killed, the chiefs and warriors
becames excited, and the conse quences
must have been serious, had not General
HaImar assured them that the dastardly
ceed was dohe without his knowledge
end sgslnst bis orders, and that he would
willingly punish the guilty parties, if he
could get thtm in bis power. This allay-
ed the storm Of vengeance in the Indian
camp
a rumor was socn circulated that the
shooting had been done by Lewis Weizel
This reached the ears of General Harmar
and be vas highly incenscd, partly thai
tae shameful affair had occurred il a lime
of truce, but more that il had been done
In ;ebellion against his authority, by one
OF the border meL-s Gloss Of ptopIs for
whom be never entertained much love. I'm,
whom be was finally compelled TO respect
lie sent a company of men under Captain
AiDgsbuiy to Mirgo Bottom, With orders
10 take Weizel dead or alive. There was
an impcssibility TO Kingsbury obevipp
this order, and be ss speedily convinced
OF it, He might es well have attempted
TO drag Cesar from bis throne, as to take
Lewis Weizel from the people of the
Wheeling Border. lie was their idol. AZ
u were; and there was Scarcely a man
among them who would not have sbed
blood, If necessary, rather than sec him
given up 10 be punished for shooting an
Indian, even in time Of truce.
A company Of the border m en- collected
and set an smbuscade, intending tn mss-
sscre Kingsbury and his men. Major
Mcmahon INTERVIEWED, persusding the men
70 Gesist, till he could see Kingsbury ana
induce him TO return. This was done.
and what might have been s catastrophe
was avoided.
General Hsrmar was Informed that If
be persisted in bis efforts 10 csptnre Wet.
zel The whole country would be upon him.
and he would have his hands full. With
this the me- ter was dropped for the time
Whether Hsrmar really intended 20
hang Weizel lss he thieatcoec) has been
questioned but be was surely 10 earnest
about bis arrest. This may have been I'm
part effected 70 appeose The fury Of the
Indians, and allow the negotiating treaty
70 be concluded.
Wetzel, thinking that The vorst vac
now over, and that 20 more attemo's
would be made 20 modest him, shortly af-
Ter, and while General Harmsr wls sull
al Marietta, got INTO a csroe and started
down the Ohio for Kentucky. 10 was one
of bic characterize lice never 10 remain long
10 ono place. lie was elmost constant,
moving about between Pittsburgh and
Louisville. The greater part Of 'his dis