Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-08-14
DANIEL MORGAN.

manly tortured and murdered by the In
dians-was marching company from
the frontier Of his own State, 20 the
Ohio river. The occasion 10 not exactly
known; 1t might have been during
Braddock's expedition in l763-it might
have been during that march from
Alexandria to Leesburg, or perhaps on
the bank Of the very river that now
gives such charm to Belmont Park, or
in some Of the expeditions previous to
Dunmore's war, which occurred In l774.
From the ages OF the parties, We rather
incline to the former date. Craw-
ford's men were, ofcourse, hunters and
farmers from the outskirts Of the Vir-
ginia settlements, most probably young,
daring, hardy volunteers, Of the same
class as the pioneers who shortly after
that period overrun the forests Of Ken
tucky; and he himself was bold, en-
terprising man. Previous to his leav-
ing the neighborhood ofthe settlements,
Crawford, from some accident, found
himself I'm want Of the means Of trans
portation for some of his baggage or
stores, and at the place where he halted
In the woods fortunately fell In with II
WAGNER who had stopped to rest his
horses at the same spot. In such an
emergency Captain Crawford felt no
hesitation in pressing the team and It's
driver into the service, and accordingly
communicated his designs to the wagon
er. The latter, highly incensed, was
inclined to resist what he considered an
oppressive act; but he was alone, In the
midst of a military band, ready and
able, ata word, to enforce their COM
mander's order. The WAGNER was a
great, gigantic, two-fsted, square built
fellow, who bore on his face the marks
Of many q hard fought battle. He was.
i'm fact, a noted bruiser. He received
Captain Crawford's order with an air
of great dissatisfaction, remained for n
moment silent, looking sullenly at the
troops, as II Indignantly measuring
their strength az ainst his weakness. He
then observed to the Captain, that 1t
was hard to be forced to 20 against his
own will-that every man ought to have
q fair chance-that he had not q fair
chance, inasmuch as the odds were so
great against him as to deprive him Of
the power of protecting his own right.
He would, however, make PROPOSE
ton, which he thought the Captain was
bound In honor 10 accede to: 81 will
fight you," said he, cor any man In
your company. II am whipped,
will 90 with you cheerfully; but III
conquer, you must let me off," In maxi
: ing this proposal, the WAGNER showed
himself an able negotiator. He either
knew Crawford's character, or he had
read 1t during the interview. The Cap.
tain was an expert woodsman, stout,
active, and chivalrous, aud prided HIM
self on his personal prowess, for which
he had already obtained some celebrity.
To have declined the wagoneI's chal-
lenge might have seemed to indicate a
want of manhood-it might have less
ened him In the eyes Of his men-and
his own disposition and code OF ethics,
perhaps, suggested that the WAGNER
was entitled, In justice, TO the fair,
chance which he claimed. He accord
ingly accepted the challenge, and both
parties began to strip for .he combat.
At this moment, tall young man,
who had recently joined the company,
and was q stranger to most Of them, who
had been carelessly leaning against a
tree, eyeing the scene with apparent
unconcern, stepped forward and drew
Crawford aside. "Captain," said he,
"you must let me fight that mamie
will whip YOU" Crawford was not
willing to appear TO back out, but the
outh insisted that TO have the Captain
beaten, which would be the result II he
persisted, would tarnish the honor Of
the company; and moreover, that he
himself was the only man who could
whip the WAGNER. The confidence OF
the youth, and something about him
which inspired confidence In others, en-
abled him to carry his point. Captain
Crawford having done all that policy
required, In accepting the challenge,
very prudently suffered himself TO be
persuaded by his men TO let the stranger
take his place.
The two combatants were soon strip
ped and prepared for the fight. There
was a great disparity In their appear
ance, the odds being decidedly in favor
Of the WAGNER. He was In the vigor
Of life, big, muscular, hardened by ex-
posure, and experienced In affairs OF this
kind. The youth, Who, when clad In
his hunting shirt, seemed slender, now
showed himself to be young giant.
His frame had not yet acquired the full
ness, the compactness and vIgor Of ripe
manhood which 1t afterward possessed
TO so high q degree-hls limbs seemed
loosely hung together, but his bones
and muscles were enormous, and bis
eyes full Of courage.
The conflict, though bloody, wa
short. The WAGNER was completely
and terribly beaten. The youth sprang
| nm him with the ferocity OF an enraged