Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-01-08

return to the fort. After some con-
sultation it was agreed on to repair
to the shelter of large elm tree in
the meadow where they had been
moving, and where they concealed
themselves in n winnOw OF the
grass, and soon fell into a sound
sleep; from which they were some
time afterwards reused by the crack
of a rifle. Mr.. Welton was lying
with his brother Jonathan under
the same blanket, and the the latter
was shot through the heart. The
party sprung to their feet and at
tempted to escape. In his alarm,
Mr.. w. forgot his rifle, and fled in
company with Mr.. Delay. They
had proceeded about 200 yards,
pursued by an Indian, when Delay
wheeled and discharged his rifle,
which brought his pursuer down.
At the same instant that Delay
wheeled, the Indian threw his
tomahawk, which sunk into the
back of Mr.. Welton, severing two
of his ribs. lie fell TO the ground,
supposing himself mortally woun-
ded by a rifle ball, while Delay
continued onward pursued by
another Indian. Mr.. WeltOn soon
recovered from his surprise, and
proceeded cautiously in n direction
towards the fort, very weak from
the loss Of blood. He soon heard
Delay and the Indian in a parley;
the former being exhausted by
running and disposed to yield, and
the latter demanding his surrender.
Delay agreed to give up on condi-
ton that his enemy would spare
his life, which being solemnly
agreed to, he was recondueted TO
the elm tree. Here a council was
held, and Delay, with three Others
who had been taken, were inhu-
manly scalped, from which they
died in two or three days after
wards. Mr.. Welton was able to
reach the fort, where he laid three
months before his wound healed.
OF the whole party, but three
escaped; four were scalped and
died. and two were killed at the
first surprise. The escape of Mr..
Kuykendall was remarkable
1t was a bright moonlight night,
while the shade of the elm render
ed 1t quite dark under the tree.
Mr.. X. being an old man, was I'M
able to fly with speed, and there
tore remained still, while his com
panions fed across the meadow
The Indians passed over him, leay-
ing the rear clear, when Mr.. X.
retreated at his leisure, and reach
cd the fort in safety, one and n half
miles. (a)
On the day following, the whites
left the fort in pursuit, and over
took their enemy late at nigh on
Dunkard bottom, Cheat river,
where they had encamped. The
pursuers dismounted, and the
captain ordered Bingaman (the
same whose prowess is related in a
preceding page to guard the
horses. He however disObeyed,a and
loitered in the rear of the party.
To make the destruction Of the
enemy more certain, it was deemed
advisable to wait for daylight be-
fore they began an attack but a
Young man, whose zeal overcamo
his discretion, fired into the group,
upon which the. Indians sprung to
their feet and fled. Bngaman
singled out n fellow of giant-like,
size, whom he pursued, throwing
aside his rifle that his speed might
not be retarded-passed several
smaller Indians in the chase-came
M with him-and with a single
blow of mis- hatchet, cleft his skull.
When Bingaman returned to the
battle ground, the captain STORMY
observed, 81 ordered you to stay
and guard the horses Bingaman
as sternly replied, "yOu are a
rascal, sir: you intended to dis
grace me and one more insolcnt
word, and You shall share the fate
of that Indian pointing towards
the body he had just slain. The
captain quailed under the stern
menace, and held his peace. lie
and Bingaman had, few days be-
fore, had a falling ont. Several In
dians tell in this affair, while the
whites lost none of their party.
DR.. Turley stated to the author
: that he had often heard Mr.. JOIN
f Harness, who was one of the party
that followed the Indians, relate
| that Delay was taken to Dunkar'
r bottom, and when the lndian
, were then surprised, he was shot
o bnt whether by his captors or accl
/. dentally, was not known, Della,
f himself not being able TO tell. Ii
was conveyed home on alitter, anC
died directly afterwards. There
h however, two Delays, and the frs
i, relation may be true.
p Mrs. Shobe, an aged and respect
/. able lady, living on Mill creek, l
t Hardy county, informed the authc
g that Delay was buried on the bank
of the South Branch, and som
n wears afterwards his skeleton wa
Il washed out by a rising of I'll
c,t. 4I,o,, hoorI Ioh Walfo