Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-01-15

son of the man killed the preced-
ings summer, a boy of seven years
old. ran back into the house, and
hid himself behind some punch
cons that he placed across a corner
of the room, and remained conceal
ed. Notwithstanding the Indians
brought the prisoners into the
house, among whom we're his moth
cr and sister, both tied, and kept
them there till they fried bacon and
ate their breakfast; they then set
fire to the house in two places, and
went away. Evan said he continu-
ed in the hOuse as long as he cOnld
on account of the fire that ho saw
through n chink in the wall tho
direction the Indians went; and
not knowing which way to go, he
concluded to take the contrary
course from the one taken by them.
lie rambled abOut all that day and
the most Of the next before he
found any person, the houses which
he passed having been abandoned
by their owners going to the fort.
Tho Indians encamped the first
night at spring on the Romney
road. between the North river and
Little Capon; and on the next day
they stopped on the bank OF the
South Branch, near where Romney
now stands, to eat their dinner.
While thus engaged, a party who
we're stationed in fort a mile or
two lower down the river, and who
had lust returned from n scout, dis
Charged their guns in order to clean
them, which alarmed the Indians,
and they hurried across the river,
assisting all their female prisoners
excepting Mrs. Thomas, who being
large fat woman, it WAS suppos-
ed would perish, as the water was
rapid and deep. She fioated down
the stream, however, until almost
exhausted, when she had the good
fortune to get on rock, and save
herself from drowing. She had
put a piece of bread in her bosom
the morning she was taken, and
lost it in the water; but it happen
cd TO float so near her while on the
rock that she caught it and ate 1t (;
which, as she said, so revived and
strengthened her that she plung-
ed into the water again, and pro-
videntally got out on the cast side
of the river. She reached Will
liams' fort, two miles b low the
Hanging Rock, on the same day.
II was often remarked by Mrs.
Thomas acqualGtences, that after
her return she would INFINITELY re-
late the circumstances attending
the murder Of her husband and
children, and her own suficrings,
without shedding a tear. Either
five or seven Of the persons wound
ed by the Indians, were taken to
the fort at Maj. Robert Whites,
attended by DR.. NJ Donald, though
but one recovered, Hester Lloyd,
who had two scalps taken from her"
Mrs. Thomas daughter, and Mrs.
C'ouser aud her three small daugh-
tcrs, were taken to the Indian
towns, and after An absence Of
about six months, were released
from captivity, and all returned
home safely.
There is something remarkable
in the history Of the three Miss.
Clousers, who were all prisoners at
the same time. The eldest was
about ten years old, the next eldest
about seven, and the youngest be
tween five and six. They all re-
turned home from their captivity,
grew up, were married, raised faml-
lies Of children, and arc now wid.
ows, living in tho same neighbor-
hood, not more than five or six
miles apart. Two OF them, Mrs.
Shultz and Mrs. Snapp, reside
about ono and u half miles from the
residence Of the author, and the
third, Mrs. Fry, not exceeding six
miles.
Miss Lloyd, who was toma-
hawked and scalped.' was soon dis
covered not to bc dead, The late
Dr. MDonald was sent for, who
trcpanncd her IN the several irac-
tures in her head. She recovered
and lived many wears after. There
are several respectable individuals
now living who knew this NO
man(a)
The other party Of eight Indians
committed several murders on Ce-
der creek. Itis probable this party
killed n Mr.. Lyle, a Dir. Butler,
and some Others. Mr.. EllisThomas,
the husband Of the woman whose
story has Just been given, WAS kill
ed the harvest preceding. This
party of eight Indians took of two
female prisoners, we're pursued by a
party Of white men, overtakcn in
the South Branch mountain and
fired upon, when one OF the Indians
was killed. The others fled, leav.
ing their guns, prisoners and plum
der.(b) The prisoners and property
were brought home. Two of the
fugitives overlook the party in the
AlIegany mountain who had Mrs.
Clouser, her daughters, and other
prisoners in custody. The iugi-
tives aDpeared i'm desperate i'll hu-