Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-07-09

He was an active, athletic young
mana first rate wOodsmau, cool,
fearless and generous. He pre-
pared for his expedition by furnish
ing himself with a good rifle, a fnll
supply Of ammunition, suit OF
buckskin, and sufficient sum Of
money in specie ; and set out to
seek his sister amongst the say
ages of the western Wilderness
The enterprise was fall Of hazard,
bat nothing daunted him. After
various perils and unsuccessful at
tempts to get any tidings of her, he
at length heard that she was near
Detroit, and made his way thither.
In the early part Of October, 1891,
he set out on his return to Virgin
ia with his sister and James and
Polly Moore. The two Moores got
a passage in trading boat down
the lakes, about two hundred miles,
to the MOrayan towns. There Mr..
Evans and his sister met them with
three horses. Fortunately for them,
a party of these friendly Indians
were just starting on winter hunt.
With them they trayersel the hunt
ing ground of several tribes less
friendly, and were protected IN
some situations which seemed full
of danger. They reached the neigh
borhood of Pittsburg in the begin
ming of winter, and remained with
an uncle of Thomas Evans until
spring. In the early part Of spring
they reached Rockbridge county,
where the MoOres met with their
younger brother, Joseph, who at
the time Of the breaking up of his
fathers family was in Rockbridge,
at his grandfather POage's.
After some years, the Evans fam
lily moved to the west. Jas. Moore
resides on the tract of land owned
by his father. Joseph resides in
the same neigbbOrhoOd. Each of
them has raised large family, and
each has been for many years a
protesting Christian. Polly became
member of the church at an early
period, and in 1898 was married to
the Rey. Samuel Brown, for many
years pastor OF New Providence
church. Few have lived more gen.
orally beloved by large circle of
acquaintances. She closed her
eventful life in the month of April,
1924, in the joyful triumphs Of
Christian faith. Her remains rest
beside those Of her husband in the
graveyard Of New Providence
church. She became the mother Of
eleven children of these, one died
in infancy and one in early youth.
The nine who survive are all pro.
fessOrs of religion. OF her seven
sons, five are ministers Of the Cos
pei in the Presbyterian church (;
one is a farmer, and the Youngest
at this time 1880 IS at college
/ Prepared for Kerchevars History
of the Valley by J. NJ. Brown.
The author heard from Poage Of
ROckbridge county, a connection of
theyoung prisoner, some additional
circumstances in relation TO the in
tended cruel treatment OF the pris-
oner, by the savages. Soon after
reaching their village, they held a
council, and determined that James
should run the gauntlet. They, as
was their usual practice, placed
themselves in two lines, with their
scourges, and ordered the prisoner
to run between. James started,
and when the first one struck him,
he wheeled around and made iu-
rious battle on the fellow. All OF
the Indians Immediately gathered
around him, patting and caresslng
him, and pronounced him a good
warrior.
The Rev. Mr.. Brown, the author
of the foregoing narrative, stated to
the author that he has no recollec.
ton of hearing this aneclote; but
as Mr. Poage is a much older man
that Mr.. Brown, and man of a
highly respectable character, and
could certainly have no motive to
induce him to misrepresent any OF
the facts connected with this inter.
esting story, the author has thought
proper to give it 10 the reader,
without holding himself responsi.
BILE for its truth.
WEYER's CAVE, IN AUGUSTA
COUNTY.
The reader will find a particular
description OF this grand work of
nature in the appendix, written by
a gentleman of scientific acquire.
ments, and is a most graphic ac-
count of it. The author Of it
resides in Stannton. The writer
saw and explored this cave IN the
year 1886.
NATURAL BRIDGE, IN RoCKBRlDGE
COUNTY.
Mr.. Jefferson has given a most
graphical and beautiful description
of this stupendous work of nature.
The author deems it hardly
necessary to attempt any additional
description, except in one or two
instances. The author saw this
place for the first time in the month
of June, 1919. He again called to
see it in the month Of August, 1886.
When he first saw il, he was alone,