Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-01-15
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been out long before they discover
ell two Indians in the glades. Tho
latter, the moment they discovered
the two white men, few behind
trees, and prepared for battle
White and his Irishman, however,
soon ont generated them, and kill.
ed them both. They were soon
after apprehended, and committed
to Winchester Jail on a charge OF
murder. But White had rendered
his neighbors too many important
services, and was too popular, 10
be permitted to languish loaded
with irons in a dugeon for killing
Indians. Although the Indian
hosiilities had entirely ceased, too
many individuals were smarting
under Il recollection Of the ontrages
they had but recently experienced
ut the hands Of their merciless,
savage. and implacable foe. Soon
after White and his partner in the
charge were committed 10 Jail,
Capt. Abraham Fry raised a party
Of ffty five or sixty volunteers,
well armed and mounted, to effect
their rescue. They dismOunted
near the present site Of Mr.. Isaac
lIollingsworth's dwelling house,
where they left their horses under
a guard of a few men, and marched
into Winchester aboat daybreak
next morning. They repaired di.
rectly to the Jail door, Knocked up
the jailer, and demanded the keys.
The jailer hesitated, and attempted
to demonstrate. Fry presented his
rifle, cooked it, and peremptorily
demanded the keys, telling the
taller he would be a dead man in
one minute if he did not deliver
them. The jailer quailed under
the fiery countenance and stern
menaces OF Fry, and compiled
Fry placed a guard at the door,
went in, knocked of their irons,
and took the prisoners out. The
late Robert Rutherford attempted
to harangue the mob upon the i'm.
prOpriety and danger OF their pro.
ceedings; but be might as we'll
have addressed himself to so many
lions or tigers. AS Fry's party
marched into the town, it created
considerable alarm and excitement.
The women, half dressed, we're seen
running from house to house and
calling out, "Well done, brave
fellows, good luck to you brave
boys" This cheering of Fry's
party at once convinced them that
the public sympathy and good feel.
ing were on their side. The prison
ers were taken off and set at liber.
ty. Capt. White afterwards dis.
tinguished himself at the bloody
battle Of the Point, under Col.
Sewer.
The author had heard something
of this story more than forty years
ago. The late Capt. James vii.
son, Of the neighborhood of Ste.
phensburg, had stated some OF the
particulars, but not sufficiently con.
nected to give to the world. The
author was therefore apprehensive
that he would not be able at this
late period to collect the facts
Whilst engaged in obtaining ma.
terials for this work, he called on
the late Thomas Newell, of Sbenan.
doah, and among other things in.
quired of him where he had any
kno Wedge or recollection OF the
affair. This venerable man, then
ninety-three years of age, in his
second childhood, and his recolec
tiOn Of recent events entirely gone,
the moment the inquiry was made,
with much animation and a cheer.
ful countenance, replied, "Yes, my
friends, reckon | can tell you,
when | was one of the very boys"
The author then asked the old
gentleman whether he would have
any objection to his name being
given rs authority, and as one OF
Fry's party. lie replied with equal
and emphasis, "No, my
friend, always gloried in what |
lid" Moses Russell, Esq., in
formed the author that his two
elder brothers were OF Fry's party,
md that if he had been old enough,
be would doubtless have been
among them. But he had more
han once heard one of his brothers
speak of this occurrence with great
regret, and lament the part he had
taken in it. Gen. Smith recollects
hearing much said on this subject
soon after he came to Winchester
10 live. To say the least Of 1t, 1t
vas a dangerous precedent in =
civilized society. There is another
individual, now living in the neigh.
borhood of the authors residence,
who was Of Fry's party, and is now
about eighty years OF age, who
was an active and useful character
in the revolution, and from him the
author obtained many particulars
of this occurrence but as he never
formally authorized the use Of his
name publicly, it is withheld. 1t
was from the information of this
that the author was en-.
lbled to find the year when this
occurrence took place.