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

husbands, SelZed tnelr axes, anu
with Amazonian frmness, and
strength almost superhuman, de-
Tended themselves and children.
One of the Indians had succeeded
in getting hold of one Of Mr.. Sbeetz's
children, and attempted to drag it
out of the wagon; but with the
onickness of lightning she caught
her child in one hand, and with the
other made a blow at the head of
the fellow, which caused him to
quit his hold to save his life. Sew
eral of the Ind ians received pretty
sore wounds in this desperate con
flict, and all at last ran of, leaving
the two women with their children
to pursue their way to the fort.
In the latter part of August, the
same year a party Of eight Indians
and a worthless william Of a white
man crossed POwel's Fort noun.
tain, to the South fork Of tho Shen-
andoah, at the late residence of
John Gatewood, Esq. where the
Rev. John Roads, a Menonist
preacher of the Gospel, then lived.
Mr.. r., his wife, and three of his
sons, were murdered. Mr.. Roads
was standing in his door, when he
was shot and fell dead.-Mrs. Roads
and one of her Sons we're killed in
the yard. One of tho young men
was at the distance of about one
hundred and fifty yards from the
house, in corn field. Hearing the
report of the guns at the house,
he ascended a pear tree to see
what it mef mt, where he was dis.
covered by an Indian and instantly
killed. The third poor young lad
attempted to save himself by flight,
and to cross the river, but was pur.
sued and killed in the river. The
place is called the Bloody ford to
this day. The enemy demanded Of
the youth who was killed in the
yard, where his father kept his
money; and was told that if he did
not Immediately point out the place,
they would kill him; but if he
would show them the monev, his
life should be spared. On his de.
claring he could not tell them, he
was instantly shot and fell dead.
Mr.. Roads eldest daughter, Eliza
beth, caught up her little sister, a
child about sixteen or eighteen
months old, ran into the barn, and
secured the door. An Indian dis
covered and pursued her, and at
tempted to force open the door /;
but not succeeding, he with many
oaths and threats ordered her to
open it. On her refusing, the fel-
low ran back to the house to get
fire and while he was gone, Eliz-
abeth crept ont a hole on the Op-
posite side Of the barn, with her
little sister in her arms, ran through
a field of tall hemp, crossed the
river, and got safe to y neighboring
house, and thus saved herself and
sister.
After plundeiing the house of
such articles AZ they chose to take,
the Indians set fire to all the build
ings, and left the dead body OF Mr..
Roads to be consumed in the flames.
(a) They then moved off, taking
with them two Of the sons and two
of the daughters prisoners. The
youngest prisoner was a weak,
sickly little boy, eight or nine years
of age: he of course was not able
to stand the fatigue of travelling ;
and crossing the head of POwelps
fort, they killed him. His two sis
ters then refusing to go any farther
with them, we're barbarOusly mur.
dered, and their bodies left a prey
to wolves and other wild beasts
Tine other boy was taken off and re-
mained about three years in cap
tivity before he returned home. 1t
was generally believed at the time,
that the white scoundrel who was
with the Indians, induced them to
commit this horrid murder, in order
20 rob Mr.. Roads of his money but
he missed his object. Mr.. Roads
kept his money and title papers in
a niche in the cellar wall, the
dampness and GOODNESS Of which
preserved them from injury. They
were all found safe.
1t was quite = common thing
with the Germans to have garners
fixed in their garrets to preserve
their grain. There was a quantity
of rye aloft in the dwelling house
which was burnt to coal; and as
the floors gave way to the flames,
the rye fell in considerable body
into the cellar. AT any time upon
digging into the ruins Of the cellar
the grains Of rye, or rather coal,
can be found-the shape of the
grain being as perfect as when in
its natural state.
With this bloody tragedy ended
the irruptions of the savages upon
the people of the Valley. This
was the last great outrageof savage
warfare committed east of the
North mountain.
There are several other interest !
ing occurrences which the author
overlooked and omitted to record
in due order of time. They are of
a character too interesting to be |