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

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The author was informed that in
the year 1895, there was an outrage
committed on the property of a
farmer in GreenbTier county
charged to the Indians. The dwell
ing house, lin the absence of the
family,) and a new wagon which
was drawn up close to the house,
were both set on fire and consumed
together. Bot it is more probable
that it was the work of incendia
ries, who hac first robbed the house
and then fired it with a view to
conceal their villainy. Every In
diar warrior was called home in
the spring of 1894, when it was
known that Gen. Wayne was pre-
pairing to invade their country with
powerful army. The Indians con-
centrated all their forces for their
own defence, and after their decis-
i've defeat by Wayne, Immediately
entered into Il treaty, which put
final end to further hostilities by
the sayages in Western Virginia.
Col. Stuart. the clerk of Green
brier court, expressed this opinion
to the writer.
During the period of Indian hos
tilities, four Indians came into the
settlement on the head of the Wap-
patommaca. They were said to be-
long to a tribe then at peace with
the whites. One of them objected
to travelling down the South branch
fork, saying they would be in dan
ger. The other three laughed at
him. lie separated from them,
and took down the North fork
The three we're pursued by white
men, and killed on Mill Greek; the
fourth was seen by a negro man
belonging to Cunningham, and pur-
sued seven or eight miles. AS he
was crossing the river, the negro
fred at him. lie fell into the wa
ter, but Immediately sprang up and
made his escape. His blanket was
folded up, and placed on his back
the ball struck the blanket, and
penetrated through several folds,
but remained in it. When the In
dian reached his tribe, he unfolded
his blanket, and the bullet was
found in it.
The men who committed the mur-
der were apprehended and ordered
to Jail, but their neigh9ors raised a
party of men, and rescued the pris-
oners, and set them atliberty. They
were never brought to trial for the
oilense. The father of my inform
ant was one of the party who effect
ed the rescue.
Apps VALLEY.
This valley is situa,ed in the
county of Tazewell, and took its
name from Absalom LOOney, a
hunter, who is supposed to have
been the first white man that ex-
plored it. Ii is about ten miles
long, and generally about fifty rods
wide. There is no stream Of water
running along it, nor across it.
The branches that come down the
mountain hollows, and the springs,
all sink ut the edge Of the Hat land
and rise in "a large spring at the
lower end of the valley. When
first visited by the white man, it
was overgrown with the crab ap-
pie, plum, and covered with the
most luxuriant herbago; aiiording
the finest range for stock, and
abOunding with game.
In the autumn OF 1915, Capt. Jas.
Moore removed with his family
from Rockbridge county to this val
ley, having cleared some land the
preceding spring, and raised a crop
of corn. A short time afterwards,
his brother.in.law, Robert Poage,
settled near to him in the same val
ley. The place was exceedingly Sc.
cluded, and these two families we're
ten or twelve miles from any other
settlement of whites. AS this had
been a favorite hunting ground OF
the Indians, they often visited it,
Indeed, there was scarcely year
in which these families were not
compelled to leave the valley and
take shelter in a fort in the Blue
stone settlement.
In the spring of 1872, the Indians
attacked the honse of Robt. Poage
at night. They burst the door open,
but finding that there were several
men in the house, there happened
to be three besides Mr.. Poage, they
did not attempt to enter the house,
but after watching it for some time,
, went of and tho next morning
killed a young man by the name OF
Richards, who had been living for
some time at Cant. MoOre's. He had
gone out early in the morning to
put some deerskiDs to soak in
pond about a quarter ofa mile from
the house; and whilst engaged at
the pond, he was shot and imme-
diately scalped. At this time the
families forted again in the Blue
stone settlement; and soon after
wards Mr.. POage removed to
Georgia.
In Sept. 1884, the Indians again
excited great alarm. The first that
was known of their being in that
part of the country, was the cap
ture of James, one of Mr.. MOore's