Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-05-24
THE INDIAN SPRING.
PHOTOGRAPHIC VIEWS OF THE HISTORIC

- W Il A-A-A- q, lAAANlA-l-L-NU NV A--N = 81
A HISTORIC sPOT. THAT SHOULD BI
PRESERVED AND BEAUTTFIED.
At the request OF the publisher OF
~Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio,
Mr.. John Ferren, the photographer, has
taken two views of the historical Indian
Spring, on the farm and near the residence
of Mr. John B. McSIechan, two miles East
of town, on the National Road. Engrav-
ings will be made from them for the book,
and Hon. VIM NJ Farrar, of Cambridge
a careful student of history and pains
taking writer. will contribute paper to
the work on the tragic death of Mills and
the thrilling experience of Lewis Wetzel
at that spot.
Thomas Mills was soldier, who accom-
panied Crawford on his unfortunate ex-
pedition against the Indians at Sandusky.
Escaping from that slaughter, and head
ing for the fort at Wheeling, he was COM
PEELED to abandon his horse at this spring
and proceed on foot to the fort. There
he found Lewis WetZel. whom he begged
to return with him for his horse. The in
trepid woodsman cautioned him against
the danger, but finding him determined,
the two started Approaching the spring,
they discovered the horse tied to tree,
and Wetzel at once eomprehended their
danger. Mills walked up to unite the
horse, when a volley of rifles followed.
killing him. Wetzel ran like deer, fol-
lowed by four yelling Indians, armed with
tomahawks. Within a half mile he quick
ly turned and shot the foremost of his
pursuers. In early life WetZel had learn
ed to load his gun while at full run
This he did, and within the next half mile
turned and again faced his pursuerS.-
This time the foremost one was so close
that he caught the gun barrel, but by a
mighty effort it was wrenched from his
hands, thrust against his neck and dis
charged. and thus another of them dis
abled. The other two were close upon
him by this time, but, eXerting his utmost
powers. he widened the distance and again
loaded his gun. Then he slackened his
pace, to give the Indians an opportunity
to face him, but they quickly sprang be
hind trees. Reaching an open piece of
ground, Wetzel wheeled suddenly, when
the foremost of his pursuers sprang for
a tree, but was not quick enough to es-
cape fatal wound; whereupon the other
took to, his heels, and the pursuit was
ended.
This tragedy occurred in the summer of
1882. A burying party from Fort Henry,
where Wheeling now stands, escorted by
Wetzel, returned and buried Mills on the
spot where he was slain. His grave is un-
marked, but the spot is known.
No especial care has been taken Of the
spring, nor no effort made to mark it, but
now that so much thought and attention
is directed to the early history of the State,
it is hoped Mr.. McMechan viii, with trees
and in other ways mark and beautify it,
and some means should be devised to erect
a plain granite shaft on the spot, record
ing and eommemorating its history.
The expedition Of Col. Crawford was
the most disastrous in the history Of the
early settlement of Ohio. The headquar-
ters of the savages were at Upper San
dusky. Their murderous raids reached
the Ohio River, and beyond into Pennsyl-
vania. Incensed beyond endurance, and
as a measure of self-defenSe, about five
of the flower of the pioneers OF
WestmOreland, and Fayette
counties, Pennsylvania, rendeZvouSed at
Mingo Bottom in May, 1882. They elect
ed Col. Crawford their commander, over
Col. Williamson, who had command OF
the men who committed the MOravian
a few years before. Crawford
was a Virginian, and in his youth an in
innate friend and associate of Washing
ton. He had been an officer in the revO
lutionary war, and, likewise, accompanied
Braddock in his disastrous expedition
After the conclusion of peace with Great
Britain, he removed to where ConnellS-
vile, Pa, now stands, and built his cabin
in the woods.
Few persons who went out with the ex-
pedition. so full of hope and courage, ever
returned. Near where Upper Sandusky
now stands the expedition was confront
ed by a greatly superior force, retreat
but nearly all either slain or
captured. Col. Crawford himself was
captured and after unspeakabie torture
was put to death.
Lewis Wetzel, the hero of the tragedy
at the Indian Spring, was the mightiest
border warrior in history. Alone with
his gun in the solitude of the great viii
ierness he was at home and in his ele-
ment, and on many occasions he penetra-
ted the trackless forests, swarming with
savages and wild beasts, one hundred and
fifty miles or more, with no other com
pany than his gun. unfailing courage
and endurance, greater cunning than the
Indian, and tenacity of purpose that no
obstacle could overcome, he was the right
arm of the early settlers on this border,
and terror to the savages. He died in
1903, at Natchez, Miss.
This spring marks the most wonderful
and thrilling experience of Wetzel, and is
A spot of great historical interest. 1t is
worthy of preservation and beautifying,
md it should be pleasurable duty upon
5he part of Mr.. McMechan to ennoble it
1t least with few young forest trees
oazs and sugars that in time will become
majestic monuments of the spot. The
memory of the patience and fOrtitude and
suffering of the pioneers and woOdsmen
who recovered this fair county from wild
beasts and savages, and of their herOism
md prowess, should be preserved in every
way possible. The actors have long since
passed away, and all who knew them per-
,onally have gone to "join the great ma
ority." Nothing remains of them but
,ictorv Tho no1ntrv rao6vara1 from saw