Daily Republican., 1890-05-14
Tragedy ofInhlan Rock

One hundred and eight years ago, !. Q.
1852, there stood on tue GROW Of what 10
now called "Whee ing Hill." an eleva-
tion OF several hundred feet, q stockude
or fort which commanded the east side
ot the Ohio rive-, also Wheeling creek
on the west. This tcrt was for the pro.
lection OF tho iuhabi'anta of the then
village of Wheeling. also used aa place
of refuge for the sparsely settled village
lying at the foot Of the hills. The reader
must bear in mind that ut this period
our country's history was near the close
OF the revolutionary war, whom many
hostile Indians who had ws,ed bloody,
Inereiless warfare against the infant
colonies under the control of such men
as Major Butler Of the Wyoming mas
sacre and othefs OF his ilk who were per-
haps more inhuman and blood thirsty.
These wild savages were in the pay of
the British crown, whose officers planned
many Of their raids into the American
settlements, sparing neither age nor sex;
the gray haired grauddame and the inro.
cent, prat.ling child were alike victims
TO the cruel tomahawK and scalping
knife.
In this year. 1889, the fort was garri.
soned by = few hundred sturdy vir-
ginians and few men from the west OF
the Ohio river.
A young soldier doing duty In the fort,
named John Broch, while on leave OF
absence, which he frequently had for
short periods, met and loved q rustic
lass named Bessie Turner. They let no
opportunity escape being together.
When John could not get Of duty to
visit Miss Bessie as often as the two fond
Lao ts ba adj Tn, r,utt !.
a female friend, would make flying vlsits
to the fort.
Such courae Of conduct could have
but one result-a plight OF troth with a
wedding in the near future. The time
being set the chaplain at the fort was eu-
gagged to tic the golden knot. The con-
sent of the Colonel commanding the
fort was obtained, to allow the marriage
to be made inside of the stockade, also
for the young soldier John. to have two
days iurlough to rejoice aud celebrate
his wedding. The morning of the day
OF the wedding, which was TO take place
at O'Clock D. m, there could be dis
tinc,ly heard along the west banks o.
Wheeling creek, short distance from
the fort, the gobble OF wild turkey.
John thinking o nice fat gobbler would
be guile an acquisition to his wedding
feast, asked Of his superior officer and
obtained leave to 60 out and shoot it.
He went but never returned.
CHAP. ii.
A few days after this event Majo
| Witseil, on duty at the fort, was GU
alongside of the hill. lie heard the cal
OF a turkey In the same direction takei
by poor John Brooch. and soon met on
OF his young soldiers, with q fowlinl
pece, going in the direction OF the tur
KEYS gobble. The major, who was q
noted an Indian fighter us Daniel Boone
and WIS well up to all Indian woodcrat
and wiles, took the gun from the younI
soldier, told him to 20 back TO the for
and that he (the major would huDt th
turkey-and so he did, most successfully
He took very clrcuitous route, with tin
greatest caution, toward the spot whenct
the noise of the turkey seemed to come
His practicel cara taught him what gain,
he might expect to find.
He lay quietly in ambush for few
moments only. when in an elm tree
growing ever what is now called ludiaI
Rock, he heard In loud tones, tho fata
call OF the turkey that lured the lori
lover to his death. Looking up carefully
but stealthily he saw the form of u pow
erful Indian chief. He as carefully ant
quietly took sure aim and pulled tn,
triggcr-the result was a dead Indlai
chief came tumbling down the rocks, ant
lay dead at his feet. His next act wa
to snatch his hunting knife from his bel
and take oil the chiefs top knot, whicl
he did with great alacrity. In til
chiefs belt he found several scalps O
white men, among others one was iden
titled as that OF John Brooch.
Any one visiting here to-day viii fine
the Intlian Rock. 1t stands on the north
east side of Wheeling creek, ebov
Whitaker's rolling mill. For the facts
ain Indebted to an elderly gentleman
who Is engaged in several manufacturing
enterprises. His grandfather was
soldier in the fort at the time of til
tragedy. Tho tale of Indian Rock ha
been handed down from sire TO son, tn
same as "McColl6ugh's Lsap," anothe
local Incident here. OF which I may tel
YOU another time. GEo. w. SPrcER.
Wheeling, West Vir!inia