The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-07-03
WHOLE NO. 1892.

portended no good and be fore break of
day the girl was placed on the horse
and started of, the others followed IS
soon rs il was light enough TO see.
Before they had gone far five Indians
arose from behind a tree aud approach
| eel them. The men who We're with
Wells fled, and he would have follow
cd them, but the Indians were 80 close
| it was useless. Being a very swift run
ner and thinking il ''neck or nothing
he threw his gun, which was useless,
in the face of the Indians and dashed
Off after his companions. The In
| dians pursued him, and when they
I thought that he would escape they all
I fired on him at once, and every bullet
struck, but without doing him much
injury, or retaTding his light. Soon
after this he saw where his compan-
ions had concealed themselves; and a.
he passed, he begged them 10 fire on
the Indians and save him; but they
We're afraid and kept quiet. He con-
tinued his fight, and after a short time
overlook the girl with the horse She
quickly understood his danger and
dismolnted instantly, urging him to
take her place, while she would save
herself by concealment. He mounted,
but without whip, and for want Of
one could not get the old horse on: ola
trot. This delay brought the Indians
upon him again directly, and As soon
as they were near enough they fired;
and this time with more effect, a. one
of the balls struck him in the hip and
lodged in his groin. Bat this saved
his life-it frightened the horse into a
gali0p. and he escaped. although lac
suffered severely for several months
afterwards.
The Indians were afterwards pursued
and surprised at their morning meal;
and when fred on four of them were
killed, but the other, though wounded,
made his escape. Bridges, who was
taken prisoner, near Johnstown, when
Adams was murdered, saw him come
in TO his people, and describes him a
having been shot through the chest,
with leaves stuffed in the bullet holes
TO stop the bleeding.
THE SECOND ROAD THROUGH TIE
COUNTY.
Col. James Smith, who figured pro-
minently in the early history of West
ern Pennsylvania, thus describes the
opening of road through this county:
''In May, l755, the province of Penn
sylvania agreed TO seEd out 800 men,
in order to cut a wagon road from Fort
Louden, to join Braddock's road, near
the Turkeyfooi, or three forks of the
Youghiogheny, Confluence. My
brother-in-law, William Smith, ESD,
of COnOcoeheague, was appointed com
missioner to have the oversight OF
these road cutters The road went on
without interruption until near the
Allegheny mountain, when | was sent
back, in order 20 hurry up some
provision wagons that were on the way
after us. ! proceeded down the road
~ far a, the crossings Of the Juniata
where, finding the wagons were conf
ing on ~ fast as possible, | returned
up the road again towards the Ale
gheny mountain in company with one
Arnold Viguras. About four ar five
miles above Bedford, three Indians
had made blind of bushes, stuck in
the ground Us though they grew
naturally, where they concealed them
| selves, about fifteen yards from the
road When we came opposite 10
them, they fired upon Us, at this short
distance, and killed my fellow travel
I Ter; vet their bullets did not touch NE.
But my horse, making violent start,
/ threw me: and the indians immediate
/ ly ran up and took me prisoner. The
one that laid hold on me was Conestau-
/ "a: the ether two were DelawareS. One
of them could speak English and asked
me If there were any more white men
coming after. | told them mot any
near that | knew of Two Of these
Indians stood by me while the Other
scalped my comrade. They then SCI
off. and ran at a smart rate through the
woods, for about fifteen miles; and tina
night we slept on the Allegheny noun
tain without fire.
smith was carrie 10y the Indians Z
1t. Duquensc, where ne was compelie'
10 run the gauntlet through two lon
lines of Indians, beating him Will
clubs. throwing sand in his face, ans
scarcely leaving the breath in his body
He wa. there at the time of Braddock'
defeat. and witnessed the hoTrid crue!
ties inflicted by the Indians upon tn
prisoners taken at that time. He wa
afterwards taken into the Indian eoun
try west OF the Ohio, and there, with
grand ceremony of painting, hair pdi
ling, and washing in the river 10y tn
hands Of copper colored nymphs, NOR
Kind than gentle, lac was adopted q
one Of the CaughnewagO nation. III
remained with them in all Of thei
wanderings for several years, until, b.
way of Montreal, he was exchange
with other prisoners, and returne'
home in 1860.
SOMERSET IN THE WHISKY ISSC
; RECTIoN.
Somerset County, then part
| Bedford) took . conspicuous part /
) the Whisky lnsurrection Of l79i-9
. The Province of Pennsylvania, 4
early as l756, had looked TO the eXcis
on ardent spirits for the means {
l sustaining its bills of credit. III
' original law, passed to continue oni
{ ten years, was from time To time col
| tinued, rs necessities pressed upon tl
e treasury. During the revolution th
l law was generally evaded in this regioi
e by considering all spirits rs for dome.
: tie use, such being excepted frol
y excise: but when the debts Of the rev
: luton began to press upon the stat
e they became more vigilant in the el
e forcement of the law. Opposition aro
| in Western Pennsylvania at one
! Liberty poles were erected, and peopI
assembled in arms, chased of the {
d fcers appointed to enforce the lay
a tarred and feathered some of theI
A singed their wigs, cut oil the tails
' their horses, put Goals in their boo
I