The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-06-03


him down. The Indian fell heavily
without a groan. for the bali had en-
tered his brain. the other three. how
er. followed hard upon him, and the
hpnter was forced TO take to his heels
again. He repeted his maneuvre of
loading while running, and soon had
his unerring weapon cooked and prim
ed for another shot Three quarters
of mile more were passed. over, and
one of the Indians was SO close upon
him that he could almost touc b HIM
Wheeling again, Wetzsl prepared to
fire. when the savage seized his gun,
and with all his strength endeavOred
to wrest it from him. The savage was
powerful fellow, and the situation
was desperate Wetzel struggled
manfully, and the Indian did like
wise. The other Indians were ap-
preaching rapidly, and it seemed that
they would be successful In their at
tempt BY powerful effort. Wetzel
brought the muzzle of the rifle 10 the
Indians breast and fired The fellow
relaxed his hold, sprang into the air,
and fell back corpse. Resuming MS
flight, Wetzel reloaded his weapon.
and turned to bring down another
redskin; but the remaining two, made
cautious by the fate of their comra-
dies, sprang behind trees as they saw
him pause. He was very tired, and
he availed himself of this to rest a
while; bnt remembring that the main
body of the Indians might come up
at any moment, he started off a gam,
followed by the two Indians who kept
close upon his heels. Several times
he paused, hoping to get shot at the
savages; but whenever he epaused, they
sprang to the shelter of trees. They
passed over mile of country In this
way, and at length reaching clear
ing, where the hunter determined TO
bring down one of his pursuers.
There were very few trees within
reach. and these were so small as to
be worthless as a defence. Yet the
redskins, seeing Wetzel halt sudden
ly, sprang behind two sapplings to
await his movements. Watching
them closely. he saw that the tree WIS
too small to cover the body of one of
the Indians. and, aiming his rifle care
fully, he fired. The ball broke the
fellows thigh, and he fell to the
ground with loud yell. The wound
was a severe one, and afterwards
proved fatal. Loading hastily, he
prepared to complete his victory by
shooting the other Indian: but the
savage, thinking "discretion the bet
ter part of valor," and, astonished by
the wonderful weapon which Lewis
carried aud which had brought down
three of his companions, without, as
he supposed, being charged afresh ),
gave loud yell and took to his heels,
crying out as ne WENT
No catch dat man; gun always
loaded."
Wetzei did not pause to secure the
scalp of the wounded Indian, as he
feared the arrival OF the main body,
bnt continued his retreat as rapidly
as possible and until he was near
enorgh to the settlements to consider
himself safe.
He had friend living close by.and
feeling anxious for his safety, as he
knew his situation to be an exposed
one, he set off for his cabin to warn
him of the proximity of the Indians,
anI urge him TO take his family TO
the fort until the danger should be
passed. He hurried Oh, and in a
short while came into the clearing
which his friend the settler had made
on his little farm. The sight which
met his eyes there made hlm shudder
and grow sick at heart, veteran hun
ter though ne WAS. The cabin and
fencing were IN ashes, the corn was
trampeied down, and the results of
two years hard labor on the part of
the settler were destroyed in as many
hours. Netzel pushed on at a sharp
run. and in few minutes stood by
the side of what bad once been the
cabin. The ashes were still smoking.
showing that the savages had done
their work but recently. A half char
red human body lay in the midst OF
the ruins, and by the heavy boots on
the feet, the hunter recognized it as
the corpse of his friend A heap of
blackened bones lay near by. showing
that one of the settlers children had
perished in the flames: but there were
no traces OF the mother and the other
child, and he supposed the Indians
had carried them off into captivity.
The footprints of the savages were
very distinct In the soft, clayey soil,
and the hunters keen eye soon de
tected among them the marks of a
woman and child. He followed the
trail for few hundred yards from
the house, and found that these foot
marks We're still as distinct, and that
they were turned away from the
clearing, an indication that the sava
ges had taken their prisoners with
them in their retreat. He hesitated
but short time. He was too late to
warn his friends, as he had intended,
and it was useless for him to remain
where he was. He must either 90 to
one of the settlements, or be must try
to follow the Indians and see if he
could not rescue their captives. He
decided upon the latter course, and
stopping only long enough to drink at
spring near By. he started off, fol
lowing the tail of the Indians. II
seemed bold undertaking for one
man to attempt to pursue so many, but
Lewis Y, etzel was used e epch efforts
He had done the same thing before
and had come cut successful. and he
believed he could do SO again. He
followed the trail rapidly; and, as the
Indians had but few hours start oil
him, and would be unsuspicious OF
being pursued, he felt sure of coming
up with them.
The day wore away without hi.
meeting with the savages, and al
length it became too dark for him II
see the trail He had become very
well satisfied, however, as to where i
was leading him, and he felt conf
dent of his ability to continue In i
4