Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-11-27
ANOTED INDIAN SLAYER.
a MONTANA MAN HAS MADE FORTY
REDSKINS BITE THE DUST.

western part OF Virginia, became not
ed "a an Indian fighter previous to |
and during the Revolutionary War"
remarked al old-timer. who was in a
reminiscent mood yesterday. He |
was a large. wiry, athletic man. who |
became an Indian hunter because In
dams had killed oil his nearest kindred !
in their raids into the settlements OF
western Virgins. He possessed a
frame that II seemed impossible 10
tire, and he was considered the best
shot with rifle in all that country.
He killed Indians out OF pure revenge.
and he not only killed them when GU
the warpath. but whenever he could
engage with them. He could load his
rifle running, and. therefore, was n
dangerous antagonist. He was one
of the few men Of the West who could
fire at the edge of a knife and cut the
bullet IN two every time at a distance
of ten yards. He enjoyed his prowess.
aud when IN the settlements be was
companionable man, but hunting In
dams he was morose aud disagreeable.
and much preferred 10 be alone IL is
said that he even killed Indian women
aud children, and it Is we'll known
that he killed Indians who were an
I bassadors 70 the whites on peaceful
errands II he ever saw an Indian
/ that he did not kill it has not been re-
I corded. In the upper Ohio River
country his name has been handed
+ down from father 10 son, aud many
( exploits have been told of him which
never appeared IN print. There is
! county IN West Virginia named af,er
/ him. and romances have been written
whose heroes have his character
Montana has a man now living
whose career has been something like
that Of Wetzel He has not probably
killed as many Indians. but that has
not been his FAULT He Is said To have
slain at least forty redskins, aud he
has not been particular what tribe they
belonged 70 or where they were. tie
has taken as great risks Ia killing In.
dams as Wetzel ever did. The reason
OF his hatred for the whole IndisI
race was the killing of n favorite
brother in a family Of seven or eight
( BOYS by PiegRns He was n good shot.
and used a Winchester rifle instead OF
the old muzzle-lOadIug hint-lOck rife
that Wetzel carried. He Is David
Warcham, of Fergus County.
Il have heard accounts OF but two
OF the battles. bat no doubt history
of others would be just as interesting.
He encountered five bucks, evidently
on the warpatb. or horse stealing ex-
petition. He mad not his gun with
him, but he went home. which was
not far of, and returned with It. He
sought a good spot aud began firing
=. J 4 4
them SO fast that two started 20 run
away, but he was too swift for them
even. and every one was killed.
Another time he aud pilgrim were
camping out. and in the night the In
dams stole both their horses They
followed the Indians, who evidently
did not expect a visit from tteas They
crept up close TO the camp and found
the horses tied Gt the camp. War
CHAINS horse was pet, and whinnied
when it scented lis master The In
dams did not awake, and both horses
were taken away. They could not
get their own saddles, but 60;
two old Indian saddles, as be
ing better than riding bareback
Then they stampeded the Indian
horses, and drove them toward Fort
Benton. Passing n narrow canon
Warcham told his companion Il hurry
along with the horses as fast as he
could and he would wait for the In
dams, seven ia number, whom they
had seen coming affair of. He con
cealed himself as well as he could and
awaited their coming. When the bat
tie was over the seven Indians had be
come good Indians, and Warcham had
not single scratch. After resting his
horse ne overlook his companion, who
was nearly scared 10 death and almost
worn out with the old saddle. They
rested, not fearing any danger, ans
rode leisurely into Fort Benton, wher,
they sold their stock and remained
until they had recruited. tits related
that neither was able 10 sit down for
week after arriving IN the town.
"Warcham, even TO this day, wheI
he sees an Indian, fires up, gnashe,
his teeth, and regrets that he has no
his gun with him. He has nevel
killed any women or children. bu
those who know him best are certain
that few Indians have ever met hin
on the plains and gone away alive