The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-02
MONTANA'S CHAMPION INDIAN
SLAYER.
He Has Made Forty Reds Bite the Dust, KILLED
Seven in . Single Combat. Five in Another.

He HAS Made Forty Reds Bite the Dust, KilIca
Seven in . Single Combat. Five in Another.
From the Helena independent.
LOWS Wetzel, who lived In the western
part of Virginia, became noted as an Indian
fighter previous to and during the Revolution
airy war" remarked an old timer, who was in
q reminiscent mood yesterday. He was a
large, wiry, athletic man, who became an In
dian hunter because Indians had killed all his
nearest kindred in their raids into the settle
ments of western Virginia. He possessed q
frame that 1t seemed impossible to tire, and he
was considered the best shot with a rifle in all
that country. He killed Indians out of more
revenge, and he not only killed them when on the
warpath, but whenever he could engage with
them. He could load his rife running, and
therefore was a dangerous antagonist. He was
ono of the few men of the West who could fire
at tho edge of "a knife and cut the bullet in two
every time at a distance of ten yards. He en-.
joycd his prowess. and when in the settlements
he was a companionabls man, but hunting In.
dams he was morose and disaRTeeable, and
much preferred to be alone. 1t is said that he
Is well Known tbat he Killed Indians Who w We're
Ambassadors. TO ,the whites on peaceful errands.
If he ever saw an Indian that he did not kill, 1t
has not been recorded. In tho upper Ohio River
country his name has been handed down from
father to son. and many exploits have been told
| Of him which never appeared IN print. There il
a county in West Virginia named after him, and
romances have been written whose heroes have
his character.
Montana has q man now living whose career
has been something, like that of Wctzel. He
that has not been his fault. He is said to have
slain at least forty redskins. and he has not been
R E6st %ars, What hs ba trib lsk they ys belonged sIs n pis TO %; or E ThH5e
Indians as WetZel ever did. The reason of his
hatred for the whole Indian race was tho kill
ing of a favoritc brother in IA family of seven
or eight boys by Piegans. He was n good shot,
and used q Winchester rife instead Of the old
muzzlelOading ~fiint-lock rifle that Wetzel car
ried. He is David Warcham of Fergus county.
Il have heard, accounts of but two OF his bat
just, as Interesting. He eneountorod i've bucks IS,
p~edition. He had not his gun with him, but he
went home, which was not far OIL. and returned
with H.. He sought II good spot and began
firing. Tho Indians made fight, but he dropped
was Killed.
Another time he and a pilgrim were camping
out and in the night tie Indians stole both
Their horses; They followed the indians. who
sSYhr sy e sISpt ala ia r MOI eth y ct a yisi IT., from ONT them m.
horses tied at tho camp. WIrClaui's horse was
a pet, and whinnicd when !, socnted 10 mas.
horses were taken away. They could not gct
thelr own saddles, but got two old Indian sad
Then thoy stampedod The Indian horses, and
drove them toward Fort BENTON. Passing a
narrow canon. ,Warcham told his companion to
hurry along with the horses as fast rs he could
and he would wait for the Indians. seven in
number, whom they had seen coming afar of. He
concealed himself as we'll ~ he could and
awaited their coming. When the battle was
over the seven Indians had become good In.
dams, and Warcham had not a single scratch.
After resting his horse no overlook his com
most worn out with the old saddle. They
rested, not fearing any danger, and rode les.
urely INTO Fort Benton, where they sold their
STOCK ana remained until they had recruited.
II Is related that neither was able to sit down
TOT q woek after arriving in The town.
,dMs rGhaln; even to this day, when he secs an
indian. nres up, gnashes his teeth. and regrets
thal ne mas not his gun with him.. He has never
killed. ANY women or children, hut those who
know him best are certain that few Indians
have ever met him on the plains and gone
tween 45 and 90 yoars.oid,, and Is regarded BY ali
his nel8hoors as one OF the states best citi'
Eehs' buI ne cant conceal, and doesn't try TO
conceal MS extreme hatred Of all Indians