The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1900-09-25

an hours fight thirty Indians lay
dead along the shore, speaking in
no uncertain way of the valor of
the crew in that fliatboat. but five
of the white men lay dead, five
were wounded and two mortally.
A man who was mortally wounded
and realized that death must come
in little while, urged the surviv-
ors to run the boat to the opposite
shore of the river leave him to his
fate and save themselves by instant
flight. Two of the men in the boat
absolutely refused to leave their
wounded comrade. The Indians
had crossed from the opposite side
of the stream toward which the
boat was floating, and it was evil
dent that they would soon have
possession of the craft ana the sur
vivors, and while the way was open
for two men to flee, into their minds
and hearts the thought of thus de
sorting their wounded companions
never entered: they were unwilling,
though they should sacrafice their
own lives, to leave their diving
friend to a savage foe. As the boat
touched the southern shore they
attempted to carry him into the
forest where they might hide him,
death enteryened and thus saved
them further effort and risk for
the wounded companion and friend.
These two men found the bank
above them occupied by many lines
their number of savage foes. They
charged upon them unhesitatingly
and cut their way through their
enemies and escaped to their
friends. In doing so one of them
was shot and saved himself by
crawling on his hands and knees
for three days, the most of the time
without water and always without
food, but finally, wrecked, hopeless
and annotated he reached a fort.
The other, Christian Crepps, re-
ceived bullet through his side.
He was able to continue his journey
aud reach his home, but on the fol-
towing day died from the effects of
his wound.
The name of the man who thus
sacrificed his own life rather than
desert his wounded and dying COM
panion was Christian Crepps. To
him was born. some four months
after his death, daughter. That
daughter married one OF the most
distinguished men in Kentucky his
tory. a man who was a statesman
and a patriot aud when a mere lad
shouidered his gun as a private and
marched against the British and
Indians in the northwest and was
with Shelby and Johnson in the
battle of the Thames. where the
British Army in the northwest
was routed and destroyed, where
Tecumseh was killed, and which
forced the Indians to sue for peace:
thereby giving rest to the frontiers
Of the northwest and peaceful con-
troll to the United States of the
great States OF Indiana, Illinois
and Michigan.
This Young soldier afterwards
became Speaker Of the kentucky
House OF Representatives. Lieuten-
ant Governor and Governor of Ken
lucky and Postmaster General CO
the United States. His name was
Charles A. Wiethfe. He married
the pOsthumout daughter of Chris
tian Crepps. His daughter. Julie
Wickliffe, married w. n. Beckham
and their son, James Crepps Wick.
life Beekham. IS How the Governor
OF Kentucky, aud while people are
not always TO be judged by their
ancestors, it will not be gainsaid
that our Governor certainly has a
pedigree which insnres for him
first-class rating as a man of cour-
age and patriotism.
Kentucky has had q long nss g.
iiius'riou. Governors. Beginning in