The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1908-04-29
S,cry Of TIE Murder oi Archibald S. -it
and Children by she Indians.


hald Scott and children, which
will, no doubt, prove interest
ing 60 many of our readers in
this section:
The writer has somewhere
read a very brief and imperfect
account of the murder OF Archi-
hald Scott and his children, the
captivity of his wife, her suffer
Ings among the Indians and
subsequent escape, but the fol
lowing narrative is written
from data furnished by DIR. JAS
W. Sage, of Lee county, and
Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, the
Youngest daughter of Mrs
Scott. now about ninety years
of age, and living in the adjoin-
ing county of Russell. The
statements, therefore, may be
relied upon as accurate.
Archibald Scott was one Of
the pioneers of that quiet and
beautiful valley that nestles be
tween Powelrs Mountain and
Wallen's Ridge in Lee county,
along which Wallen's Greek
winds its noisy and meander-
ing way, aud which is now the
home of so many prosperous
families. This little valley was
selected by the first settlers for
it~ fertility, its water facilities,
its superior range, romantic
surroundings, and remoteness
from the usual route of the
predatory bands of Indians,
who, at that day, occasionally
left their towns beyond the Ohio
90 prey upon the scattered set
lers on the Holston. Mr.. Scott
had married Miss Fanny Dick
enson, Of Russell county, many
of whose relatives are still liv-
ing there. Being the daughter
Of one of the brave and hardy
pioneers of Castles Woods, she
had been reared amid the dan
gers and excitements of frontier
life, and hence was a compan-
ion upon whose GOODNESS and
fOrtitude her fearless and enter
prising husband could depend
ia their new home on the verge
Of civilization. They removed
20 it in l7S2-just nine years af
ter Daniel Boone had passed
along the same trace with his
family on their way 10 the
wilderness beyond the Cumber-
land, and six years before the
Indian raid on the Livingston
family on HOlstOn. He located
a corn right TO ali that valuable
tract OF 900 acres. subsequent.
ly owned by Mr.. Robert Duff.
and still in the possession of
Mr.. Duff's descendants. Mr..
Scott erected his cabin on the
headwaters of Wallen's Creek
near the spot now occupied by
1 the residence of Mr.. Thomas ID.
Duff.
Here, with his wife and little
ones, he was living on the re-
wards of honest toll, and doubt
less looking forward with
prophetic vision to the day, not
far IN the future, when that
rich and romantic valley, repos-
ing so quietly among the noun
4 talns, would TEEN with wealth
and a happy population. he
h Dared has brawny arms and
Cleared the forest, and for three
years his cabin was the home
or cOntentment, plenty and
domestic joys. la June. I785,
the family, after day of toll,
and partaking of their frugal
meal, had retired to rest, with.
out thought. perhaps, OF inn
n pending danger, and dreaming,
Il perchance, of the luxuriant har-
vest so soon to be sreaped and
d garnered. That pleasant sum.
d mer day as Mr.. Scott was toll.
ing amid the growing corn, hs
was seen and watched by 8
& 0and OF about twenty Shawnes
n Indians, who, by some means
nad been diverted from thiel
3 usual route, and having observ
cd the smoke arising from the
CABIN, were attracted towards
II, and lay 10 ambush on tn,
mountain side till night sprea.
ner curtain over the valley
when all was quiet they ap