Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-08-18
strange Adventures of Lewis wetzeI.

Among the heroes of border warfare,
Lewis Wetzel holds no inferior station.
Injured to hardship while yet in boy
hood, and familiar with all the varieties OF
forest adventure, from that OF hunting the
beaver and bear, to that of the willy Indian,
he became one of the most celebrated
marksmen ofthe day. His form was erect,
and of that height best adapted to activity
being very muscular and possessed Of
great bodily strength. From constant ex-
ercise he could without fatigue bear pro-
longed and violent eXertion, especially
that of running and walking, and he had
by practice acquired the art OF loading
his rifle while running through the forest,
and wheeling on the instant he could dis
charge it with unernng aim, at the dis
tance of eighty or one hundred yards,
into mark not larger than dollar. This
art he has been known to practice more
than once upon his savage foes with fatal
success.
A Amarksman was in those days eStlmat-
ed by the other borderers much in the
same way that knight templar, or knight
of the cross, who eXcelled in the tour
ament or the charge, was valued by his
contemporaries in the days of chlvalry.
Challenges often took place, and the
mark ;men who lived at the distance OF
fifty miles or more from each other ire
quently met by appointment to try the
accuracy OF their aim on bets OF consider
able amount WetzePs fame had spread
far and wide, as the unerring shot OF the
day. II chanCed that young man, few
years younger than himself, who lived
on Dunkard'S Creek, tributary OF the
Monongahela river, which waters one OF
the earliest settlements OF that region,
heard of his fame, and as he was also an
expert woodman and a first rate shot,
the best IN the settlement, he became
very desirous OF an opportunity tor a
trial of skill So great was his desire that
he one day shouldered his rifle, and whlS-
ting his faithful dog TO his side, started
for the neighborhood OF Wetzel, who at
that time lived on Wheeling creek.
When about half way on his journey, a
fine buck sprang up just in front OF him
He leveled gun his with his usual precision,
but the deer though badly wounded, did
not fall dead in his tracks. His faithful
dog soon seized him and brought him to
the ground, but while in the act OF doing
this, another dog sprang from the forest
upon the same deer, and his master max
ing his appearance at the same time from
behind tree, with loud voice claimed
the property, because he had been wound
cd by his shot, and seized by his dog.
II so happened that they both fired at once
at this deer thing that may very easily
happen where two active men are hunting
on the same ground, although one may
fire at the distance OF fifty yards and the
other one hundred. The dogs felt the
same spirit OF rivalry, and quitting the
deer which was already dead, fell to
worrying and tearing each other. In sep
arating the dogs, the strange hunter hap
pened to strike that of the young man.
The old adage, "strike my dog, strike
me-" arose in full force, and without
further ceremony, except few hearty
curses, he fell upon the hunter and hurl-
ed him to the ground. This was no soon
er done than he found himself turned and
under his stronger and more powerful
antagonist.
Discovering he was no match at this
play, the young man appealed to the trial
by rifles, saying that it was too much
like dogs for men and hunters to fight in
this way. The stranger assented to the
trial, but told his antagonist that before
he put it fairly to the test, he had better
witness what he was able TO do with the
rifle-saying he was as much superior,
he thought, with that weapon, as he was
, in bodily strength. He bade him place a
mark the size OF shilling on the side OF
a huge poplar that stood beside them,
from which he would start with his rifle
unloaded, and, running 100 yards at tull
speed, he would load as he ran, and /,
wheeling, would discharge ii instantly in
10 the mark. The feat was no sooner
proposed than performed, the ball entering
the centre of the diminutive target. AS
tonished at his activity and skill, his an
tagoniSt inquired his name, Lewis Wet
eel, at your service, answered the stran-
ger. The young man Siezed him by the
hand. with all the ardor ofyouthful adml-
ration, and at once acknowledged his own
inferiority. SO charmed was he with Wet
zePs frankneSs, skill and personal ap-
pearance, that he insisted upon his return
ing with him to the settlement on Dunk
ards Creek, that he might exhibit his tai
ent to his own family and the backwoodS-
men, his neighbors.
Nothing 10th to such an exhibition, ana
pleased with the energy OF his new &C
ouainted, Wetzel consented TO accom-
pany him, shortening the way with their
mutual tales OF hunting excursions, and
hazardous contests with the common en-
emy of the country. Among other things,
Wetzel stated his manner of distinguish
ing the footsteps OF white man from
those OF an Indian, altho' covered with
moccasinS, and intermixed with the tracks
of savages. He had acquired this tact
from closely examining the manner of
placing the feet-the Indian stepping with
his feet in parallel lines and fist bringing
his toe to the ground, while tie white
man almost invariably places his foot
at an angle with the line OF march
An OnDortttnity they LITTLE eYnecfed soon