Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-11-02
How Guards
Were Killed
BY EDWARD c TUCKER

ty. KY, by my grandfather. then eight
cen years of age, to bis mother living
IN Ohio.
Dear Mother-Since wrote you we
have had considerable trouble with
the Indians One morning a man
named Boone came in from the south
and said party of redskins were
coming up, burning houses by the way
and numbering the settlers. We at
once set to work to inclose the house
in fort. OF course having little time.
we couldn't build much of a protec-
ton.
All we could do was to cut down
the trees within rifle shot. take the
trunks Of the saplings and stand them
up In circle, burying one end in the
ground. Inside we built a rude plat
form, ON which a man could walk
around the house and keep an eye out
for trouble.
We got the thing furnished-such as
It was--before we heard anything of
the Indians. Then one night we
heard shots TO the south, lasting about
Harbeson family were the only ones
living in that direction, and we reck-
oned they had been attacked. all had
been killed and their house burned
Pretty soon we saw forms ON horse
back In the dark coming to us. and
we all got ready TO defend ourselves.
They came galloping along straight
for us. We knew Indians didn't come
that way and held our fire. Then
we heard mans voice call out
"Friendsr and the Harbesons came
up.
We took them In, and they told
US they had defended their home till
they saw they would be overpowered.
then ran out the back door and. hid
den by trees. reached the barn and
got away on the horses without the
Indians knowing it. | was mighty
glad to see Elizabeth. who tainted
and fell In my arms as soon as she
got inside our stockade.
We didn't see an indian that night
or next day, but | knew the redskins
were all about us. They were watching
us from ambush l felt pretty sure they
would not attack us openly, for that's
not their way of lighting. True. we
had only nine men and two boys,
though the women were ready to do
their part. but the red devils didn't
know how many we had. and they
don't like stockades anyway.
On the second night after the Harbe-
sons came 1t was Jim Hawkins turn to
keep watch, while we all slept With
our rifles ready beside us. He could see
SO far on all sides that an Indian
couldn't shoot him without coming
over an open space. for. as you know.
the house is on the top of hill. What
were our surprise and horror In the
morning to find Jim's dead body on
the platform behind the stockade. He
had been shot No one was in sight.
the only living thing we could see be-
ing q bear about a mile away walking
slowly toward a clump of trees. He
was Just within range, but we didn't
shoot him. all our powder and ball be
ing kept for the Indians.
The next night was Thursday, and
John Harbeson insisted on taking the
watch. 1t was awful in the morning to
see him lying dead. the same as Jim
Hawkins. Two of our men had been
Killed, leaving only seven. IL they
Killed man every night they'd have
us all in q week. What we couldn't
understand was how the savage could
get within range. for the moon was
more than half full and every night
was clear. A sentinel at the fort could
see long distance.
We were more terrified at this mode
Of warfare than any other the Indians
could practice. Something must be
done. / proposed as soon as 1t was
dark to crawl out in the direction from
which both men must have been shot
and lie In the bushes to watch. So
about the time the others were going
to sleep Sam Turner went on watch,
and | crawled out, keeping behind low
bushes as far as I thought best and
lay In little hollow where the grass
was long.
About . o'clock in the morning. when
l was having to pinch myself to keep
awake, | saw In the moonlight a bear
leave the same wood ! saw the one
20 into the morning Jim Hawkins was
shot. Ho walked slowly about. nosins
the ground as though seeming some
thing, and noticed he was all the
Hme getting nearer the fort
fI Kept an eye on the creature, but
could not exactly make out what he
was doing BY and by he stopped
and sat up on his launches. Then he
stood on his two hind legs, and saw
he was using his fore legs just as a
man would use his arms.
The first thing / knew the bear stood
just like a man about to shoot. Then
the whole matter Of the shooting OF
our watchers popped into my head.
was lying on my stomach with my rife
in my hand. / knew | hadn't much
time to aim before the bear would
get Turner, so | fred quick. and the