The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-06-22

sprang up to take his gun but his
right shoulder was useless. He made
another try and was half up when
an Indian sank his tomahWk into
Patterson's side, between two ribs
lust behind the backbone, its blade
penetrating the cavity of the body.
Templeton struggled with an
Indian for his own gun, secured it
and ran into the woods. Patterson
slipped away from the fire then look
ed back at it. He could see the
crowd there and as the firing had
ceasedceased, believed the others all
were dead. Hearing nobody coming
he decided to try to go to the river
and make his way back to Point
Pleasant-nearly loo miles away.
Just as the wounded Patterson got
on the beach little below the canoe
an Indian in the boat gave whoop
and Patterson slipped away and sat
on fallen log. He was sick and
faint and thirsty. He heard his own
blood running and dropping on the
leaves all around him.
Finds Companions
Then ne heard the canoe, with the
Indian in it, float past and all was
silent. He wanted to get away, but
still wondered at the fate of the
others. Patterson could no longer
see the fire but steered his course
towards where he thought it was
| and there found Templeton wounded
in about the same way and place as
himself. Wernock also was danger
ously wounded, with two balls
through his body. McNutt was dead
and scalped. Perry was hurt, but
not seriously, and Greer was missing.
Mitchell apparently was unhurt.
One gun and some ammunition was
saved, so it was agreed that Perry
be hunter for the rest and all would
try to get back to Point Pleasant.
Picking up few provisions scatter
ed around the fire, all were ready to
start when it was found that
Wernock was unable to get up. He
begged the others to leave him and
save themselves. The men filled the
old kettle with water and placed it
by Wernock's side, told him goodbye
and started off. They were to send
back help to Wernock if and when
they got to a settlement.
The survivors had not gone far
when they found themselves too sick
to go on. Then it was decided that
Templeton and Patterson remain
where they were while Edward Nit
chell and Perry, better woodsman,
should go to the nearest settlement
for help, taking the gun along.
Perry promised that if he could not
get help, he would himself be back
in four days. He then went back to
the camp and found Wernock just as
he had been left, reflled the water
kettle and brought back some fire
to the others. Then he left for help
Wounded Man Dies
At nightfall Mitchell went back tx
see if Wernock still was living ane
if dead, he was to bring back tht
brass kettle. He got there just il
time to see Wernock die. To max,
certain of death, he stayed will
Wernock awhile and then got los
in the wilderness in returning a
night. 1t was morning when he go
back to his comrades and found thei
fire out. Mitchell gathered paw-paw
for food and brought water for tn
others.
About noon, Saturday, David PEI
ry returned with Captain John Wall.
his officers and most of his compan!
from Point Pleasant. The wound
were dressed by experienced arm
doctors and the injured were take
by water tc Capt. Walls station %
Grave creek.
Born in Pennsylvania in It's;
Robert Patterson emigrated to Ker
lucky in 1775 and moved to about
mile below Dayton, Ohio, in 1S0-
He was original owner of Lexington
Kentucky, and one of the thre
original owners of Cincinnati.
Col. Patterson was with Co
George Rogers Clarke in IT'S;
Bowman's campaign in 1779;
August, 1880, again was with Clarke
was with Daniel Boone in 1882 6
Blue Lick; again was with Clark
in 1882 and with Gen. Benjami
Logan the same year; and was wit
Logan again in 1886. He die
August 5, 1927.
Colonel Patterson was one of tn
earliest Montgomery County settler
and owned much land south of Day
ton. 1t was Patterson's reputatio
as an Indian fighter that prompte
Matthias Denman, who bought th
TAO acres now Cincinnati for $125
1888, to take him in as one-thir
partner in the town. The thlI
partner was John Filson, 40-year-ol
Lexington schoolmaster and surveyo
who was to work out his share b