Year: 1859

Wheeling was family named W hetzel, the head OF
whom was Of German origin. Although it was
the hottest time of the Indian war the old man was
so rash as to build cabin some distance from the
fort, and moved his family into it. Dearly did he
pay for his temerity.


His family consisted, beside himself and wife, Of
four sons-Martin, Lewis, Jacob and John-res-
pectivey fifteen, thirteen, eleven and nine years of
age. One day during the temporary absence of
Martin, the Oldest, and John, the youngest Of the
boys the Indians made an attack upon the house,
killed the old man, and carried of Lewis and Jacob
captives. MIS-. Whetzel, in the confusion Of the
scene escaped.


In the attack on their house. Lewis received a
slight wound from bullet, which carried away a
small piece Of the breast bone. The second night
after the capture, the Indians encamped at Biglicl,
twenty miles from the river, in what is now Ohio,
and upon the waters Of McMahon's Creek. The
extreme youth Of the boys induced the savages to
neglect their usual precautions Of tying their pris-
oners at night After the Indians had fallen asleep,
Lewis whispered to his brother to get up and they
would make their way home. They started, and
after going few hundred yards, sat down on log.
"Well," said Lewis, we can't go home barefOoted.
You stay here, and will 60 back and get pair
Of moccasins for each Of u.s." He did so, and re-
turned. After sitting little longer, he said !:
"Now, will go back and get one Of their guns,
and we will then start" This was accordingly
done. Young as they were, the boys were sulfi-
cently expert with tracking paths in the woods to
trace their course home, the moon enabling them,
by her occasional glimpses, to find the trail which
they had followed from the river.


The Indians soon discovered their escape, and
were heard by them hard on their heels. When the
party in pursuit had almost overtaken them, they
stepped aside in the bushes and let them pass and
then fell into the rear and travelled on On the re-
turn Of their pursuers they did the same. They
were then followed by two Indians on horseback
whom they evaded in the same manner. The next
day they reached Wheeling in safety, crossing the
river on o raft Of their own making; Lewis,
by this time, being nearly exhausted by his
wound.


As the Whetzels grew up to be men-and the
frontier boys whenever large enough to handle q
rifle, considered themselves as such-they took o
solemn oath never to make peace with the Indians
while they had strength to WELD tomahawk or
sight to draw bead. They esteemed revenge for
the death Of their father as the most precious and
sacred portion Of their Inheritance.


Fully did they glut their vengeance. II was es-
timated that the four brothers. the course of this
long Indian war, took near one hundred scalps
War was the business Of their lives. They would
prowl through the Indian country singy, suffer all
the fatigues Of hasty marches in bad weather, or
starvation, lying in close concealment watching
for favorable opportunity to infict death on the
devoted victims who were so unfortunate as to
come within their grasp. Notwithstanding their
numberless exploits, they were no braggadociOs. In
truth, when they had killed On Indian they thought
no more Of il than butcher would after killing
bullock II was their trade.


Lewis Whetzel was perhaps the most indeiatiga-
BILE Indian hunter on the frontiers. During the
wars it is said that. disguised as an Indian, he killed
in the region Of the upper Ohio alone, 27 of the
enemy, beside number more on the Kentucky
frontier: His sperson was in keeping with his char
acter. Hew was about FIVE feet nine inches in height
very broad shouldered and full breasted His com
plexion was dark and swarthy as an Indians, and
his face pitted with the smallpox. His hair, Of
which he was very careful, reached, when combed
out, to the calves Of his legs; his eyes were re-
markably black, and, when excited-which was
easily dOne-they would sparkle with such vim
dictive glance almost to curdle the blood Of the
beh0lder. He was true friend, but dangerous
enemy. In mixed company he was man Of few
words, but with his friends, social and cheerful
companion. Such was Lewis Whetzel, Of whom we
relate but few anecdotes Of his numberless adven-
lures while pursuing his trade Of blood.


About the year 1887, party Of Indians having
committed some murders few miles above Wheel
ing, some twenty men under Maj. NJ 'Mahon crossed
the Ohio and followed their trail until they came to
the Muskingum. The spies in advance then dis
covered the enemy to be vastly their superior;
council was called and ii was determined most pru-
dent to retreat. Lewis Whetze, who was present,
took no part in the council, but, in the meanwhile,
sat on log with his rife laid across his lap and
his tOmahawk in his hand. As the party set of
on the retreat, Lewis stirred not from his scat.
Major MMahon called to him, and inquired il he
was going with them. Lewis answered. :" that he
was not; that he came out to hunt Indians they
were not found, and he was not going home like
fool with his finger in bis mouth. He would take
an Indian scalp, or lose his own before he went
home" All their arguments were without avail.
His stubborn, unyielding disposition was such that
he never submitted himself to the control or adj
vice Of others they were compelled to leave him,


solitary being in the midst Of the thick forest sur
rounded by vigilant enemies. Notwithstanding
that this solitary individual appeared to rush into
danger with the fury Of q madman, yet in his dis
position was displayed the cunning Of fox, as well
as the boldness Of the lion.


As soon as his friends had left him, he pckedup
his blanket shouldered his rife, and struck off into
different part Of the country, in hope that for
tune would place in his way some lone Indians.
He kept alOof from the large streams, where large
parties Of the enemy generally encamped. He
prowled through the woods with nOiseless tread
and the keen eye Of the eagle, that day, and the
next until evening, when he discovered smoke
curling up among the bushes. He crept softly to
the fire and found two blankets and small copper
kettle in the camp. He instantly concluded that
this was the camp Of only two Indians and that he
could kill them both. lie concealed himself in
the thick bash, but in such position that he could
see the number and motions Of the enemy About
sunset, one Of the Indians came in, made up the
hre, an went to cooking his supper Shortly AFTER
the other came in they ate their supper; after
which they began to sing, and amuse themselves
by telling comic stories, at which they would burst
into q roar Of laughter. Singing and telling
amusing stories, was the common practice Of the
white and rel men when living in their hunting