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Wetzel, Lewis strange adv News_ShepherdstownReg19100818_1

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The Strange Adventures of Lewis Wetzel, Shepherdstown Register 18 August 1910.
Shepherdstown Register
Shepherdstown, West Virginia •
Thu, Aug 18, 1910 p1
CLIPPED BY
wetzupdoc • 01 February 2025

• MONTANI SEMPER LIBERI
Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia

Strange Adventures of Lewis Wetzel.
Among the heroes of border warfare, Lewis Wetzel holds no inferior station. Inured to hardship while yet in boyhood, and familiar with all the varieties of forest adventure, from that of hunting the beaver and bear, to that of the wily Indian, he became one of the most celebrated marksmen of the day. His form was erect, and of that height best adapted to activity being very muscular and possessed of great bodily strength. From constant exercise he could without fatigue bear prolonged 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 discharge it with unerring aim, at the distance of eighty or one hundred yards, into a mark not larger than a dollar. This art he has been known to practice more than once upon his savage foes with fatal success.
A marksman was in those days estimated by the other borderers much in the same way that a knight templar, or knight of the cross, who excelled in the tour[# anient or the charge, was valued by his contemporaries in the days of chivalry. Challenges often took place, and the mark nnen who lived at the distance of fifty miles or more from each other freK quently met by appointment to try the accuracy of their aim on bets of consider' able amount. Wetzel's fame had spread far and wide, as the unerring shot of the day. It chanced that a young man, a few years younger than himself, who lived on Dunkard's Creek, a tributary of the Mononganeia river, wnitn wdicis unc ui Hie 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 for a trial of skill. So great was his desire that he one day shouldered his rifle, and whistling 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 hinr 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 makj"l ing his appearance at the same time from behind a tree, with a loud voice claimed the property, because he had been wounded by his shot, and seized by his dog. It so happened that they both fired at once at this deer a 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 separating the dogs, the strange hunter happened to strike that of the young man. The old adage, "strike my dog, strike me," arose in full force, and without further ceremony, except a few hearty curses, he fell upon the hunter and hurled him to the ground. This was no sooner 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, sayir.g 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 a 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 full speed, he would load as he ran, and, wheeling, would discharge it instantly into the mark. The feat was no sooner proposed than performed, the ball entering the centre of the diminutive target. Astonished at his activity and skill, his antagonist inquired his name, "Lewis Wetzel, at your service," answered the stranger. The young man siezed him by the hand, with all the ardor of youthful admiration, and at once acknowledged his own inferiority. So charmed was he with Wetzel's frankness, skill and personal appearance, that he insisted upon his returning with him to the settlement on Dunkard's Creek, that he might exhibit his talent to his own family and the backwoods men, his neighbors.
Nothing loth to such an exhibition, and pleased with the energy of his new acquainted, Wetzel consented to accompany him, shortening the way with their mutual tales of hunting excursions, and hazardous contests with the common enemy of the country. Among other things, Wetzel stated his manner of distinguishingthe footsteps of a white man from those of an Indian, although 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 first bringing his toe to the ground, while the white man almost invariably places his foot at an angle with the line of march. An opportunity they little expected soon gave room to put his skill to the trial. On reaching the young man's house, which they did that day, they found the dwelling a smoking ruin, and all the family lying murdered and scalped except a young woman who had been brought up in the family, and to whom the young man was

3ER LIBERI. >t Virginia, Thursday, August i

ardently attached! She had been taken away alive as was ascertained by examining the trail of the savages. Wetzel discovered that the party consisted of three Indians and a renegade white man, a fact not uncommon in those early days, when for crime or love of revenge, the white outlaw fled to the savages, and was adopted on trial, into their tribe.
As it was past the middle of the day, the nearest assistance still at some distance, and as there were only four to contend with, they decided on instant pursuit. As the deed had been very recently done, they hoped to overtake them in their camp that night, and perhaps before they could cross the Ohio, river to which the Indians always retreated after a successful excursion considering themselves in a manner safe when they had crossed to the right bank, a that time occupied by the Indian tribes.
Ardent and unwearied was the pursuit by the youthful huntsman one excited to recover his lost mistress, the others to assist his new friend and take revenge for the slaughter of his countrymen.
By examining carefully the appearance of the opposite shore, they soon discovered the fire of an Indian camp in a hollow way, not far from the river. Lest the noise of constructing a raft should alarm the and give notice of their pursuit, the two hardy adventurers determined to swim the stream a few yards below. This they easily accomplished being both of them excellent swimmers; fastening their clothes and ammunition in a bundle on the top of their heads, with their rifles resting on their hips, they reached the opposite shore in safety.

After carefully examining their arms, and putting every aricle of defense in its proper place, they crawled to a position which gave them a fair view of their enemies, who thinking themselves safe from pursuit, were carelessly reposing around the fire, thoughtless of the fate that awaited them. They instantly discovered the young woman, apparently unhurt, but making much moaning and lamentation, while the white man was trying to console and pacify her with the promise of kind usage and an adoption with the tribe. The young man, hardly able to restrain his rage, was for firing and rushing instantly upon them. Wetzel, more cautions, told him to wait till daylight, when they could make the attack with a better chance of success, and of also killing the whole party; but if they attacked in the dark a part would certainly escape. As soon as daylight dawned, the Indians arose and prepared to depart.

The young man selecting the white renegade and Wetzel the Indian, they both fired at the same time, each killing his man. The young man rushed forward, knife in hand to relieve the young woman, while Wetzel reloaded his gun and pushed in pursuit of the two surviving Indians, who had taken to the wood until ;hey could ascertain the number of their enemies. Wetzel, as soon as he saw that he was discovered, discharged his rifle at random m order to draw them from their covert. Hearing the report, and finding themselves unhurt the Indians rushed upon him before he could again reload. This was as he wished.

Taking to his heels Wetzel loaded as he ran, and suddenly wheeling about, discharged his rifle through the body of his nearest, but enemy. The remaining Indian, seeing the fate of his companion, and that his enemy's gun was unloaded, rushed forward with all his his energy, the prospect of prompt revenge being fairly before him. Wetzel led him on, dodging from tree to tree, until his rifle was again ready, when suddenly turning, he shot his remaining enemy who fell dead at his feet. After taking their scalps, Wetzel and his friend, with their rescued captive, returned in safety to the settlement. Like honest Joshua Freehart, after the peace of 1795, Wetzel pushed forth? frontiers of the Mississippi, where he could t e- ? - - a trap the beaver, hunt tne ouiraio anu mc deer, and occasionally shoot an Indian' the object of his mortal hatred He finally died as he had lived, a free man of the forest.

Hqual to the Occasion. W. W. Jacobs, the humorist, says the question of surprises often plays an part in a story. To illustrate, he said that a criminal lawyer, defending a man accused of housebreaking, spoke Itke this: "Your honor, I submit that my client did not break into the house at all.

He found the parlor window opeu, and merely inserted his right arm and removed a few trifling articles. Now, my client's arm is not himself, and I fail to see how you can punish the whole individual for an offense committed by only one of the limbs." "That argument." said the judge, "is very well put. Following it logically, I sentence the defendant's arm to one year's imprisonment. He can accompany it or not, as he chooses." The defendant smiled, and with his lawyer's assistance, unscrewed his cork irm, and, leaving it in the dock, walked va i? klVUU 4#? Struck A Rich Mine. S.

W. Bends, of Coal City.Ala.,savs he itruck a perfect mine of health in Dr. King's S'ew Life Pills for they cured him of Liver ind Kidney Trouble after 12 years of They are the best pills on earth or Constipation, Malaria, Headache, Dyslepsia, Debility. 25c at Hill's Pharma:y. In The Same Box.

At one of the leading military schools, avs a writer in Lippincott's Magazine, a :adet lieutenant, rigid with conscious and correct in all the insignia of lis rank, approached a very raw recruit vith the question: "Have you ever drilled before ?" "No," answered the recruit. And and with the evident desire to ae polite and carry on the conversation, le added, "Have you ?" Ch'ldren Cry FOR FLETCHER'S CASTORIA.

United States
West Virginia
Shepherdstown
Shepherdstown Register
1910
Aug
18
Page 1
The Strange Adventures of Lewis Wetzel, Shepherdstown Register 18 August 1910.

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