AC. The Indians Called Him “Death Wind:” Lewis Wetzel, the Fierce Frontiersman of Western Virginia

The Indians Called Him “Death Wind:” Lewis Wetzel, the Fierce Frontiersman of Western Virginia

today we got some more actual history about a very interesting Pioneer of Western Virginia named Louis Wetzel we’ll be reading from this book history of the early settlements and Indian Wars of West Virginia by Wills de Haas this book was published all the way back in 1851. Lewis Wetzel was a Frontiersman Scout and Indian fighter who was born in Lancaster County Pennsylvania in 1763.

in 1770 his family moved into a frontier settlement near Wheeling Creek in West Virginia wetzel’s family and the other families in that settlement were the frequent subjects of Indian attacks and one of these attacks LED Louis Wetzel to swear a vow of Vengeance on all Indians as you’ll see his story is similar to that of Jeff Turner who swore a similar vow of Vengeance after his family was killed by Indians in Texas or Cochise who led a war of extermination against all white settlers in Arizona after Lieutenant George Bascom killed some of his family members here is the

story of Louis Wetzel who in the west has not heard of Wetzel the daring border the Brave and successful Indian Hunter the Daniel Boone of Northwestern Virginia within the recollection of many of our readers Lewis Wetzel was regarded by many of the settlers in the neighborhood of Wheeling as the right arm of their defense his presence was considered as a tower of strength to the infant settlements and an object of Terror to the Fierce and Restless Indians who prowled about and depredated Upon Our Frontier homes the memory of

Wetzel should be embalmed in the hearts of the people of Western Virginia for his efforts in defense of their forefathers were without a parallel in Border Warfare among the foremost and most devoted he plunged into the fearful Strife which a bloody and Relentless foe waged against the feeble colonists he threw into the common treasury a soul as heroic as adventurous as full of energy and exhaustless of resources as ever animated the human breast bold weary and active he stood without an equal in the pursuit to which he had committed

himself mind and body no man on the Western frontier was more dreaded by the enemy and none did more to beat him back into the heart of the forest and reclaim the expanseless domain which we now enjoy unfortunately for the memory of Wetzel no reliable accounts of him has ever been published the present generation know little of his personal history save is gathered from the exaggerated pages of romance or scarcely less painted traditions of the day with many he is regarded as having been very little better than a semi Savage a man

whose disposition was that of the enraged tiger and whose only propensity was for blood our information warrants Us in stating that these conceptions are all false Louis Wetzel was never known to inflict unwanted cruelty upon women and children as has been char charged upon him and he never was found a torture or mutilate his victim as many of the Traditions would indicate he was revengeful because he had suffered deep injury at the hands of that race and woe to the Indian warrior who crossed his path Louis Wetzel was literally a Man

Without Fear he was Brave as a lion cunning as a fox daring where daring was the wiser part prudent when discretion was valor’s but herself he seemed to possess in a remarkable degree that intuitive knowledge which can alone constitute a good and efficient Hunter added to which he was sagacious prompt to act and always aiming to render his actions efficients such was Lewis Wetzel the celebrated Indian Hunter of Western Virginia John Wetzel the father of Lewis was one of the first settlers on wheeling Creek he had five sons and two

daughters whose names were respectively Martin Lewis Jacob John George Susan and Christina the Elder Wetzel spent much of his time time in locating lands hunting and fishing his neighbors frequently admonished him against exposing himself thus to the enemy but disregarding their advice and laughing at their fears he continued to widen the range of his excursions until finally he fell a victim to the act of vigilance of the Tawny foe he was killed near captina in 1787 on his return from Middle Island Creek under the following circumstances

himself and companion were in a canoe paddling slowly near the shore when they were hailed by a party of Indians in order to land this they of course refused when immediately they were fired upon and Wetzel shot through the body feeling himself mortally wounded he directed His companion to lie down in the canoe while he Wetzel so long as strength remained would paddle the frail vessel be on the reach of the Indians in this way he saved the life of his friend while his own was ebbing fast he died soon after reaching the shore at Baker

station and his humble grade can still be seen near the side of that primitive Fortress at the time of his father’s death Lewis was about 23 years of age and in common with his brothers or those who were old enough swore Sleepless Vengeance against the whole Indian race terribly did he and they carry that resolution into effect from that time forward they were devoted to the wood and an Indian whether in peace or War at night or by day was a doomed man in the presence of either the name of Wetzel sent a thrill of horror through the

heart of a stoudest Indian before whom a more terrible image could not be conjured up than one of these Relentless Long Knives the first event of record in the life of Louis Wetzel occurred when he was about 14 years of age the Indians had not been very Troublesome in the immediate vicinity of his father’s house and no great apprehensions were felt as it was during a season of comparative quietude on the occasion referred to Lewis had just stepped from his father’s door and was looking at his brother other Jacob playing when suddenly

turning toward the Corn Crib he saw a gun pointing around the corner quickest thought he jumped back but not in time to escape the ball it took effect upon the breastbone carrying away a small portion and cutting a fearful wound across his chest in an instant two athletic Warriors sprang from behind the crib and quietly making prisoners of the lads bore them off without being discovered on the second day they reached the Ohio and Crossing near the mouth of McMahon’s Creek gained the Big Lick about 20 miles from the river

during the whole of this painful March Lewis suffered severely from his wound but bore up with true courage knowing if he complained that Tomahawk would be his Doom that night on lying down the Indians contrary to their custom failed to tie their prisoners Lewis now resolved to escape and in the course of an hour or two satisfying himself that the Indians were asleep touched Jacob in both the rows without disturbing their captors Lewis leading the way pushed into the woods finding however that he could not travel without moccasins he

returned to camp and soon came back with two pair which having fitted on Lewis said now I must go back for Father’s gone which the Indians had taken earlier securing this the two boys started in the direction of Home finding the path they traveled on briskly for some time but hearing a noise listened and ascertained that the Indians were in Pursuit the lab stepped aside as the pursuers came up and then again moved on soon they heard the Indians return and by the same plan effectually eluded them before daylight they were again followed

by two on Horseback but resorting to a similar expedient readily Escape detection on the following day at about 11 o’clock the two boys reached the Ohio river at a point opposite of Zane’s Island lashing together two logs they crossed over and were once more with their friends reaching the ears of manhood Louis Wetzel spent most of his time in the woods he was truly a genuine child of the forest and seemed to worship the grand old trees with more than Pagan Devotion to him the Wilderness was full of charms but the

enjoyment of these was not without great personal danger a dark Insidious foe prowled upon his track and closely watched every opportunity to waylay and destroy him Wetzel roamed abroad delighted with every fresh Grove Hill Dale and Rippling stream to him the swelling of the breeze the Repose of the leaf the mysterious quiet of the shade the chant of birds the whoop of the Savage and the long Melancholy howl of the wolf were sights and sounds which stirred his most Lively sensibilities rising from his couch of leaves by the

side of some moss-covered log the lone Hunter made his hurried meal and then moved on careless of fatigue until night again closed around him such was the Woodman’s life such the Fascinations which found them to the Wilderness shortly after Crawford’s defeat a man named Thomas Mills and escaping from that unfortunate Expedition reached the Indian Spring about nine miles from Wheeling on the present National Road where he was compelled to leave his horse and proceed to Wheeling on foot then he went to Van meter’s Fort and

after a day or two’s rest induced Louis Wetzel to go with him to the spring for his horse Lewis cautioned him against the danger but Mills was determined and the two started approaching the spring they discovered the horse tied to a tree and Wetzel at once comprehended their danger Mills walked up to unfasten the animal when instantly a discharge of rifles followed and the unfortunate man fell mortally wounded Wetzel now turned and knowing his only Escape was in Flight plunged through the enemy and bounded off at the very extent of his

speed four Fleet Indians followed in Rapid Pursuit whooping in proud exultation of soon overhaul calling their intended victim after a Chase of half a mile one of the most active Indians approached so close that Wetzel was afraid that he might throw his Tomahawk and instantly Wheeling shot the fellow dead in his tracks in early youth Lewis had acquired the habit of loading his gun while at a full run and now he felt the great advantage of it keeping in advance of his pursuers during another half mile a second Indian came

up and turning to fire the Indian caught the end of his gun and for a Time the contest was doubtful at one moment the Indian by his great strength and dexterity brought Wetzel to his knee in a nearly wrenched the rifle from the hands of his antagonist when Lewis by A Renewed effort drew the weapon from the grasp of the Indian and thrusting the muzzle against the side of his neck pulled the trigger killing him instantly the other two Indians by this time had nearly overtaken him but leaping forward he kept a hat until his unairing rifle

was a third time loaded anxious to have done with that kind of sport he slackened his pace and even stopped once or twice to give the pursuers an opportunity to face him every time however that he looked round the Indians treat unwilling any longer to encounter his destructive weapon after running a mile or two further in this manner he reached an open piece of ground and Wheeling suddenly the foremost Indian jumped behind a tree but which not screening his body Wetzel fired and dangerously wounded him the remaining

Indian made an immediate Retreat yelling as he went no catch that man him Gunn always loaded in the summer of 1786 the Indians having become Troublesome in the neighborhood of Wheeling particularly at the short Creek settlements and a party having killed a man near Mingo bottom it was determined to send an expedition after the retreating enemy of sufficient Force to chastise them most effectually one hundred dollars were offered to the man who should bring in the first Indian scalp major McMahon living at B each

bottom headed the Expedition and Lewis Wetzel was one of his men they crossed the river on the 5th of August and proceeded by a rapid March to the Muskingum the Expedition numbered about 20 men and in advance of five were detailed to reconnoiter this party reported to the commander that they had discovered the camp of the enemy but that it was far too numerous to think of making an attack a consultation was there upon held and an immediate Retreat determined on during the conference Lewis Wetzel sat upon a log with his gun

carelessly resting across his knees the moment it was resolved to retreat most of the parties started in disordered haste but the commander observing Wetzel still sitting on the log turned to inquire if he was not going along no was his Sullen reply I came out to hunt Indians and now that they are found I am not going home like a fool when my fingers in my mouth I am determined to take an Indian scalp or lose my own all arguments were unavailing and there they were compelled to leave him a lone man in a desolate Wilderness surrounded by

an enemy Vigilant cruel bloodthirsty and of Horrid barbarity with no friend but his rifle and no guide but the sure index which in all wise Providence had deep set in the heavens above once by himself and looking around to feel satisfied that they were all gone he gathered his blanket about him adjusted his Tomahawk and scalping knife shouldered his rifle and moved off in an opposite direction hoping that a small party of Indians might be met with keeping away from the larger streams he strolled on cautiously peering into

every Dell and suspicious covert and keenly sensitive to the least sound of a suspicious character nothing however crossed his path that day the night being dark and chilly it was necessary to have a fire but to show a light in the midst of his enemy would be to invite certain destruction to avoid this he constructed a small coal head out of bark dried leaves Etc and covering these with loose Earth leaving an occasional air hole he seated himself and circling the pit with his legs and then completed the hole by covering his head with a

blanket in this manner he would produce a temperature equal as he expressed it to that of a stove room this was certainly an original and ingenious mode of getting up a fire without at the same time endangering himself by a light during most of the following day he roamed through the forest without noticing any signs of Indians at length smoke was discovered and going in the direction of it found a camp but tenantless it contained two blankets and a small Kettle which Wetzel at once knew belonged to two Indians who were

doubtless out hunting concealing himself in the matted undergrowth he patiently awaited the return of the occupants about Sunset one of the Indians came in and made up the fire and went on to cooking his supper shortly after the other came in they then ate their supper and began to sing and amuse themselves by telling stories at which they would burst into Roars of laughter singing and telling amusing stories was a common practice of both white and red men when lying in their hunting camps these poor fellows when enjoying themselves in the

utmost Glee Little Dream that Lewis Wetzel was so close about 9 or 10 o’clock one of the Indians wrapped his blanket around him shouldered his rifle took a chunk of fire in his hand and left the camp doubtless with the intention of going to watch a deer lick the fire and smoke would serve to keep off the gnats and mosquitoes it is a remarkable fact that deer are not alarmed at seeing fire from the circumstance of meeting it so frequently in the fall and winter seasons when the leaves and grass are dry in the woods on

fire the absence of the Indian was a cause of vexation and disappointment to Wetzel whose trap was so heavily set that he considered his game secure he still indulged the hope that the Indian would return to Camp before day but in this he was disappointed there birds in the woods which commence chirping at the break of day and like the [ __ ] give notice to the wood man that the light will soon appear Lewis heard the wooded songsters begin to chatter and determined to delay no longer the work of death for the return of the other

Indian he walked to the camp with a noiseless step and found his victim buried in profound sleep lying upon one side he drew his butcher knife and with the utmost Force impelled by Revenge sent the blade through his heart he said the Indian gave a short quiver a convulsive motion and then laid still in the sleep of death Lewis scalped him and set out for home he arrived at the Mingo bottom only one day after his unsuccessful companions he claimed and as he should received his reward a most fatal decoy on the frontier was the

turkey call on several different occasions men from the fort at Wheeling had gone across the hill in quest of a turkey whose plane of cries had elicit their attention and on more than one occasion the men never returned Wetzel suspected the cause and determined to satisfy himself on the east side of the creek Hill and at a point elevated 60 feet above the water there is a capacious Cavern the entrance to which at that time was almost obscured by a heavy growth of vines and foliage into this the alluring Indian would crawl and

could there have an extensive view of the Hill fronts on the opposite side from that Cavern is she the decoy of death to more than one in cautious Soldier and settler Wetzel knew the existence and exact locality of this cave and accordingly started out before day and by a circuitous route reached the spot from the rear posting himself so as to command a view of the opening he waited patiently for the expected cry directly the Twisted tuft of an Indian warrior slowly Rose in the mouth of the cave and looking cautiously about sent

forth a long shrill peculiar cry and immediately sunk back out of view Lewis screened himself in his position cocked his gun and anxiously awaited for a reappearance of the head in a few minutes up Pros the Tufts Lewis drew a fine aim at the polished head and the next instant the brains of the Indian were scattered about the cave that turkey troubled the inhabitants no longer and tradition does not say whether the place was ever after similarly occupied a singular custom with this daring border was to take a

fall hunt into the Indian Country equipping himself he set out and penetrated to the Muskingum and fell upon a camp of four Indians hesitating a moment whether to attack the party so much his Superior and numerical strength he determined to make the attempt at the hour of midnight when not was heard but the long dismal howl of the wolf cruel as death and hungry as the grave burning for blood bony gaunt and Grimm he moved cautiously from his covert and sliding through the darkness stealthily approached the camp supporting his rifle

in one hand in a tomahawk in the other a damn flicker from the campfire faintly revealed the forms of the sleepers wrapped in that profound Slumber witch to part of them was to know no waking there they lay with their dark faces turned up to the night sky in the Deep Solitude of their own Wilderness little dreaming that their most Relentless enemy was hovering over them quietly resting his gun against a tree he unsheathed his knife and with an intrepidity that could never be surpassed he stepped boldly forward like

the minister of death and quickest thought cleft the skull of one of his sleeping victims in an instant a second one was similarly served and as a third attempted to rise confused by the horrid yells with which Wetzel accompanied his blows he too shared the fate of his companions and sunk dead at the feet of this ruthless Slayer the fourth darted into the darkness of the wood and the escaped although Wetzel pursued him some distance returning to Camp he scalped his victims and then left for home when asked on his return what lucky it had

not much was his reply I treat four Indians but one got away this unexampled achievement stamped him as one of the most daring and at the same time most successful Hunters of his day the distance to and from the scene of this adventure could not have been less than 170 miles during one of his Scouts in the neighborhood of Wheeling Wetzel took shelter on a stormy evening in a deserted cabin on the bottom not far from the present residence of Mr Hamilton Woods Gathering a few broken boards he prepared a place in The Loft

to sleep scarcely had he got himself adjusted for a nap when six Indians entered and striking a fire commenced preparing their homely meal Wetzel watched their movements closely with drawn knife determined the moment he was discovered to LEAP into their midst and in the confusion endeavored to escape fortunately they did not see him and soon after the supper the whole six fell asleep Wetzel now crawled noiselessly down and hid himself behind a log at a convenient distance from the door of the cabin at early Dawn a tall Indian

stepped from the door and stretching up both hands in a long Hardy yawn seemed to draw in New Life from the pure invigorating atmosphere in an instant Wetzel had his finger on the trigger and the next moment the Indian fell heavily to the ground his life’s blood gushing upon the young grass brilliant with the morning dew drops the report of his rifle had not ceased echoing through the valley air the daring border was Far Away secure from all Pursuits when about 25 years of age Lewis entered the service of General harmer commanding at

Marietta Ohio his new duties growing distastefully took a leave of absence and visited his friends in the neighborhood of Wheeling shortly afterwards however he returned to duty and was chiefly employed in the capacity of Scout it was wilts thus engaged that an affair occurred which changed the whole current of his life of the Indians who visited Marietta was one of some celebrity known by the name of George Washington he was a large fine-looking Indian and of much influence in his tribe the time we ride of was one of

comparative peace and general Harmar was particularly anxious to preserve the Good Feeling than subsisting Wetzel during one of his Scouts met this Indian and shot him the Act was justly regarded as an outrage and he was accordingly arrested and placed in close confinement at the Fort Wetzel admitted without hesitation that he had shot the Indian as he did not wish to be hung like a dog he requested the general to give him up to the Indians as there were a large number of them presents he might place them all in a circle with their scalping

knives and tomahawks and then give him a tomahawk and place him in the midst of the circle and then let him and the Indians fight it out in the best way they could the general told that he was an officer appointed by the law by which he must be governed as the law did not authorize him to make such a compromise he could not Grant his request after a few days longer confinement he again sent for the general to come and see him and he did so Wetzel said he had never been confined and cannot live much longer if he was not permitted some room

to walk about the general ordered the officer on guard to knock off his iron Fetters but to leave on his handcuffs and permit him to walk about on the point at the mouth of the musking gum but to be sure to keep a close watch upon him as soon as they were outside of the Fort Gay Lewis began to Caper about like a wild cult broken loose from the stall he would start and run a few yards as if he were about to make an escape and then turn around and join the guard the next start he would run further and then stop in this way he

amused the guard for some time at every start running a little further at length he called forth all his strength resolution and activity and determined on freedom or an early death he gave a sudden spring forward and bounded off at the top of his speed for the shelter of his beloved Woods his movement was so quick and so unexpected that the guards were taken by surprise and he got nearly a hundred yards before they recovered from their astonishments they fired but all missed they followed in Pursuit but he soon left them out of sights as he

was well acquainted with the country he made for a dense Thicket about two or three miles from the forts in the midst of this Thicket he found a tree which had fallen across a log where the brush were very close under this tree he squeezed his body the brush was so thick that he could not be discovered unless his pursuers examined very closely as soon as his Escape was announced General Harmar started the soldiers and Indians in Pursuits after he had lained about two hours in his place of concealments two Indians came into the thicket and

stood on the very same log under which he lay concealed his heart beat so violently he was afraid they would hear it thumping he could hear them howling in every direction as they hunted through the brush at length as the day wore away Lewis found himself alone in the friendly Thicket but what should he do his hands were fastened with iron cuffs and bolts and he knew of no friend on the same side of the Ohio to whom he could apply for assistance he had a friend who had recently put up a cabin on the Virginia side of the Ohio who he

had no doubt would lend him any assistance in his power with the most gloomy foreboding of the future a little after Nightfall he left the thicket and made his way to the Ohio he came to the river about three or four miles below the fort he took this circuit as the expected guards would be at every point where he could find a canoe how to get across the river was the all-important question he could not make a raft with his hands bound he was an excellent swimmer but was fearful he could not swim the Ohio with his heavy iron

handcuffs after pausing some time he determined to make the attempt nothing worse than death could happen and he would prefer drowning than again falling into the hands of Harmar and his Indians like the illustrious Caesar in the storm he would trust the event to Fortune and he plunged into the river he swam the greater part of the distance on his back and reached the Virginia Shore in safety but so exhausted that he had to lay on the beach sometime before he was able to ride he went to the cabin of his friend where

he was received with Rapture a file and Hammer soon released him from his iron handcuffs information having reached General Harmar of wetzel’s whereabouts he sent a party of man in a canoe to take him as the boat near the Virginia Shore Wetzel and his friend and several other men posted themselves on the bank and threatened to shoot the first man who landed unwilling to venture further the party returned and Lewis made his way Homeward having been furnished by his kind friend with gun ammunition Tomahawk blanket and other Provisions

exasperated at The Escape of Wetzel General Harmar offered a large reward for his apprehension and at the same time dispatched a file of men to the neighborhood of Wheeling with orders to take him dead or alive the Detachment was under the command of a captain Kingsbury who hearing that Wetzel was to be at Mingo bottom on a certain day March thither to execute his orders we will let an eyewitness finish the story a company of then could as easily have drawn old horny out of the bottomless pit as to take Lewis Wetzel by force

from the neighborhood of Mingo bottom on the day that Captain Kingsbury arrived there was a shooting match at my father’s and Lewis Wetzel was there as soon as the object of Captain Kingsbury was ascertained it was resolved to Ambush the captain’s barge and kill him and his company happily major McMahon was present to prevent this catastrophe and prevailed on Wetzel and his friends to suspend the attack till he would pay Captain Kingsbury a visit and perhaps he would Prevail him to return without making an attempt to take Wetzel with a

great deal of reluctance they agreed to suspend the attack till major McMahon should return the resentment and fury of Wetzel and his friends were boiling and blowing like the steam from Escape pipe of a steamboat a pretty Affair this said they to hang a man for killing an Indian when they are killing some of our people almost every day major McMahon informed Captain Kingsbury of the force and Fury of the people and assured him that if he persisted in the attempt to seize Wetzel he would have all the settlers in the

country upon him that nothing could save him and his company from a massacre but a speedy return the captain took his advice and forthwith returned to Fort harmor Wetzel considered the affair now as finally adjusted in this however he was mistaken his roving disposition never permitted him to remain long in one place soon after the transactions just recorded he descended the river to Limestone or Maysville and while they are engaged in his harmless frolicking an avaricious fellow named Lawler a lieutenant in the Army going down the

river with a company of soldiers for Fort Washington landed at Maysville and found Wetzel sitting in a Tavern Lawler returned to his boat and procured some soldiers seized Wetzel and dragged him aboard the boats and without a moment’s delay pushed off and that night delivered him to General harmer at Fort Washington where he again had to undergo the ignominy of having his hands in feet bound with irons the noise of wet cells capture and capture too for only killing an Indian spread through the country like wildfire the passions of the

frontiersmen were roused up to the highest pitch of Fury petitions for his release were sent from the most influential men to the general from every quarter where the story had been heard the general at first paid but little attention to these at length however the settlements along the Ohio and some of the back counties were preparing to embody in military array to release him by Force of Arms General Harmar seeing the storm that was approaching had wetzel’s irons knocked off and set him at Liberty Wetzel was

once more a free man he returned to his friends and was caressed by young and old with undiminished respects the vast number of scalps which he had taken proved his Invincible courage as well as his prowess and War the sufferings and persecutions by which he had been pursued by General harmer secured for him the sympathy of the frontier the higher he was esteemed the lower sank the character of General Harmar with the fiery spirits on the frontier had Harmar possessed a tithe of the courage skill and indomitable energy of Wetzel the

Gallant soldiers under his commands in the memorable and disastrous campaign against the miamis might have shared a very different fate shortly after his return from Kentucky a relative from dunkard Creek invited Lewis home with him the invitation was accepted in the two leisurely winded their way along hunting and sporting as they traveled on reaching the home of the young man what should they see instead of the hospitable roof but a pile of smoking ruins Wetzel instantly examined the trail and found that the Marauders were

three Indians and one white man and that they had taken one prisoner that Captain proved to be the betrotheft of the young man whom nothing could restrain from pushing on an immediate Pursuit placing himself under the direction of Wetzel the two Strode on hoping to overhaul the enemy before they had crossed the Ohio it was found after proceeding a short distance that the Indians had taken great care to obliterate their Trail but the Keen discernment of Wetzel once on the track and there need not be much difficulty he knew that they would make

for the river by the most expeditious routes and therefore disregarding their Trail he pushed on so as to head them off at the Crossing Place after an hour’s hard travel they struck a path which the deer had made and which their sagacity had taught them to carry over Knolls in order to avoid the great curves of Ravines Wetzel followed the path because he knew that it was almost a direct line to the point at which he was aiming night coming on the tireless and determined Hunters partook of A hurried meal then again pushed forward

Guided by the lamps hung in the heavens above them until towards midnight a heavy Cloud shut out their light and obscured the path early on the following morning they resumed the Chase and descended from the elevated Ridge along which they had been passing for an hour or two found themselves in a deep and quiet Valley which looked as though human steps had never before pressed its virgin soil traveling a short distance they discovered fresh Footsteps in the soft Sands and upon close examination the eye of wetzel’s companion detected

the impress of a small shoe with nail heads around the heel which he at once recognized as belonging to his fiancee hour after hour the pursuit was kept up now tracing the trail across Hills over eluvian and often detecting it where the Wily captures had taken to the beds of streams late in the afternoon they found themselves approaching the Ohio river and shortly after dark discovered as they struck the river the camp of the enemy on the opposite side and just below the mouth of captina swimming the river the two reconnoited the position

of the camp and discovered the locality of the captive Wetzel proposed waiting until daylight before making the attack but the almost frantic lover was for immediate action when Wetzel however would listen to No suggestion and thus they awaited the break of day at early Dawn the Indians were up and preparing to leave when Wetzel directed His companion to take good aim at the white Renegade while he would make sure work of one of the Indians they fired at the same moment and with fatal effects instantly the young man rushed forward

to release the captive and Wetzel reloading pursued the two Indians who had taken to the woods to ascertain the strength of the attacking party Wetzel pursued a short distance and then fired his rifle at random to draw the Indians from their Retreat the trick succeeded and they made after him with uplifted tomahawks yelling at the height of their voices the adroit Hunter soon had his rifle loaded and Wheeling suddenly discharged its contents through the body of his nearest pursuer the other Indian now rushed impetuously Forward Thinking

to dispatch his enemy in a moment Wetzel however kept dodging from tree to tree and being more Fleet than the Indian managed to keep ahead until his unerring gun was again loaded when turning he fired and the last of the party laid dead before him soon after the occurrence just narrated Wetzel determined to visit the extreme South and for that purpose engaged on a flat boat about leaving New Orleans many months elapsed before his friends heard anything of his whereabouts and then it was to learn that he was in close

confinement at New Orleans under some weighty charge what the exact nature of this charge was has never been fully ascertained but it is very certain that he was imprisoned and treated like a felon for nearly two years the charge is supposed to have been of some trivial character and has been justly regarded as a great outrage it was alleged at the time of his arrest to have been for uttering counterfeit coin but this being disproved it was then charged that he had been guilty of illicit connection with the wife of a Spaniard of the

nature of these charges however we know but little and it may therefore be unsafe to say more he was fine finally released by The intervention of our government and reached home by the way of Philadelphia to which city he had been sent from New Orleans Mr rotiver says that he saw him immediately after his return and that his personal appearance had undergone great change from his long confinements he remained but two days on wheeling Creek after his return one of his mothers and the other at Captain Bonnie’s the father of Mrs

rodefer many of the older citizens have told us that they saw him during this brief visit and Converse freely with him about the infamous manner in which he had been treated from the settlement he went to Wheeling where he remained a few days and then left again for the South bowing Vengeance against the person whom he believed to have been accessory to his imprisonment and in degrading his person with a vile rest of a felon’s chain during his visit to Wheeling he remained with George cook as a relative our informant says that she met him

there and heard Mrs cookus plague him about getting married and jocularly asked whether he ever ever intended to take a wife no he replied there is no woman in this world for me but I expect there is one in heaven after an absence of many months he again returned to the neighborhood of Wheeling but whether he Avenged his real or imaginary wrongs upon the person of the Spaniard alluded to the biographer at this time as not the means of saying his propensity to roam the woods was still as great as ever and soon after his return an

incident occurred which showed that he had lost none of his cunning while undergoing incarceration at New Orleans returning home from a hunt north of the Ohio River somewhat fatigued and a little careless of his movements he suddenly aspired an Indian in the very Act of raising his gun to fire both immediately sprung to trees and there they stood for an hour each afraid of the other what was to be done to remain there during the whole day for it was then early in the morning was out of the question now it was that the sagacity of

Wetzel displayed itself cautious adjusting is bare skin cap to the end of his ram rod with the slightest most dubious and hesitating motion as though afraid to venture a glance the cat protruded in an incident a crack Was Heard and off was torn the Fatal cap of the sure ball of the ever Vigilant Indian leaping from his Retreat Wetzel rapidly Advanced upon the astonished Indian and air the tomahawk could be brought to its work of death the Tawny faux spring convulsively into the air and straightening as he descended fell

upon his face quite dead Wetzel was universally regarded as one of the most efficient Scouts and practice woodsmen of the day he was frequently engaged by parties who desired to hun up and locate lands but were afraid of the Indians under the protection of Lewis Wetzel however they felt safe and thus he was often engaged for months at a time of those who became largely interested in Western lands was John Madison brother of James afterwards President Madison he employed Lewis West outsole to go with him through the kanawa region during

their expedition They Came Upon a deserted Hunter’s camp and which were concealed some Goods each of them helped himself to a blanket and that day in Crossing little kanawa they were fired upon by a concealed party of Indians and Madison was killed General Clark the companion of Lewis and the celebrated tour across the Rocky Mountains had heard much of Lewis Wetzel in Kentucky and determined to secure his services in the perilous Enterprise a messenger was accordingly sent for him but he was reluctant to go however he finally

consented and accompanied the party during the first three months of travel but then declined going any further and returned home shortly after this he left again on a flat boat and never returned he visited a relative named Philip Sykes living about 20 miles in the interior from Natchez and there made his home until the summer of 1808 when he died a personal appearance of this distinguished border is very remarkable his complexion was very dark and eyes are the most intense Blackness wild rolling and piercing as the dagger’s

point emitting when excited such Fierce and withering glances as it caused the status adversary to Quail beneath their power his hair was of Raven gentness and very luxurious reaching when combed Out Below his knees this would have been a rare Scout for the Indians and one for which they would at any time have given a dozen of their best warriors when Lewis Wetzel professed friendship he was true as the needle to the pole he loved his friends and hated their enemies he was a rude blunt man of few words before

company but with his friends not only sociable but an agreeable companion such was Lewis Wetzel his name and fame will long survive when the achievements of men vastly his Superior and rank and intellect will Slumber with the Forgotten past so that’s it for this episode Lewis Wetzel was quite an interesting and controversial character the book didn’t mention it but wetzel’s nickname among the Indians was deathwind Wikipedia claims that Wetzel was a quarter Mohawk but I have been unable to find another source that supports this claim wetzel’s

father was born in Holland and he spent some time as an indentured servant to pay off his debt for the trip to America wetzel’s mother was descended from French huguenots who also arrived shortly before Lewis was born so it’s unclear which of his grandparents could have been a Mohawk Indian the book also did not provide much information about wetzel’s death this article published in 2008 by the Washington Times provides a little more information the official version of wetzel’s death is that he died in 1808 from fever while living at

a relative’s home near Natchez Mississippi in fact in 1942 Dr Albert Bowser a Wetzel researcher exhumed a skeleton purported to be that of the Indian fighter from a grave on the property today these remains rest in a cemetery in Moundsville West Virginia nevertheless author Alan Eckert who studied the life of Wetzel while writing the book that Dark and Bloody River claims that Wetzel moved West eventually settling along the Brazos River in Texas according to Eckert he died there in 1839 so there’s evidence that he died

near Natchez in 1808 at the home of his cousin Philip Sykes but some stories suggests that he moved West and eventually settled along the Brazos River with a Spanish wife the latter story could make sense if the Spanish wife he took was married and they wanted to get away from her husband this could have also been the source of some of his troubles in New Orleans feel free to share any information or theories you have about Wetzel and his life in the comments this channel is called unworthy history because we talk about actual

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