xt7rbn9x173z https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7rbn9x173z/data/mets.xml Wildwood, Warren, pseud. 1890  books b92-100-27765965 English Keystone, : Philadelphia : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Frontier and pioneer life United States. Thrilling adventures among the early settlers, embracing desperate encounters with Indians, Tories, and refugees  : daring exploits of Texan rangers and others ... / by Warren Wildwood. text Thrilling adventures among the early settlers, embracing desperate encounters with Indians, Tories, and refugees  : daring exploits of Texan rangers and others ... / by Warren Wildwood. 1890 2002 true xt7rbn9x173z section xt7rbn9x173z 
























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This page in the original text is blank.



 














































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MOAC THvE       EARLy        SETTLERS

                  R M B It A C t1 N  

DESPERATE ENCOUNTERS WITH INDIANS, TORIES, AND REFUGEFS;
DARING EXPLOITS OF TEXAN RANGERS AND OTHERS, AND IN-
  CIDENTS OF GUERILLA WARFARE; FEARFUL DEEDS OF THE
    SAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES, RANGERS AND RE(:U-
    LATORS OF THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST; HUNT-
         ING STORIES, TRAPPING ADVENTURES,
                 ETC., ETC., ETC.



BY WARREN



WILDWOOD, ESQ.



    Lllstk'stto by 00 kgpgbiqgs.


         PHILADELPHIA:

THE KEYSTONE PUBLISHING CO.

              1890.

 














































         COPYtGHT

By KEYSTONE PUBLISHING CO.

 








                   PRE F ACE.



  BUT a brief period has elapsed since this continent was peopled by
a new and daring race; a race who sought a refuge from tyranny
atd oppression, among these American wilds; for civil and religious
liberty; for liberty of conscience to worship their Creator according
to their own conceptions of heaven's revealed will. Among savage
beasts and more savage men, liable at any moment to meet death in
its most appalling forms, they yet shrunk not from the burdens they
had assumed, until their efforts were crowned by a glorious and
final triumph.
  And now, from the old world and the new, a vast tide of emigra-
tion swept in upon the immense prairies of the west, and the fertile
fields of the south; a heterogeneous mass of elements; the enterpris-
ing and virtuous seeking to improve their condition; the vicious of
all grades desiring to escape from the terrors and trammels of the
law. Between such opposing interests and passions, collision
were inevitable, and fearful have been some of the deeds that stain
the history of these localities.
  In every new country, there is an era of strife, turbulence, and
general combat! a state of nature which is always a state of war,
when sanguinary crimes provoke still more sanguinary punishments,
and savage fury, and brutal force inaugurate a reign of universal
terror. It is peculiar to no geographical section, but applies with
more force to the west and southwest than elsewhere. Petty vil-
lains and noted criminals-gamnblers, counterfeiters, murderers and
others, who have outraged the laws of older localities, have here
sought a comparatively secure retreat, and inviting fields in which
to continue the perpetration of their crimes. But happily in all
instances, the phenomenon is of brief duration; the evil soon runs its
course. In the absence of legitimate authority and regular organi-
                                                         (L)

 










zations, lynch law usurps its place, and ofttimes visits a swift and
terrible retribution upon the offenders. Anarchists and desperadoes
are either exterminated or driven further west, and the beautilat
spirit of order and progress emerges from the chaos of confusion and
blood.
  While therefore we can never sufficiently admire those noble
founders of the republic, who were ready and willing to sacrifice
their all for their country's good, we yet dwell with an intense
and living interest upon the bold and daring, though sometimes
unscrupulous deeds of the men of a later day, who have made
" the wilderness to blossom as the rose." For no more in the petty
contests of life on the frontier, than in the mightiest shock of ad-
verse nations and races, will humanity or civilization ever suffer a
permanent check, or lose a single important battle.
  No efforts of the imagination can equal these startling reali-
ties-these lights and shadows of life among the early settlers, some
of which the editor has presented in the following pages. He claims
no originality in the work, having gleaned his subjects from a
variety of sources, and simply seeking to admit none but those he
believed reliable and truthful. The facts of each are common pro-
perty, some of which have been given by a variety of parties, but in
all cases where there was a choice, he has adopted the one which
seemed to him best and most truthfully told, without regard to
whom should be the narrator. To many of our readers, therefore,
some of the tales may not be new, but he believes all are worthy of
preservation. The aid of the artist has been invoked, who has
added largely to the force and beauty of the text, by many graphic
delineations of the more important points ii the various stories.
  With the hope that the public generally may be as deeply inter-
ested in its perusal as has been the author in its preparation. the
volume is left in their hands to be dealt with as to them shall Le
deemed meet and proper.                                 W. W.



6



PREFACE.



 











     CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.






McCULLOCH'S FEARFUL LEAP ...........................   .    15
      The fearful leap                ..                            is
      The flight         .             .17
      The pursuit                                                     S.           .


THE BLOODY BLOCKR-HOUSE .   .......................... 20
      The block-house .20
      "They're coming" cried he, " a hundred of them at least .21
      " God be good to ut," said Rachel, " they are burning our houses, .  22
      The captain stuck adirty pocket handkerchief upon the point of his sword, 24
      Two of them  fell and  rolled  from. behind  the trees ... ...................... ..........  2
      Mleantime the vultures and turkey-buzzards had already begun to assemble, 25
      " Asa! my beloved Asa'" shrieked Rachel, " if you die I shall die too,"... 29
      Righteous shot down one of the Spaniard  . .30
      Loading the riles        .           .32


POE's DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH BIG FOOT.             .               .3
      The brothers          .            .34
      The discovery.         .            ..                     3
      Big Foot           .             .                        3
      The struggle         .             .                       3


ADVENTURES OF DANIEL BOONE            .          .40
       Daniel Boone .................................................. ......................................  40
       Escape of Boone and Stuart .             .                    42
       Boone fighting over the de"d body of his son . .      4
       The fort at Boonesborough .              .                  4
       Capture of Booue's daughter    .         .47
       Kenton saving the life of Boone  .   .49
       Boone taken to Detroit                 .          .           10
       Indian encampment.                                            59
       The AIght at the salt works. ..


A PERILOUS ADVENTURE IN A CANOE                    .       .       7
       After the' deer. .5
                                                                (7)

 











8                 CONTENTS AND TLLUSTRATIONB.

A PERILOUS ADVENTURE IN A CANOE-CONTINCzD.                             1sA
       On tWe Canada shore ......................................................................I .... 60


THE MYSTERY AT LANCASTER ................................ ,  ,    ,   .     .. ,,
       The military barracks at Lancaster .............................       62
       The old fruit woman..           .        ,. 4
       The old woman in a new character ................................................. ...... t:i
       The old stone barn...........................8..                        8
       The conductor's threat ............................................................... ........... 71
       The bloody struggle ............................................................................... 73


DAVID CROCKETT'S FIGHT WITH A BEAR-AS RELATED BY HIMSELF,.... 75
       Crockett and the bear ............................................................................. 75


THE ROMANCE OF WAR-SERGEANT JASPER AND SALLY ST. CLAIR ........ 73
       In the midst of the battle, with her lover by her side, the heroic maiden dies, 78


THE DESPERADOES MISTAKE ........................................... ...................... 81
       A rendezvous of the Murrel gang .........................................4.................... 8
       The prudent warning of Uncle Ben ................. ............................. S4
       At tho mercy of the desperadoes ........... ..................................  69
       John A. Mdrrel in the prison smithy at Nashville ...... . .......................... 91


AN OLD TRAPPER IN A TIGHT PLACE. .        ................................................. 9,
       "And now,"' continued the old trapper, as he lit his stone pipe, "as Ilm
           in the humor on't, I'll tell yer about a fight" etc ..............................  3
       "I had to drop the keg before a drop of the blessed stnff had wet my
          thirsty lipi,.......................8.............................................................. go
       "I c,'uld see the cowardly wolves gathering armsful of dry sticks and
          grass to smoke tie out,....................................................................... 99
       "Arter a while when I thought the coast was clear of the red fools, I
          ventured to the open air,................................................................... 100


THE WONDERFULT ESCAPE ............................................................................. 102
       Benham was shot through both legs. The man who now appeared had
           escaped from the same battle with both arms broken ........................ 102
       The man who could walk was thus enabled to bring water by means of
          his teeth................................1..............................4......................... 10
       The crew paid no attention to their signals of distress, but Instantly put
          over to the oppusite side of the river................................................ 106


T1E DESPERADO AND TIlE REGULATORS .........................................,,,... 107
       Old Yokam's husve (f enlertaiuinent at Pine Island prairie ........... ........... 107
       Britton fellla  ii-atantly without word or groan ........I........................... Ile
       Doom of the deaperad.....     .................................................. 112
       boom of the desperado's son ................. ................................................ 113

 












                  CONTENTS    AND    ILLUSTRATIONS                       9

                                                                      PA.R
1HZS RANGER'8 THRILLING INDIAN ADVENTURE ................     ....................... 114
       The Abenaki pitched forward to the ground, and his shaven head ploughed
          up the sUow for yards . ........................................................ 114
       He heard a wild and horrid cry. and turning saw a sight that has mur-
          dered his sleep for Many a uldic 'Auce .............................................. 116


tHE FIGHTING PARSON ............................................................. ...... 118
       The parson sinks exhausted and bleeding on the ground .......................... 1Il
       The parson  in  for the fight ...................................................................  1'0
       Exercising  the rights of war .........................1..........................................  122


THE SEMINOLE CHIEFTAIN'S TOUCHING APPEAL ........................................ 124
       " Say to my band that my feet are chained ..............................................12l4
       Camp fires of the Seminole ................................................................... 127


THE HORRORS OF A BOMBARDMENT -NORFOLK IN 1776 ........................... 129
       The first gun of the feet breaks the horrible suspense ............................... 1-19
       A ball crashed through the building carrying her head with it ..........2...... 112
       There was a loud explosion near, followed by a wild cry .......................... 134


A TEXAN RANGER'S FEARFUL ADVENTURE AMONG THE GUERILLAS ........136
       The Goerillas' rancho . ....... ........ . .......................................................... 138
       The Ranger aud his guide tftr- the Ohio men.                        138
       "For the love of Gd, Senor, fly from this place.                     141
       The two Ohio men had been stabbed to the beart.                    144
       The fearless Ranger cuts his way through the Guerillas .        148


THE GAMBLERS' DEN AT NATCHEZ .                                         147
       The rope began to tighten and the house to creak.                    147


PERILOUS ADVENTURE OF CAPTAIN BRADY .                                  149
       " Blady make good jump! Blady make very good jump.              149


DARING EXPLOITS OF GENERAL PUTNAM .                                    152
       General Putnam in disguise at Horse-Neck.                          152


JOHN MINTER'S FEARFUL ENCOUNTER WITH A BEAR .                          154
       Minter drew his long keen hunting-knife and prepared for the fatal en-
           conuter which be kuew muust ensue..                         155
       Minter's appearance after the fearful encounter.                      157


TEN MASSACRE AT FORT MIMMS-AN INCIDENT OF THE CREEK WAR,.. 158
       Fort Mimms.                                                     159
       On the watch.0.                                                    0
       " To arms ! to arms t the Indians are upon us I.".                1

 












10               CONTENTS AND ILL=USTRATIONS.

MJASSACRE AT FORT AlIMMS-CONTTNLEDA rTAE
        e now indeed lelL that our doom      wis sealed .......................................... 165


MOODY, THE JERSEY           REFUGEE ..................................................................... 16f
      'fle Jcr.ey retugee .......................................................................... 1. 7
      Doou of the refugee ......................................................................... O170


THE WHITE        HORSEMAN ...........................................   .............................. 171
      Death on the pale horse ......................................................................... 172,
      Ihe old man's return from his cherry picking trip .              .................................. 17,


BLACK DICK AND THE LYNCHERS-A FEARFUL MISSISSIPPI TRAGEDY,.. 176
      Black Dick assaulting Greene, his master ................................................ 176
      The negro cuts his wife through and through .......................................... 179
      Revenge of the lynching party ................................................................ ISO


BIG JOE LOGSTON'S DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH TWO 1NDIANS .......... 181
      An old Kentucky fBst fight between Joe and the Indian ............................. 181
      The Indian ti roxvs his tWrnabawk at Joe ......................... . ...................... 1S3
      Joe fl uf, -es one of the Indians ................................................................. 1S4
      The end of poor Joe .........................................................................   IS6


THE PATRIOTIC         QVAKERESS ......................................................................... ISO
      Resde-ce     f th, Quakeress in Second street below Sproce, Plilad.elpia, .. I,7
      The Quakere.s hastening to the American lines ........................................ SS


CROCKETT'S FIGHT  WITH   A COUGAR-AS RELATED     BY HIMSELF .............9
      He was down upon me like a night-hawk upon a j uae bug ...................... 1P0


ADVENTURES OF SIMON              KENTON .....................................................2........... 192
       Kenton and Montgomnery ruuning off the Indian horses ............................ 193
       Holding a council ............1............................................................. .195
       The fate of Montgomery ......................................................................... 198
       Kenton botind to a wild young horse ....................................................... 200
       Running the ganoutlet. ......................................................................... 201
       Incident at the battle of Boonebboroutgh .................................................. 202


A  SHE-DEVIL      AMONG      THE TORIES .............................................................. 203
       "I never feed king's men,' said Nancy, "if I can help it ......................... 203
       Snkey blows the coulch-shell ...................2o .............................................. 2o;
       Nancy shoots one and demiands the surrender of the others ....................... 201
       The she-devil's favorite tree .................................... .............................. 208


THE ROSE OF GUADALOT7PE-A     TEXAN  RANGER'S STORY ......................... 208
       Old Andrew' daughter carried 'ff by the Comanche chie ......................... 200
       Return of the heartbroken daughter .. ..................................................... 211

 












                   CONTENTS     AND   ILLUSTRATIONS.                    1I

                                                                       rA03
THE SWAMP ROBBERS OF LOUISIANA ..........................................   211
       Murder and robbery among the planters .    .........................................  21L
       The robbers' retreat       ........................ 214
       Parson Redfield's proposition    .         .       ...................... 216
       Peculiar footprints of the gambler's horse . .................................   218
       Delaware Dave on track of the robbers, .    ..................................  21
       Summary work of Judge Lynch,........................      .          22 3


LEWIS AND THE RATTLESNARK ................................ ,.,. 221
       Appalling situation ,f Lewis ............................. .         224
       The weary homeward inarch........................     ,          2_7


DARING EXPLOITS OF COLONEL JACK HAYS, THE TEXAN RANGER ........ 22S
       The Rangers charging on the Comanches ................................................ 229
       Making sure work of the Chief ............................................................... 2:11
       The tightest place that ever Jack was in ........................3........................ 2:3


THRILLING ESCAPE FROM A PRISON SHIP .................................................. 233
       Sickening scenes among the prisoners    .      ............................... 234
       Wheeler determined to escape ................................................................ 236G
       Wheeler and his pursuers       ......................................... 238
       The fugitive escapes in female disguise   .     .............................. 241


THE RIFLEMAN OF CHIPPEWA ............................................      242
       The Rifleman solving the mystery    .         ................................. 243
       The disguised Indian and the sham sentinel   .    ........................... 246
       The sentinels revenged....................                        247


THE HORSE STEALERS OF ILLINOIS-A LAWYER'S STORY ......................... 247
       The lawyer and the criminal's wife     .      ................................ 248
       Running off a stolen horse .................................................................   250


SURPRISED BY GUERILLAS-AN INCIDENT OF THE MEXICAN WAR              ... 213
       The request of my friend and guide .     ........................................................ 254
       Prescribing for the invalid father ........................................................... 234
       Driving back the cowardly rabble .     ......................................................... 258
       My disguise as a Mexican Senorita ............................................ _ 201
       My adieu to the brave Carlotta,    .        ................................... 263


WOlDERFUL ESCAPE OF TOM HIGGINS ...........................................   263
       Burgess begging Tom not to leave hims .    ..........................................   26S
       Tom fell, but instantly rose again and ran ............................................,.266
       Tom draws his hunting knife .      ..........................................  269
       Mrs. Pursley rushes to the rescue of Tom ...........................................  70
       Tom becomes his own surgeon.        ......................... -  271

 












12               CONTENTS    AND   ILLUSTRATTONS.

                                                                  P(MV
ADVENTURES OF A NAVY OFFICER       IN THE CANADIAN    REBELLION-
   HOW  HE OUTWITTED GENERAL SCOTT ................................................. 272
      My interview with the general ...............................................................1 27
      My supper with the general .................................................................... 276


A DESPERADO'S THRILLING ADVENTUREB .                ..........................................2.7...... 27S
      The desperado and the British sentinel .    ................................................ .. 279
      The desperado's flight ..........................................................................  282
      The desperado's narrow escape ............................................................... 2W


THE GAMBLERS OF THE S901TH AND WEST          .      ............................ 283
      Fearful result of gambling on a Mississippi boat ....................................... 2S4


THRILLING   ADVENTURE IN    THE NORTHWESI.-HOW      A  BRAVE MAN
   ESAVED DETROIT ................................................ .......................... 285
      The Indians swarming the streets of Detroit .   .....................I................... 286
      The Frenchman's appeal to the officer     .        .............................. 288
      The brave colonel-s electric address    .        ................................ 290


.'ACOB WETZEL AND HIS FAITHFUL DOG-A LEGEND OF CIXCINNATI,... 291
       The hunter's cfitical situation ........................................ 292
       The hunter escapes       ..................     ...................... 294


A DESPERADO AMONG THE MAIL BAGS-THE STAGE DRIVER'S STORY,... 295
        Pete" said the postmaster, "there's some heavy money packages in that
          bag ................................................     .6
       My suspicious passenger         ......................................... 299
       The desperado caught     ...................... ......................... 301


BRADY AND TIlE DUTCHMAN ............................................ ..... .
       Captain Brady and the honest Dutchman ............................................... 302
       The ld Indian at the camp fire ...............................................   30.
       Phouto and the hole in his belt ......... ...................................... 307


MAJOR STOUT THE REGULATOR .            ...........................................30S
       The regulator and the money lender .       ..............................................   309
       The humbled usurer        ...................... ..................... 312


rESPERATE ADVENTURE OF COLONZL McLANS .......................................... 313
       The shot and the dlight ............................................... .   14


THE BACKWOODSMAN AND THE TURKEY ................................................ f316
       The hunter and the Indian         ....................................... 317
       The Indian's last gobble.....................                ,  310
       The hunter s return................                           32A

 












                  CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATION                          13


T'HE IDlANS AND THE HOLLOW            LOG .............................................   322
       The tenant of the hollow log, ............. ................................  323
       Drawing a bee line bor tort Plaiu ................... .......................... 32:


V'HE TRAVELER AND THE ARKANSAS DULLYT ..............................................2
       "Every body round here," said the bully, " must drink or fight ................324
       "Do you intend to mttrder me," inquired the stranger ............................. :129
       The stranger neither blanched nor changed expression ...... . .................... 3 3
       The bully fell heavily forward, shot through the brain .33........................4.. 33


A RACE FOR LIFE ........................................               11 S
       Elerson'8 great twenty-five mile race ........................................   33  
       The last shot........................................            3:


DESPERATE FIGHT WITH A PANTHER-A KENTUCKIAN'S STORY ............. 340
       Death of poor Sport ......................................................., 34J


LA FAYETTE AND THE JERSEYMAX .......................................................   34
      The Jerseyman and the desetters ......................................................   342


5TiRILLING ADVENTURE OF TWO SCOUTS ................................................... 344
       Watching the enemy ....................................................... .144
       The scout and the squaws .............................. ........................ 1347
       The mysterious shot ........................................................  )
       The mystery explained, and the girl's revenge ....................................... 1 351


TILE BRAVO OF TEXAS ......................................................       333
       The bravo's adventure in a Houston ba;-room . ...................................... 353
       Doom of the bravo ......................................................  SS


JOHN DEAN AND THE INDIANS ......................................................   3;7
       The squaws in council...................                            35


THE MURDERER'S ORDEAL-A CALIFORNIAN'S STORY .. ................ ........... 3O
       I was startled from sleep by cries of " Murder! murder! help! help! ........ 30
       "This simple egg," said 1, "s t fair to view, contains the murderers.
          secret,  .    ..................... ........................................ .....  362
       A despairing shriek came from the lips of the guilty wretch ............. I ....... 36.5
       There was a howl of fury, and a rush like wolves upon their prey ........... 366
       In less than ten minutes he was dangling from a neighboring tree ............ 36C


THRILLING CONTEST WITH A STAG-A KENTUCKY SPORTSMAN'S STORY, 369
       With one bound he was upon me, wourding and almost disabling me with
          hs sharp horns and feet...                     ................ ,37d

 











14               CONTENTS    AND    ILLUSTRATIONS.

                                                                  PAOU
TIE WOLVES AND THiE DARKEY FIDDLER ..................................... 72........... M7
      The old darkey in a tight place .......................................................... .... 373
      Plantation scene.                  ......................... 375
      Little dArkeyo .o a raeG .......................... 3.  


MIl MURDERER'S CREEK .................................................., :!7
      Bound to the stake-an incident of savage warfare .................................. 371
      The light and the pursalt,....................................................... gm


 





























                                   G  ENERAL    PUTNAM'S    bold
                                   plunge on horseback down the
                                   steep declivity at Horseneck,
                                   in his escape from the British
                                   troops, has passed into general
history, and there are but few who are ignorant of its details.
This exploit, however, is by no means a solitary example of des.
perate daring, as the narrative which we subjoin will abundantly
attest.
  Fort Henry was situated about a quarter of a mile above Wheel.
ing creek, on the left bank of the Ohio river, and was erected to
protect the settlers of' "h little village of Wheeling, which, at tk
                                                       (15)



ia

 








W'CULLOCH'S FEARFUL LEAP.



time of its iivestnient, consisted of about twent) ..e cabins. In
the month of September, 177.5, it was invested by about four h'in-
dred warriors, on the approach of whom the settlers had fled into it,
leaving their cabins and their contents to the torch of the savages.
The whole force comprising the garrison consisted of forty-two fight,
ing men all told; but there were among them men who knew the use
of the rifle, and who were celebrated throughout the borders as
the implacable enemies of the red man, and as the best marksmen
in the world. Of these, however. more than one-half perished in
an ill-advised sortie before the siege commenced, and when the
fort was surrounded by the foe, but sixteen men remained to de-
fend it against their overwhelming numbers. But their mothers.
wives, and daughters were there, and nerved the little band to
deeds of heroism to which the records of the wars of ancient and
modern history present no parallel. Here it was that Elizabeth
Zane passed through the fire of the whole body of redskins ia
the effort to bring into the fort the ammunition so necessary to
its defence;-here it was, also, that the wives and daughters of
its noble defenders marched to a spring in point-blank range of
the ambuscaded Indians, in going to and fro, 'or the purpose of
bringing water for the garrison.
  Messengers had been dispatched at the earliest alarm to the
neighboring settlements for succor, and in response to the call
Captain Van Swearingen, with fourteen men, arrived from Cross
Creek, and fought his way into the fort without the loss of a man.
Soon afterwards, a party of forty horsemen, led by the brave and
intrepid Major Samuel McCulloch, were seen approaching, and (n-
deavoring to force their way through the dense masses of Indians
which nearly surrounded the station. Their friends within the fort
made every preparation to receive them. by openibg the gates, and

 








W'CULLOCH'8 FEARFUL LEAP.



organizing a sortie to cover their attempt. After a desperate hand-
tc.-hand conflict, in which they made several of the Indians bite
the dust, they broke through the lines, and entered the fort in
triumph, without the loss of an individual. All except their daring
                                  leader succeeded in the effort.
                                  He was cut off, and forced to fly
                                  in an opposite direction. McCul-
                                  loch was as well known to the
                                  Indians as to the whites for his
                                         deeds of prowess, and his
                                         name was associated iii
                                         their minds with some of
                                         the most bloody fights in
                THlI FLIES.              which the white a