Person:William Bailey (147)

http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?811,372796

Following story written by W. G. Bailey, Jan. 1898, to Norwista B. Morrison.

THE CAPTURE OF WILLIAM BAILEY BY THE INDIANS Introductory remarks The capture and rescue of William Bailey and the killing of 5 men—2 Shearers, 2 McCandless' and 1 McNealy—while in the harvest field reaping wheat, was listened to often times by many of those who were born in the early part of the present century, but there are few of them now (1898) who are left to repeat these incidents of trials and narrow escapes from the Indians by the early settlers of that part of the County. I deem it expedient as a point in history of the early settlers, to here relate it, as nearly as possible after the elapse of a century, that those who come after the present generation may be reminded of those times, and be assured that they are not mere traditions. The Story While a party of six neighbors, consisting of William Bailey, 2 Shearers, 2 McCandless, and McNealy, in the summer of 1780 (it being not only the custom of those days but for protection against the Indians) were in the harvest field together reaping wheat, located on the Shearer farm, their attention was called from their labor by the howling of the dogs (which they did when the Indians were about) and being aware of the fact that the Indians had been in the neighborhood, they went and got their guns a short distance form them—it being the custom to keep the guns with them in the field. They went to the fence and some of them got up on it, when one of the party remarked they would be good shots for the Indians. At that moment four of them fell dead. The remaining two—William Bailey and McNealy—ran. Bailey ran down and McNealy ran up the ravine. The latter was overtaken and tomahawked after a fierce struggle, from the indications of where he was found. He had vowed many times he would not be taken by the red skins. He was killed a few hundred yards south of where the Midway and Clinton road crosses the old Scrubenvill & Pittsburg Pike, this point being a few rods west of the North-Star. William Bailey, being an expert runner, was not overtaken for a considerable distance. On his way he had to cross a wide ditch and when he jumped he lit on the other bank but it was undermined by the water and it gave away. When he looked around there was a large Indian a few paces away. He turned around and gave himself up. He was taken by the Indians and they said he would make a good Indian, being tall and straight and a good runner as they discovered before they captured him. The Indians encamped that night a short distance from where the big R. Creek empties into the Ohio River and there he saw them cleaning the scalps of those they had killed. Seeing only four scalps he concluded that McNealy had got away, but after the fight they had not taken it. He also saw them cutting out with their tomahawks pure lead out of a mine and running bullets. He afterward went back to hunt for the lead mine but could not find it. The whites, after finding out what had happened, gathered up and followed the Indians. On coming to the Ohio River they found the canoes but without disturbing them, crossed to the other side and laid in ambush for the Indians. When the Indians came and got their canoes and were about halfway across, one of the party of whites, who had boasted what he would do, started to run. This gave the alarm to the Indians and they turned their canoes down the river. The whites fired on them killing several of their number. The big Indian who was in the canoe with Bailey was killed. When he fell out he capsized the canoe, taking Bailey to the bottom. When he was taken down the second time he got his hands loose (which had been tied). He thought himself loose but found when he came up that he was tied around the neck to the canoe. He then started to swim with it. The whites, coming close to Bailey's head; but finding he was coming toward them, two of them swam in and one of them cut him loose. After getting to a sand bar one of them wanted Bailey to get on his back and he would take him to shore, but Bailey, being a splendid swimmer, insisted they let him rest awhile and then he could swim ashore. So after a bit he turned on his back and swam to shore, stating that it rested him. Thus ends an exciting incident, and one ever remembered by the old settlers of Robinson Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania. These men who were killed were the first to be interred in what is now the Candor Church yard. Yours truly, (Signed) W. G. Bailey. Jan. 1898.