Sometime in the close of the year 1793, while the valley of the Great Kenawha river was exposed to the hostile visits of the Indians, and while a block-house and stockade was maintained about a mile above Elk river, at the place where Frederic Brooks, esq. now resides, the following incident occurred:
Mr. Van Bibber, one of the garrison, passing early in the morning
from the stockade to captain Clendenin's, about a mile above, now
the seat of Daniel Ruffner, esq., fortunately having his rifle cocked,
primed and ready for any scene of danger, saw rising before him from
behind a fallen tree, a large and athletic Indian, with his war costume
and painted for battle; who, simultaneously with Van Bibber,brought
his rifle to a shoulder and aim, the two guns going off so nearly together
as to produce but one sound; the Indian fell, his ball grazing
his opponent's body. Van Bibber, not knowing what other enemies
were in ambuscade, hurried on toward captain Clendenin's, and met
the inmates of the house repairing with arms to the scene of danger;
being roused by what they supposed a single shot, which was
the agreed signal of the approach of danger. Van Bibber exclaimed,
"I have just fought a duel," and gave an account of the occurrence.
The party repaired to the scene described, where blood was found,
but no vestige of the enemy, and all search proved unavailing. Several
weeks elapsed when, in milder weather, the body of the Indian was
discovered, by the vultures collecting at the spot, where his body had
been deposited by his own comrades in a cleft of the rocks at the foot
of the hill, about half a mile distant from the place of his fatal encounter
with Van Bibber. Yours, &c.,
A. EDGAR SUMMERS.