MURDER OF THE PURDY FAMILY.
One of the most bold and bloody murders perpetrated in
the neighborhood of Wheeling, during this year, was that on
the family of James Purdy, a worthy and industrious settler
on the hill just above Bedelion's mill. The family consisted
of Mr. and Mrs. Purdy and their four children.
The cabin in which they lived was unfinished; a blanket
supplying the place of a door. But this was not deemed
unsafe, as no Indians had appeared in the settlement for
some months. Shortly after dark, four Indians stepped into
the cabin, and without uttering a word commenced butchering
the defenceless family. Two of them fell upon Purdy, who
called to his wife for a knife, which she handed him; but he
was then too much exhausted from the repeated blows of the
tomahawk to use it, and the next moment after receiving it
sunk lifeless to the floor. Mrs. Purdy was knocked down with
a war club; one child was dashed against the door-way, and its
brains scattered over the room, while an interesting little
boy, who was screaming with fright, had both his fears and
his pains quieted by a blow from the tomahawk. The two
remaining children, daughters, were then made prisoners,
and after plundering the house, effected a hurried retreat
across the Ohio. The girls were released after ten years'
captivity. Mrs. Purdy was only stunned by the blow with
the war club, and falling near the door, crawled off and
secreted herself while the Indians were eating.
