MURDER AT LINK'S BLOCK-HOUSE.
Of the many primitive places of defence which sprung up
at an early day in the forests of North-western Virginia, was
that of Link's block-house, on middle Wheeling creek. It
was built by Jonathan Link, in 1780, and served to shelter
the defenceless settlers of the neighborhood. This rude
structure stood a few miles from the present town of Triadelphia,
and early became the scene of a bloody occurrence.
In the fall of 1781, a party of fifteen or twenty Indians,
returning from an excursion to the interior, made an attack
upon this block-house so suddenly, that Link and two of his
men were instantly killed, and several taken prisoners. The
men had been at a shooting match, and it is supposed may
have indulged rather too freely to present a vigorous defence.
Of those taken prisoner, was William Hawkins, who lived
within a few miles,[21]
but who had gone to attend the shooting
match. Hawkins told the Indians, if they did not kill him
he would go quietly to his house. This they agreed to, but
his family hearing their approach, (Hawkins spoke loud so as
to give the alarm,) secreted themselves in time. A daughter,
however, was discovered and taken prisoner, and another
member of the family killed.
The savages, after plundering the house, marched their
prisoners in front, and proceeding a mile or two, ordered the
daughter on ahead. They then took Hawkins and another
prisoner, named Presly Peak, to the summit of a ridge, tied
them to separate trees, and tomahawked them.
