BLOODY EXPLOIT.
Jonathan Zane was perhaps one of the best shots in the
west. He prided himself particularly upon his skill in this
respect. The following incident shows that he was not only
a good shot, but a dead shot. We derive the facts from Mr.
Reuben Miller, of Bridgeport, Ohio, long a personal friend of
Mr. Zane.
About the year 1808, the two (Miller and Zane) were
walking near where Phillips' foundry now stands, in Wheeling,
when Zane remarked, "About here, I once killed five
Indians. I was returning home from hunting my horses,
and in passing through the high weeds which at that time
grew all around, I saw five Indians jump into the river, and
swim for the island. I fired, and one of them sunk. Loading
and firing three times in quick succession, three others
were killed before reaching the opposite bank." The fifth
and last, seeing the fate of his companions, concealed himself
behind a sawyer, near the island shore, hoping thus to escape
the deadly aim of the white man. After several ineffectual
attempts to dislodge him, the effort was about to be given
over, when Zane noticed a portion of his abdomen protruding
below the log. Drawing a fine aim on the exposed part, he
fired, and the savage rolled into the stream.
