object of that
association to be purely territorial. And equally fruitless would
have been their endeavor to involve them in a contest [112] with
Virginians at a later period, but for a like manifestation of an
intention to encroach on their domain.

In the latter end of April 1774, a party of land adventurers, who had
fled from the dangers which threatened them below, came in collision
with some Indians, near the mouth of Captina, sixteen miles below
Wheeling. A slight skirmish ensued, which terminated in the
discomfiture of the whites, notwithstanding they had only one man
wounded, and one or two of the enemy were killed. About the same time,
happened the affair opposite the mouth of Yellow creek; a stream
emptying into the Ohio river from the northwest, nearly midway between
Pittsburg and Wheeling.[10]

In consequence of advices received of the menacing conduct of the
Indians, Joshua Baker (who lived at this place) was preparing,
together with his neighbors, to retire for safety, into some of the
nearer forts, or to go to the older and more populous settlements,
remote from danger. There was at that time a large party of Indians,
encamped on both sides of Yellow creek, at its entrance into the
river; and although in their intercourse at Baker's, they had not
manifested an intention of speedily commencing depredations, yet he
deemed his situation in the immediate contiguity of them, as being far
from secure, and was on the eve of abandoning it, when a party of
whites, who had just collected at his house, fired upon and killed
some Indians, who were likewise there.--Among them were the brother
and daughter of the celebrated chief, Logan.[11]

In justification of this conduct it has been said, that on the
preceding evening a squaw came over from the encampment and informed
Mrs. Baker that the Indians meditated the murder of her family on the
next day; and that before the firing [113] at Baker's, two canoes,
containing Indians painted and armed for war, were seen to leave the
opposite shore. Under these circumstances, an apparently slight
provocation, and one, which would not perhaps have been, otherwise
heeded, produced the fatal result. As the canoes approached the shore,
the party from Baker's commenced firing on them, and notwithstanding
the opposition made by the Indians, forced them to retire.

An interval of quiet succeeded the happening of these events; but it
was as the solemn stillness which precedes the e