Tragedy that occurred in 1791 involving Malcolm Coleman and a small party of men on a hunting expedition for meat and bear skin

 

The sources describe a tragedy that occurred in 1791 involving Malcolm Coleman and a small party of men on a hunting expedition for meat and bear skins. The event took place on Mill Creek, a stream now in Jackson County, West Virginia, but then considered part of Greenbrier (now Pocahontas) County.

• The hunting party was composed of Malcolm Coleman and his son John, Elijah Pixley, and James Ryan.

• They ascended the Ohio in a canoe and descended the Mill Creek to a point about two miles above its mouth.

• They then camped upon that creek, abounding in game, for several days, having good success.

• One evening after pleasantly spending the day in hunting they retired at night.

• A sudden cold spell and heavy rain set in, preventing them from getting the meat they had killed to the camp.

• The rain nearly filled the ravine and the water in the creek rose rapidly.

• As a result, they were forced to spend the night upon a third bottom of the creek, considerably above their old camp, near a light falls, above which they had been successfully fishing.

• Early the following morning, Malcolm Coleman and Elijah Pixley arose very early and descended to the falls for a supply of fish.

• Coleman’s son John anxiously awaited their return.

• While standing on a projecting rock overlooking the falls he felt an unaccountable nervous apprehension on his father’s behalf, a presentiment of evil, a cold, clammy sensation passing through his shoulder, followed by another, which passed through his head, and he fell dead upon the rock.

• One of the thoughts he had before his death was that his father would be killed by Indians.

• On that day, Joshua Dewey, James Ryan, and his companion made a journey down Mill Creek to the old camp.

• Not finding Coleman and Pixley there they concluded the Indians, who made their appearance that day, had murdered them.

• Dewey made his way to the garrison at Belleville Bottom, and Ryan and his old friend hurried to the camp plundered.

• Hastening back, he was the first to carry the painful intelligence to the garrison.

• A party of men from the garrison went up to the camp in a canoe, but the Indians had taken the plunder, loaded it on horses, and made off to one of their retreats.

• Mr. Coleman on the spot where he fell, they returned deeply affected with his death.

• A safe retreat, and after interfering the remains of Mr. Coleman on the spot where he fell, they returned deeply affected with his death.

• The loss of the two men was long and sincerely mourned in the community.