History of Fayette County
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County
RACE OF JOHN EDGINGTON
An incident in which the noted Shawanoes chief, Captain John, in after years a qUasi resident of this county, took an active part; for this reason we consider it worthy of mention here:
About 1795, John and Asahel Edgington and another man started towards Brush Creek, on a hunting expedition. They had good success and bagged a fine lot of deer, bear, etc., hung them up out of the reach of wolves and returned for pack horses to take them in. Being in the winter and not apprehending danger from the Indians, they returned alone to the old hunting camp, alighted from their horses and were preparing to strike a fire when they were fired upon by a party of savages ambushed not twenty yards away. Asahel fell dead, but John escaped. With horrid yells the Indians sprang from their place of concealment, the frightened horses broke loose and ran towards home, and John Edgington was alone on foot. With the activity of a buck he bounded off, with a band of howling redskins at his heels to urge him forward. So close indeed was the contest, that the yielding grass scarce resumed its shape before the Indian's foot pressed it down again. The uplifted tomahawk seemed so near his head he thought he felt its edge. The hard breathing of his blood-thirsty pursuers sounding in his ears, stimulated him to almost superhuman exertions.
The race was long and doubtful; every effort to capture and escape was made, but at last Edgington began to gain ground and after a long race he distanced them, made his escape and reached his home in safety. Captain John, who headed the Indians on this occasion, and who, after peace was made, hunted in this county, was often heard to say that the white man who ran away "was smart fellow; he run and I run, and he run and run. At last white man run clear off from me."