The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-03 00:00:00

COLTER'S ADVENTURE.

The following singular adventure of a man named
John Colter, is taken from Mr. Bradbury's Travels in
the Interior of North America.

Colter came to St. Louis in May, 1810, in a small
canoe, from the head-waters of the Missouri, a distance
of 300 miles, which he traversed in thirty days. I saw
him on his arrival, and received from him an account of
his adventures, after he had separated from Lewis and
Clark's party. I shall relate one anecdote for its sin-
gularity. On the arrival of the party at the head-
waters of the Missouri, Colter observing an appearance
of abundance of beaver being there, got permission to
remain and hunt for some time, which he did in company
with a man of the name of Dixon, who had traversed
the immense tract of country from St. Louis to the
head-waters of the Missouri alone. Soon after, he
separated from Dixon, and trapped in company with a
hunter named Potts ; and, aware of the hostility of the
Blackfoot Indians, one of whom had been killed by
Lewis, they set. their traps at night, and took them up
early in the morning, remaining concealed during the
day. They were examinias their traps early one morn-
ing, in a creek about six miles from that branch of the
Missouri, called Jefferson Fork, and were ascending in
a canoe, when they suddenly heard a great noise, re-
sembling the trampling of animals ; but they could not
ascertain the fact, as the high perpendicular banks on
each side of the river impeded their view. Colter pro-
nounced it to be occasioned by Indians, and advised an
instant retreat, but was accused of cowardice by Potts,
who insisted that the noise was caused by buffaloes ;
and they proceeded on. In a few minutes afterwards
their doubts were removed, by a party of Indians
making their appearance on both sides of the creek, to
the amount of five or six hundred, who beckoned them
to come ashore. As retreat was now impossible, Colter
turned the head of the canoe ; and, at the moment of
its touching, an Indian seized the rifle belonging to
Potts ; but Colter, who is a remarkably strong man,
immediately retook it, and handed it to Potts, who re-
ma;ned in the canoe, and, on receiving it, pushed off
into the river. He had scarcely quitted the shore,
when an arrow was shot at him, and he cried out,
" Colter, lam wounded 1" Colter remonstrated with
him on the folly of attempting to escape, and urged
him to come ashore. Instead of complying, he in-
stantly levelled his rifle at the Indian, and shot him dead
on the spot. This conduct, situated as he was, may
appear to have been an act of madness, but it was
doubtless the effect of sudden but sound reasoning ;
for, if taken alive, he must hava expected to be tortured
to de ith, according to their custom. He was instantly
pierced with arrows so numerous, that, to use Colter's
words, "he was made a riddle of." They now seized
Colter, stripped him entirely naked, and began to consult
on the manner in which he should be put to death.
They were at first inclined to set him up as a mark to
shoot at, but the chief interfered, and seizing him by
the shoulder, asked him if he could run fast? Colter,
who had bean some time amongst the Kee-katso, or
Crow Indians, had in a considerable decree acquired
the Blackfoot language, s,nd was also weal acquainted
with Indian customs ; he knew that he had now to run
for his lire, with the dreadful odds of five or six hun-
dred against him, and those armed Indians ; he there-
fore cunningly replied that he was a very bad runner,
although he was considered by the hunters as remark-
ably swift. The chief now commanded the party to re-
main stationary, and led Colter out on the prairie about
three or four hundred yards, and released him, bidding
him save himself if he could. At this instant the hor-
rid war-whoop sounded in the ears of poor Colter, who,
urged with the hopes of preserving life, ran with a speed
at which he himself was surprised. He proceeded
towards the Jefferson Fork, having to traverse a plain
six miles in breadth, ab aindin,g with the prickly pear,
on which he was every instant treading with his naked
feet. He ran nearly half-way across the plain, before
he ventured to look over his shoulder, when he perceived
that the Indians were very much scattered, and that he
had gained ground to a considerable distance from the
main body ; but one Indian, who carried a s2ear, was
much before all the rest, and not more than one hun-
dred yards from him. A faint gleam of hope now
cheered the heart of Colter ; he derived confidence
from the belief that escape was within the bounds of
possibility ; but that confidence was nearly fatal to
him, for he exerted himself to such a degree that the
blood gushed from his nostrils, and soon almost covered
the fore-part of his body. He had now arrived within
a mile of the river, when be distinctly heard the ap-
palling sound of footsteps close behind, and on looking
over his shoulder perceived the Indian with a spear,
which he was evidently preparing to hurl, within a few
feet of him. As a last resource he suddenly stopped
and turned round, with outstretched arms; the sur-
prise of the action caused the Indian, who stopped
likewise, to stumble, and he fell on the spear, which
broke in two. Colter instantly seized the sharp part,
with which he pinned him to the earth, and -then con-
tinued his flight. The foremost of the Indians, on
arriving at the place, stopped till others came up
to join them, when they set up a hideous yell.
Every moment of this time was improved by
Colter ; who, although fainting and exhausted, suc-
ceeded in gaining the skirting of the Cotton-tree
wood, on the borders of the Fork, through which he
ran and plunged into the river. Fortunately for
bin,, a little below this place was an island, against
the upper part of which a raft of drift-timber had
lodged. He dived under the raft, and, after several
efforts, got his head above water amongst the trunks
of trees, covered over with smaller wood to the depth
of several feet. Scarcely had he secured himself when
the Indians arrived on the river, screeching and yel'-
ing, as Colter expressed it, " like so many devils."
They were frequently on the raft during the day, and
were seen through the chinks by Colter, who was con-
gratulating himself on his escape, until the idea arose
that they might set the raft on fire. In horrible sus-
pense he remained until night, when, hearing no more
of the Indians, he dived under the raft, and swam
silently down the river to a considerable distance ;
here he landed, and travelled all night. Although
happy in having escaped from the Indians, his situation
was still dreadful; he was completely baked, under a
burning sun—the soles of his feet were entirely filled
with the thorns of the prickly pear—he was hungry,
and had no means of killing game, although be saw
abundance around him, and was at least seven days'
journey from Lisa's Fort, on the Bighorn branch of the
Rocha Jaune river. These were circumstances under
which almost any man but an American hunter would
have despaired. He arrived at the fort in seven days,
having subsisted on a root much esteemed by the In-
dians of the Missouri.

On Saturday the Members of the Royal Aca-
demy of Arts gave their anniversary dinner at their apart..
ments in Trafalgar-square, which was attended by a nume-.
rows assemblage of guests of the first rank and talent,
among whom were the Lord President of the Council,
First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Privy Seal, First Lord
of the Admiralty, Secretaries for the Home, Foreign, Colo-
nial, and War Departments, Master of the Rolls, Vice-
Chancellor, Lord Chief Justice of the Cornmeal Pleas,
Lord Chief Baron, Attorney and Solicitor-Generals, Lord
Chamberlain, General Commanding-in- Chief, Lord
Mayor, Governor of the Bank, President of the College of
Surgeons, Master of the Horse, Chairman of the East
India Company, French Ambassador, American, Belgian,
Saxon, Bavarian, Portuguese. Sardinian, Neapolitan,
Grecian, Hanoverian, and Wirtemberg Ministers ; Dukes
Beaufort and Wellington ; Marquis of Anglesey ; Earls
Rosebery, Grey. Ripon, Brownlow, Burlington, Eldon,
and Cawdor ; Viscount Duncannon ; Bishops of London,
Llandaff, Lichfield, and Chichester; Lords Burghcrsh,
Prudhoe, Stanley, Brougham, Wbarncliffe, Colborne, Al-
ford, Morpeth, Baron L. de Rothschild ; Right Hons. Sir
R. Peel, C. W. Wynn, H. Labouchere, J. W. Croker ;
sirs R. H. Inglis, Willoughby Gordon, J. Swinburne,
G: Phillips, T. D. Acland, G. Warrender, T. Baring, H.
Ellis, J. Brunel, G. Staunton, Field Officer in Waiting;
R. Vernon. E. R. Tunny, W. Wells, S Rogers, R. Hart
Davis, J. Mortison, Gaily Knight, C. Babbage, F. Cart-
wright, D. Solom:ms. J. Neeld, A. Miliie, H. A. Munro,
W. Seguier, P. H. Howard, G. Knott, J. H. Hippesley,
Baring Wall, H. Hallam, J. H. Green, &c.
ATTEMPT TO POISON.---A most diabolical
attempt to poison was detected at Grittleton House, the seat of
Joseph Neeld, Esq., M.P., a few days since. Some wine
had been decanted at. lunch, a very small portion of which had
been partaken rf by Mr. Neeld, his brother, and another gen-
tleman. The remainder of the wine was introduced at the
dinner table ; but it had undergone such an alteration in its
appearance and taste, that suspicions were at once excited. It
vas analysed, and found to contain a large quantity of deadly
poison, which must have been mixed between the time of '
lunch and dinner. The circumAane.e, as might be expected,
has occasionrd consideralle consternation in the neighbour-
hood, and a 13ow-street officer was immediately sent for. We
are not aware that any one in particular is suspected; and
whose life was thus intended to have been sacrificed it is diffi-
cult. to say.—Devizes Gazette.
\Ve have reason to believe that Dr. Pepys, the
Bis Lop of Sodor and Man, and brother of the Lord Chancellor,
will be translated to the see of Worcester, vacant by the de-
cease of Dr. Carr.

PRICES OF CANAL,D()CIi., ASSUR--
2,IPA. S g,•2,

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 30.
Number Dividen Price
of per CANALS. per
Shares. Annum. Paid. 'Shire.
1,766 7 per cent. Ashton & Oldham...Average97/.185.5h.. 110
1,482 41. Ashby.de.le-Zouch Average 1131.5 h. '72
1, 60 Basingstoke 1001. sh. 5
1,01,5 51. Breeknock and Abergavenny" -1501. sh. 93
8,00) I-16th. 101. Birmingham, I-16th share ....8/1. & 711. 200
4,1000 . ...... . Ditto & Liverpool Junct. ITU. 01.100 pi 15
600 31. Bridgewater and Taunton.lool.sh. all pi -
400 51. Chelmer and Blackwater lOOl. sh . 101
500 321. Coventry 1001. sh. 600
Croydon.... ..... ... Average 311.28 10d. sh . -
2,060 51. Os. Dudley... . .... ... 1001. sh. 94
600 131. Derby lool.sh. 120
211,0 )0 4:per cent. Danube and Mayne 411.138. 4d.pd :_,.3
3,5754 4' Ellesmereand Chester Average 133;.sda. 81
231 621 Erawasn
1,297 301. Forth and Clyde.... Average 4001.165. eh. 6:0
.1,000 R. Grand Junction 1001.80 124
1,8494 255. Grand Union lool.sh . 26
1,500 .... Grand Surrey
1,0001 41. percent . Ditto (optional) Loan 1001.
3,096
SOU 131.125. Sd. Glamorganshire, Aver. cost 172/.138.4d. 220
749 128. Grantham
3,238 21.6 x. Hudde, wield Average 5//. 6s. 6d. ski. 27
100 Kensington lOO sh. all pd 10
25,328 11.10 s. Kennet and Avon, Av. 391. 18s. 10a. sh 24%
11,699& IL 78. Lancaster Average 471. Cs. t3d . 27%
2,8974 301. Leed s and Liverpool lOO/. sh 750
5451 11/. Leicester 140/.11. 140
1,897 MO.. Leicester & Northampton Aver 83/.IOE '73
.400 101_ Monmouthshire ........ lOOl.Bll 200
250 101. Melton Mowbray
500 25/. Mersey and Irwell IOW. sh . 550
9,000 21. 10s. Macclesfield lOOl. eh. all pd 34.
247 174 Neath 1001.81,. 325

2,400 51. Peak Forest Aven.ge about 781. sh. 7334
21,418 Bs. Regent's (or London) Av. 331.168.8 d. sh. 10
5,669 6/. per cent. Rochdale Average 851.5 h. 81
500 81. Shropshire ,./251.5h. 137
800 101. Os. Somerset Coal l5Ol. sh. ISO
3,6001. 41 per cent Ditto Lock Fund Stock 121.105. sh. 11%
700 361. Stafford and Worcester. 1401.5 h. 600
500 151, Shrewsbury
300 9 3taurbridge............... 145/. sh. 396
3,647 2!. Os. Stratford.on-Avon 21 a er....791. 9s. bil. sh. 35
533 12t1 Swansea lOOl.B h. 265

3,762 2/.:81. Severn and Wye and Railway Ar. 351. sh. 45
2,60:11 sh. 931. 10s. Treat and Mersey, i share lOO/. sh. 590
8,149
1,0005h.1 ,
101. Warwick and B.rnalsigham 1001.3 h 240
I,oooish.l
930 131 Warwick and Napt.n* 1001. sh. 160
7,000 41 f Worcester & Birmingham Av.7B/.Bs. sh. 55
1,000 325. Wilts and Barks Averaee 67/. lOs Bd. sh. 29
eon 6.. Wplev and Essington 1251. sh '74
.20 ,,,. IP:semen .. ..... .............—.= sh. 30
905 Si. Wey and Acun llO/. en. :-.'2.%
DOCKS.

1.600 & 1 3p. C. Commerc al lOOl. eh. 6.1,,,
1.065i5h. j
East and West India ....Stock 9S
3.238,310 V. 60s. p.ct. London ...........5t0ck €9 IA
Ditto Bonds

2,209 31.65. sd. Bristol Average 14"1. Os. sh. 75
88,3241. 51. per cent. Ditto Notes, various amounts lOB
:352,752 5 percent. St. Katharine Stock 94
500,000 41 percent. Ditto Bonds ..., lOl%
200.000 4 per cent. Ditto Bonds for 10 years
Deptford Pier .. 201. sh. 201. pd 10
BRIDGES.
,600 10s. Hammersmiti 5O/. sh. 21
7,231 Southwark, Old Av. 631.25. Bd. sh. 2%
1,700 11. 15s. Ditto, New, of 71 per cent., 50/. sh. 13
~,000 Waterloo 1001. sh. 3%
5,000 225. Od. Ditto, Old Annuities of 81 601. pd 21
5,000 19s. 3d. Ditto, New Ditto of 7/. 4Ol. pd 18%
30,0001. 51. per cent. Ditto Bonds
5,848 9.6 s Vauxhall .........Average 701. 10s. '3d. sh 26
ASSURANCE COMPANIES.
2,000 3110 s Albion
50,000 tafne,ri cirs.t•l Allianceßritish &Foreignlool. sh. 11/. pd 14
50,000 6 per cent. Ditto, Marine 100!. sh. 5/. pd 5
4,000 11. per sh. Atlas 5Ol. sh. 51. pd 14
1,20015 h. 51. Birmingham 1. ire .50/. sh. 55/. pd 10734
20,000 41. per cent. British Fire 2501. sh. 501. pd 40
12,000 61. per cent. British Commercial 5O!. sh. 51. pd 5%
5,000 51. per cent. Clerical & Medial Lite, 109/.sh. 2110 s pd .sU
4,000 3/ Os County lOO/. sh. 101. pd 10
20,000 .ss. Eagle 501. sh. 5!. pd 5%
0,, r 5 per cent.l Economic Lite 10001. sh. 2501. pd 906
- l and 30( bs.i
2,271 225. percent. European Lip .• .0/. sh. all pd 22
50,000 23. Ditto, New 201. sh. 2/. pd 1%
1,000,0001. 61. per ct Glotie Stock 118
20,000 51. Guardian
30,000 B. 6..!. Hope 5O/. sh. 5/. pd 5%
2,400 51.75. 64. Imperial Fire 5001. sh. 501. pd 133
7,500 03. Imperial Life lOOl. sh. 10/. pd 10
13;1.59 51. percept. Indemnity Marine lOOl. sh. 81. pd 29
2,020 31 10s Kent Fire 5O!. sh. all pd 92
3/. Ditto Life 5O/. pd 66
10,900 16s. Law Life lOO/. sh. 10/. pd 30%
5,0013 10s. London, Fire 25/. sh. 12!. 10s. pd 18%
3,900 10s. London, Ship .5/. sh. 12/. 10s. pd 183%
1,600,0001. ... ..... Minerva pfe
..... •

570,000/.
30,000 51. per cent. Palladium Lite 5O!. sh. 2/. pd 216 s
50,000 4/. per cent. Protector Fire 201. sh. 2!. pd 18s 6d
10,000 4 per cent. Protestant Dissenters ....1G0!. sh. 51. pd 5
2.500 lc. Provident Lue 100!. sh. 101. pd 20
1,,t1 f 7s. Rock Life
89.'2201 51. per cent. Royal Exchange Stock 19.0
6,009 5 per cent. University Life 1001. 3h. 5/. pd 514
50,000 4 per cent. United Kingdom Life 1001. sh. 51. pd 7,4

JOINT STOCK BANKS.
25,000 Agric. and Corn. of Ireland2sl. sh. 10/. pd
5,0110 S per cent. Australaaia 40/. sh. 401. pd 59
10,300 10 percent. Bank of Biimingham 501. sh. 10/. pd 12%
10,000 19 per cent. Birmingham Bank 5Ol. sh, IN. pd 1944
3'1,000 6 per cent. London & Westminster 1001. sh. 20/. pd 23
60,000 5/. London Joint Stock 501. sh. 101. pd 12%
3,000 4 per cent. Lancaster lOOl. sh. 20/. pd 80
25,000 Liverpool lOOl sh. 10/. pd 1:14
50,030 74 percent. Manchester and Liver_ 50/.sh. 151 pd 10%
pool District
20,000 7 percent. Manchester lOOl. sh. 10/. pd
20,000 Provincial Bank of Irelandlool. sh. 25/.133 4114
00;100 6 rer cent National Bank of Ireland 50/. sh. 174/. pd 15%
10,04)0 5 per cent National Provincial Eng.loo4 sh. 35/. pd 54 y..,
10,006 Ditto New.... 101. sh. 10/. rid 10
/0,000 Gloucestershire r)0/. eh. 10/. pd 32
6,000 10 per cent. Hampshire 5O/. sh. 51. pd 9