Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-02-08
MA5GElAA.A.HN0U ).
Prom the Missouri lnteiigencer.
THE BEAVER HUNTER.

l HE BE 4 V FIX HO y EH.
There appears N the character Of the
iphAbiianis who reside Immediately ON
frontier, certain doubtful features Tia
render il difficult 70 determine to whic
side Of the boundary they belong. Tau
ii is with our bordercrs OF Missouri wa
have taken up their residence in III
neishborhood Of the Indisa lands, and l.
many instances have adopted he habh.
manners and customs Of the natives.
Michael Shuckwell Or as nc has
been more Familiarity denominated, Nix
Shuck, may be presented as sa;npls o.
these volunteer Barbarlans. Anon
the early settlers OF Kentucky, Nix
Suck was a known white headed hardy
urchm whom nobody claimed kin to, ana
who disc claimed connexion with all man
kind,
He was Injured TO danger in the course
when the celebrated Col. Boon migrated
to this country, Nike was one Of his
numerous followers. Advancing as he
se,tlrnents progressed, for the conve-
nience Of hunting, he has at last found
himself pushed beyond the boundary of
that tract of country to which the Indian
title has beel extlnruished. Al present
Nike Shack claims a portable clllzeD-
ship or floating title to resi-
dence that he locates for the time
beng wherever he NAV chance to Law
himsef down for the night. His sub
stance he draws from natures grand
storehouse, by means OF an old rps,y
rife thal has been his consIan, compa-
Mon since hisirst camp ign under Gene
raj George Rogers Clark.
He possesses, in an eminent degree,
a knowledge of all the minulia OF trap
ping, and he appropriates his au,umns,
the proper season for this branch of bis
business, in exploring the small creeks
that pu, INFO the Missouri above the set
Elements. He is frequently discovered
g at The peep of dawn" bare-headed and
bare-foo.ed, pursuing the meanderings
Of these water-courses, bending under a
load Of traps, to learn whether or not his
bait has attracted the cautious victim;
or for the purpose Of locating his traps
more advanlas eously.
Such is the accuracy OF his skill, that
Nike Shuck can make up pack of bea-
yer, when an Indian, with all his rude
knowledge of natural history, would es-
teen the prospect hopeless, A gentle
man who was in the pursuit OF Elk,
about the middle OF November last, dis
covered this modern Crusoe at evening,
1.la Of, kx,
fortune, at this time, amounted to about
pack-horse load. He proposed to en-
camp with him for the night. Mike
muttered kind OF grumbling assent,
and led the way, frs, through an extern
siye halle thicket, thence descending
into ravine, he proceeded by devious
routethrough compact grove OF swamp
ash, and at length arrived at cheerful
fire that had previously been lighted by
our hero; but for which the place
would have been as dreary as purgatory
is represented to be. Tue owls them
selves, however pressing their necessl
ties, could scarcely have tapped theit
way into this dismal labyrinth. Blu
Mike and his plumber, as he very pro-
perry termed II m this instance. Tor II
was the Legitimate property OF the In
dlans) was safe. Mike Shuck threw
down his burden, and turned to his fol-
lower with malicious smile, or rather
with a hvsteric grin, and desired him 70
be seated. The hospitality Of his board,
if bearskin spread on the ground de-
serves the name, was rendered with very
little ceremony, and consisted of a bea-
yer Tail and AN elk marrow bone, both of
which were prepared on the Goals by
mine host In his own proper person.
Mike, as / have before remark ed,
claims no family connexions; and u
ever he had any he has out-lised them /;
he is therefore making no provisions Tor
legacy huo,ers. Boz he is ais avs, when
be designs to make use Ut his tongue,
erumbliDg about his arrangements for