Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-11-28

but bloodshed bot on signing them
they were tald that il was the Indian
custom To snake hands with each other
by way Of sealing their engagement.
on complying, each Indian grsppied
his man in order TO make him prisoner,
but. by a miracle, eight out of the nine
succeeded in extricating themselves,
Boon being among the number, and
they got safe into the garrison. A To-
ricus attack vas then made upon the
fort. which lasted nine DAYS and nights,
during which only two men were kill.
ed and four wounded by the besi.gers.
Who in return suffered severely. and
the logs Of the fort were stuck full of
the bullets which they fired. Al length
hostilities ceasing, Boon's wife, who on
his hrst captivity, supposing him kill.
ed, had set of with her family on horse
back through the woods a long and
dangerous distance into North Carroll.
NJ, was brought back by her husband
second time to his new residence,
where he hoped for the future TO pur-
sue his peaceful occupations unmolcst-
ed. His sufferings and perils had
been great. but his courage aud con-
stancy had surmounted them all, aud
he had just reason TO calculate at last
upon q period Of repose.
ooon, however, WAS not TO end his
days amid the advantages Of social life
HIS horoscope had been cast, and dis
covered no common portion Of malign
influence. His courage and constan
cy under the sevcrest trials-his long
and unremitting labours, in perfcctins
his infant settlement, almost entitled
him TO civic crown; but how different
was his reward! After his exemplary
labours, after spending the beat part
OF an honest life in rearing and provid
ing for 4 numerous family. and having
arrived at that period of existence when
he might reasonably expect to enjoy
the fruit OF his exertions, and obtain
some return for the fotigues and hsz-
ards OF his preceding life; too old to be.
gin another settlement, and that which
he had begun SO many years before
in the heart Of the wilderness. looking
smiling around him, the prop Of his old
age, the pride Of his hoary years, hi.
family's hope when he should be laid
low-he suddenly finds that he is pos
sessed Of nothing, that his eyes mus,
DC closed without q home, aud that he
must be an out-cast in his grey hairs.
His heart is torn. his feelings are lace
rated by the chicanery OF the Law.
which discovers that there is 4 defect
IN his title to the land of which he wa.
the first settler, even in a state where
no white man had put in the spade be
fore him. Perhaps his thriving farm
wns envied by some new ahvepturcr.
The discovery was fatal To his hsppi
ness. While he fondly believed tina,
his title was indisputabIe. his land was
taken from him, his goods were sold.
and he was deprived of his ell. The
province had been rapidly settling BY
his countrymep, and Increasing civil
cation vas accompanied by those vi
ces which are its never failing atten.
dants. KDavery, IN every form. march
ed with it; interest 1t any sacrifice oil
honor and justice, became the reignina
principle. The law. which in all soun
tries infliets nearly as much evil &c il
prevents, was made ar instrument ia
dispossess him Of hiss property. aud he
saw himself a wauderer and an outcast
His past labor even 20 blood had been
IN vain. Cot Ia the soul with a wound
ed spirit, he still showed himself az sx
traordinary and eccentric man. Tie
left forever the state in which he had
been the first TO introduce a civilized
lpspulation-Where he had so boldl y
maintained himself sgsinst external
attacks, and shown himself such an in
dUstrious and exemplary citizen
where he found no white man when he
sat himself down amid the ancient
woods, and left behind him half a mil
lion. lie forsook IL forever; no entres.
~ could keep him within its bounds. -
Man, from whom he deserved every
thing. bad prosecuted him aud robbed
him Of ell. lie babe his friends and
his family adieu forever; he felt tina,
the tie which linked him 10 social life
was broken.
lie took with him his rifle and e.
neeessaries, and crossing the Ohio.
pursued hts track ill he wss two or
three hundred miles in advance If any
white settlement. AZ the territory
north Of the Ohio was taken possession
Of. and peopling fast from the UDitcd
States, he crossed the Mississippi. and
plunged into the unknown and I'm.
mense country on the banks 81 the
MissOaTi, where the monstrous Msm-
moth - even nowsupposed 10 be IN ex.
istenee. On the shores NJ this mighty
river, he reared his rude log hot. IA
~hich he attached no idea Of pcrma
neney. bot held himself constantly rea
idy 20 retire yet farther from civilized
man. should be approach too near b..
desert solitude. With the exception
Of q son. who resided with his father
according to so@e accounts, but with
oof aay one. according 10 Ofkera Ia,