The native American., 1838-06-30
From the Western Messenger.
INTERESTING INCIDENT IN KENTUCKY
HISTORY


HISTORY.
AT the first meeting of the Kentucky Histori
cal Society, the following anecdote Of Indiar
generosity aud magannimity was related by
gentleman distinguished in the annals of Kentucy
with whose permission we give it to the public
through our paper:
About the year l7Si-5, Mr.. Andrew Rowan
embarked in barge at the Falls of Ohio. (wher.
Louisville now stands,) with party TO deseent
the river. That boat having stopped at ihs
Yellow Banks, on the Indiana side, some distanct
below, Mr.. Rowan, borrowing rifle Of one o
the company stepped on shore and strolled into
the bottom, probably rather in pursuit Of amnse.
ment than game; for, from having always been o
feeble constitution and avcrse to action, he
knew not how TO use rifle, and besides had
with him but the single charge Of ammunition
which was in the gun. lie unconscionsly pro-
tracted his stay beyond what he intended; and
returning to the spot where he had landed, saw
nothing Of the boat nor the company he had i IT,
II being time of hostility with the Indians, and
suspicious OF their approach having alarmed the
party, they had put off, and made down the
stream with all possible haste, not daring to lin
ger for their companion Oh shore. MIR. Rowan
now found himself alone on the banks OF the
Ohio, vast and trackless forest stretching
and himself too unskilled in the use Of the rifle
to profit even by that, and liable at any moment
to fall into the hands Of the savages. The near.
est settlement Of the whites was Vincennes,
(now in Indiana,) distant probably abou, one
hundred miles. Shaping his course as nearly as
he could calculate for this, he commenced his Pc
rilous and hopeless journey. Unaccustomed to
travelling in the forest, he soon lost all reckon
ing Of his way, and wandered about at venture.
lmpelled by the cravings of hunger, he dis
charged his rifle at deer that happened to pass
near him, but missed il. The third day found
him still wandering, whether towards Vincen-
mes or from it he knew not-exhausted, famish-
ed and de-pairng. Several times had he lain
down as he thought, to die. Reused by the
sound OF gun not far distant betokening, as he
well knew, the presence Of the Indians, he pro-
ceeded towards the spot whence the report had
proceeded, resolved as last hope Of lte to sur
render himself TO those whose tender mercies he
knew to be cruel. Advancing a short distance
he saw an Indian approaching, who, discovering
him--as the first impulse was on all alarm with
the whites and Indians on the frontiers in time
Of hos,ilities-drew up his rifle TO his shoulder
in readiness TO fire. Mr.. Rowan turned the butt
Of his, and the Indian, with French politeness.
turned the butt Of his also. They approached
each other. The Indian seeing his pale and
emaciated appearance, and understanding the
cause, took him to lis wigwam a few miles dis
tant, where he cooked for him for several days,
and treated him with the greatest hospitality.
Then learning Of him BY signs that he wished to
60 to Vincennes the Indian Immediately left his
hunting, took his rifle and small stock of pro-
visions, and conducted him in safety to that set
tlen,ent, distance from his cabin Of about eigh-
I -
reward well the generous Indian to whom he
owed his life, Mr.. Rowan made arrangements
with merchant, to whom he made himself
known to give him three hundred dollars. But
the Indian would not receive farthing When
made to understand by MIR. Rowan through an
interpreter that he could not be happy unless he
would accept something, he replied, pointing to
new blanket near him, that he would take that,
and added, wrapping his own blanket around his
shoulders when wrap my scIfini it, will think
Of you"