The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-05-29
IRoCKY MOUNTAIN SKETCHES.

villages IN oaS living H'hmes win
the lndlans-a shrowd, cunning fellow,
not brave but exceedingly wicked. He
was the son of an American uspper,
Sho per,sbed in the snow one winter
night 10 the mountains, while Tom was
yet an infant. Tom obtained the title
OF Col, from the Americans, on account
Of martial aud commanding manner.
which he was fond Of assuming. He
spoke Spanish aud knew enough of
English 10 mIngle with the traders, and
be useful 10 them as an interpreter, be-
ing also conversant with tine language
tof hs'Indian mother. Though known
to be rascal, be was tolerated by the
Americans and Spaniards, on account.
partly for his usefulness when he chose
10 make himself serviceable, and partly
for his reckless and humorous disposi-
lion, -bu, the Indians hated him with
\ deadly hated hostility. His superior
intelligence made him feared among
| them, and they we're jealous of the white
blood that trickledln his veins. Living
under the Spanish rule they could not
kill him without beng punished for II,
and this made their hatred the more bit
ter. He knew we'll the hostile feeling,
OF lheIndIans with when he mingled
and the delight Of his existence seemed
ITO cOnssl in planning schems Of devils
try and rascahty 10 aggrava,e them. He
would steal from The whites whiskev e.
nough 10 make whole Indian town
drunk, and IN the midst Of the carousal
he would drive off The horses and sell
them 10 the Spaniards. He would in
terpret for The Indians when selling
| their skins TO the traders, and always
cuntrive 10 make to himself one half the
advantages Of the trade.
At length his depreda,ons became so
notorious and of go vilIalnous a nature,
that the Spaniards would no longer pro-
tect him, and the Indians commenced
hunting him for his life. He had been
chased whole day through the valley
ano up the mountain side, by band of
the Apachus Indians, when his horse
i gave out just at this spot. now known
as the FIRE Jump The animal fell
near The edge of The preCipice, and to
prevent the indians discovering him by
the fallen steed, lie exerted his strength
and actually pushed the poor dying
horse over the rock into the gulph be-
low. A hollow log lay near the spot
The heard the approach Of his Pursuers,
and Jumping into the log lay concealed
beneath it,
Bat the Indians had seen the action
AID fiendish revenge had entered thei
eads. They came to the spot, preten
> Gi G 10 believe that tkeir prey had es.
capped them, and manieslIng great vex-
alton and disappointment. They dis.
mounted, abd seating themselves upor
The log, rehearsed to each other wha
they had intended tI do with Col, Tom
rad they caugh, him. Thus tie Gun.
ming savages sa. .III night was dark a.
: round them, when they gathered dry
branches and leaves, and commenced
building their fire against The hollow lol
u where their enemy was hidden. The
wretched victim then knew but too wei
that he was discovered, and a horrit
death was assigned him. He peepet
from beneath the log and saw that eacI
= man n.had his arrow in his bow ready 70
use.
The FIRE kindled rapidly-and lhe 10
dams laughed aloud as the flames cur
! led over the rotten log. Tom waS no
brave, but it would seem as il the mis
y erable wretch had, while lying there
! formod the desperate resolution Of dy
= ing by the fire rather than give ther
'he delight olsiliug him with their ar
. rows. This, however. was a feat ne
IN human nature to perform, and alte
; endur Dg the torture to the last momen
tn doomtd reich dashed off the bur
nrglog, and sprang to his feet wit
his deer skin dress wrapt in a sheet {
. fame. He threw himself upon tn
y ground and rolled.but the fire still clun
TO him. The Indians yelled with de
: light. He rose again and rushing
y the precipiee, sprang over the brin
. dozen arrows pierced him at the M
'e ment, and with frantic scream Of az
!" ony, he sped like a lightning fash in
y, the dark guIph below. The lndia'
'S threw themselves uPontheir faces. ar
a q peeped over into the gulph to see III
~ burning body dash from rock to roc
:" until it disappeared beneath a Projecti
= brag, hundreds Of feet down in I
no frightful ravine: after which they cal
y " ly smoked their pipes GROUND the 81
II. blazing log; and the terrible precipit
'S' whose brink is almost the very sunni
of the mountain, has ever since be
% U' pointed out to travellers as "The F.
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