The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-23

i once Hilteu through ft-dUu W tuDst VINO ndu
first struggled with the red man for its posses
sion; and how naturally TO him whom we were
going TO visit, who had been among the first and
most fearless of the Pioneers, and who was
then lingering the last of them.
| Simon Kenton's life had been a very eyentful
one-perhaps the most so Of all the Pioneers
Boon has been more spoken OF, and written
about; bat in all probability, the reason is, be-
cause he was the older man, and had been, then,
some time dead
Kenton was Virginian by birth, and, be-
lieve, entirely uneducated. AT very early
age he quarreled with rival in a love affair,
and after an unsuccessful conflict with him,
Kenton challenged him TO another, and was
getting the worst Of il, in rough and tum-
Bile fight, and being undermost, subject TO
the full range of his antagonist, he was much
injured; when il occurred TO him that il he
could twist his rivals hair, which was very
long, in bush near by, he could punish him at
leisure Crawling to the point under the stun
ming blows Of his antagonist, Kenton, with
desperate energy, seized him by the hair, and
succeeded IN entangling il in the bush as he de-
sired. He then pummelled him with such right
good will, that he thought he had killed him.
kenton, fearing the consequences, instantly alb
seconded, and changed his name from Simon
Butler, which was his real name, 10 Simeh
Kenton. He pushed fer the West. There he
Joined in several excursions against the savages,
and was several times near being taken by them
He acted as spy between the Indians and the
colonies, in the war occasoned by the murder
of Logan's family. After many adventures and
hardships, he was taken by the Indians, in pur-
Joining some OF their horses, which, in retalia-
ton, he had led away in night foray into one
OF their villages He was treated with great
cruelty: he ran the gauntlet thirteen times, and
was finally saved from torture by the interier-
ence of.GIrty, renegade white man, who had
joined the Indians, and was their leader in ma
ny of their attacks on the whites Kenton and
Girty had been friends, and pledged themselves
so to continue, whatever changes might over
take them, before Girty apostatzed. he, with
all his savageness and treachery, was true u
Kenton. This is but the caption OF chapter
in Kenton's life.
After journeying for some time through thick
woods, in which there was innumerable grey
and black squirrels, we arrived at an angle OF a
worm fence, and turned off into swampy road,
towards a log house, in which, we are told, The
old Pioneer lived. The house was comfortable
and large, for one of the kind. On stopping,
son-in-law Of the old worthy met US al the bars,
and, though he knew US not, with the hospitall-
ty of the country, he insisted upon putting up
our horses, which kindness we were compelled
to decline as we could not larry long. As we
advanced towards the house, | observed every
thing about il wore the air of frugal comfort.
We assembled two or three steps, and entered
the room, in which was matron, who, We learn
ed, was the wife Of the Pioneer, and seated by
the fire, the old worthy himself He rose as we
entered. Advancing towards him, said, MIR
kenlon, we are strangers, who have read often
of you and your adventures, and being in your
neighborhood, we have taken the liberty to call
and see you, as we were anxious to know one
of the first and the last of the Pioneers"
The old Pioneer was touched and gratified
by the remark, and while shaking hands with
US, he said
"Take seats, take seats, am right glad to
see you.n
We sat down, and Immediately entered into
conversation with him. He conyersed in de-
sultory manner, and often had 10 make an effort
TO recollect himself, but when he did, his memo
ry seemed perfectly TO call up the events alluded
to, and when asked any thing, Nv ell, I'll tell
YOU" he would say, and after pause, he mar
rated ii. | have stood in the presence OF men
who had won aures by field and food, in the
senate, at the bar, and in the pulpit but my SEN
sations were merely those of curiosity-a wish
TO know of the impressions which the individu-
ais made upon myself correspondent with the
accounts given of him by others-if his counte-
nance told his intellect or his passions; and #
the capabilities which he possessed could be
read in him. This wish to observe prevents
all other sensations, and makes one curious
but cold observer But far different were my
feelings as | looked upon the bent but manly
form of the old Pioneer and observed his frank
and fine features. Here thought /, is a man
who, il his human character was dissected with
a correct eye, would be found TO be Drawer than
many one who has won the worlds eulogy as
a soldier We cannot be brave with all the
Pride, pomp and circumstance, of glorious war"
about him With the neighing steed, the mar
II Al 81.
In such scene, the leader of so many legons
finds, in the very excitement, bravery The
meanest soldier catches the contagious spark,
and towards fight with emulation But think
OF man alone, in the wide, wild Wilderness
whom love of adventure has taken there, sur
rounded by wild hearts and savage foes, hun
dreds of miles from human aid-yet he sleeps
calmly at night, and in the morning, rises TO
pierce farther into the wildernrss-nearer TO
those savage foes, and into the very den of those
wild beasts. How calm must have been his
courage! How enduring his spirit of endurance!
In the deep solitude, hushed and holy as the
Sabbath day Of the world, he stands with
selt-rellance that nothing can shake and he
feels in the balmy ar--in the blue heavens-in the
great lrees-in the tiny hower--in the woods,
and in the wateralls-in the bud and in the
beast-in every thing, and IN all things, compa-
nionship. George Washington would have
made such Pioneer.
kenton's form, even under the weight Of Sc
venty years, was striking, and must have been
model Of manly strength and agility. His eye
was blue, mild, and yetpenelrating in its glance.
The forehead projected very much at the eye.
brows, (Which were well defned,) and then it
receded, and was not very high, nor very broad
his hair had been light brown: it was then
nearly all grey-the nose straight and well
shaped, and his mouth, before he lost his teeth,
mn II hav hpp nd hon 1
observed that he had one tooth left which, TAX
ing into consideration his character, and manner
OF conversation, was continually reminding one
OF Leatherstocking The whole face was r..