New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-11-18
From the Ladies Comp4nion for Nov.
A VISIT TO SIMON RENTON,
BY THE AUTHOR OF CLINTON BRADSHAW.
the LA.T OF TUE P1oNEERs.

BY THE AUTHOR OF CLINTON BRADSHAW
lConcluded.
Renton vas Il Virginan by birth and, believe
entirely uneducated. AT "a very early age, he quar-
relied with rival in u love-afair, and after an un
successful conflict with him, Kcnton challenged
him TO another and was getting TIE worst OF H. II
n rough and tumble 6ght, and being undermost
subject 10 The full rage Of his antagonist, he was
mach injured when it occurred to him that If he
could twist his rivals hair, which was very long, II
"a bush near by, lie could punish him at leisure
Crawling 10 the point under the stunning blows o
his antagonist BENTON, with desperate energy, seiz
ed him by the hair, and succeeded IN entanglln!
it in the bush as he desired. He then pummeleC
him with such right coed will, that he thought he
hid killed him. Rcnton fearing the consequences
Instantly absconded, and changed his name from
Simon Butler which was his real name, TO Simon
Renton. He pushed for The West. There he
Joined several excursions against the savages, and
was several times being taken by them. de
acted us n spy between the Indians and the Colo
MES in the occasioncd by the murder of Lo
CAMS family. After many adventures and hard
ships, he was taken by the Indians in purloining
some OF their HORSES, which, in retaliation he had
led away in night foray into one of their villages.
He was treated with great cruelty; he ran the
gauntlet thirteen lines, aud was finally saved from
torture by the Interference OF Glrty, renegade
white man, who had joined the Indians, and was
their leader in many of their attacks on the whites
Renton and Gir;y had been friends, and pledged
themselves so to continue, whn;cvcr changes might
overtake Them, before G.r;y apos;a,ed. He, with
all his savagenes and ,reachery, wa, true 10 Rem
ton. This is but the caption OF a chapter in Ren'
toms life.
After lourneying for some time through thick
woods in which there were innumerLle grey and
black squirrels, we arrived at ang lie OF worm
fence, and turned of into Il swamPy road, towards
a log house in which, we tod the old Pio-
neer lived. The house was comfortable and large,
for one of the kind. On stopping, son-'n-Iaw OF
the old worthy met us n! the bars, and though he
knew US not with the hospitality Of the country,
he insisted upon putting ny our horses, which kind
ness 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.
Wa assembled two or three steps, and entered
the room, IN which was maron who, we learned
was the wife of the Pioneer, and scale! by The
fire, the old worthy himself. He rose we enter
ed. Advancing towards him, said, . Mr.. Rem
L,n, we are strangers, vino have read often Of
you and your adventures aud being in your neigh
borhool, have taken The liberty 10 call on you,
we were anxious to know Gt the hrst and
the last of The Pioneers
the old Pioneer was touched and crafed by
the remark. aud while shaking hands with us, he
SAID:
:" Take seats take seats, | am right glad to
you"
We sat down, and Immediately entered into con
versation with him. He conversed in desultory
manner, and ot-n had To make effort to recol-
lee, himself. but when he did, his memory seemed
perfectly 10 call upthe events alluded TO, and when
asked any thing, Well, Eli tell you, he would
say, and after ii pause, he narrated it. have
stood in the presence of men who had won
laurels by field and food, in the senate nj the bar,
and IN the pulpit, but my sensations were merely
those of curiosity--a wish TO know If the impress
ions which the individual made upon himself, cor
responded with the accounts given ct him by 9th
ers-f his countenance told his intellect or his pas
sions and it the capabilities which lie possessed,
could be read to him. This wish to observe pre-
vents all other sensations, and makes one curious
but cold observer But far different were my
feelings US looked upon the bent but manly form
Of the old Pioneer and observed his frank and fine
features. Here, thought |, is man who if hu-
man character was dissected with correct eye,
would be found TO be Drawer than many a one who
has won the worlds eulogy soldier. Who can
not be brave with all the
"Pridc, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war !"
about him. With the sweeping steed, the martial
trump, the uniurled banner the great army In
such scene the leader of so many legions finds,
in the very excitement. bravery. The meanest sol
der catches the contagious spark, and towards
fight with emulation. But think II man alone.
in the wide, Wild wilderncss-whom q love OF ad-
venture has taken there surrounded by Wild hearts
and savage foes, hundreds ef miles from human
aii-yet ne sleeps calmly Mt night and in the morn
ING. rises 10 pierce farther into the wilderness
nearer TO those savage foes, and into the very den
of those wild beasts. How cain, must have been
his courage How enduring his spirit OF endu.
rance. In the deep solitude, hu>hsd and holy /.
the Sabbath day OF the world he stands with self
reliance that nothing can shake; and he feels in
The balmy air-.n the blue heavcns-in the great
trees-in the inv ilower-in the woods. and in tue
wareIfalls-in the bud, and in the beast-in every
thing, and in all things, companionshlP George
Wa>hinston would hive made ssch n Pioneer.
Ren,on's form, even under the weight OF seveni,
wears. was striking, and must have been mode
Of manly strength and agility. His eye was blue
mild. and yet penetrating in its glance. The tore
head projected very much nj the eyebrows, (Which
were we'll defined, and then it receded, and was
not very high, nor very brosd-hls hair had been
light brown; il was then nearly all gray-the
nose straight aSd veil shaped, aud his mouth, be-
fore he lost his re tn, have been expressive
and handsome. 1 observed that he had one tooth
left which, taking into consideration his character
and manner of conversation, was continually re-
mnd;ng one of Leatherstockiug. The whole IA e
was remarkably expressive no, of turbulence or
excitement. but rather of yeneration and self.
possessios. Simplicity, frankness, honesty, and a
strict regard to ruth, appeared the prominent points