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

read any more"
Sand tell YOU" interrupted Kenton, II never
was tied TO stake in my life, 10 be burned -
they had me painted black when saw Girty.
but not tied 10 a stake"
i mention this not al all TO dsparage the book,
but 10 show Kenton's character--for though per-
sonaIly unacquainted with the author, have
high respect for his talents; besides Mr.. NJ
Chung does not give the account OF KeDton's
adventures narrated TO himself, by him, but as
abridged from MS. account. given by the ven
cradle Pioneer himself. and now in the posses
sion of Mr.. John ID. Taylor, of Kentucky
Kepton stated that he had narrated his adven.
lures 10 young lawyer, (whose name iorget)
and that all in that book was true. In answer
TO question about Girty, he observed
HE was good TO me: when he came up TO
me, when the lngins had painted me black,
knew him at first. He asked me good many
questions, but thought il best not 10 be TOO for
ard, and held back from telling him my name;
| but when did tell hun, oh he was mighty
glad TO see me. He flung his arms round me,
and cried like child never did see one man
so glad to see another yet. He made speech
TO the Ingins-he could speak the lngin tongue,
and knew how to speak--and told them if they
meant 10 do him favor, they must do il now,
aud save my life. Girty, afterwards, when we
were at Il think he said) Detroit together, cried
| TO me like a child, often, and told me he was
sorry of the part he took against the whites
that he was too hasiy. Yes, | tell you, Girty
remarked, 'Irss wOnder he ~ good to
YOU"
"No," he replied quickly, but soemnly. sits
no wonder. When we see our fellow creatures
every day, we don't care for them but it is diff
I ferent when you meet a man all alone IN the
woods--the wild lonely woods. / tell you, stran-
ger, Giry and met, lonely men, on the banks
Of the Ohio and where Cincinnati now stands,
1 III tla nth.
hand in hand, for life and death, when there was
nobody in the wilderness but God and us,"-
his very language, and sublime expression
thought it.
He spoke kindly of the celebrated Logan, the
Indian chief, and said he was fine looking man,
with good countenance, and that Logan spoke
English as well as himself. Speaking OF the
Indians, he said
Though they did abuse me nightly, must
say that they are as 'cute as other people-with
many great warriors among ,hem-they are as
keen marksmen as the whites, but they do not
take as good care of their rifles. Finding ones
way through the woods, is all habit Indians
talk much less than the whites, when they travel
but that is because they have less TO think
about"
He spoke Of Boon, and said that he had been
with him great deal. He described him as
Quaker-looking man, with great honesty and
slngleness of purpose, but very keen. Wewere
struck with his acuteness and delicacy OF feel
ing. He was going TO show US his hand, which
had been manned by the Indians he half drew
of his mitten. and then pulled 1t on again.
No" said he, g it hurts my feelings"
My friend observed that it was mentioned in
the different accounts Of him, that when him
self and his companions arrived at the Ono,
with the horses of the Indians, they might have
escaped ifthey had followed his advice.
Understand, understand, said he, 81 do
not mean TO blame them. The horses would
not, somehow, enter the river. | knew the In
dams were behind US, and told them so. They
would not leave the horses; could not leave
them, SO the Indians came yelling down the
hills, and took u.s."
observed to him that wondered, after his
escape from the Indians that he did not return
TO Virginia, and run no more risks in being Ia
ken by them.
| "Ah % said he, 81 was a changed man; they
abused me nightly determined, after that,
never to miss chance"-(meanng at the life
of an lndian.)
He was very anxious that Clarke's life should
be written-General George Rogers Clarke
who, he said, had done more to save Kentucky
from the Indians than any other man. He told
us that a gentleman from Urbanna, Ohio, had
been with him Two or three days, and that he
had told him good deal about himself; "but,"
said he 81 am mighty anxious TO tell what
know about Clarke You may depend he was
brave man, and did much.'
He then told us that not FIVE miles from the
place, where we were, he had been a captive
among the Indians painted black, with his hands
pinned behind him, his body acerated with the
severest treatment; the bone Of his arm broken,
and projecting through the flesh, and his head
shockingly bruised. | observed to him that he
must have been very strong and active man,
to have endured SO many hardshps, and made
so many escapes.
Yes" said he, 81 believe might say was
once an active man, but" continued he, taking
my crutch in his hand, as sat beside him, and
holding il, together with his staff could trace
the association Of his ldeas-"l am an old
man."
| observed from his manner that he wished TO
ask me about my crutch, but that he felt deli
eacy in doing so. explained it to him, after
observing the fashion OF il for some time-tor
had a fashion Of my own in my crutches-he
looked earnestly at me, and said, with emotion,
showing me his own staff
"1ou see | have to use one, too you are
young and am old but tell you we all must
come 10 IL at last.n
Many in their courtesy, have tried to recon
cile me 10 my crutch, but no one ever did il with
so bland spirit this blunt backwoodsman,
who : never said SIR TO an Indian in his life, and
scarcely ever to white man."
True politeness is from the heart and from the
abundance of the hear il spea ,eth--the rest is
but imitation, and at best, the automaton fash
Toned to act like man.
We rose twice to leave; ere we did SO the old
worthy pressed us SO warmly mot to go yet"
AT last, after a hearty shake Of the hand with
him we departed on our way to Beefontane.
W. were scarcely on the road, before the rain
descended fast upon US, but we went on, trans
acted our business, and returned TO West Llber-
ty to spend the night, unmindful Of the heavy
storm that poured down upon US in our open
buggy, but full Of the old pioneer, and the rehec-
tons which our visit had called np