The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-11-26
THE ELK RUNNERS.
From the ST. Louis RepeilIe.

[Thc following extraordinary relation is literally
true. 1t has been communicated to US by Of our
Oldest and most respectable citizens, and is further
substantIaed by the concurring testimony Of the
Nor editor of this paper who knew both Of the men
spoken of, and has never heard the story doubted.
Major John Dougherty, the "Kentuckian" mention
ed, is still living in Clay County, Missouri which he
has represented in the Legislature, besides having
filled the important post of Indian Agent He was
famous in his youth, among the prairie and noun
tain men, as hunter of extraordinary skill and
durance. We should like of all things, to hear his
own statement Of an adventure which is certainly
among he most marvellous ever heard out of the
pages of fction-if indeed, fiction has any thing to
compare with 1t.
In the year 1878 the Missouri Fur Company had
a post below Cooncil Bluffs, named Fort Lisa after
The gentleman who had established it. Thrre was
much competition in the trade at that time, and IT
great point 10 select The very best men Tor
ners.
Mr. Lisa had with him young Kentuckian named
d., fine daring fellow with q frame of iron, the
speed e ostrich, and the endurance of a camel
He was fortunate, moreover in the retention of a
half-breed, called Nal BGuE, who, Notwithstanding
bis anne (bad beef was considered Of hardly les,
merit than D and between the two men, conse-
quenty, keen rivalry existed ID. had travelled on
| foot from Blackbrd Hills to Fort Lisa distance OF
80 miles in thirteen hours Nal BoGui also boosted
some astonishing feats Of BOTTOM and both were
stationed at the Fort during the time we speak Of,
! for the purpose Of providing venison.
| Ote evening in July, the weather extremely warm,
the grass hgh, and the post were unfinished with
mea l. the two were playing at cards, when their
| emp oyer came up, reproached them with their neg
gence and ordered them 10 start, the first thing IN
| the morning on hunt. Obedience promised, OF
course, but the game continued, each moment grow
ing more desperate, the spirit of rivalry perv- ding
their hears IN every thing TIL finally, rning broke
| as the haf-breed declared himself TO be broken
They fell asleep the spot, and the sun was well
| w, when Mr. Lisa Informed of the case, again APP
| preached in pleasant bumor, It may be supposed,
cursed sacred aud c1rohoo'd until the delmquents,
| fully aroused, and little alarmed took their guns
and started off Tor Paplllion creek on the edge OF The
prairie about five miles of There they discovered
a gang of elk when the kentuckIab suggested plan
of approach, which would enable them to get a good
shot. The halfbreed, ranking at his companions
| Triumph the night previous observed, sukty:
| al don't kill elk with my gun, but with my knife"
| The pluck If the kentucnIan aroused in an
instant uylinterpretlng the vaunt as challenge 10
trial tf speed and DO tom, and on his aging proudly
that what his companion could do, he could do also,
both hung their guns tree, aud approaching the
elk as near possible, they suddenly raised the In
dian yell, which had most parolyzing effect up IN
the animal.
OFF they went across q low prairie, few miles in
width leaving their pursuers far behind but sead
| Nv the latter continued their pace, nevertheless
| They reached the bluff ascended-crossed--de-
scended--one resolve uppefmost IN Their minds "ne
yer to say fall" League after league the chase AID
race continued, the painting like hounds, cooling
their mouths in crossing an occasional branch, by
throwing UP the water with their palms, but still un-
p,using until pr aching Elk dorm river, distance
| of twenty miles, by mutual agreement they took a
circuit with increased speed got ahead of the elk
and actually prevented them from crossing
! Leagues and leagues upon new tack the chase
continued, the animals by this time so exhausted by
heat thirst and above AL fright for the hunters had
necessarily sent forth their yels IN this case much
a scream Of mutual defiance an artihce of the
chase that they now scarcely exceeded their pursu-
ers in speed the latter furied and maddened with
excitement, redoubled their efforts until the elk,
reaching prairie pond sink, the hunters at their
heels plunged despairingy in, lay down and aban-
doned themselves needless Of II else, to the grat-
cation of their thirst The frantic rivals, knife in
hand dashed in after their prey, began the work of
slaughter pausing not until they had butcheIed six
e en- elk dragged them from the water, and cut up
and prepared the meet for transportation to the Fort
whthet they had to return for horses.
Had the victory endedl No for victory or death
was the inward determination; and as yet neither
had given way OFF dashed again the ndomitable
half breed and at his side the unyeldng kentuckian
Ridge and hollow, stream and umbcr-there was no
Gliding now-in desperate silence were Left behind
The sun was sinking blind, staggering on they went
they reached the Fort hsggard, wild and voIccess
fro the fires of the sa'ages the gauntlet OF lends
!, A crowd gathering round the exhausted men, who