Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-01-02
From the N. O. s5icayune.
PBAIRIE AND MOUNTAIN LIFE.
DEATH OF FRANCOIS.

in regard 10 one unhappy occurrence tina,
has been mentioned as having takon place
during our far travel, it may be as well to
relate the death Of poor little Francois a,
once.
On the 18th of last July, we encamped
about mid day under the Red Buttes, ha-
wing made our crossing Of the north fork
Of the Platte, and being then in high spi-
rits, on account of our near approach to
the mountains, the glil,ering SHOWS OF
which, like feecy vapors on the rair ho-
rizon, we had now seen Or several days.
Forming camp a, MILDLY, on this occa-
sion was on account Of our having met
an old trader by the name Of Vasquez,
who was travelling inwar to Fort John, a,
i.aramee, with large NJ nper Of pack an
imals laden with robes and skins. We
halted 10 exchange grestings. many of
both parties having kno>sn each other of
old, and the afternoon was wearing pleas.
antly away. when smiles were suddenly
exchanged for deep solemnity, and gloom
spread round among US, that hitherto had
been a stranger in our camp. One Of the
letters designed for this paper. that neve r
came to hand, was written at this encamp-
ment. The episte was one of the sunniest
and liveliost kind, aiming to assure friends
at home Of our complete safety, and how
well everything was going on with u.s.;
dwelling upon our freedom from molesta-
ton or danger, our capacity to set peril at
defiance, and our happy escape from ac-
cident or neriI of apv kind
The red wax Of the seal was scarcely
cold upon that letter, when-bang!-
wlhrr-r-izs ga mans voice exclaiming
-" Great G-d!'-followed by more juve.
nile accents Of pain and horror enuncia-
ting, "Mon Dieu! mon dicur gave all ears
a warning Of some (rightful harm having
occurred.
sWhat is it?'-s Who fired!'-s What's
the matierp-s Who's hur!' were the ra-
pid enquiries of people jumping up and
running in all directions. The next in
slant all ideas were directed to the spoi
where the misfortune occurred, by still
louder voice, calling hurriedly for Doctor
Tilghamr and there lay poor little Fran
co.'s Clement, in the arms of Sir VIM.
Stewart, with the blood russing in torrents
from his eft breast.
S,edman 1ilgham-a young gentleman
from Baltimore, and thorough graduate
in surgical science, though only yet in his
Fl st year CT manhood-was soon upon the
spot, coolly and skilfully performing all
that could be done; but tl,e wound in the
breast of Francois was one over which no
science extant could hold control. All left
to be done was but to see how long the
within the mudlated frame; and so despe-
rate was the wound-lhrough and through
the very vital region Of the body-that it
seemed to us all strange that the boy
survived ten minutes after being shot.
Francois was the youngest brother of
Antoine Clement, one Of the first among
the best hunters known upon the Western
prairies; but of him we shall have occasion
to speak elsewhere. The boy was a ia
vori,e with Capt. Stewart: and generally
rode with him as page, or protrge. He was
but fifteen years Old, the pet of his mother
at home, and forward smart boy-at
least in everything that pertaincd to hunt
ing or forest life. On one occasion young
Walker. of ST. Louis, an active and spirit
ed amateur hunter, was out from camp af-
ter black tailed deer, when he found
Francois striving TO outsirip him in pur-
suit Of the game.
why, Frank, what are you doing
hereP said Walker.
'Fm after that DEER replied the boy.
You after deer! why you couldn't
hit the side Of a barn at twenty yards, if
it was tied fast for you
'Je ne sails pas,' said Frank, but may
be | could hit you at hundredP
Such youth was Francois Clement
forward for his years or place; which fact,
in n great measure, led TO the sad ca:as-
trophe Of his demise.
Sitting outside Of n tent, he saw gun
inside, which he took hold Of by the muz-
zle, seeking to draw it out under the
stretched canv ass and while in this act
some obstruction touched the lock, dschar-
ging the instrument, and driving an ounce
ball through the lower lobe Of poor Franks
left lung!
|. was about an hour before sunset, and
when that hour was fading TO an instant,
he was still reclining upon DR.. Tilghman's
knee. A prophetic but chilling intelli-
gence seemed to kindle in the boys eve,
rs il just inpar,ing by icebolt in the heart,
when his gaze turned from the darkening
west to the decto,'s face, and he mourn.
fully said:
Lay me down, down; lay me down
and let me rest; am dead! | am deadl'
The doctor endeavored to assure him
hat he should still be calm and cherish
hope, bu, the cold conviction Of sudden
death seemed to have frozen into the poor
boys soul:
Mon Dieu! je suis mort .je suis mort,
o! mon Dieu!' he exclaimed, burylng his
face from the sinking sun.
He was born in Saint Charles, Missouri.
of French parents, and always spoke in
that language when most affected.
Ii is known that two Catholic priests,
besides several lay brothers, accompanied
US 10 the mountains -misslonaries, going
10 settle with the Flat-head tribe. Father
De Vos came to poor Frank soon after his
accident, and never left him again until his
last breath of mortality had passed away,
save for the few instants when he went to
robe himself for administering the Ex-
IRENE Unction. The presence of this oood