The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-11-23
THE ELK RUNNERS.

From the 81. Louis Repeile.
lThc following extraordinary relation is literally
true. II has been communicated TO us by one of our
Oldest and most respectable citizens, and is further
substantated by the concurrng testimony of the Sc
NOR editor of this paper, who knew both of the
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, hunter of extraordinary skill and
durance. We should like, of all things to hear his
own statement of an adventure which is certainly
among The most marvellous ever heard out of the
pages of hction-if indeed, fiction has any thing TO
compare with it.
In the year 1873 the Missouri Fur Company had
| a post below Council Bluffs named Fort Lisa, after
the gentleman who had established it. There was
much competition in the trade at that time and 1t
was great point to select the very best men for run
ners.
Mr.. Lisa had with him young Kentuckian named
d., fine daring fellow, with a frame of iron, the
speed Of an ostrich, and the endurance of a camel.
lie was fortunate, moreover in the retention of a
hali-breed, called Nal BGuy, who, notw ithstandng
merit than d.; and between the two men, conse-
quenty, keen rivalry existed. ID. had travelled on
foot from Backbird Hills TO Fort Lisa distance Of
80 miles, in thirteen hours Nal Boruf 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.
| One evening in July, the weather extremely warm,
the grass high, and the post unfinished with
meat the two men were playing at cards, when their
employer came up, reProached them with their neg
hgence and ordered them TO 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 pervadng
their hearts IN every thing till finally, morning broke
as the haf-breed declared himself to be broken
They fell asleep on the spot, and the well
up, when MIR LISA informed of the case, again APP
preached in no pleasant humor, it may be supposed,
cursed, sacred and edraAoo'd, until the delinquenis,
fully aroused and little alarmed took their guns
and started of for Paplion creek, on the edge OF the
prairie about hye miles oft. There they discovered
a gang OF elk, when the kentuckan suggested plan
Of approach, which would enable them 10 get good
shot The halfbreed, ranking at his companions
triumph the night previous, observed, sulkily;
81 don't kill elk with my gun, but with my knife
The pluck Of the hentucnan was aroused in an
instant rlghtyInterpretng the vaunt challenge TO
trial Of speed and bottom and on his saying proudly
that what his companion could do, he could do also,
both hung their guns on tree and approaching the
elk as possible, they suddenly raised the In
dian yell, which had most parayzing effect upon
the animal.
OF they went across a low prairie, few miles 10
width, leaving their pursuers far behind but steadi-
ly the latter continued their pace, nevertheless
They reached the bluff Acknowledgement
scended--one resolve uppermost in their minds, "ne-
yer TO say fail" League after league the chase and
race continued, the men painting like hounds, cooling
their mouths m crossing occasional branch by
throwing up the water with their palms, but still
putI IL I..,.,
r of twenty miles, by mutual agreement they took a
circuit with an 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 exhausted by
heat thirst and above all fright for the hunters bad
necessarily sent forth their yes, in this as much
a scream of mutual defiance as an artihce of the
chase, that they scarcely exceeded their pursu-
} ers in speed the latter furled and maddened with
excitement, redoubled their efforts until the elk,
reaching prairie pond SINK the hunters at their
heels, plunged despsringly in, lay down and aban-
doned themselves needless Of II else to the gratif-
cation of their thirst The frantic rivals knife in
hand, dashed in after their prey, began the work of
slaughter, pausng not until they had butchered six
teen elk, dragged them from the water, and cut up
and prepared the meet for transportation to the Fort
whittier they had to return for horses
Had the victory ended2 No for victory or death
was the inward determination and as yet neither
had given way. OF dashed again the indomito bic
half breed and at his side the unyieldng Kentuckian
Ridge and hollow, stream and timbcr-thcre was no
yielding now-n desperate silence were left behind.
The sun was sinking-blind, staggering they went
they reached the Fort baggard wild and voiceless,
as fro the fires of the sayages the gauntlet of fends
A crowd gathering round the exhausted men, who
had arrived together and now fsinng, still side by
side long time before they enabled by signs
and whispers, to tell that they had down sixteen
elk and yet couldn't say which was the best man
This feat brought upon ID. an affection Of the lungs,
nor did he recover his strength for several years.
He rs still alive-a quiet and influential citizen.
Nal Bout became very dssipaed, and died in a short
time. Our informant tells US that he has made an
examination of the country forming their race track,
} HIMSELF and that they without exaggeration, must
have run seveny-fvc miles between the hours of s
: A. M. and 7. NJ. lie rs iokd Of reading the New
, York Spirit of the Times, and wishes to know what
the editor thinks Of the Barclay and Ellsworth breed
when compared with the prairie runners of the west
! "a thousand Of whose exploits remain untold as
matters of common occurrence.
1
GoLpIs SANDS Wrongs may try good man. but
cannot imprint on him false stain.