Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-01-11
II I s % e Il z A n y Q
From the N. Q. Pcayunc.)
PRAIRIE AND M0UNAIN LIFE,
THE BEE HUNTERS.

Our evenings around the camp fires were
generally whiled away with pipes and chat.
now ana then song, and sometimes n warn.
either iancllul or true. from some of the rude
characters around us. Encamped upon The
Hdh6a-roosi, or Big Elk, when journeying
outward only some sixty miles beyond West.
port, we listened one evening with intense in
lerest to the following narration, given. per-
haps, with more effect in the uncouth words
OF the story-teller 1t was one of the FIRST oC
these campfire relations that we heard. and
was so told as to leave u vivid impression up
on us oil.
II was some time in 1882, that a partv of
hiteen or twenty persons collected among the
ll'He village settlements of upper Missouri.
Tor The purpose of Il bee hunting expedition
out upon Grand River As is usual on such
occasions, there were more nOvices than prac-
ical woodmen among them, and in few DAYS.
before single bee tree was found, their pro-
Visions began 10 run low, while no sim as vet
appeared of either honey or game. Thus
critically circumsanccd, an old man by The
name of Vanderpool undertook, with his son.
TO return TO the settlements, and bring out
further supplies for the rest; but the man and
boy were only few hours out of sight of
their companions when they became Devil
dered, and by nightlall the two were thorough
iy lost. Their only course now was to Law
down and wait patiently until daylight came
10 assist lii setting them right again, but dur
ing the night The unfortunate old man in some
accidental manner discharged his rifle. the
ball passing through his left thigh and SKATER
ing the hone IN most dreadful way. NIGHT
wore slowly away over them, while the old
man lay IN horrible agony, and without pros
peel OF assistance, until. as day Jawned, it was
determined that the boy should seek the SET
Elements alone, and hurry back with aid TO his
father.
accordingly, the youth set off alone, in
voklng Providence to guide him. while an old
and faithful dog was the only living thing left
with the wounded father, TO lick his levsrish
hand and listen TO his means. More fortunate
than he anticipated, the son did in brief ne
rod reach the settlements, from whence he
set out again Immediately with every necesso-
ny assistance, both for his father and the up-
lucky bee hunters upon the Grand River.
But The poor boy was now worse los, than
ever, ana he could neither find the place where
Ire had lett his father, nor direct the friends
VINO were with him where is look for the
n'a'h party. All this time the old man lay in
most accuie afiliction, unable to Stir an inch,
whlie enduring the maddening agony IF thirst.
from him, through Il deep cleft in the prairie,
! overhung by broad spreading growth of
timber He fingered in this way until the
third day after his son left him, when the de-
! ISOLATE invalid began to feel his BRAIN wander
ing beneath the severity of his sufIerinps. and
III ms situation his poor friend, the tioo-lhe
only thing that seemed yet imbued with
knowledge and sympathy for hin.-presented
the unhappy man with his only cruel and dcs-
perate method of prolonging life
CoaXing the atiec'ionaie creature near e.
nongh to him by the feeble motion of his
hand, he made desperate plunge al the an
ltDai neck with his knife, and was fortunate
enough to sever the Iugalar artery, and the
poor do. expired almost without a struggle bv
his side Old Vanderpool then, by grcal
exerlion. turned himself so as TO touch the
flowing blood with his lips, and in this way
he managed 10 imbibc Il suiiiciencv Of sirauga
sustenance To give him partial restoration OF
strength, with which he dragged himself bv
slow degrees down TO the edge of the Greet;
Here the wounded man Stacked his three DAVIS
! thirst and Tell at once off into happy uucou-
seriousness Of pain and suffering his BODY
quite hidden from view by leages and the
thick underground of wild shrubberv around
him.
Some hours after, poor Vanderpool's com
Panions, the other bee hunters, came past this
very spot, they having waited his return until
patience bad expired, and now having deter
mined TO abandon tleir search after bee trees.
and make their way homeward as soon as
possible. They found the dead dog, which.
though already partially torn by wolves, they
at once recognized as Vanderpool's. but neg
iecied TO search the vicinity with such scruli-
ny as might have discovered TO them their
unfortunate companion; and, only SATISFYING
themselves that he was not there, thcv hur-
ried on their way homeward.
The 10Y. too, at length succeeded in bring
ing his friends TO the spot, and finding various
footprints around, his father gone and the
dog Killed, MS natural conclusion was. that
either friends or enemies had been there and
carried the old man of. This opinion Casten-
ing itself at once upon them all, they left the
place and turned back 10 the settlements. ,cb;Ie