Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-04-19
A Singular Adventure.

WAASAO ~ tOoA sA0 z, oAiu 0e - ~ AAiu.
....,, A Singular Adventure.
Golfer came to St. Louis in May, 1910,
in small canoe from tho head-waters Of
the Missouri, distance Of 5000 miles,
which be performed in 81 days. I saw
him on his arrival, and received from him
N account OF his adventures. af,er he had
separated from Lewis and Ciark's party !;
one Of these, for its singularity, ! shall re-
late.
On the arrival If the party Of the head
waters Of the Missouri, Golfer, findine
that there were many beaver there, got
permission to remain and hunt for some
line, which he did in company with q
man by the name of Dixon, who traversed
the immense tract Of country f ON ST. Louis
to the head-waters Of the Missouri alone.
Soon after he separated from Divon, and
trapped in company with a, hunter by the
name Of Potts: and aware Of The hostil-
ity Of the Blackfoot Indians, one OF WHOM
had been killed by Lewis, they Set III, II
traps at night and took them up early
in the morning, remaining concealed da-
ring the day. s.l NJ ,b,4e NH Nh noia
They were examining their traps carly
one morning in creek, about SIX miles
from that branch Of the Missouri called
Jefferscn's Fork, and were ascending in
a canoe, when they suddenly heard great
noise, resembling the, trampling Of ami
lsalsuA but they could not ascertain the
fact, w the high, perpendicular banks on
each side of the river impeded their view.
Golfer Immediately pronounced it to Be
cccasioned BY Indians, and advised an im-
mediate retreat, but was accused Of coward
dice by Potts, who insisted that the noise
was caused by buffaloes, and they proceed
ed on. nsss i4r2asair Ill
Ina few minutes afterwards their doubts
were removed by party Of Indians ma
king their appearance on both sides Of the
creek, to the number Of five or six hund
red, who beckoned them to come ashore
As retreat was. now impossible, Golfer
turned the head Of the canoe, and at the
moment Of its touching, an Indian seized
the rifle belonging TO Potts; but Golfer
who is remarkably strong man, immcdi.
ately retook it and handed it to Potts, who
remained in the canoe and, on receiving
it, pushed off into the river. He hat
Scarcely quilted the shore, when an arrow
was shot at him, and he cried out, Golfer
| am wounded!' Golfer demonstrated
with him on the folly Of attempting to 60
cape, and urged him to come ashore. In
stead of complying, he instantly leyelle,
his rifle at the Indian, and shot him dea,
on the spot.
This conduct, situated as he was, ma,
appear to have been an act Of madness
but it was doubtless the effect Of sudden
yet sound reasoning; for if taken alive
he must have expected to be tortured |,
death, according to custom. He was in.
stantly pierced with arrows SO numerou,
that, to use Golfers words, he was mad,
a riddle Of They seized Golfer, Stripe.
him naked, and began 70 consult on III,
manner in which he should be put Il
death. They were at first inclined to Sc
him up as mark to shoot at, but the chic
interiered, and Selling him BY the should
1 er, asked him if he could run fast.
/ Golfer, who had been some time anon,
the Keekatso, or Crow Indians. had in
considerable degree acquired the Blacktoo
language. and was also well acquaintct
with Indian customs-hc knew that h,
had now to run for life, with the dreadf,,
odds Of FIVE or six hundrsd against him
and those, armed Indians--he therefor,
cunnirgly replied, that he was q very ba'
runner, although he was considered b,
the hunters as remarkably swift. tn,
chief now commanded the party to remain
stationary, and led Golfer out on the prai
! RE, thrtc or four hundred yards, and re
i leased him, bidding him save his life il h
!, could. AT this instant the horrid war
whoop sounded in the ears Of poor Golfer
who, urged with the hope Of preservii,
Lille, ran with speed at which hin.sel
/ was, surprised. E itYs s. 50 Il
4 lie, proceeded towards the J,lfesso
Fork, having to traverse plain six mile
in breadth. Astounding with the pricklt,
pear, on which he was every t,lstall
lreading with his naked feet. % lie ra
4 nearly half way across The plain before h
ventured TO look over his shoulder, whel
he perceived that the Indians were niue
], scattered, and that he had gained groun
i to considerable distance from the mai
body i but one Indian, who carried
i spear, awas much before all The rest, am
/ not more than, ono hundred yards tsol
i him. $500. fa 80. -.
I A faint CLEAN OF hope now checre
the heart Of Golfer he derived confidenc
7 from she belief that escapcswas Within III
i bounds Of possibility out that confJene
s was nearly fatal 10 him, for, he cxerte
!, himself 10 such . degree that the bloc
gushed from his nostriis, and soon aIino.
I covered The fore part oil his body. n
had now arrived withinsA mile Of the siv
cr, when he distinctly heard The aPpalliy,
!. sonnd Of footsteps behind him, and eyer
instant expected u feel the spear VI q
!, pursuer. Again he turned his heal, AZ
|, saw The savage not more than TWEEN,
J, wards from him. In sasasaEisiiaas .oiGlQ
II Determined II possible, a. AVOID Il
/ I. expected blows 10 suddenlyb stopps
, turned round, and spread out his arm
J The Indian, surprised By the suddehnse
4 of the action, and perhaps ~ ne biOog
! appearance Of Collar also atsstnptsd
8 stop-but, exhausted with running, he &
] f,rh.le attempting tothrow Ma snesr. viii,