The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-04-04
A Singular Adventure.

Golfer came TO ST. LOUIS IN May, 1910,
in small canoe from the head-waters of
the Missouri, a distance of 5000 miles,
which he performed in 81 days. saw
him OH his arrival, and received from him
an account of his adventures, after he had
separated from Lewis and Clark's party
one Of these, for its singulari,y, ! shall re-
late.
On the arrival of the party at the head
waters Of the Missouri, Golfer, finding
that there were many beaver there. got
permission to remain and hunt for some
time, which he did in company with
man by the name of Dixon, who travers.
ed the immense tract of country from st.
Louis TO the head waters of the Missouri
alone. Soon after he separated from
Dixon, and trapped in company with a
hunter named Potts: and aware of the
hostility of the Blackfoot Indians, one of
whom had been killed by Lewis, they set
their traps a. night and took them up
early in the morning, remaining conceal
ed during the day.
They were examining their traps early
one morning in creek, about six miles
from tina, branch of the Missouri called
Jellerson's Fork, and were ascending in
canoe, when they suddenly heard great
noise, resembling the trampling of ami.
mails; but they could not ascertain the
fact, as The high, perpendicular banks on
each side of the river impeded their view.
Golfer Immediately pronounced it to be
occasioned by Indians, and advised an in
slant retreat, but was accused of cowar.
dice by Potts, who insisted that the noise
was caused by bufaloes, and they procee-
ded on.
In 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 hum
dred, 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 (; bu, Golfer,
who is a remarkably strong man, imme-
dia,ely relook il and handed it TO Potts,
who remained in the canoe, and, on re-
ceving it, pushed off into the river. He
had scarcely Quilted the shore, when an
arrow was shot at him, and he cried out,
9 Golfer am wounded!' Golfer remon-
strated with him on the folly of attempting
TO escape, and urged him 10 come ashore.
Instead Of complying, he instantly levelled
his rifle at the Indian, and shot him dead
on the spot,
This conduct. situated as he was, may
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 to
death according To custom. He was in.
s,anlly pierced with arrows so numerous
that, to use Golfers words, ''he was made
riddle Of" They seized Golfer, strip
ped him naked, and began to consult on
the manner in which he should be put to
death. They were al first inclined TO Sc,
him up as mark TO shoot at, but the
chief inlerlered, and, seizing him by the
shoulder, asked him if he could run fast,
Golfer, who had been some time among
the Keekatso, or Cow Indians. had in a
considerable degree acquired the Black
foot language, and was also well acquain-
ted with Indian customs-he knew that
he had now TO run for life, with the
dreadful odds Of five or six hundred
against him, and those armed Indians
he therefore cunningly replied, that he
was a very bad runner, although he was
considered by the hunters as remarkably
swift. The chief now commanded the
party to remain stationary, and led Golfer
out on the prairie. three or four hundred
yards, and released him, bidding him to
save his life if he could. At this instant
the horrid war whoop sounded in the ears
of poor Golfer. who, urged with the hope
Of preserving life, ran with a speed a,
which himself was surprised.
He proceeded towards the Jefferson
Fork, having 10 traverse plain six miles
in breadth, Astounding with the prickley
pear, on which he was every instant
treadipg with his naked feet. He ran
nearly halt way across the plain before he
ventured to look over his shoulder, when
hejperceived that the Indians were much
scattered, and that he had gained ground
IN a considerable distance from tho main
body; but one Indian, who carried q
spear, was much before all the rest, and
not more Than one hundrad yards from
him.
A faint CLEAN Of hope now cheered the
heart Of Golfer; he derived confidence
from the belief that escape was within the
bounds Of possibility but that confidence
was nearly fatal TO him, for he exertet