Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-08-09


B. s. KooxcE, Richland, Onslow county.
B. BARNES, Black Creek, Wayne county.
EoLNEY B. PALMER is authorizedto receive advertisements
and subscriptions for the Journal in New Philadelphia
and Boston, and receipt for payment for the same.
From the True Delta.
Our California Correspondence.
The Hardy and Adrent,rOus Rocky Mountain Men
Jim BecklC1h--HiS AdrentureS among the Indians.
YATEsToN, June IA, 1850
Did you ever hear of Jim Beckwith =! There is
class of men in California whose adventures, if writ
ten out, would equal if not surpass the works of c
ton. For many years living in the mountains en-
during all the prvations and suffering incident to
such life, from choice, forsakng the comforts of
civilized land to gain scanty and precarious living
among sayages-these men have been awakened to
desire OF procuring wealth by the universal attrac
ton of California and have emerged from their bleak
and desolate hills among the Rocky Mountains, to
form an atom of the thousands crowdng here for gold
and of this bold determined and fearless class is Jim
Beckwith He is free mulatto from Missouri. orr
ginally BY combination of circumstances he found
himself a mOuntaineer, and the chief of the Crow
Nation among the Black Hills, high up in the vcin-
ity of the North Platte
According to the custom of Indians who are friend
~ with each other, Jim had wife among the Black
feet as we'll as among the Crows. Being out once
upon some wild excursion, he met party of Black
feet going to war with some neighboring tribe and
at their solicitation he joined them. They were VIC
torlous, and returned with number of scalps a
of the Indians had killed Jim took this opportuni-
ty to go and see his wife among the Blackfeet and
great festival was held in their large town to cele-
brate their victory. In the lodge which Jims wife
occupied, were three or four French traders, with
their goods, whose curiosity led them to the door of
the lodge to witness the antics of the Indians while
Jim sat modify by small fire inside, leaning his
head in his hands, and holding no communion with
the noisy and reckless throng without Raising his
eyes he observed the curiosity of the Frenchmen who
q fhp OW6-
'iwhy do We stand looking upon that scene q
I" Because want to see them Dance they re-
piled.
Do you not know that the scalp of white man
is among them. and can you look cooy on and see
them rejoice over his death never did, and he
added vehemently, never will. If you know what
is best for you come and sit down with me-
They came in: for they knew he not to be tri-
fed WITH but inquired, if you dislike it, why do
you let your squaw dance with them -
Is my Squaw there a.
Yes, and she is the best dancer among them"
Without making a reply he arose and strobe into
the crowd, and selling his wife, forciby dragged her
into the tent. 'Now do your duty-go and bring
me some water
The reply of the irritated squaw was characteris-
tic of free born woman. . | am save-if you
have one, send her"
Without reply, Jim seized his Ratchet and Glove
her SKULL and she fell lifeless corpse before him.
Turning to the whites, with the utmost GOODNESS he
observed, g now you must fight die; you'll
hear, and he took down his rifle, knife pistols and
tomahawk and calmly set down by the fire.
In the meantime, two or three who wit
messed the occurrence out screaming, and soon
explained the state of affairs within. In moment
the yelling orgies without ceased-there an APP
palling stiffness which contrasted strangely with the
horrid din that had shaken the ground "Aha T.
calculated Jim, q do you hear that 2" Directly the
thunder of the terrific war-whoop was sounded
The stoutest heart might have qualed, and the faces
of the Frenchmen grew pale as they reflected that
they were surrounded by hundreds of desperate and
revengeful Indians, who formed circle around the
lodge Escape was impossible, and death seemed
inevitable. The yell repeated. II told you
so' said Jim, recklessly. d" 1t is for life now, men,
and little chance for that"
'Why did you kill her, Jim ?" the white men ask
ed, with a shudder.
II told her. he replied that never reioiced at
the death of white mani never did it never
will, and no squaw of mine shall do SO. l forbade
her to do it, and she diSobeyed me-
At the very moment in which they expected the
rush upon them to be made, the door was opened,
and the father of the murdered squaw entered alone
and silently gazing upon her remains for a few mo-
ments, quietly sat down by her murderer "My son,
why did you do this-why did you kill my daugh-
ter p
She disobeyed me-" replied Jim, fearlessly.-
She forgot her duty"
A pause ensued At length silence was broken by
the old man. My son, you did right want al
my foolish children dead She had no ears--s she
has ears and will hear you. You shall have her fol
wife, and she will obey you. Take her and use
her we'll
Savage as the act was, Jim had only exercised al
Indian prcrogative and he actually married another
daughter of the old man Notwithstanding the mat
ter was thus compromised, Jim well knew that as h
belonged to another tribe her friends would reveng
her death at some convenient opportunity and afte
remaining in the lodge a few days he determined t
try to reach his own tribe. The old man selected
guard, who were pledged to protect him to q certain
point the way and then give him the start of Their
about six miles before they pursued him, if the
were determined to kill him. They obeyed the in
structiOns, and Jim started off. AS soon as the
reached the point of his final departure they stopped
and as soon as he out Of sight he ran with a
his might, for he knew too we'll what his fate woul
be if they overlook him. By almost superhuman e!
ertons he succeeded in outrunning them and in
bout three days reached the Crows in safety.
He is now in California, and am told is waitir
for the SHOWS to melt the mountains, when
starts a bearer of dispatches to of the di
tant inland posts. His has been life of impetuo
daring and this is only of the many stories whiC
related of him.
The waters slowly subsiding, and people a
leaving the valley in crowds for the mines. go
to work on my claim next week. A. D.
BISHOPS PALACES in ENcLAxD-The Ecclesiastic
Commission has authorized the expenditure on Ep
copal residences of the following sums:
Palace at Ripon, G13,689; purchase of lands al
houses for the bishop of Gloucester 91l.000; alte
alton of house for him, Ell, 800; purchase of
tate and house for the bishop of Lincoln, ESQ 40
alteration of a house for him. Ella, 302; purchase
an estate and house for the bishop of Roches
G25557 alteration of residence of the bishop of
ford, 9G,4G9.