Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-04-05
MISCELLANY.
A BACKWOODsMAN.
Adventures of. Louis Wetzel.

in boyhood, and familiar with all the va
rieties Of forest adventure, from that Of
hunting the beaver and the bear, to that
of the willy Indian, he became one of
the most celebrated marksmen Of the
day. His form was erect and of that
height most perfectly adapted to activity,
being very muscular, and possessed great
bodily strength. From constant exer-
else, he could without fatigue, bear pro-
longed and violent exertion, especially
that of running and walking; and he had
by practice, acquired the art of loading
his rifle, when running at full speed
through the forest. and wheeling on the
instant, he could discharge it with unerr-
ing aim, at the distance of eighty or one
hundred yards, into mark not larger
than dollar. This art he had been
known to practice more than once upon
his savage foes with fatal success.
A marksman of superior skill, was,
in those days estimated by the other
borderers, much in the same way that a
knight templar, or knight of the cross,
who excelled in the tournament or the
charge, was valued by his contempora-
ries, in the days of chivalry Chalel-
ges of skill often took place; and marks
men who lived at the distance of fifty
miles from each other, frequently met to
try the accuracy of their aim on bets of
considerable amount. WetzePs fame
had spread far and wide, as the most ex-
pert and unerring shot of the day. II
chanced that young man, few years
younger than himself, who lived on
Dunkard's Creek, tributary Of the Mo
nongahela river, which waters one Of the
earliest settlements of that region, heard
of his fame, and a first rate shot, the
best in his settlement, he became verv
desirous of all opportunity for trial of
skill. So great was the desire, that he
one day shouldered his rifle, and whist
ling his faithful dog by his side, started
for the neighborhood of We,zel, who,
at that time, lived on Wheeling Creek.
When about half way on his journey, a
/ fine buck sprang up just before. him.
He leyelled his gun with unusual precis-
ion, but the deer, though badly wounded,
did not fall dead in his tracks. His
faithful dog soon seized him, and brought
him TO the ground, but while in the act
of doing this, another dog sprang from
the forest upon the same deer, and his
master making his appearance at the
same time from behind tree, with loud
voice claiming the property, because he
had been wounded by his shot and sci
zed by his dog. II so happened that
they had both fired at once at this deer,
thing which may very easily happen
"HCiC tWO dCuNC uuCh diC huuuuS uPoh
the same ground, although one may fire
at The distance of fifty yards, and the
other at one hundred. The dogs feI.
the same spirit of rivalry, and quitting
the deer, which was already deaa, fell to
worrying and tearing each other. In
separating the dogs the stranger hunter
happened to strike that of the young man.
The old adage ''s,rike my dog, strike me" !"
arose in full force, and without further
cer.mony, except few hearty curses,
he fell upon the hunter and hurled him
10 the ground, This was no sooner
done than he found himself turned, and
under his stronger and more powerful
antagonist Discovering he was no
match at this play, the young man appeal
ed to the trial by rifles, saying il was too
much like dogs, for men and hunters to
fight in this way. The stranger assent
ed TO the trial. but told his antagonist that
before he put it fairly to the test, he had
better witness what he was able to do
with the rife, saying he was as much
his superior. he thought. with that wea-
pom, as he was in bodily strength. He
bid him place mark the size of shilling
ON the side Of huge poplar that stood
beside them, from which he would start
with his rifle unloaded, and running q
hundred yards al full speed, he would
load il as he ran, and wheeling. would
discharge it instantly into the centre OF
the mark. The feat was no sooner pro-
posed than performed: the ball entered
the centre Of the diminu.ive target. As
tonished at his activity and skill, his an
tagonist Instantly enquired his name?-
Lewis Wetzei. at your service, answer
ed the stranger. The young hunter Sci
zed him by the hand. with all the ardor
Of youthful admiration, and at once ac-
i