The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-08-09

I IHE dHuFuruf buinF iF'ss-!sEell Izhile- -aaleap
in their eheampments, by the pTowiing and
ruthless Indians while they had before them
a d stance of hundreds Of miles 10 be trayena-
ed, before they could reach certain places Of
rendezvous called Stations. To encounter
difficulties like these must have required en-
erPes Of no ordinary kind and the reward
vbish 'i'u'v veteran settlers enjoy was doubt
less we'll merited
"Some removed from tho Atlantic shores TO
those % the Ohio, IN more comfort and sccu-
iiy They hal thsir wagons, their negroes
and their families Thar way was cut hro'
the woods by their own axemen, the day be-
fore their advance, and when night over
took them, the hunters sttaehed 10 the party
came % the place pitched upon for encAmp-
ing, loaded with the daiuties Of which the for
cat Yielded mn ahnndhni supply, the blazing
light Of a huge fire guiding their steps ~ they
approached, aud the sounds of merriment that
sNlutsd their ears assured them that all was
we'll, The flesh Of tho buffalo, tho bear aud
tho deer soon hung In large and delicious
steaks. In front Of the embers the cakes al
ready prepared, were deposited IN their prop
or places aud under tho rich driPpinRs Of the
juicy roasts, were quickly baked. The wag-
ous contained their bedding, and whilst their
horses which had drawn them were turned
loose 90 feed on the luxuriant underground of
the woods, some perhaps hoppled, but the
greater numbcr,mercly with light bell hung
to their neck, TO guido their owners in the
morning 10 the spot where they might have
rambled, che party were enjoying themselves
After the failgpes Of the day.
t--nIa- anticipation all is pleasure; and these
migrating bands toasted in joyous soeiaIity,
unapPrehensivo Of any greater dificulbes
than those TO be encountered in forcing their
way through the pathless woods 20 tho land
; Of abundance, and although il took months
10 accomplish the journey, and sassrnish
now and then took place between them and
the Indians, who sometimes crcpt unpcrceiy-
cd intD iheir very camp, still did the Virgini-
ans checrfuIly proceed towards the western
y horizon. until th- various ,rau,.s all rOanhGd
the Ohio, when, struck with the beauty OF
that magnificent stream, they at onee con-
menced the task OF clearing land, FOR the
purpose Of establishing a permanent resi-
dcnce.
"othcrs, perhaps, encountered with too
much luggage, preferred descending the
stream They prepared arks pierced with
portfolios, and plidcd on the gentle current,
moro annoyed, however, than those who
marched by land, 10y thc attacks Of the Indi-
ans who watched their motions. Many tray-
itiirFs hEvs-rtEECFibyTi tiTrrr tsassfs,ri,.,,i.
called arks, but now named flat boats But
have they told you, kind reader, that in those
times a boat thirty or forty feet in length, by
ten or twelve in breadth, was considered a
stupcndous fabric that this boat contained
men, women and children, huddled together,
with horses, cattle, hogs and poultry for their
companions, while the remaining portion was
crdmmed with vegetables and packages Of
seeds? The roof or deck Of the boat was
mot unlike a farm-yard, being covered with
hay, plows, carts, wagons and various agricul-
tural implements, together with numerous
others, among which the spinning wheels of
tho matrons were conspicuous Even the
sides of the floating mass were loaded with
the wheels of the different vehicles, which
themselves lay on the roof Have they told
: you that thesc boats contained the little all
of each family Of Sonturous emigrants, who
fearful of being discovered by the Indians un.
der night HAered- ~ -aaEkaeSs-- -grnping iheil
way from one part to another of these float
ing habitations, denying themselves the com
: fort offire or light, lest the foe that watched
I them from the shore should rush -Ipon. theH
and destroy themP Have they told you tina
; this boat was used, after the tedious voyag,
y was ended, as the first dwelling Of these new
settlersp No, kind reader such things have
, not been related to you before. The traveller
: who have visited our county, have had 9th
or objects in view.
v ~ shall mot describe the many massacre
. which took place among the different paEtie
20 of White and Red Men, as the former movet
9 down the Ohio because have never beer
b very fond of battles, and indeed have alway
y wished that the world were more peaccabl,
inclined than it is; and shalt merely add, tina
!" in one way or other Kentucky was wrcste'
, y from the original owners of the soil. Let US
n therefore, turn our attention to the sport
g still enjoyed in that now happy portion of tn
United States.
> We have individuals in Kentucky, kim
, reader, that even there are considered won
~ derfnl adopts in the management of the rifle
~ To drive nail is common feat, not NOR
a "a Thought of by the Kentuckians than to cut of
= a wild turkeys head, at a distance Of hun
. dred yards. Others will bark Off squirrel
oIs aiIeF GnoIhag unit satisfied withthr NUN
!, Der procured. Some, less intent on destroy
! ing game, may be seen under night mufin
:, n candle at the distance Of fifty yards, of
i hand without extinguishing il. have bee
~ told that some have proved so expert an,
!, cool, as 10 make choice ofthe eye OF a foe at
!. wonderful distance, boasdng beforehand OF
:, rho aur,enass of their MECH which has affair