Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-13
0TTUMWA, IOWA, JUNE 13, 1851.

with countenance hideously painted an,
distorted by passion, was no pleasin,
picture to the timid. Old men sighet
for the peaceful security of their early
homes; stout hearts moved about will
quickened pulsations, casting feverisf
glances TO the right and left, fearful o
seeing the brawny chest of a biood-thirs
ty savage pro,ruding from behind hi.
covert; and ford mothers, with ,earfu
eyes, pressed their helpless babes con
vulsively to their bosoms, to hush the
low wall of distress that burst from theii
infant lips. All, that was sad time te
the helpless and unprotected. Theil
ruthless enemy tormented them wher
in their power with fendish delight
First The tomahawk and then the scalp
ing-knife cleaned above their heads
whilst the terrifying war. whoop rang il
their ears like the howl of damned
spirit. This was but a prelude to Tho
most horrid and exquisite cruelty that ev
er the ingenuity of man devised. Ths
fire and The stake were the instrument.
OF torture used. Their savage spirit.
glored in the agony they thus inflicted
and frequently to enhance its intensity
would thrust burning splinters into tn.
scared and blistered flesh of the expirin,
victim. Humanity shudders at the reci
tai of such foul wrongs, but foul as they
in truth were, they were nevertheless,
perpetrated.
Possessing all the strength and vigo
of early manhood, Roland Tomlinsoi
prosecuted his journey with assiduity.-
The declining sun of the second day
discovered him standing on the SUNNI
of the Meadow Mountain, one of tn,
loftiest peaks of the Alleghanies, rearing
itself, like colossal giant, above its les.
majestic associates.
Though bred in the back woods. Ro
lanG had taste for the grand and beauti
ful in nature. Around him spread th,
primeval forest, rich in young buds an,
blossoms, and vocal with the sweet mel
ody of birds. Before him, bathed il
one continuous food Of golden radiance
lay magnificent panorama, through
which the Potomac meandered, like
stream of molten silver, making the al
musical with the subdued murmur o
its bright cascades; whilst far away to
wards the beautiful regions of the settin.
sun broad belt of purple and gold, lik'
gorgeous legacy, spanned the skies
An involuntary exclamation of surpris'
and admiration burst from his lips
"What beauty what snblimity Car
there be a living soul, so absorbed in til,
cares of this world, so bound up in it.
corroding m iseries, as not to be able Il
appreciate scene like this! The blu
hills of the west, rising in regular grada
ton one above another, seem 10 be swim
ming in sea of liquid gold, whilst tn
intervening valleys are sleeping in tn
deep solitude of the wilderness, witt
here and there timid deer quietly brow
sing upon the herbage along the margi
of the crystal streams. And to crow
all, the savage grandeur of the precipice
upon whose weaiher-beaten crest nov
stand, to owering up thousand ieet abov
| the broad bosom of the Potomac, an
cleaning in the last rays of the sun lik
some gigantic ba,tlement of the olde
time. Surely. surely, this glorious heri
iage Of God unto His children was nc
bestowed without some special design!'
Then his soliloquy ceased, and he lin
gered silent and moiionless, drinking i
with the soul of poet and the enthusiasm
of an artist, the beauty of this gloriou
mountain scene.. So absorbed was h
in the contemplation, that he did nc
hear the low wall of the whlp-poor- wi
that sounded distinct and clear upon tn
air. In moment il was repeated, an
quick as thought the rifle dropped fror
his shoulder into the palm of Ills hanG
He remained moment in this position
when, once, twice, thrice it was repeat
ed. An expression of pleasant surpris
played in every lineament of his hanC
some features. Placing his hand to hi
mouth in style peculiar 10 himself, h
produced in notes clear and full, the dis
sonant hootlng of an owl. He was al
swered Immediately by the chattering Z
a squirrel, which, amongst the hunters {
early times, was always regarded as
presentiment of danger, and directly tn
branches of the trees were thrust asid
and man, somewhat advanced in lif'
followed by large, intelligent lookin
dog, stepped forth. The animal, whe
he beheld Roland. uttered low whin
of recognition and crouched close dow
by his side. The hunter, as he apprt
ached Roland. laid his finger significant
ly upon his lips to enforce silence. II
was arrayed in the homely but appropr
ate costume Of hunter of the early time.
1t was composed of a dressed deer-ski
hunting shirt, and pants of the same m;
terial, ornamented up the seams with
profusion Of fringes after the Indian fasl
ion. These, to impart freedom and Ella,
ITCHY to his muscular frame, fitted clos
to his person. His weather-beaten lock
were concealed beneath an otter-ski
cap, which. from excessive use, ha
grown nearly destitute of fur. This maj
who was no contemplate parsonage, ,
the sequel will show, usually went b
the hOmely Cognomen Of David Thoml