The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-12-01

"For several years after the interior OF
the state had began to settle up, and was
becoming quiet, this part of the country
remained continually liable to incursions
by the wild, rowing tribes of Ohio. Com
Panies of Indians, sometimes consisting of
thirty or forty, sometimes of only three or
four, were constantly crossing over in ca
noes at night, setting fire to barns and
helds, of grain, stealing horses, and some.
times carrying off women and children.
True, there was one petty station" not
far from where we now are, but the scant.
though valiant garrison could do little for
the defense of the frontier beyond protect
ing the families Immediately within or a.
round the walls, and by chasing retreat
| ing parties of the enemy to the river. II
was about the year l7-that the Indians,
taking advantage Of this defenseless state
OF the border, increased their depredations
to an alarming extent. And it was in the
| spring of that year that there appeared at
the station l have mentioned, a man,
whose character and actions seemed for a.
while to infuse new spirit into the despond-
ing frontiermen.
Who he was, or whence he came. no
one knew, though his singular habits and
appearance called forth many inquiries
Tall, sinewy anI raw-boned, with sun
burnt countenance, scanned across the fore
head with deep scar, deep-sunken ewes.
which in moments of excitement gleam-
ed with strange, lurid fire, and dressed
in the wild, half.Indian costume Of the
times, he presented rather remarkable
figure. In spite, however, OF his looks,
his dress and accoutrements, there was
something in his conversation and
mancers which showed that he possessed
an intelligence and breeding above the
rude, unlcttered men among whom he
moved.
The most prominent feature Of his char
acter, the one thought of his soul, seemed
to be deadly, uncompromising hostility to
the whoe Indian race. In his ordinary
intercourse with men he was shy, taciturn
and retiring. But in moments of the
chase and the conflict, he seemed changed.
transformed, and filed with n mysterious
hire which rendered him an object of won
der even to the bravest of the old hunters
Thus uniting to superior intelligence,
undaunted courage and fierce energy tf
purpose, he acquired at once, and without
appearing to seckit, that ascendancy over
the minds of the simple backwocdsman,
which such qualities must ever gain in any
community. iet lie seemed, rs mucn as
possible, to avoid mingling with his fel-
lows. lie refused TO live in tho stockade
fort, but built himself little hut upon
the summit Of hill about three miles
distant, where he passed most Of his time
with no society save that Of his dog.
But whenever the alarm was given that
the foe had crossed the river, he was seen
at the station, commanding, organizing,
and planning; n seltappointcd dictator, to
whom all yielded implicit obedience. In
the pursuit and the conflict he was ever
foremost. He sought To- make no prison.
ers; death to the enemy was his watch
word and his only object. When the
tight was over, he was heard claiming no
booty, disputing with no man about his
share in the conflict; but silently and un-
noticed he stole back to his mountain hu,
10 resume his solitary mode of life. Thus
the woodsmen came to regard him with
awe and almost with superstitious rever-
ence, aud the inquiries concerning his past
life, checked by his stern and austere man
ner, gradually died away.
There was bu, one living being, beside
his dog, for whom he seemed to entertain
any feeling Of interest or affection. This
was young hunter living at the station,
and who had once, in an Indian battle,
saVed the old mans life at the risk OF his
own. This boy he sometimes suffered to
join him in his hunting expeditions, and to
share his frugal meals. But even TO him
he never spoke Of his past history, and
the boy was too discreet to allude to il.