The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-07-20


country of Kentucky-beautiful soil and
timber, and water and game abounding.
There they might settle, and thther were
many going who had lost their posses
sions in the terrible but sacred war.
In the spring of 1884, Fifty emigrants
assembled al Powell's on the frontiers of
the colony. They were TO journey in
company over the mountains, for mutual
defence, for the swarthy tribes of Indians
still hoyered over the regions, revengng
on the white men that long iliad of calam-
tiles which had fallen on their race.
The caravan went forward It passed
through wild territory among mountains
and defiles with the shaggy forest still
throwing their prmeval shadows over the
slopes. AT distance there was known
to be settlement where provisions mi ght
be obtained. Smith with small party
went in advance to bring back supplies
for the rest he was six days away. The
remainder had promised to wait his return
in sequestered little valley. To that he
came with his companions. There were
traces of the camp, and marks of the con-
fict, but no living being stirred there-no
voice could be heard, no welcome of the
dear ones he had left. A confused and
broken trail showed that the emigrants
were in full retreat for the Clinch river 10
gain the more populous district they had
quilted. Smith hurried after them.
"Where is my wife-where are my
children % He asked of the first strang-
er he came to- "You will find them
where you left them. Ask the Shawnees;
they can tell you the rest
"You have neglected your trust-they
are murdered" said Smith, in stern and
deliberate yet trembling voice. "And
yet you are retreating. you towards p he
added, and struck the man to the ground.
Then turned back, rode alone to the
abandoned camp in the valley, and there
in the evening he found looking with tear
.ess eyes, but a countenacc more mornful
than weeping could make it, on the lost
and loycd-Ma5s.ie and her children.
Smith with his own hands dug their
graves-with his own hand he laid them
side by side; his frst-born on the mother's S
right hand, his youngest on her bosom
where il had lain and nestled SO long
And then he stood for few moments
looking upon this last couch for their
earthly rest, and filled the grave, and pill
ed stones to mark the spot, and bade
adieu, forever to love in which his heart
had made its home. His comrades were
standing around in silence. They expec
ted that when he had finished he would
follow them But he walked about the
site of the camp, and found where the In
dians had come and gone. Then he
shouldered his rifle, waved his hand sol
emnly, and speaking no farewell, dissap-
peared on the trail of the Shawnees
From that hour strange mystry sprang
among the mountains There was known
to dwell on them a lonely hunter--a white
man-who was seen occasienly by the
Indians or some solitary trappers, always
with rifle in his hand, but perpetually 81
lent, neaver speaking one word to any one;
ifhe was addressed he turned and dretreated
into the woods. Gradually he was lost
sight of altogether, except to Daniel Boon,
that far-famed hunter, whose name is fa-
miliar over the whole continent of Ameri-
ca. Daniel Boone was believed to have
frequent interviews with him, and to sup
ply him with powder and ball, but he new
er spoke of him, and only replied to ques-
tions by shaking his head and touching
his brow with his finger.
This had went on for two, years, and
men had almost forgotten Bill Smith
But at the end of that time, a Shawnee
Indian was taken prisoner by the people
of Boone's fort, and he once more revived
the excitement as to the mystry of the
Silent Hunter. He said that terrible
spirit had for two years haunted the war
path of the Shawnees--an evil demon
whose sight was appalling to the nation.
More than thirty of their best braves had
already fallen under his hand.-This fear
ful Medicine Man was sent to punish them
for some portentous sin. So dreaded had
he become, that the tribe had met and
were nearly determined to quit foreve,
their ancienthunting groundsin Kentucky
When asked whether they had ever seer
the demon, they said they had never seer
it distinctly, though their young men hat
pursued it often, and always came bacl
, with at least one of their number missing
At length none dared to follow the terri
BILE apparition.
After this story had been rumoret
abroad men began again to speak of Bill
Smith. They spoke of him, however
with an unaccountable dread, always in
low voice. The Shawnees had formerly
been one of the most formidable and bes
organized of the red nations They nov
baoo,na tipoid and carried on desu1tor,