Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-26

We have small confidence in these sold
Ohio Pilots they tell such awfully large sto-
ries. They have no conscience in their exag-
gerations. We have been among them "long
ago." We started from Clean Point, in. the.
county Of Cattaraugus, great place in those
days, on the Allegheny river. We went down
TO its confluence with the Ohio, on lumber
ram, and then we got on board Of periogueof
some four or five tons burthen, and went ahead.
Cincinnati was comparatively a small place
then. 1t was not great and beautiful city,
with long, wide streets, cutting each other at
right angles, reaching away in long vista Of
shade trees, and lined with magnificent bust.
ness structures and elegant dwellings. Along
the majestic Ohio were great old forests Of gi-
gantic growth, where now are broad farms
teeming with agricultural wealth. There were
occasional broad lagoons and marshes, swamps
covered with lowland trees, and it is q simple
truth that when the sun was running low and
the shades of evening were gathering around,
the mosquitoes were out in their might, and
they were an extraordinary breed
We had an "old pilot, \ who was an original
in his way, and the stories he told Of the early
settlement and Of the incidents occurring in
his experience in the Golden time were as
tonishing. A
We remember bear story Of his telling.
He seemed to believe ii himself, for he told It
with gravity Of face that would i'll comport
with its ialsity. We do not vouch for its verify,
we simply tell it as the "old pilot told It to
us, one pleasant afternoon as we were gliding
along quietly down the Ohio, fighting mosaui-
toes and watching the sun, as he was sinking
down into the western wilderness, casting the
dark shadows Of the woods far out over the
waters. sa ,. WV
Twenty years ago." said the fold pilot
as he lighted the stump of pipe and seated
himself on whisky keg, athere warnt
great many people along the banks of the
Ohio, except Ingins and bears and we didn't
like TO cultivate a very close friendship with
either of them, for the Ingins were cheatin',
deceiyin, scalpin', critters, and the bears some
times had an unpleasant way with 'em that
one didn't like. came out for some people
over on the east side Of the mountains, lookin'
for land, with company of four men who had
hunted over the country.
We came down the Allegheny in two
canoes, and shantied on the Ohio, just below
where the Allegheny enters it, We hid our
canoes, and struck across the country, and
travelled about exploring for four weeks. We
saw mighty deal Of good land that trip, and
when we got back to our shantying ground we
were tuckered out, as you may well believe.
We rested here a couple Of DAYS, LAYING around
loose and taking our comfort after q fashion Of
our own. Early one morning, while nv com
rades were asleep, rose and went across the
river after a deer. for we wanted yenison for ]
breakfast. / got buck and was returning,
when what should see but bear swimming
the Ohio, and 1 put after him in chase; / soon
overhauled the critter, and picked up my rife
to give him settler, when / found that in
padding I had spatted water into the canoe,
wetting the primin' and making the thing Of
no more use than stick l didn't understand
much about the mater of the beast then, and
thought I'd run him down and drown him, or
knock him on the head. So put the canoe
right head on towards him, but when the bow
touched him, what did he do but reach his |
great paws up over the side of the boat and be-
gin to climb in. hadn't bargained for that,