The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-10-27
DANIEL BOONE.

/. " DANIEL BOONE.
The following Interesting sketch is an
extract from the forthcoming volume o.
Bancrof's History Of tie United States :
In his peaceful habitaiion on the banks
OF the Yadkin River in North Carolina,
Daniel Boone, the illustrious hunter had
heard Finley, q trader so memorable as q
pioneer, describe tract oil land west ot Vir
ginia as The richest in North America, or in
tho world In May 1859, leaving his wife
and offspring, having Finley Us his pilo,
and four others as his companions, the,
young man ofabout three and twenty wan
tered forth through the wilderness ol
America, " in quest Of the country Of Ken
lucky" known TO the savages as "the
Dark and Bloody Ground,n the Middle
Ground" between the subjects Of the Five
Nations and the Cherokees. Afer long
and fatigueing journey through mountain
ranges, the party found themselves in June
on the Red River, tributary Of the Ken
lucky, and from the top OF an eminence
surveyed with delight the beautiful plains
that stretched out to the north west. Here
they built their shelter and began 10 recon-
noi,re and 10 hunt; All the kinds of wild
beasts that were natural 10 America-,he
stately elk, the iimid deer, the altered stag
the wild cat the bear, the panther and The
wolf-couched among The canes, or roam
ing over the rich grasses which even be-
meath The ihickest shades, sprung luxuri-
ausly out of The generous soil. The buffa.
loes cropped iearlessly the herbage, OF
browsed on the leaves Of the reed, and
were more frequent than the cattle in the
settlement of North Carolina herdsmen
Sometimes there were hundreds in drove
and round the salt lcks the numbers were
amazing. .. .....,....
The summer in which Tor the first time
party Of white men enjoyed The brillian
cy of lovely nature near and in the valley oI
the Elkhorn, passed away in The occupa-
tlons ofexploring parties and The chase. Blu
one by one Boone's companions dropped
off ill he was leh alone with John Stewart
They jointly found unceasng delight in the
wonders Of the forest, till one evening they
were taken prisoners by band CT Indians
wanderers like themselves. They escaped
and were joined by Boone's brother, so lha
when Stewart was soon af,er killed by sava
ges, the frs, victim amcng the hecliombs
of white men slain by them in their desper
ate battling for The lovely hunting ground
Boone still had his brother 10 share will
him the dangers and the attractions Of The
wilderness, the building and occupying
The frs, cottage in Kentucky. H.' ..
In the spring Of 1870, that brother return
ed to The settlements for horses and sup
plies OF ammunition, leaving the renowned
hunter "by himself wi,hou, bread, or sal,
or sugar, or even n horse, or dog" 9TH,
idea OF beloved wife," anxious for his safe
" ,inged his thoughts with sadness bn
otherwise the cheerful mediiaiive man
careless of wealth, knowing the use Of ih,
rifle, mol the plough, Of strong, robus
frame, in the vigorous health OF early man
hood, ignorant VI books but versed in th
forest and forest life, ever fond of tracking
the deer on foot, away from men, yet in hi
disposition humane, generous and gentle
was happy in the uninterrupted succession
"of sylvan pleasures"
He held unconscious intercourse with beauty
old as creation,
One calm summers evening, as h,
climbed commanding ridge and looked ou
npon the remote venerable mountain
and the nearer ample plains, and caught ,
glimpse in the distance of the Ohio, which
bounded the land Of his affections with ma
jesilc grandeur, his heart esulted in III,
region he had discovered. "All things were
still" Not breeze so much as shook {
leaf. He kindled fire near fountain o
sweet wafer, and (easted on the loin Of &
buck. He was no more alone than bee
among flowers, but communed familiarly
with the whole universe Of life Nature
was his intimate, and as The rowing woods
man leaned conidingly 90 her bosom, she
responded 10 his intelligence.
For him the rocks and The fountains, the
leaf and the blade OF grass had life |; The
cooling air laden with the wild perfume
came 10 hin as friend the dewy mornin.
wrapped him in lis embrace; the tree,
stood up gloriously round abou, him as 6,
many myriads Of companions. All form
wore the character of desire or peril. Blu
how could he be afraid! Triumphing owe
danger he knew no fear. The perpe,ua
bowling Of The wolves by night round hi
cottage or his bivouac in the brake was hi
diversion; and by day he had Joy in sur.
veying the various species OF animals iha
surrounded him, He loved The soli,ud,
better than the lowered city or the hum o
business. ....... ...r.......
Near The end Of July, 1870, his fai,hfu
brother came back 10 meet him at the CAM
Shortly after they proceeded together 10 IN,
Cumberland River, giving names 10 ih'
different waters; and then he returned I,
his wife and children fixed in his purpose q
the risk OF life and fortune 10 bring them q
soon as possible 10 live in Kentucky, which
he esteemed second Paradise. -.