The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-10-04
From thu 9th Volume Of BAscsaits nissoly.
DANIEL BOONE

In his peaceful habitation IN the banks Of the
Yadkin River in North Casoli,.a. Daniel BoOue.
the illustrous hunter, had heard Finley, ,rx-
der, so memorable a the pioneer, describe
tsact OF land west Of Virginia a. the richest in
North America or in the world In May, 1869,
leaving his wife and offspring, hsving Finley 90
his pilot and others as his compa Mons, the
young man Of about three and twenty wandered
forth Though the wilderness OF America, ain
quest Ut the country of Kentucky" Known -
Inc snvages AZ "ihe Dark and Bloody Ground.
the Middle Ground, +" between the subjects Of
Inc Five Nations aud the Cherokees. Alter .
long and fatiguins journey through mountain
ranges, the party found the msrlye. in June ON
the Red River, tributary 10 the Kentucky and
from the top Of an minrnce surveyed with de-
light the beautiful plain tha, sire ched 70 the
no'ih west. Here they built their shelter and
began to reconnoiter and to hunt. All the
kinds Of wild beasts that were natural TO Amer
icn-ihe stately Fix, the tin,d deer, the antlered
stag, tie wild cat, the bear, the panther and the
w"lf-conched among the canes, or rosmed ov-
ef Inc rich grassess which even beneath the
'hickest shades, sprang luxuriantly out Of the
gen. rous soil. The buffaloes cropped fearless
" the heritage or browsed on the leaves OF the
reed, aud were more frequent than cattle in the
settlements OF Carolina heIdsmen. Sometimes
mere were hundrt DIS in drove, and round the
ooh "S~s tueH uuDOef was amazing.
The summer in which for the first time mar
~ OF white s.en enjoyed the briIliancy Of Daturs
near and in The valley OF the Elk horn, passed
away in the occupations Of exploring parties
and the chase. But one by one, Boone . COM
Pan'"ns dr"pped of, till he was left slone with
John Stewart. They jointly found unceasng
delight IN the wonders OF the forest, till one
evening near Kentucky river they were taken
prisoners by band OF Indians, wanderers like
themselves. They escaped and were joined by
Boone . brother; 80 that when Stewart was
soon after killed by savage, the first victim
among the hecatomb ofwhte men slain by them
in the u desperate battling for the lovely hunting
ground, Boone still had his brother to share
with him the dangers and attractions Of the will
derness, tn. building and occupying the FIRST
cottage in Kentucky y ass
In the spring of 1870, that brother returned
to the settlements for horses and supplies Of
ammunition, leaving the renowned hunter "by
himself without Tread, or salt, or sugar, or even
a horse or dog" "The idea Of beloved wife"
anxious for his safety, linged bis thoughts with
sadness; but otherwise the cheer ul, med'tative
man, careless Of wealth, knowing The use Of
the rifle, not tbs plough, Of strong, robust
frame, in the vigorous health Of early manhood,
ignorant Of books but versed in the forest and
forest life, ever fond of tracking the deer on foot
away f'om men, yet in his disposition humane,
generous and gentle, was happy in the uninter-
rupted succession s.of sylvan pleasure"
One ca I'm summer evening a. he climbed
commanding ridge, and looked out upon the re.
mote venerable mountains,' and the nearer
ample plains, and caught glimpse in the dis
lance of the Ohio. which bounded the land Of
his affections with majestic grandeur, his heart
| exultcd in the region he had discovered "All
| things were STILL" Not breeze so much %
shook leaf. He kindled FIRE near q fountain
| OF sweet water, and feasted on the loin of
buck. He was no more alone than bee among
fowers,b but communed Familiarity with the whole
| universe Of life. Nature was his intimate, and
| as the rowing woods,nan leaned confidently on
| her bosom, she responded to HE intelligence.
For him the rocks and the fountains, the leaf
and the blades Of grass had life; the cooling air
laden with the wild perfume, came 10 him 40 a
friend; the dewy morning wrapped him in it,
embrace; the trees stood up gloriously round
about him as so many lnyriads cf companions.
All forms were the character of design or peril.
But how could he be afraid! Triumphing over
danger, he knew no fear. The perpetual howl
ing of the wolves by night round his cottage or
his 5ivouac in the brake, was his diversion and
BY day he had JOY in surveying the various spe-
| cies Of animals that .urrounded him. He loved
the solitude better than tue lowered city or the
| hum OF business.
Near the end Of July, ITO his faithful brother
| CANE back to meet him at the old camp. Short
| ~ after they proceeded to Cumberland river,
giving names TO the different waters; and he
then returned 10 his wife and children, fixed
in his purpose at the risk Of life and fortune to
bring them as soon as possible to live in Ken
lucky, which he esteemed q second Paradise.