Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-11-08
rnh h 6iA v 'uue Of BancIoft's His,ory
r DANIEL BOONE.

u5 T DAAlE L BOONE.
/ In lis reacefdi liabiiation on the bank.
fof tie adkin river in Norti, Carolina,
/ Draiei Beere. the illustrious hunter. had
heard Finley a trader, 50 memorable as
the pioneer describe q tract of land west
tof Virginia as the richest in North Ameri.
lca oriu the werld la MAY, 1863 leaving
thS wife apdr offspring. having Finley as
his pilot aud four others as his companions.
[ the Young niao ef about three and twenty
wandered forth through the wilderness Of
America, tn quest of the tuahtry of Ken
tucky. known to the savages a the Dark
rs Bloody Ground. the Middle Grounda'
between the subjects of the Five Nations
and tue Cherokees. After a long aud
'tatiguing journey through the mountain
ranges, the party found themselves in J uuc
on tlle Red river tributary to the Ken
tucky, and from the top OF an eminenee
surveyed with delight the beautiful plain
that stretched 10. the north west, Here
they built their shelter and began to re.
connoitre and to hunt All the kinds oil
wild beasts that were natural to Aneri-
ca--the stately elk. the timid deer, the
antlered stag. the wild cat, the bear, tho
panther and the wolf-coucbed among
the canes or roamed over the rich grasses
which, even beneath the thckcst shades,
sprang luxuriantly out the generous soil.
The buffaloes cropped fearlessly the herb
age or browsed on the leaves of the reed,
aud were more frequent than cattle in tho
settlements of Carolina herdsrnen Some
times there were hundreds in a drove, and
round the salt licks their number was
amazing sL
The summer in which. for the first time,
party of white men enjoyed the brillian-
cy of nature near and III the valley of the
Elkhorn. passed away in the occupations
of exploring parties and the chase. But
one by one, Boones companions, dropped
off till he was left alone with John Stew
art. They jointly found unceasiDg de-
light In the wonders of the forest, till one
evening, near Kentucky river, they were
taken prisoners by band Of Indians wan
derers like themselves. They escaped ard
were joined by Boone's brother; so that,
when Stewart was soon after killed By
sayages, the first victim among the heca-
tomb Of whitemen slain by them in their
desperate battling for the lovely hunting
ground, Boone still had his brother to
share with him the dangers and attractions
pying the first cottage In Kentucky.
In the sFrlag Of l710 that brother re-
turned to The settlements for horses and
supplies &C ammunition, leaving tie rs
nowned hunter BY himself without bread,
or salt. or sugar. or even horse Of dog"
The idea of a beloved wife" auxio IS for
his safety. .inqed his thoughts with saa-
ness; but otherwise the cheerful medita-
tive man. careless Of wealth. knowing the
use Of the rife. not the plough. Of strong,
robust Frame in the vigorous health of
early manhood ignorant of books but
verscd in the forest iife ever fond of track
ing the deer on foot. away from men. yet
in his disposition, humane. generous and
gentle was happy IN the uninterrupted
succession . of sylvan pleasures.
One calm summers evening. as lie
climbed a commanding ridge aud look
cd out upon tic remote venerable noun
tains and the nearer ample plains and
caught glimpse in the distance of the
Ohio which bounded the land of his af-
fections with majestic grandeur his heart
exulted in the region he had discovered.
: All things were stilih Not a breeze so
much as shouk leaf He kiudled fire
near a fountain of sweet water. and feast
HI on the lGlh Gt puck Ii e was no more
alone than bee among flowers, but com
muned familiarly with the whole universe
of life Nature was his intimate. and as
the rowing woodsman lcaned confdirgly
on her bosom, she responded to his intel
igence
For him the rocks aud the fountains.
the leaf and the blades of grass had life
the cooling air laden with the wild per-
func, came TO him as a friend the dewy
morning wrapped him in its embrace -
the trees stood up gloriously round about
him as so many myriads of companions
All forms wore the character of design or
peril But how could he be afraid Tri.-
umphiDg over danger, lie knew no fear
The perpetual bowling of the wolves by
might round his cottage or his biyouac IN
the brake, was bis diversion and by day
he had JOY in surveying the various spa
cious species Of animals that surrounded
him lie loved the solitude better thau
the lowered city or the hum of business.
Near the end of July, l77o, his faith.
full brother met him at the old camp
Shortly after they proceeded to Cumber-
land river, giving names to the different
waters and hc then returned to his wife
and children, fixed in his purpose at the
risk of life and fortune to bring them az
soon as possible, TO live in Kentucky " hicti
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