Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-04-08
lIymputh Chin, SATURDAY Marning, april 1884,

They expected that when he had finished
4 he would follow them. But he walked
abont the site Of the camp, and founC
where the Indians had come aud zone
Then he shouldered his rife, waved HI,
hand solemnly, and speaking Il,
farewell, disappeared on the trail Of tht
Shawnees.
From hat hour a strange mystery
sprang up amC ng these mountains. There
was known 10 dwell on them lonely
hun'er-a white man who was seen coca.
sionally by the Indians, or by some soil
tary trapper, always with a rifle in his
hand, but perpetually silent, never speak.
ing word to any. If he was addressed
he turned and retreated into the woods.
Gradually he was lost sight of altogether,
except TO Daniel Boone, that far-famed
hunter, whose name is familiar o?er the
whole Continent of America. Daniel
Boone was believed 10 have flequont in,
tervicws with him, and to supply him
with powder and ball, but he never spoke
of him, and only replied to questions by
shaking his head and touching his brow
with his finger.
This went on for two years, and men
had almost forgotten Bill Smith. But at
the end Of that time Shawnee Indian
was taken prisoner by the people OF
Boone's fort, and he once more revived
the excitement as to the mystery 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 their nation. More than
thirty Of heir best braves had already
fallen under his hand This fearful
Medicine Nan was sent, they believed, 10
punish them for some portentious sin
So dreaded had he become, that the tribe
lad met. and were nearly determined to
quit forever their ancient hunting>grounds
in Kentucky. When asked whether they
had ever seen this demon, they said they
had never seen it distinctly, though the
young men had parsued it often, and al
ways came back with one, at least, OF
their number missing. At length none
dared to follow the terrible apparition.
Aller this story had been rumored
abroad. men began to speak of Bill Smith
They spoke of him. however. with mn
unaccounable dread, and always in IA
low voice. The Shawnees had been for
merl y one Of the most Formidable ant
best organized of the red nations. They
now became timid, and carried on the
most desultory warfare. They were
beaten by every hostile tribe, for when.
ever battle took place. the Silent Hun,
ter made his appearance suddenly, fight
ing with their enemies. f they attack.
ed fort, he was always with the defend
ers; if they defended a stronghold, he
was never away, bat regulatly headed the
assailanIs. Blu! he came and went with
out speaking. He newer greeted any
man, and no man ever said farewell tc
him. The border people looked on hin
with respect and fear; and the Indian:
shuddered at his name, and the Shawnee
especially looked upon him as curse
sent from the Great Spirit to cxlerminatt
their race.
At last they became SO terrified by thi
phantom of the Silent Hunter perpe'u
ally haunting their paths, that they col
lected and fed across the great stream O
Kentucky. But he followed them owe
and was ever on their hunting grounds
So they fed again and passed the Greer
river. He passed it too and never crossed
it again. Still the Indians were apalle,
by hearing the braves slain in the forest
and at their camp fires, by an arm whcl
they now so fully believed to be the arm
of some avenging spirit, that they neve
dreamed of having conflict, The SiIen
Hunter never lost their trail. Thel
they once more burned their wigwams
and went away forever from lha, country
And when the last of the Shawnees hat
launched his canoe upon the Ohio, Bill
Smith rose from amid the bushes on tht
shore, and fired after the little bark
Revenge was his monomana Wher
he buried his wife and children, rasl
and bloody resolution fixed itself in hi
mind. 1t became madness. He neye
more spoke to man, but silently and re
morselessly haunted the trail of the Shaw
nees TO slay every one that came With
range of his far famed rifles. Then, af
ter the Indian tribe had gone from its an
cient hunting grounds, he retired, NUT
and alone, 10 the most inaccessible part o
the Green River Hills. There. in a shad
cleft, remote from the habitations of man
he built himself hut where, in solitar
quiet, he passed the remainder of hi
days. He hunted to supply himself witt
food and skins enough 10 exchange fo
powder and shot, which an old man a
: an out settlement down on the Green Riv
er was accustomed to supply him with
His life was pro,racted 10 the age @
eighty eight.
One day The old man at the sestlemen
; was heard to say that something mus
4, have happened to the Silent Hunter, 70
, he had not come as usual 10 ell his she
bag and his powder pouch Bidding n
, one follow him, he went away to tn
. Green River Mountains. and when he cam
. back, though MANY questioned, he sal