The Trinity times., 1855-03-31
Daniel Boon

IT, his peaceful hahfgJon on the banks Of
The Yadkin river, in North Carolina, Daniel
Boon, the iustrous hunter. had heard Fin
ley trader, SO memorable as n pioneer, des-
crIbe tract uf land west Of Virginia, as the
richest in North Carolina, or in the world
IN May 1869, leaving his wife and offspring,
having Finley as his pilot and four others as
his companions the young man Of three and
twenty wandered forth through the wider
ness Of America, in quest Of Kentucky
known TO the sayages NJ the Dark and Bloody
Ground' between the subjects Of the Five
Nations and the Cherokecs After n long
and fatguing Journey through the mountain
ranges, the party found themselves in June
on the Red River, a tributary Of Kentucky,
and from the top Of an eminence surveyed
with delight the beautiful PLATA that stretched
out 10 the northwest Here they built their
shelter and began 10 reconoltre-to hunt
III the kind Of wild beasts that were natural
10 America--ihe stately elk the timid deer,
the antetcd stag, the wild cat, the bear, the
panther and the wof--couched among the
the canes, or roamcd over the rich grass,
which, even beneath the thickest shades,
sprung uxuriantly on. Of the generous soil.
The buffalo cropped iearessly the heritage, or
or browsed on the leaves Of the reed and
were more frequent than the cattle in the
settlements Of Carolina herdsmen. Some
times there were hundreds in drove, and
round the salt licks their number were anna
zlng.
The summer in which for the first time
party Of white men enjoyed the brlliancy of
nature near aud in the valley Of the Elk
Horn, passed away in The occupations of ox-
plorng parties aud the chase. But one by
one, Boon's companions dropped off I'LL he
was left nlonc with John Stewart They
Jointly found uuceasng delight IN the won
dcrs Of the forest, ull one evening near Ken
tucky River. they were taken prisoners by
haud Of Indians, wanderers like themselves.
They escaped, and were joined by Boon's
brother; 20 that when Stewart was soon af-
ter killed 10y savages, the first victim among
the hecatombs Of white men slain by them
in their desperate battling for the lovely
hunting ground, Boon stil had his brother
% share with him the dangers aud attractions
of the wilderness, the building and occupying
the first cottage IN Kentucky.
In the spring of l7i0, that brother return
cd TO the settlements for horses and ammu
milton leaving the renowned hunter "by him
self without bread or salt, or sugar, or even
horse or dog" "'Ihe idea Of beloved
wife, arxious for his safety. t'nced his
thoughts with sadness; but Otherwise the
cheerful meditatv, man, careless of wealth
knowing the use Of the rifle, not the plough
of a strong. robust frame in the vigorous
health Of carly manhood ignorant of books,
hut vcrscd ia the forest and forest life, ever
iond ot tracking the deer on foot, away from
men. wet ia his disposition humane, generous
ANA aeudt was happy in the uninterrupted
succession oi sylvan Pleasures
ole held unconscious intercourse with beauty
Od as creation
Onc calm summer : evening, rs he climbed
n commanding ridge, and looked out upon
the remote venerable mountains and the
nearer ample plains. and caught glimpse IN
the distance Of the Ohio, which bounded the
land of his aiitc with majestic grandeur,
his heart oxuted in the region he had dis
covered "Al things were still" Not a
breeze 50 much as shook a leaf. lie hndled
a ire near fountain Of sweet water, and
fcas.,d on the lon of a buck. He was no
inor, alone than bee among the flowers,
bu, communod hmilmrly with the whole uni.
verse Of life Nature was h,s intimate, and
as the rowing woodman leaned confidently on
r '.s. f.. she r,a nnaaa 81 -cuce.
.rbHl 1.. r..as and 'up l.ul ans. the
ie,l..ae tie ,.a,e ,e ot prass, had ice. the cool
iaL a. hler N.,h She wild perfume. came TO
liu as o friend, o., oeWA morning wrapped
him IN It's embrace, the trees stood up eiorl-
nusN round about him as SO many myriads
VI companions All forms wore the charac-
ser of desire If psrlL But how could he be
ahald' 1rumphiug over danger, he knew
no fear. The perpetual bowling Of the
wolves hy might around his cottage or his bi.
voua, in the break was his diversion; and by
day he had JOY in surveying the various spe-
cies OF animals that surrounded him. He
loved the solitude better than the lowered
c,tv or the hum Of business.
Near the eud OF July, 100, his faithful
brother came back 10 meet him at the old
camp Shortly after they proceeded togtth-
cr 60 Cumberland river, giving names to the
different waters; aud he then returned to
his wife and children, fixed IN his purpose al
the risk of h'c and fortune To bring them as
soon as possible to b'e IN Kentucky, which
q, esteemed a second paradise.
BResoGfs History.