The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-07-10
Tho Sileus Uunter.


A rare fertility charac,erizes the kentuckian
State as II vergcs southwark on the land Of
Tennessee. Here o sweep Of the 50 called
"Barrns" may be scen enamelled with flowers,
numberless. and richly dyed, over which the
south wind blows waiting their fragrance
or clothed with magnificent crops oi the In
dian corn, from ten 10 fifteen feet in height, or
Of tobacco, or Of wheat waving and golden.
This Iuxuriance contrasts pictursquely with
the northern portions Of the country. These,
drcsry and wild, prcsen, only hills Of sand. or
lines Of rugged cliff. amidst which here and
there n torrent dashes with menacing roar and
far winding gorgcs dark and deep are suddenly
discloscd by the jutiings Of the crag, to the
dismay Of the traveller. Savage wi'dermsscr,
too, terrible as Dan,e's solitude, ARE there
which Astounding in legendary interest are NJ
nowncd in Kcntackiau story, aud form not the
lcas; attractive attribute of these strange 70.
mantle regions.
There i, was that the Indians. driven from
their original territories or hunting grounds
took ap a position to wage relentless war
with their nggressors, whose strength was test
e4 by many fierce encounter with the swar,
thy shawnes- Still TO these memorable iraos
doe. many sporting party" resort. where
the remains Of rough built tents tell oi the in
rincible hunter warriors who once held them
as their own. Daun,less heroes Of different
race existed however, ready 10 Dispute the pos
session Of every inch Of Kentucky land with
the tawny owners IIarrod and Boone werc
distinguished among them, but even they we're
surpassed IN bravery by the meu whose match
less skill IN contest, who's ruthless Eroc'y and
indomftable daring were 40 remarkable. as 10
br regarded by the savag, m the result Of
some fearful supernatural agency
Tho superstition acted naturally 10 their Jet.
rmeu,. and ncrcased the power o. VIII Smith.
the Forest Chicf'ain, whom victor in repeated
contest they looked upon as the csi genius OF
their rzce--an ,nsu nmept Of vengeance sni by
the Great Spirit. Their 'lmidl'y IN facing so
terrible an enemy was the irresolu,i6n 10 their
attacks which usually brought defeat. and ia.
cili,a,ej. n copr~c, The nesa- Of escape for the
conquerof. Sometime unexpectedly on the
rear of bis enemy, al others ahead Of them or
incomrrehcnsibly in the very mids, Of ,he Tray,
IL see'n,d as though the warrior had charm.
ed lite' True IL Was that spell hung on The
existence Of this extraordinary man. ~ho lived
under the shadow OF great and Inesungsisb
able sorrow The bitter remembrance oi this
II was. which, inci,ing ceaseless desire of re-
venge. was the secret of his yriep'lc@ and san
Culinary carer. The blight Of mi-ry as a
plague taiut separated him from bis ieiDw men
Stern aod isolated be lived, iorrycr buniing lie
war.path or the hunting trail of the Indians
frotn which their hravcSt leaders disappeared
Few among 'ba border people approached
w ,su,used 10 address the dreaded ehsita,o. -
4 mystery surrounded him which MAS tho
.ource of perp~,unl conjecture. ilcreased bJ
the ycry circumstances vhir' appeared b. reu
DIR il improbable IL ,boold ever b. soIyss,; for
this singular being maintained silerre M nn
broken as though he was dumb, through sbsrt
be Va. commooly kbo.n a. ibe Silent Hunt
or This appsrADce % sallen re~cfYe dis
,anes.i all snd thSss who Other wi4e would have
comps~,ooed bis sosSo~s or psrhsp. ~een vii,
hngiy have shared hl. singular fostnDss. pov
depnnpc-d him o. a ruthless snd reckless nj
venturer. Very diSern, woob have hsen
,ieir iudgn,en, eoah they hare fsnetrabd ths
enigma "a h,. solitary hie, ard known how cru
, ely scsrrtd bal ts..u hart Once quiekssed
by tls kiDds,t sDd liyeliest enotioaA. hsi1f.
tare. which q, one dread stroke bal depiyed
him of biz rs1lizs,iou oi happD@s 90 earth
scmd 20 have deadDned every human hop
and sympathy and crushed every so~isl ius'ioc'
within his hart.
The son ~ otecurc .migran,s from the Uh
World, bis hrs, unhspp'bes va, 70 h w al
orphan at an early age The ueIt ~ h. sp
prenfiocd 70 farmer 10 y ovth Caroiira, o N =
ersble n-er, Who BOT Ooly suhjented the fsD'
! hoy 70 dspriva,ion' and the NOS, ardoOus tolls
but proved q tyaitoY N the copdf,ions Of tbs
I iNde1ssrys w ~hirA b. vss b~apd Tbss< "