Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-05-16


stiturion that could brave the heat Of
summer as well as the frosts of winter, he
roamed like an uncaged tiger, the most
formidable foe that crossed the red mans
path. Various were the plans and strata
gems resorted to by the Indians to capture
him, but they all proved unavailing. He
fought them upon their own ground, with
their own weapons, and adopted against
them their own merciless mode Of warfare.
In stratagem he was an adept, and in the
use Of the rifle his superior probably did
not exist in his day and generation.
These qualifications made him not only
terror to the Indians, but famous among
the settlers, who for their own protection
formed scout or company of rangers, and
rendered to Captain Jack the command,
which he accepted. This company was
uniformed like Indians, with hunting shirts,
leather leggings, and moccasins, and, as
they were not acting under sanction of
government, styled themselves "Captain
Jacks Hunters" All the "hunting" 4"
done, however, after securing game to
supply their wants, was probably confined
to hunting for scalps of Indians and, as
it was penal offence, then, to occupy the
hunting grounds of the Juniata Valley,
(much more to shed the blood of any of
the savages,) it is not likely that the squat
ter "hunters" ever furnished the Quaker
Propretors with an official list Of the
killed and wounded" These exploits
gave Captain Jack number of sobriquets
in the absence Of his real name he was
known as the " Black Rife" Black
Hunter" "Wild Hunter of the Juniata," ]"
&c. On one occasion, with his band, he
followed party Of marauding Indians to
the Conococheague, aud put them to rout.
This act reached the authorities in Phila-
deIpnla, aud C--~-nnr Hamilton granted
him sort of irregular, rowing commission
to hold in check the unfriendly Indians of
the frontier With this authority he routed
the savages from the Cove and several
other quarters, and the general fear he
inspired among them no doubt prevented
much mischief.
Early in June, Captain Jack offered the
services of himself and his band to accom-
pany Gen. Braddock on his ill-fated expe-
dition against Fort Duquesnc. Col. Gro
san urged their merits, saying, "Thcy are
well armed, and are equally regardless of
heat or cold. They require no shelter for
the night, and ask no pay" Unfortunately
for the expedition, the offer was declined,
probably for the very reason it should
have been accepted-because they would
fight Indian fashion and not be murdered
in Irregular" ranks, civilized form.
OF the final end of Captain Jack, (says
Mr. JONES' We have nothing definite. One
account says he went to the West; another
that be died an old man in l112, having
lived the life of hermit after the end Of
the war of l163. |. is said that his bones
rest near the sprirg, at the base of the
mountain bearing his name and this We
are inclined to believe The ear ly settlers
of the neighborhood believed that Captain
Jack came down from the mountain every
night at twelve o'clock to slake his thirst
at his favorite spring; and half century
ago VIC might readily have produced the
affidavits of twenty respectable men who
had seen the Black Hunter in the spirit
roaming over the laud that was his in the
flesh