Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-01
From the United States Magazine.
SIMON KENYON SAVING THE LIFE OF BOONE.
AN INCIDENT AT BoosEsBoRouGH.

dlAON nm AON S0NlN0 1dE We DUNE.
AN INCIDENT AT BooSESBoRoUGH.
Read the lives of Boone, Kenton, the Lanes
aud their compeers and say, infidel, if thou canst
that God in his Providence raised them not up
to subdue and conquer the land for the use Of
the white man. How else can we account for
that indomitable courage, that determined ener-
gy and self-sacrihcing devotion, which marked
the length and breadth of their career. To them
pastime, and suffering. danger and
privatIon the accomplishments OF their daily life
Fear they knew not: and when danger fled be-
fore the approaching footsteps of innumerabe
settlers, they pursued it even to its strongholds
Possessed of the cunning, ,ubtlety and artifice
of the Indians, they had all the energy and re-
source of the pale face, and it is not a wonder
that the former succumbed. and retreated step
by step toward the setting sun, until the places
that once knew them shall know, them no more
forever"
To protect themselves from The inroads of the
savages, and for the safety of their wives and
children the early settlers in Kentucky built
forts, or, as they We're called stations, which
generally consisted of group of cabins, form
ing the four sides of parallelogram, with the
roofs pitching inward. At the corners were four
block houses, projecting beyond and over the
line of the cabins, which block houses were two
stories in height, the second stories being some
eighteen inches larger every way than the first,
with loopholes in the floor to fire through at an
enemy, should he have gained a Judgment under
the walls. Such station was Boonesborough,
the scene of many thrilling and soul-stirring
r. .-.si l.
Daniel Boone and vas located on the southern
bank of the Kentucky river. 1t was the first
fort built in that region and It's erection excited
the fears OF the Indians, who were highly in
censed at the rapid Advancement of the whites
into their beautiful hunting grounds whic!. feel
ing was still further increased by the British
who had forts north of the Ohio, and offered
them brides for every scalpo prisoner they took.
Such being the Incentives, Boonesborouch was
besieged on several occasions by the Indians, IL
large parties, sometimes assisted by their white
allies 1t Is incident at one Of these sieges
which this sketch is intended TO describe
Twas the first birthday of Independence-the
Fourth of July, l777. The sun, which was Just
peering above the eastern horizon, gave token of
4 brilliant day. The birds had laved themselves
NNslt OPAtL fttltA Ntlt tIlGT
matinal songs in welcome TO his coming pres
cncc. All nature recognized the opening day,
and Gecked itself in lis gaudiest hues TO meet it.
The gate of the fort opened, and two young
issued thercfrom who took their way to
the adjoining fields 20 commence their daily toll
They entertained no fear of immediate danger
from the proximity of Indians As it had been
the practice to send scouts up and down the
river every week to look for Indian ~sign.' But
a few days before, the scouts had been out scour-
ing the country both sides. and no trail or
other evidence of their presence had been seen.
Hence, they took no precaution against an at
tack, not even taking their guns with them.
Fatal mischance That very moment a body Of
the redskins We're creeping silently and steal
tLly through the underbrush of the adjacent
forest toward the fort. Totally unconscious Of
their peril, the youths went on until they were
within about sixty yards of the Indians covert
when. as they We're about commencing their Ia
Dor. they fired upon by at least dozen
rifles. The whole scene passed under the eve
of young man who had, for n few preceding
moments been leaning upon his rifle gazing
lstlessly after the two youths from the gate of
the fort, where he was awaiting the la2sard steps
of two companions who were to go out with him
that morning on a hunting excursion. In an
instant how changed was his appearance, With /
body erect, his nostrils dilated like a warehouse
In action, his hands firmly eraSping his faithful
rife, and with his ewes fixed on the spot wher,
the smoke was lazily rising in the morning air.
he stood the very personftaeatios of intense ex-
element. The young men in the fields. who /
had been uninjured by the first fire Of the Indi
ans We're now running for life toward the fort |
while immediately behind them followed = dozen /
swarthy warriors thirs,ing for their blood and
sca-Ps- They had nearly reached the wished /
10y goat when shot from the leading Indian
VINO had paused 4 moment Tor the purpose.
Drought down the hindernost one within seventy
yards Of the safe Dropping his rife. the saw
age sprung forward with a shout OF tri,,,,, /
and proceeded leiSurely 10 scalp the VET wan,
corpse he had presumed too much. bouarer
on The distance between himself and rba e..
and paid the penalty of his ,,ras,,,,r-.'-
SPrlnging his ride 70 his shoulder With n i.rl-
Simon heaton-for he il was who b,r3 -
watching the scene from the catewav-d-ar,
bead upon the red-skin, and he rumb,a3 o.
dead. Calling then upon his companions. VIII,
haa oy TINS time come up, he bounded f,--n-,-4
regardless Of the superior numbers of the enemy
IN pursuit ca them. Taev.rer-eatins, rradua1l,
drew henia1 a,.d his companions INTO sia,.-.-.,
proximity 10 large body of their fellows u-,,
ssr~ r"heeo'sS! II tie adjacent roods