Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-09
THE OLD RANGERS LEGEND
OF THE SCIOTA.
BY HEBRON BELL

-
OF THE SCIOTA.
BIT hebron BELL.
Natures great volume lay open before me,
and was regsling my intellectual appetite
with brilliant gems, written by the Creator. l
was seated in his cathedral; the primeval for
est that stood in lofty grandeur, undesecrated
by the woodman's axe. Indian summer had
wrapped its hazy atmosphere around the vari-
ed scenes of Central Ohio, season of the year
most fitted for musng, for ideal imaginations
TO league with the favored nine, and Gull the
fairest flowers that bloom in the garden of
posey Poetry was written on the leaves that
had commenced to fall before the autumnal
blast. Music was TO be heard in the sparkling
waters of the Darby, that flowed towards the
distant Scioto, over a rifle at the foot of the
bank on which | was seated. And sweeter
than any had ever heard from the deep toned
organ, and thousand voices united in the
gorgeous temples of the city, was the music
that flowed from the tiny throats cfa thousand
fair choiristers of the grove. And there was
music in the breeze that swept gently by, waf-
ting trembling leaf from its lofty home, far
awsv through the air, and anon dropping it
upon the gliding stream, where it sailed like
miniature bark upon the river of lite.
Ny rifle, ready loaded, lay unheeded by my
side, while the squirrels jumped from branch
to branch above me, regardless ofdanger; and
well they might be, for their gambols were un-
noticed while my mind was occupied in the
glad ripple of the rushing waters, and in the
unceasing songs of the birds. The shadows
oolro adyy0
long. A solitary crow lit upon dead tree
near me- but no sooner had he folded his wings,
than by natural instinct, he became aware of
his proximity to danger, and giving loud
scsw,' he was again upon the wing. Rousing
from my reyerie, watched him until he had
disappeared beyond the neighboring forest
and then with careless purpose, commenced
kicking about the leaves that covered the brow
of the hill my foot struck something which
sent forth dull sound, which 80 excited my
curiosity, that I cleared the gathered rubbish
of years, and found rife barrel half buried IN
the earth. Upon a more careful examination
of the ground, found the breech-plate and
remnants of the lock. was busily engaged
in examining each article, and noticing the
inroads that rust and exposure had made upon
If. when Has aroused by the rustic of leaves;
turning in the direction from which the sound
proceeded, beheld an old veteran known fai
and wide, as "Old Ranger" His true name
no one of my acquaintance knew when the
eldest inhabitants settled upon the banks oi
the Darby, he held undisputed"sway through,
out the heavy forests, and wild barrens. His
head was white with the frosts ofmany winters
and his form was bent with age, yet his eye
sight was so good that he could aim rifle bet
ter than half the boasted shots in the surroun
ding country. 1 could have wished for NJ
person M ore likely to unravel the mystery tina
onveloped the rife barrel. I saluted the ole
man cordially, and desired him to rest awhile
s.I have mystery here my friend, here il
rife barrel that found just now upon th
bank and desire to know ifyou are acquain
ted with its history" said /.
e.Indeed," )" he replied, and his eyes sparkled
while old memories seemed to send the lif'
blood in a swifter current through his veins
He took the rust eaten barrel from my hand
and giving it careful examination, contin
,ued;
"You could not have hit upon better per
son to explainit than Old Roger"
"Then l am lucky and should like to hea
che story"
ssYo You shall hear it, he answered, 'for it eal
soon be told.'
alt is fifty years since first trailed dee
along the banks Of the Darby. Early one fal
man named George Gardner fell in with me
and after few days We agreed to camp dur
ing the winter. Some three miles above o.
the creek, we built rough cabin as protec
tion against the weather, the wild beasts an
the savages.- One pleasant afternoon in thi
same month, we started out to take rang
throughout the woods, for the double purpos
of getting a fresh supply of venison, and hun
ing for a salt lick tha. we supposed to exi
somewhere between our cabin and the unio
Of two creeks. Several hours were spent