Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-11-27
TERMS or ADVERTISING.
DRnied Boone.

In his peaceful habtaton on the banks OF the Yad-
kin river, in North Carolina Daniel Boone, the llustri-
ous hunter had heard Finley trader memorable as
the pioneer, describe tract Of land west of Virginia,
as the richest in North America or in the world In
May, 1679 leaving his wife and offspring, having Finley
as his pilot and four others for his companions, the
young man OF about three and twenty wandered fourth
through the wilderness of America, in quest of the
country of Kentucky known by the savages as the
Dark and Bloody Ground Middle Ground between
the subjects of the Five Nations and the Cherokees-
After long and fatiguing journey through mountain
ranges the party found themselves in June on the Red
Bank, tributary to the Kentucky ard from the top
Of an emnence surveyed with delight the beautiful plain
that stretched to the northwest Here they built their
shelter and began to reconDoitre and to hunt All the
kinds of wild beasts that natural to America-the
stately elk the timd deer the anered stag the wildcat,
the bear, the panther, the wol-crouched among the
canes, roamed he rich grasses which, even be-
meath the thckest shade sprang iuxurany out of the
generous SOIL The Buffalo cropped fearessy the her.
bage, brOwsed the leaves of the reed and
more frequent thai cattle in settlement of Carolina
herdsmen. Sometimes there were hundreds in drove
and round the salt cks their numbers were amazing.
The summer in which for the first time party of
white men enjoyed the briiancy of nature near and in
the valley of the Elkhon passed away in the occupa
tons of exploring parties and the chase But by
one Boone's companions dropped off till he was left
alone with John Stewart They Jointly found unceas-
ing delight In the wonders Of the forest till evening
the Kentucky river, they taken prisoners by
band of Indians wanderers like themselves. They
escaped and joined by Boones brother so that
when Stewart after killed by the savages the
first victim among the hetacomb of white men slain by
them in t-lr desperate battling for the lovely hunting
ground Boone still had his brother to share with him
the dangers and attractions of the wilderness they build
ing and occupying the first cottage in Kentucky.
In the spring Of 177O that brother returned to the
settlements for horses and supplies of ammunition leav
ing the renowned hunter by himself without bread, or
salt or sugar. or even horse or dog" "The idea of
beloved wife, anxious for his safety, tinged his thos
with sadness but otherwise the cheerful, meditatve
man. careless of wealth. knowing the use of the rife not
the plough, of strong robust frame, in the vigorous
health of early manhood ignorant of books but versed
in the forest and forest e fond of tracking the
deer on foot away from men, yet in s disposition hu
name, generous and gentle was happy in the unnter-
rupted succession of "sylvian pleasure"
| One calm summers evening as he climbed COM
manding ridge and looked upon the remote venerable
mountains and the nearer ample plains caughta glimpse
in the distance If the Ohio which bounded the land Of
his affections with magic grandeur his heart exulted in
the region he had discovered "All things were STILL"
Not breeze so much as shook leaf He kindled fire
near fountain of sweet water and eased on the loin
of buck. He was more alone than q bee among
flowers but conuned Familiarity with the whole universe
of life Nature was his intimate and as the rowing
woodsman leaned confdngly on her BOSOM she respond
ed to his intelligence.
For him the rocks and the fountain the leaf and the
blades of grass had life the cooling air laden with the
WIN ptIIuult Chlc W HHl do Tlellu Lc ueWy morn
ing wrapped him in its embrace the trees stood up go
riously round about him many myriads of COM
panions. All wore the character Of design or peril
But how could he be afraid? Trumphing over danger
he knew fear. The perpetual bowling of wolves by
night round his cottage his bivouac in the brake
his diversion and by day he had joy in surveying
the various species of animals that surrounded him.
He loved the solitude better than the lowered city the
hum of business
Near the end of July, l77O his faithful brother came
back to meet him at his old camp Shortly AFTER they
proceeded to Cumberland river, giving names to the
different waters and he then retuned to his wife and
children fixed in his purpose, at the risk of his life and
fortune, to bring them as soon possible to live in
Kentucky, which he esteemed second Paradise
| Bancrofts History.