The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-12-25
THE ROMANCE OF WESTERN HIS.
TORY.

Where Is the West! Like the indetnabl
horizon, IL is continually retreating. w
thought Il was but short way off, and nov
it is beyond the Mississippi, and far awny oil
the shores Of the Pacific. The islands of th,
Ocean, and then the Old World, East, viii
be our Westi
To those Of our readers who are new t
this region we would say that Ohio and Ken
'tucky were, only short generation since, the
West; then Indiana and Illinois were the Fal
Westl 1t was in these days in the Valley
of the Ohio, that Judge Hall laid the scene
of very interesting volume called "The Ro-
nance of Western History" Like all his
works, II is elegantly written, smooth and
pleasant; but to those whose "reminiscences
lie back among the Pioneers, or who in their
boyhood associated with them, this Romance
(albeit less romance than fact, has peculiar
zest. 1t brings up, like true picture taken
in other days, the dress, attitude, and appear
ance Of the old race, who once lived here and
struggled through the semi. barbaric period
Of civilization. It is only by such pictures
that we can have any knowledge of them,
for they can never return.
Let us quote paragraph or two from this
Romance of History that we may catch a
sidelong glance at the old Pioneer. Judge
Hall relates story of (as he understood t)
Muldrow who gave name to Muldrow, still in
Kentucky. This man who was one of the
earliest pioneers, had cabin in one of the
rugged activities Of the hill or mountain
named from him. He had been there year
or two, and was searching for game when he
saw small dog running in his track, and
supposed an Indian was near. In few min.
utes the owner Of the dog came stepping
cautiously along, glancing jealously around
and making signals to his dog. The owner
of him halted in front of the hunter, and full
exposed TO view. He was tall, athletic man,
completely armed with rifle, tomahawk, and
knife, but whether he was white man or
Indian could not be determined, either by
complexion or dress.
"He wore hunting shirt and leggins Of
dressed deer skin, and hat from which the
rim was entirely torn away and the crown
elongated into the shape Of a sugar Loaf
The face, feet and hands, which were expos
ed, were Of the tawny hue of the savage, but
whether the color was natural or the effect Of
exposure could not be nscertained even by
the keen eye of the hunter, and the features
we're so disguised by dirt and gunpowder that
their expression afforded no clue by which
the question could be decided whether the
individual was a friend or n foe. There was
but moment for deli5eration, and after n
hasty scrutiny the pioneer, ipelning to the
opinion that the stranger was nm Indian, eau.
tiously drew up his rife, and took deiber-
ate aim; but the bear possibility that he might
be pointing his weapon at the bosom of q
countrymen induced him to pause. Again he
raised his grn, and again he hesitated; while
his opponent with his rifle half raised towards
his face, and his finger on the trigger, looked
eagerly around. Both stood motionless and
silent; one searching for the object of his
pursuit, the other in readiness to fire. At
length the hunter, having resolved to delay
no longer, cooked his rife-the stick" reach
ed the acute ear of his opponent, who in
stantly sprung behind tree; The hunter imi-
tated his example, and they were now fairly
opposed, each covered by tree, from behind
which he cndeavored to get shot at his nd
versary, without exposing his own person.
And now series of stratagems ensued, each
seeking 10 draw the FIRE of the other, until
the stranger, becoming weary Of suspense,
called out, why don't you shoot, you eternal
cowardly varment! Shoot yourself, you
bloody red-skin, retorted the other. mo more
n red.skn than YOURSELF 'Are you white
man! TO be sure, ! nm; are your Yes, no
mistake in me- Whereupon, each being de-
ceived, they threw down their guns, rushed
together with open arms and took hearty
hug. The hunter now learned that the stran-
ger had been settled with his family about
ten miles from him for several months past,
and they had often roamed over the same
hunting grounds, each supposing himself the
sole inhabitant of that region. On the fol-
lowing day the hunter saddled his horse, and,
taking up his good wife behind him. carried
her down to make call upon her new neigh.
Dor, who doubtless received the visit with far
more sincere joy than usually attends such
ceremonies"
Such was the solitary and tie dangerous
life of The pioneers. We will add one Incl
dent related of woman; and rs the same
thing in substance was told us by men con-
temporaneous with this heroic woman, we
believe II to be true
"The females, too, had, their exits and their
entrances, in this bloody drama, and excrcis-
ed their courage as we'll ms their inventive
powers in the practice of strategy. A party
of Indians approached solitary log house
with the intention Of numbering its inmates.
With their usual caution, one OF their num-
Der was sent forward to reconnoiter, who
discovered the only persons within to be a
woman, two or three children, and n negro
man, rushed in by himself and seized the ne
gro. The woman caught up an nxe and, with
a single blow, laid the savage warrior dead