Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-09
Romance of western History.

Romance of Western History. j.
Judge Hall relates a story of (as he understoo
iO MULDRow, who gave name to Muldrov
still in Kentucky. This man, who was one
the earliest pioneers, had cabin in one of tn
rugged activities of the hill or mountain name
from him. He had been there year or two
and was searching for game, when he ssw
small dog running in his track, and supposed a
Indian was near. In few minutes the owne
If the dog came stepping cautiously along, CLAN
cling jealously around, and making signals to hi
dog. The owner Of him halted in front of tn
hunter, and full exposed to view. He was
tall, athletic man, completely armed with riff
and tomabawk, and knife, but whether lie wa
white man or Indian could not be determined
either by complexion or dress.
"He wore hunting shirt and leggins of dress
I'd deer.skin, and hat from which the rim wa
| entirely torn away and the crown elongated in
to the shape of sugar loaf. The face. feet, AM
hands. which were exposed. wore the tawn,
hue of the savage, but whether the color wa
natural, or the effect of exposure could not b.
ascertained even by the keen eye of the hunter
and the features were so disguised by dirt ant
gunpowder that their expression afforded no cu
by which the question could be decided whethe
the individual was friend or foe. There wa
but moment for deliberation, and after hast,
scrutiny the pioneer, inclining to the opinion
that the stranger was an Indian, cautiously drew
up his rifle, and took deliberate aim; but tn,
bare possibility that he might be pointing hi
weapon at the bosom of o countryman induced
him to pause. Again he raised his gun, and a.
gain be hesitated while his opponent with hi:
rifle half raised towards his face, and his finger
on the trigger, looked eagerly around. Both
stood motionless and silent; one searching foT
the object of his pursuit, the other in readiness
to fire. At length the hunter, having resolved
to DELAY no longer, cooked his rihe-the tick
reached the acute ear Of his opponent, who in
srantly sprang behind tree the hunter imita-
ted his example, and they were now fairly op-
posed, each covered by tree, from behind which
he endeavored to get a shot at his adversary
without exposing his own person. And now a
series of stratagems ensued, each seeking to draw
the fire of the other, until the stranger, becoming
weary OF suspense, called out, why don't you
shoot, you eternal cowardly varnintl' Shoot
yourself you bloody red skin,' retorted the 9TH
er. No, more red skin than YOURSELF Are
you white manl' 'To-be-sure, am are you 2
YES, no mistake in me- Whereupon, each be-
ing undeceived, they threw down their guns,
rushed together with open arms, and took q
hearty hug. The hunter now learned that the
stranger had heen settled with his family about
ten miles lrom him for several months past, and
they had often roamed over the same hunting
grounds each supposing himself the sole inhab
liant of that region. On the following day the
hunter saddled his horse, and, taking up his good
wife behind him, carried her down to make q
call upon her new neghbor, who doubtless re-
ceived the visit with far more sincere joy than
usually attends such ceremonies"
Such was the solitary and the dangerous life
of the pioneers. We will add one incident re-
lated OF woman; and, as the same thing in
substance was told us by men contemporaneous
with this heroic woman, we believe it to be
true:
"The females, too, had their exits and en-
frances in this bloody drama; ard exercised
their courage as well as their inventive powers
in the practice of strategy. A party of Indians
approached a solitary log house with the inten
tion of numbering its inmates. With their usu-
al caution, one OF their number was sent forward
to reconnoitre, who, discovering the only persons
within 10 oe woman, two or three children,
and negro man, rushed in by himself and seiz.
ed the negro. The woman caught up an axe,
and with single blow, laid the savage warrior
dead ct her feet, while the children closed the
door, and with ready sagacity employed them
selves in fastening it. The rest of the Indians
came up and attempted TO force an entrance but
the negro and the children kept the door closed /;
and the intrepid mother, having no effective
weapon, picked up gun barrel which had
neither stock nor lock, and pointed it at the saw
ages through the apertures between the logs
The Indians, deceived by the appearance of n
gun and daunted by the death OF their compan-
ion, retired"
This was heroic woman, and of such, and
in just such period, were the ancient Spartans.
In conclusion, We desire to add our coutribu-
ton to what discriminating public has already
given of praise to the labors of Judge Hall. lie
was one of the earliest to make Western litera-
ture respectable, and prove that letters were not
unfamiliar to the people of the West Cincin-
natl Gazette.