, 1859-12-09

cased greatly affected, and the survivors, gener-
aly, so disheartened by present feelings and fu-
tTe prospects, that it was thought best to retreat
tCthe settlement on Clinch River, distant about
fcty miles, which was done in good order, with
0t further molestation. This being accomplish
q, Boone remained on the frontier with his
fmily, hunter still, until June, 1774. By this
tine he was made known to the Governor Of
Virginia, and solicited by him to repair to the
rPids Of Ohio to conduct from thence . party
O surveyors, whose long stay was rendered Pc
Gliarly dangerous by the increasing hostility Of
ne northward Indians.
This service was undertaken by Boone, who,
With Michael Stoner as his only companion, traV-
eled the painless region between-reached the
place of destination with great celebrity, consid-
Cing the difficulty Of travelling without path,
bund the surveyors, and pioted them safely
home, through the woods-aiter an absence Of
two months.
! This year, there were open hostilities with the
Shawanese and other northward Indians; and
Boone being still in Virginia, received an order
from Governor Dunmore to take the command Of
three contiguous forts on the frontier, with the
commission Of captain.
The campaign Of that year, after the battle at
Point Pleasant, terminated in q peace. Captain
Boone being now at leisure, and Col. Henderson
and company having matured their project Of pur-
chasing from the southern Indians the lands south
Of the Kentucky River, he was solicited by them
to attend the treaty to be held for that purpose.
Their messenger delivered to him fun instruc-
tons and authority on the subject. Boone accor-
ugly attended at Watauga, in March, 1916;
IN t the Indians, and made the purchase. 1t
having been al resolved TO settle the purcased
territory, Boone was looked to as the most pro-
per person to conduct the enterprise. A way
was first to be explored and opened; at the re-
quest Of the company, this was undertaken and
executed by him, from Holston to the Kentucky
River. The greater part Of the route was eN-
treInely difficult, being encumbered with hills,
brush, and cane, and invested by hostile Indians,
who repeatedly fired on the party, with such ef-
! feet, that four were killed, and five wounded.
They had, however, determined leader, who,
being well supported, conducted them to their
object Being arrived on the bank Of the river,
in April, 1875, Boone, with the survivors Of his
followers, began to erect fort ct salt spring or
lick, wnere BoOnesborOugh now stands While
building this fort, which employed the party,
rendered feeble by its losses, until the ensuing
June, one man was killed by the savages, who
continued to harass them during the progress OF
the work. A fort, in those days, consisted Of
block-house and contiguous cabins, enclosed with
pickets. This being done, Boone left part Of
his men in the fort; with the rest, he returned
TO HOlston, thence he proceeded to Clinch, and
soon after moved his family 10 the first garri-
son in the country--as his wife and daughter
were the first white women ever known in Ken
lucky.
Capt Boone having given to the new pOpula.
ton Of Kentucky permanent establishment and
placed his own family in BoonesbOrough, felt all
the soicitude Of one in his situation to ensure its
defense and promote It's prosperity. fH-
He continual Oua Of tho most naaf,nl nd aefiva
men among the settlers, and throughout the war
with the Indians was greatly distinguished. In
january, 177S, be, with twenty-seven others,
while making salt at the Blue Licks for the diff
fsrent stations were taken prisoners BY the In
dians.
They all were kindly treated and conducted to
Old Chillicothe, where they remained until March.
Boone, with ten others, through the influence Of
Hamilton, the British governor, was taken to
| Detroit
The governor took an especial fancy to Boone,
and offered &l00 for his ransom, but to no pur-
pose, for the Indians also had taken their fancy,
and so great was It that they took him back to
Old Chicothe, adopted him into . family, and
fondly caressed him. He mingled with their
SPORTS shot, fished, hunted and swan with them,
and had become deeply ingratiated in their favor,
when, on the first Of June, they took him to as
sst them in making salt in the Scioto valley, at
the old salt wells, near, or at, we believe, the
present town Of jackson, jackson county. They
remained few days, and when returned to
Old ChillicOthe, his heart was agonized by the
sight Of four hundred and lifty warriors, armed,
painted and equipped in all the parapherRalia Of
savage splendor, ready to start on an expedition
against Boonesborough. To avert the cruel blow
that was about to fall upon his friends, he alone,
on tho morning Of the 10th Of June, escaped
from his Indian companions, and arrived in time
to foil the plans Of the enemy, and not only
saved the borough, which he himself had founded,
but probably all the frontier parts Of Kentucky,
from devastation.
SOIAe time during BOone's captivity, tho In
dians got out Of food, and after having killed and
eaten their dogs, were ten days without any other
sustenance than that Of decoction made from
tue ooEings CT the inner bark Of white oak, while
alter drinking, oil were able to travel Atlength
the Indians shot deer and boiled its entrails
to jelly, Of which they all drank, and il soon
acted freely on their bowels They gave some
to Boone, but his stomach refused it. After
repeated efforts, they compelled him to swallow
about half pint, which he accomplished with
wry faces and dsagreenble retchingS much to
the amusement Of the Eimple savage, who laughed
heartily. After this medicine had well operated,
they told Boone he might eat but that il he
had done so before, it would have killed him.
All then fell 10 and made amends for their long
fast
AT the close Of the war, Boone settled down
quietly upon his farm. But he was not long
permitted to remain unmolested. His title, ow.
ing to the imperfect nature Of the land laws Of
Kentucky, was legally decided to be defective,
and Boone was deprived Of all claim to the soil
which he had explored, settled, and so bravely
defended. In 1895, disguSted with civilized So
ciety, he sought . new home IN the wilds Of the
iar west, on the banks Of the Missouri, then
within the dominion Of Spain. He was treated
there with kindness and attention, by the public
authorities, and he found the simple manners Of
that frontier people exactly suited to his Peeu.
liar habits and temper. With them, he spent