, 1859-12-09
DANIEL BOONE.

County, Pennsylvania, in February, l736-three
years after the birth Of Washington. When
Daniel was q small boy, his family removed to
the vicinity Of Reading, in Berks County. This
was then on the frontiers and il was here that be
received those impressions Of character that were
so strikingly displayed in his subsequent life.
From childhood, he delighted torange the woods
watch the wild animals, and contemplate the
beauties of nature. He early showed q passion
for hunting No Indian could aim his rife, find
his way through the painless Forest or search
out the retreat Of game, more readily than Boone
When he was about eighteen years old, his fami
ly made a second removal to the Yadkin noun
tain stream in the northwestern part Of North
Carolina. There, he married and followed the
joint occupation Of farmer and hunter. Accus
toned, when hunting, to be much alone, he ac
quired the habit of contemplation and Of self
possession. His mind was not Of the most ar.
dent nature; nor does he ever seem to have
sought knowledge through the medium Of books
1t was on the lst Of May, 1863, that Boone,
then the father Of family, made temporary
resignation of his domestic happiness, to wande-
through the rough and savage wilderness, Dor
dering on the Cumberland mountain, in quest 1t
the far-iamed, but little known country Of Ken
lucky. In this tour he was accompanied by John
Finley, John Stewart Joseph Holden, William
following, after journey Of five hundred miles,
and nearly the half Of it destitute Of path,
they arrived on Red River, where Finley had
formerly benn, as an Indian trader. Here the
party determined to take repOse after tbeIr
fatigue; and made themselves a shelter Of bark,
TO cover their heads 'front.' showers Of the day,
aud the cold dews Of the night. 1t was in an
excursion lroI this camp that Daniel iiome la st
saw with wonder the beauties, and inhHed witt
delight the I'd rs Of u Kentucky suLmeI, III
the plains Of Licking, Elkhorn, &C. Il twas also
in one Of his peregrinatiOns from a second camp,
that Boone and Stewart, rising the TOP Of n hill,
encountered a band Of savagcs. They made
prisoners Of both, and plnndered them Of what
supplies they had. Seven days wele they lie.
tanned, compelled to march by day, and closely
watched by night; when, as consequence Of
their well-diSSembled contentment, the Indians
resigned themselves to sleep, without a guard
on their captives, and they made their escape.
Boone and his companion, once more at large, re-
turned to their former camp, which had been
plundercd, and was deserted by the rest Of the
company, who, alarmed by the appearance Of
the enemy, had fed home, TO North Carolina.
About this time, Squire Boone, the brother Of
Daniel, following from Carolina, came up with
him, and furnished few necessaries; especially
some powder and lead, indispensable to their ex-
istence.
Soon after this period, John Stewart was killed
by the Indians, and the two Boones remained
the ony white men in the forests Of Kentucky.
They continued, during the succeeding winter,
the only tenants Of q cabin which they, with
tomahawks, erected Of poles and bark, to shell
ter themselves from the inclemency Of the sea-
son.
The death of John Stewart being the first per
petrated by the Indians on the white adventurers
in Kentucky, deserves to be particularly COM
memorated. Upon this subject few facts have
only been preserved by tradition. Itwas in 1859,
after Squire Boone had joined his brother and
Stewart, who had recently been prisoners with
the Indians, that the Indians, becoming more
hostile, had recourse to death instead Of bon
dage, as the surer method Of getting rid Of their
new rivals in the art Of hunting As Boone and
his companions were traversing the forest, just
disrobed Of its foliage, they were suddenly met
on the side Of cane-brake, and Immediately
fired on by superior party Of Indians. John
Stewart received mortal wound, and fell; while
his comrades, incapable Of assisting him, imme-
diately fed. An Indian rushed upon the fallen
victim, and winding one hand in the hair on the
crown Of his head, with large knife in the other
hand, took of the scalp, which left bare his
skull.
In Nay, ITO, Squire Boone returned to North
Carolina, leaving Daniel without bread or salt,
or even dog to keep his camp.
Never was man in greater need Of iOrtitude
tn sustain his reflections; nor ever reflections
more natural, or without crime, more poignant
than those Of Boone. He cast his eyes toward
the residence Of family always dear to him-he
felt the pang which absence gave--he heaVed
the sigh which affection prOmpted-his mind was
beset with apprehensions Of various dangers
Gespondence STOOD ready 10 seize on bis soul /;
when, grasping his gun, and turning from the
place, he reflected, as he proceeded, that PrOvi-
dence had never yet forsaken hun; nor, thought
he will ever doubt It's experimenting bencti-
cence No man have injured, why should
fear injury from anyV shall again see my fam
ily, for whom | am now seeking a future home !;
and happiness, the jov cf the meeting, willrepay
U'o for all Of this pain. By this time, he had
advanced some distane into the extended wood,
and progressing, gained an emneEcc, whence,
looking around with astonishHant, on the one
hand he beheld the ample plain and beauteOus
fields; on the other, the river Ohio rolled in ST.
lent dignity, marking the northwestern bounda-
ry Of kentucky, with equal precision and gran.
deur. The chirping Of the birds solaced his
cares with music; the numerous deer and butfa-
10, which passed him in review, gave dumb as
surance that he was in the midst Of plenty-and
cheeiulness once more possessed his mind.
Thus, in q second paradise was second Adam
If the figure is not too strOng-giving names
to springs, rivers and places, belOre unknown to
civilized white men,
Squire Boone returned in the month Of July,
and the brothers met at the old camp, as il had
been concerted between them. The two, in this
year, traversed the country to the Cumberland
River, and in l77l returned to their families,
determined to remove them to Kentucky. But
this was not Immediately practicable.
About the month Of September, l773, Daniel
Boone sold his farm, on the Yadkin, bade hre-
well to his less adventurous neighbOrs, and COM
menced his removal to Kentucky, with bis own
and five other families In POwells Valley he
was joined by forty men willing to risk them
selves under bis guidance. The party were pro-