The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-01-20

Extraordinary strength and activity, with
| the most daring courage, and thorough know
| edge Of life in the woods, won for Joshua Flee
hart, high reputation among the FIRST settler
| - lVasterp Virginia and Ohio. When the Obi,
| company founded IFS settlement al Marietta. IN
| April, 1878, Fieehart was employed as a scou
and hunter. In this service he had no SINE.
Erlor north Of The Ohio. At periods of the crea.
! test danger. when be Indians were known f.
! be much lnCensed against the whites. he wouId
start from the settlement with no companion
! but his Cog, and ranging within about twenty
miles OF an Indian town, would build his cabin
and trap and hunt during nearly the whole
season. On one occasion this reckless con-
tempt OF danger almost cost the hunfer's life.
Having become tired OF The sameness Of garrison
lie, and painting for that freedom am0ng the
WOODS and hills 10 which he had always been
accustomed, late in the fall of 1895 he took his
canoe, rifle, traps, and blanket, with no one %
accompany him, leaving even his faithful doc
10 the garrison with his tamjiy-for he was 90
ing into dangerous neighborhood. and he was
fearful lest his bark might betray him. With
daring and ntrepidity he pushed his canoe up
the ScIoo river distance 0! fifteen or twenty
miles, into the Indian country, amidst cir best
hunting grounds tor the bear and the beaver.
where no white man dared to venture These
TWO were the main objects Of bis pursuit, as the
hills OF Brush creek were said TO abound in
bear, and the small streams that fell into the
Scioto were well suited to the haunts of the
beaver. be spot chosen ior bis winter resi-
dence was within twenty-five or thirty miles OF
the Indian town OF ChIIcohe, but as they sell
dom 60 far 10 hunt in The winter, he had little
to lear iTom interruption. For ten or twelve
weeks be trapped and hunted in this sotita-
ry region unmoleSted. His success had EQUAL
led his most sangulne expectations, and the
winter passed away SO quietly, and pleasant
iy, that he was hardly aware of its prog
reSS.
About The middle OF February, be began to
make up the peltry he had captured into pack
ages, and 10 load hIs canoe with the proceeds of
hlS winters hunt, which for safety had been Sc
creted IN the willows few miles below the
little bark hut IN which be had lived. The day
before that which he had fixed for hiS depar-
tufe, as he was returning to his camp lust at
evening, fleehart's acute ear caught the report |
oil lille IN the direction OF the Indian towns. |
but at so remote a distance that none but a |
oackwoodsman could have distinguished the
sound. This fastened bis preparations for de-
camping. Nevertheless he slept quietly, but
rose the following morning before The dawn
cooked and ale his last meal in the little hut TO
which he had become quite attached The sun
lad just risen, and hewas sitting on the trunk
If a fallen tree. examining the p.iming and lock
II his gun casually casting look up the rig-
r bank, he saw an Indian slowly approaching
With his eyes intently fixed on the ground, care
nlly inspecting the track of his moccasIns left
D the soft earth as he returned to his hut the
vening before. He instantly cooked his gup.
Topped behind tree, and waited till the In ,
ian came within sure range of his shot. He
hen fired and the Indian fell. Rushing from
le cover on his PROSTATE Zoe, he was about TO i
pply the scalPing knife but seeing the shi- +
ing silver brooches and broad bands on his d
rms, he fell TO cutting them loose, and tucking