Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-10-06
No. T.

the British offers, in order that he might
return home to his family but leaving
his fellow settlers behind, thov took him
away with them again, adopted him into
the family of one of their chiefs, and allow
cd hin to hunt or spend his time in the way p
most agreeable to his inclination. One
day he went with them to make salt, when
be met with four hundred and fifty wa
riors painted and armed, and ready to set .
out against Fort Boonsborough. He imme-
diately d, tcrmined, at great risk of his
life, to make bis escape, trembling as he
was for the safety of his family and settle
ment. In four days he reached Boonsbo-
rough. distance of one hundred aud six
ty miles, making only one meal by the way
Not minute was to be lost. and he began
to strengthen his log defence and fortiiy
himself as strosgly as possible. The Ir-
dians, finding he had escaped, delayed
their attack and having received rein
forcement OF men, in which were a few
troops, he determined to brave all dangers
and defend himself to the last. AT length
| terocious Indian army made its appear
ance. Boon encouraged his little garri-
son to maiHtan an obstinate defence, death
being preferable to captivity, though his
hope Of resisting with success was bu.
faint. The cruel and savage enemy also,
he might we'll calculate, would become
doubv enraged .y protracted resistance;
bat like brave meu, determined to let fate
do its worst and thing nothing of final con-
' sequences, he let the Indian ehIef know
his resolution. Upon this the latter de-
nanded parley with nine of the garrison
articles were proposed for an arrangement
without bloodshcd bat on signing them
they were told it was the Indian custom
10 shake hands with each other by way
Of sealing their engagement On comply
In, each Indian grappled his man iu or
der to make him prisoner, but, by mira
Gle, eight out of the. nine succeeded in
extricating themselves, Boon being among
the number, and they got safe into the
garrison. A furious stack was now made
upon the fort, which lasted nine days and
nights, during which only TIVE men were
killed and four wounded by the besiegers,
who in return Enthusiastically The logs
of the fort were stuck full of the bullets the
- hn<Asa 6res >-A4r4~sess- SrS II eTrs
At length hostilities ceasinp. Boon's
wife, who on bis first captivity, Surprising
him killed, had set off with her family on
horseback through the woods lonp and
dangerous distance into North Carolina.
Was brought back to her husband second
tln'e to his new residence, where he boned
: for the future to pursue his peaceful occu-
pAtions unmolesfed. His ssfferings and
{ perils had been great, but his courage and
c'ustancy hac surmounted them ali, and
!, he had just reason to calculate at last up-
un period of repose.
{ Boop, however, was not to end his DAYS
I amid the advantages of social life. By
son'e chicanery of the law, a flaw in his
c land title was made out, and his entire
4 estate was taken from him. This cut the
S old man to the heart Taking his rife.
Y he crossed the Mississippi, and plunged
lRto the unknown and immense country
"n the banks of the Missouri. On the
shores of this mi ghty river he reared a
log hut. to which he attached no idea OF
psrrnan"ncy, but held himself constantly
rcaiy to retire yet farther from civilized
na', should he approach too near his de-
scrt solitude. With the exception of .
l son who resided with bis father, according
: t" some accounts, but without any one
| according to others, his dog and gun were
t his only companions. He planted the seed.
= of y few esculent vegetables around hi.
a fragile dwelling, but bis principal food be
e. obtained BY hunting. lie has been seen
: SEATED on log at the entrance of his hu,
: by an exploring traveller, or far more fire.
a. qnently By the struggling Indian His rife
/ generally lay across bis knees and his dog
: at his side, and he rarely went farther
G from home than the haunts of the dee,
and the wild turkey, which constituted hi,
principal support. In his solitude b,
$ would sometimes speak of his past actions
AID his indefatigable 1abors, with plo,
y ut '-light on his countenance that indica-
+ t. how dear they were to his heart. ant
i wonld ther become at once lent and de-
s jee'"d He would survey his limbs. lool
: at his shrlvelled hands. complain of tn,
q" dimnrss of bis sight, and lifting the riff,
= to his shoulder take aim at a distant object
'f aud say that it .rembied before his vision
: that his eyes were losing their power, rub
hs'z them with his hands, and lamentin,
that ills youth and manhood were gone
At bur hoping his legs would serve him to IN
re last of life, to carry hlm to spots freouen
IN ted by game, that be might not starys
'ee does not appear that be talked mucb ,
IN the lngrati ude of mankind toward. hin
nH Thus he passed through life till h. v,
III between eighty and ninety wears of ar
Sc contenssd in his wild solitude, and in +
TO security from injustice and rapaei.v /