The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-10-10

large savage, inten upon the same obs
ject, advancing from a direction lit
tie different from his own. Mike
shrunk behind tree, with the quick
ness Of thought, and fixing his eye on
the hunter, waited the result with pa
thence. In few moments the Indian
halted within fifty PAGES, and leveled
his piece at the deer. In the mean
while Mike presented his rifle at
the body of the sayage5 and at the
moment the smoke issued from the
gun of the latter, the bullet of Fink
passed through the red mans breast.
He uttered yell and fell dead at the
same instant with the deer Mike re-
loaded his rifle. and remained in his
covert for some minutes, to ascertain
whether there were more enemies at
hand. He then stepped up to the
PROSTATE savage, and having satisfied
himself that life was extinguished,
turned his attention to the buck, and
took from the carcass those pieces
suited to the process ofjerking.
In the mean time the country was
filling up with a white population; and
in few years the red men, with the
exception of few fractions of tribes,
gradually receded to the lakes and
beyond the Mississippi. The corps
of scouts was abolished. after having
acquired habits which untitled them
for the pursuits of civilized society.
Some incorporated themselves with
the Indians; and others, from a
strong attachment to their cratic
mode of life, joined the boatmen, just
then becoming distinct class.
Among them was our hero, Mike
Fink, whose talents were soon devel-
Oped and for many years he was eel
ebrated on the rivers of the West, as
he had been in the woods.
| gave to my fellow travellers the
substance of the above narrative, as
we sat on deck by moonlight, and cut
swiftly through the magnificent sheet
of water between Letart and the Great
Kanawha.
1t was one of those beautiful nights
which permitted everything to be
seen with sufficient distinctness to
avoid danger, yet created certain
degree of illusion, that gave reins to
the Imagination. The outline of the
hills lost all Its harshness; and the
occasional bark, of the house dog from
the shore, and the, distant scream of
the solitary loon, gave increased effect
to the SCENE 1t was altogether SO
delightful, that the hour till morning
flew swiftly by, whilst our travellers
! dwelt with rapture on the surround
ing scenery, which shifted every mo-
ment like the capricious changes Of
kaledescope-and listening to tales of
border warfare. as they were brought
to mind, by passing the places where
they happened. The celebrated Hun
terfs Leap and the bloody battle of
Kanawha were not forgotten. =
/ The afternoon of the next day
brought us to the beautiful city of
/ Cincinnati, which, in the course OF
thirty years, had risen from village
of soldiers huts to a town-giviDg
promise of future ,splendor, equal to
any on the seaboard.
Some years after the period at
which [ have dated my visit to Gin
cinuati business called me to New
Orleans. On board of the steamboat
on which / had embarked at Louis
vile, recognized, in the person Of
the pilot, one Of those men who had
formerly been a PATRON, or keelboat
Captain. / entered into conversation
with him on the subject OF his former
associates ~ .sBt
they are scattered in all direc-
tions," said he. "a few, who had
capacity, have become pilots of steam
boats Many have Joined the trading
parties that cross the Rocky Noun
tains, and few have settled down as
farmers"
/. What has become" asked, "of
my old acquaintance, Mike Fink?"
Mike was killed in a skrimmage,"
replied the pilot. " He had refused
several good offers on steamboats,.
He said he could not bear the kissing
of steam, and he wanted room to
throw his pole. He went to the Mis-
souri,. and about year since was
shooting the tin cup, when he had
corned too heavy. He elevated too
low, and shot his companion through
the head. A friend of the deceased
who was present, suspectlng foul play,
shot Mike through. the heart, before
he had time to reload his rife"
With Mike Fink expired the spirit
of the boatmen. sls <.,rfrF
@A man by the name OF Huling, was
hunting on the hill above Point Pleasant
when he was discovered by a party of In
dams. They pursued him to precipice of
more than sixty feet, over which he sprang
and escaped. On returning next morning
that he jumped over the top of a sugar
tree tree, which grew from the bottom of the