The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-01-17
How Daniel Boone Outwitted the Indians,


by any serious attacks of the Indians /;
though of course there still existed that
strong hatred between the two races
which will always continue as long as
there is an uncivlized Indian upon the
face of the globe 1t was not safe to trust
yourself with them unless you was fully
armed and always ready to resist any at
tack which their treachcrous nature might
prompt, if they thought they had ad-
vantage of you.
1t was thus that things stood when
Daniel Boone, the great and renowned
pioneer hunter of Kentucky, settled down
in active farming life. His farm or plan
tation was at a considerable distance from
any other and he had to be constantly
on the alert, lest the willy savages should
catch him asleep" and thus overmatch
him. One Of the principle productions
of his plantation was tobacco, and though
he raised large quantities, he never used
it himself For the drying and storing
of this tobacco he had erected a small
building Of two stories or rather one story
and loft, which at this time, was full of
the stalks and unstable remains of last
years crop, wishing to remove this rub
bish before storing the new stock he re-
solved to commence ear ly one Thursday
morning and finish before noon, so that
he could employ his time more proftably
in the afternoon. When he had eaten
an early breakfast he took down his rifle
and seeing that it was loaded and primed
he put it behind the door, ready for in
slant use. As the drying house was but
few steps from the house. he did not
deem it necessary to take the rifle with
him as the Indians had not been seen
in that locality fora considerable length
Of time and he had no idea that they
would make their appearance for some
weeks. But he made great mistake
and barely escaped being taken prisoner
in consequence of his recklessness.
1t was about ten o'clock, and having
cleared all the litter from the lower apart
ment, he had just commenced in the loft
above when voices were heard below. He
glanced through a crack in the flooring
and saw four Indians each armed with
gun, who were evidently looking for him.
Keeping perfectly quiet, he hoped that
they would not look in the loft for him;
but the hope was vain, as he well knew
The Indians were too cunning to go away
without examining the whole building,
and after they had satisfied themselves
that he was not in the first room, they got
on some barrels stood in one corner, and
looked up into the loft, which only extern
ded about three-quarters the length of
the building. One glance was sufficient
and they saw that Boone was there and
not armed, so the one who appeared to be
leader spoke in his broken English.
Big Warrior come down; you prison
err must come with Seneca braves, who
have travelled many days to fetch you"
Boone now saw how foolish he had been
to leave the rifle in his house, even if it
was but few steps; but he was man
who was equal to an emergency, and
knowing it would be folly to resist, he
tried to think of some plan Of escape
He knew there was no way of getting
out of the snare except by using strategy
so not wishing to have the Indians
know that he was frighted at his situa-
ton, he coolly replied:
Now see here, know you arc all
great braves, and hope you will let me
finish my work ; I've only got to take out a
few more of these sticks Of tobacco and
then I'm perfectly willing to go with you
"No," answered the Red skin, " we in
big hurry come now, or me shoot" and
they leveled their rifles at him. There
was a look on their faces which told
Boone that if he was going to do any
thing he must do it Immediately While
he had been parlying with them he had
formed plan for outwitting even the
most cunning of the Seneca braves. As
he talked he had continued to gather up
fragments Of leaves and stalks, as if to
throw them out, and at the same time he
had advanced to the edge of the loft, the
more readily to speak to the Indians,
who were in group just below him
Suddenly he leaped from the loft with
his arms full of dried tobacco, and fling
ing it in their faces, he made for the
house at the top of his speed, where he
arrived in perfect safety, as the pungent
tobacco dust had filed the eyes and
mouths of the Indians, rendering them
perfectly harmless for some seconds
When they recovered, they looked to-
ward the house and saw Boone quietly
standing at window with n rife in his
hand, ready to repel any assault. Re
membering the stories which they had
heard about him and his rifle, they wise
ly concluded to let him alone, and plum