The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-06


continued to reside for more than
twelve months. During this time he
neither saw the Pringles nor any other
human being and at the expiration
of it went 10 the South Branch, where
he disposed of his furs and skins and
then returned.to, and continued at,his
cncampmcnt atthe mouth Of Elk, until
permanent settlements were made in
its vicinity. ~
The Ptiuglcs kept up Tie Valley
river till they observed !. large right
hand fork, (now Buckhannon) which
they assembled some miles. and Mt the
mouth of . small branch afterwards
called Turkey run) they took up their
abode III tho cavity ola large Sycamore
tree. The, stump ofthis is still to be
seen, and is an object Of no little ven
Grafton withthc ediatcd descendants
of the FIRST settlers. go
The situation Of these men, during
a residence here of several years,
although rendered somewhat necessary
by their previous conduct, could not
have been very enyiable. Dcserters
from the army, constant fear of
discovery filled their minds with in.
quietudel In the vicinity of a savage
foe, the tomanawk and scalping knife
were ever present in their imagira-
tons. Remote from civilized man,
their solitude was hourly interrupted
by the frightful slIrieks of the panther,
or the hideous howlings of the wolf.
And though the herds of Buffalo, Elk
and Deer, which gambolcd sportively
around, enabled them easily to supply
their lardcr; yet tile want of salt, of
bread, and of every species ofkitchen
vegetables, must have abated their
relish for the otherwise delicious loin
of the one and haunch Of the others.
The low state of their little magazine,
too, while it limited their hunting to
tie bare procuration of articles Of
subsistence, caused them, from fear
Of discovery, to shrink at the idea of
being driven to the settlements for q
supply Of ammunition. And not until
they were actually reduced to two
loads ofpowder, could they be induced
to venture again into the vicinity of
their fellow men. In the latter part
of tie year 1867, John left his
brother, and intending TO make for q
trading pest on the Shenandoah, ap
pointed the period Of his return.
! Samuel Pringle, in the absence of
John, suffered u good deal. The stock
OF provisions left him became entirely
exhausted-one of his loads Of powder
was expended in fruitless attempt to
shoot buck-his brother had already
delayed hisreturn several days longer
than was intended, and he was appre-
bensive that he had been recognized,
taken to Fort Pitt and would probably
never get back. With his remaining
load ofpowder, however he was fortu.
nate enough to kill a fine buffalo, and
john soon after returned with the
news ofpeace, both with tho Indian.
and French. The two brothers agreed
to leave their retirement.
Their wilderness habitation vas not
left without some regret. Every oh,
jcct arouad had become more or less
cndearcd to them. The tree in whose
hollow they had been 90 frequently
sheltered from storm and tempest, was
regarded by them with so great
reverence that they resolved, so soon
rs they could prevail on a few others
TO accompany them, again return to
this ASYLUM Of their exile,
In population such as then com,
posed the chief part Of the South
Branch settlement, this was 10 diff.
cult matter. All Of them wcro used
! TO the frontier manner Of living; the
most Of then had gone thither to nc.
quirc land; many had failed entirely
i'll this object, while others were
Dblit,nl IN nCpupv rNnr and h-nE an