The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-07-27
SIMON KENTON.-THE PRINCE OF
PIONEERS.


American history as representative
mana type of the true pioneer
Stalwart in frame, courageous as &
lion, kind hearted and sympathetic,
he was a very child Of nature in his
love Of his wild life and dangers
OF the wilderness. He was ignorant
OF books, untutored in the sciences
unskilled in the arts but wise indeed
in that knowledge of savage lii,
and savage nature, which rendered
him prince of bordermen and the
Indians dread.
Kenton was VIrginian by birth,
Born in 1855, in Fauquier county, al
the base of the Blue Ridge Noun,
tains, he may be said never to have
known the "sweets Of civilization
for Fauquier county, now so near the
National Capital, then reposed on
the verge OF the vast wilderness
which stretched away IN almost un-
broken succession to the "Great
Father of Waters" The savage
roamed at will over what is now
Western Virginia, Kentucky, Yves
tern Pennsylvania ana the regions to
their west.
Young henton grew up to the age
of sixteen, the companion OF border
men. At that age he was robust
in frame, skilled in woodcraft, and
turned, ,lmost instinctively, to the
II of az m
and society. BY an unlucky incl
dent he became a fugitive from home
and society. Having severely fog
ged rival, who had robbed him of
border lass, upon whom he had
fixed his affections, he left the young
husband, as he supposed dead on the
field, and fled to the wilderness Tor
safety. Changing his name to
that of Simon Butler, he hunted and
trapped on the kenawha, for two
years with couple Of young com.
panions. They were then driven
out Of their comfortable quarters by
the savages, who, in 1873, once again
were on their war path. But, famil-
liar with danger, he soon returned to
his old rendezvous, and was there
trapping when the Indian war OF
IVA broke out. He then took ser
vice as a scout and spy, and, by his
courage, sagacity and honesty, VOL
the applause of his fellow border.
men. This campaign-known as
| m N
severely Furnishing the warlike tribes,
and peace again relgned along the
border.
kenton resolved to explore the
territory to the south and west-the
land Of Khan, tuck-ee of whose won
dertul beauty he had heard reports.
He with two others padded down
the Ohio to the vicinity of Maysville,
from thence they worked their way
TO the interior in quest OF reputed
great buffalo trail. This trail they
struck and pursued to the Lower
Blue Lick, where almost countless
herds of buffalo, deer, and elk was
congregated, to lick the salt which
the springs brought to the surface.
Satisfied with this country he deci
ded TO make Kain-tuck- the land
of his adoption, and, with his com
panions, built hut on the spot
where KNOW stands the town OF
Washington. From this they were
eventually forced from the Indians
to retire, and joining Boone's settle
ment at Boonesborough, kenton tstill
known as Simon Butler) entered with
zeal upon the defense of the settle
mants. already lo~tod ar snvnral
points. He became one of the lead
ing spirits of the hour, assisting i'll
the two sieges Of Boonesborough, and
ever on the alert as a scout and spy.
On trail, he was remarkably keen
and sagacious. He could tell the
number of their foes, their eyre, to
what tribe they belonged, whether
their prisoners were male or female,
how many hours had elapsed since
their passage, whether the savages
were in haste or travelled slOwl y
all from their footprints. He never
y as at fault as to his course, and
could travel by night as well as by
day. His hardy frame seemed never
to tire, and his courage never to
flag. Once in the vicinity of bis en-
envy, he was adroit with stratagem
and ruse, and persistent in accom-
plishing the object of his mission.
His encounters with the savages
were numerous, and his escapes
wonderful. One incident of hun.
dred, will suffice to illustrate his own
powers and devotion, and the nature
of the perils which every haunted
the footsteps Of the pioneers.
"Early one morning in July, 1878,
Kenton and two others, who had
loaded their guns for hunt, were
standing ontside the gate OF the fort
at BoonesUorough, when they saw
two men a short distance away, fired
upon and pursued by the Indians.
Neither of the men was struck by
the shot, but one of them was over
taken and tomahawed within seventy
yards of the fort. Here the auda-
cious savage proceeded to scalp the
fallen man, but ere he could accom-
plish it, Kenton shot him dead,
and with two companions gave chase
to the others.
"The reports of the guns were
heard by Boone, who started
instantly to the relief of Ken
ton. The latter, few moments al
ter, saw one OF the Indians aiming at
Boone's party, when quick as thought
he brought his rifle TO his shoulder,
and shot the Indian through the
head, killing him before the savage's
gun was discharged.
During the pursuit, the whites
had advanced considerable distance
from the fort, and now found them,
selves engaged with large party,
who intercepted their retreat TO the
fort. Boone saw that they had been
am pushed and could be saved from
determination only by cutting THEN
way through mem. lie gave the
word-'right-about-fi fire charged And
the gallant fellows dashed desperate.
ly among their enemies, in their eft
fort for life. AT the first fire of the
Indians, seven Of the whites were
wounded, among whom was Boone
himself, whose leg was broken
Seeing this, savage sprang upon
him, with uplifted tomahawk, but
was shot through the breast by
Kenton, who rushed toward, seized
Boone in his arms, and, in face Of
the Indians, carried him safely into
the fort" .....
Boone himself being large and
heavy man, this feat of Kentor
shows how great was his strength
At that time he was but tweGty-three
years of age, was six feet one inch