Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-01-08

watched until the Indians one by
one had dropped asleep. When the
watchful eyes of the red skins no
longer CLEANED in the freight, Boone
awakened his companion, Stewart,
and in a whisper gave his plan. The
two secured their guns and few
trifling articles, and made their es
cape. All night they pursued their
stealthy way through the forest and
tall canes until they reached the
place where the whole party had en-
camped But the camp had been
plunderei No trace of their asso-
ciates was ever discovered.
Boone was absent from his family
two years. during which time she
tasted neither bread nor salt, nor saw
any other human being than his trav
cling companions and the Indians
Who had taken him prisoner At
last he returned to North Carolina,
sold his farm on the Ysdkin River,
and persuaded his wife and family to
accompany him to Kentucky.
In September, l773, Daniel and his
brother, Squire, began their journey
toward the unknown wilderness. At
Powell's Valley, through which they
passed, FIVE families and forty armed
men joined them. This accession in
creased both their strength and con
fideDce.
Tie following is description of
their primitive camping arrange
ments, as given in Peck's life of
Boone: The camping place is near
some spring or watercoursP; tempo
rary shelters are made by placing
poles in slopiug position, with one
end resting on the ground, the other
elevated on forks. Ga these, tent
cloth. prepared for the purpose, or,
as III the case of these pioneers, ar
iicles of bed covering are stretched.
The fire is kindled in front against
fallen tree or log toward which the
feet are placed while sleeping. II
the ground is wet, twigs or small
branches are laid under the beds.
Each family reposes under a separate
cover, and the clothing worn by day
is seldom removed at night Pro-
vided with such accommodations
Boone and his family never imagined
that they were less happy than while
reposing in the cabin they had left
on the Yadkin."
While on the route, several young
men in charge of the cattle were at
tackled by Indians. Six we're killed;
anHong these was James, the young
est son of Boone. The main body
of the pioneers was I've miles ahead,
but hearing the alarm, returned and
drove off the Indians. The emf
grants were, however, so greatly dis
heartened by this calamity that they
gave up the expedition.
In 1774, Daniel Boone, at the request
Of Govefnor Dunmore, was sent into
Kentucky to conduct from thence a
party of surveyors, an enterprise
which he accomplished with much
difficulty.
A company was formed in North
Carolina for the purpose of purchas-
ing lands in Kentucky, and Boone
was made captain Of a corps of we'll
armed men who were TO ascertain
the quality and situation of the
tract in question. The difficulties and
dangers these men encountered In
this attempt to penetrate thick cane
brakes and tangled forests can scarce
ly he understood at the present day.
Having lost some OF their number In
skirmishes with the Indians, they at
last reached the Kentucky. On the
bank of the river, they erected a
stockade fort, which they named
Boonesboroug. 1t appears that in
settling Kentucky, Boone and his fol-
lowers took no unfair advantage of
the Indians, and, in the words of a
biographer of Boone, "if in any part
of the United States, the white peo-
pie had fair and equitable right of
settlement, it was in Kentucky"
Leaving men to guard the fort and
prepare the ground for agricultural
purposes, Captain Boone went to
bring his wife and family to the in
FAINT settlement. Mrs. Boone and her
daughter were the first white women
that ever stood on the banks of the
Kentucky.
The Indians entertained great re-
spect for Boone. This was due to
his wonderful tact and self control,
as well as to his prowess as hunter.
In 1878, he was made prisoner by the
Shawnese, and adopted with singular
ceremonies by that tribe. During the
Revolution, he was steadfastly loyal
to the cause of freedom.
Boone, although match for any
number of red men, was not equal
to the legal qnibbles of his own race.
On account of imperfect entries and
flaws in his title, he was deprived OF
his lands in Kentucky. Reparation
for this loss was afterward made him
by Congress, in 1914.
Old age could not quench the ar
dor of this veteran NimrOd. Each
wear at the return of the hunting sea
son. he manifested feyerish rest
lessness which nothing but q range
in the wilderness could allay. This
remarkable and admirable pioneer
backwoodsman, died at the age of
eighty six. After his death scarcely
a county in Kentucky failed to pay
the honors due to the memory oil the
founder of that State.