The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-05
FRONTIER SKETCHES. mo. I.


IN the everyday language that is at
once understood by all. Nor will hefe
apologize for any inaccuracies. as to
dates or names that may appear in the
course of the narrative, since I write
wholly from memory, after the lapse of
quite quarter Of century. And, al
though l think it will be generally ad-
mitted that the internal evidence is
strongly in favor of the entire truthful
ness of my statements, it may not be
out Of place just here to assure the
reader that every fact herein related
is true. Another word or two, and /
I will throw myself upon your kind .
indulgence. My object is to interest |
and amuse, as well as to instruct, aud .
should any think that l have thrown
too much levity amid suffering and
gloom, my excuse must be that I be-
long to the laughing rather than the
crying school of philosophers, and pre-
fer to see a smile on the face of melan-
choly, rather than tear in the eye of
mirth.
Quitting school early in the year 1850,
l determined upon a tour across the
great Western prairies, not more with a
view of gathering together a few humid
red pounds Of virgin gold that lay, as 1
fancied, patiently awaiting my advent,
than of gratifying a long-cherished de-
sire to explore regions known and in
habited only by strange animals and
roaming savages, of participating in the
wild excitement of the buffalo hunt,
and other daring sports Of the wide
West. / had read of the "noble red
man." and I yearned to see him in his
pristine dignity in his wild free home;
to hear him portray in glowing accents
the grievous wrongs he had meekly en-
dured at the hands Of the aggressive
pale-face. would visit his picturesque
wigwam, enjoy his native hospitality,
and smoke with him the traditional
calumet Of peace beside his blazing
council fire. would greet him as a
brother, and be cherished in his mem
ory as friend forever.
had read, too, of the countless herds
Of lordly bison roaming in unrestrained
freedom over the interminable Western
wilds, and would seek them and enjoy
the exhilarating and ennobling sport ol
chasing an odd thousand or two over q
frightful precipice, to their certain de-
struction. | longed to scale through
frowning clouds the rugged mountain
hight, then, resting on some jutting
crag, calmly contemplate Nature in bel
uutamed and untamable majesty, as she
stands forth clad in her virgin robes; or
higher still, mount into the upper ali
and gaze with eager eyes upon the light
ning's blaze, and hear the thunder'i
crash far, far beneath my feet. In fact
for months my day-dreams had beer
, pleasing combinations of wild buffaloe
and wilder men, of bright snow-crowne,
mountain peaks and brighter Jumps o
! gold.
Hence early in April, 1850, l Joined al
eager party Of gold-hunters at Norwalk
, Ohio, determined to speedily realize ny
: cherished longings. a month late
found me at st. Joseph, Missouri, tn
. happy owner of an array of deadl,
weapons that was calculated to strik
> terror to the heart of evil-doers, whetbe
civilized or savage, and insure me a SAT
transit over the plains, though menace
by hungry beasts and skulking savages
On my shoulder / carried a repeatin
rifle, in my belt a navy revolver, a larg
{ hatchet and formidable bowie knife, i
), my pockets brace of derringers, Will
: from the horn of my saddle hung a pai
y of large holster pistols. True, / wa
,, more of an expert in the use Of skates
y marbles, or the schoolboy's ball tha
c with any Of these terrible engines Of ID
struction, but every adventurer wa
preparing to resist danger, and VIII
not L? Naturally, during our fir:
week in the wilderness I kept my ba
> terry ever ready for any emergency this
l. might arise, but seeing neither murde
Gus man nor bloodthirsty beast, 500
voted the whole outfit a swindle, an
:; began, in utter contempt Of danger,
enjoy the pacing gait Of my steed mil,
in advance Of the trudging wagons, i
which my means Of defense were a
lowed to jolt along, unloaded and unn,
ticed. However, 1 was to pay dearl
for my intrepidity, for one Afternoon
s. riding with but a sin0la mn. ., In
some miles in advance of the train, "
were startled by the sight Of a mounte
Indian appearing on an eminence LEI
than a mile distant, above whose hea
bloodred flag or streamer was spor
in the wind. This unwelcOme appar
3, tion brought US to a speedy realizatio
of our helpless condition. But we ha
l little time for reflection, for,
ASH the yawning hill TO heaven
,c A subterrauean host had given,r
n Up starting from the ground, fully
le hundred yelling savages came dashin
toward US with, as it seemed, the VI
Iocity Of the wind. Escape we saw wa
impossible; so refining in our frightene
steeds (,ge were not frightened, oh, no
we ealD,Iv awaited our doom. Brar
5; dishing their glittering spears in th
bright sunlight, and with shrieks tha
froze our blood, Oh, on they came, lik
angry demons, nor halted until the
had closed solidly around us. KNOWN
that we were in the country Of the Paw
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