Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-12-17
indian Toms Last Hunt.

There was a brave, big-hearted set OF
follows among the mountains of Josephine
Co., Oregon, in early times, They were
rough, perhaps, but soft as women when
comrade was in distress, and as intrepid as
soldiers OF the old guard when in dangerous
situations. 1t needed rough, bold men in
those DAYS for the times were rough, and
many a story is related of the manner in
which they stood shoulder to shoulder for
mutual protection. Illinois TiAer, below
Kerbyvile, was the widest and most mac
cessible part of the country, but gold in
paying quantities had been found NIT, and
in 1852, notwithstanding the mountains
through which it ran, were a favorte resort
for Indians. many of the boys continued TO
work on it: One OF the strongest parties
was located on the ''Peersoll'' bar, and one
of the number being Alecl W, a great
sirapping Western man, 1.-the as cat,
steady and unerrlng in his aim, always
carrying ''pass" for a red skin in his rife,
and gaining the credit Of making many n
''cOod" Indian. Aleck was terror TO them;
their trails were unsafe and frequently abO-
riginai visitors to the PeersOll camp, lost
their reckoning and never returned Alter
the close of hOstilities between the whites
and Indians, the latter often visited the
camp, sometimes hunting deer for The boys,
and were generally treated fairly, as they
deserved to he. On one occasion, q "blacs, ="
named Tom, belonging to The Rogue river
tribe, a sulky, ill-favoTed wretch, demand
ed Alexis gun for hunt, which was re-
fused, the owner saying he wanted to hunt
on the next day himself The Indian was
offended and inclined 10 he sauoy, the re-
suit was he was driven out OF camp IN au
angry mood, fiinging at Aleck as he went
such an angry glance as o9ly a redsl-in can
give. The menance was Instantly rccoCui-
zed, but the old hunter said nothing.
Starting up the mountain on the west side
of the river the next morning, with the
snow two feet deep, Aleck hunted steadily
and faithfully till noon. Usually successful
he never vas in such ill-luch, but still he
labored on IN hopes of getting sight of a
deer. Finding he was above the sign
he made q deteur which took him consid-
erably down the mountains, and then swing
ing round he crossed bis own track made
during the forenoon in the deep snow.
There was a mocasSin print in it. The sit
uation at once flashed on the mind or the
hunter; Indians never followed the tracks
of another hunter expecting 10 find game,
and he once realized that it was himself
that was being hunted. Pushing onward
short distance without leaving anything
to indicate that the moccasin tracks had
beeu discovered. Aleck pressed through
bunch of brush, and turning abrudtly to
the left ensconsed himself behind large
clump of manzanita, growing on the comb
of a small ridge. Placing his rifle through
the branches of his own cover, so as to
command the right point of his broken
trail, and lying down in the snow behind
II. he waited. One-two hours passed,
till the watcher, now nearly chilled, thought
he waited in vain. The soft snow made
no sound and he dare not raise himself to
even sitting position for fear OF discovery,