New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-08-13

continuance. Katahdln.
Historical "reminiscences.
Simon Kenton Saving the Life Of
Boone. ..s..~
An incident at Boonesborough.
Read the lives of Boone, Kenton,
the Zanes and their compeers, and
say, Infdel, if thou canst, that God
in his Providence raised them not up
to subdue and conquer the land for
the use of the white man. How
else can we account for that indom.
liable courage, that determined en-
ergy and self.sacriticing devotion,
which marked the length and
breadth of their career. To them
war was pastime, and suffering,
danger and privation the accompani-
ments of their daily life. Fear they
knew not; and when danger fled be.
fore the approaching footsteps of in
Vulnerable settlers they pursued it
even of to it's strongholds. Possess
ed of the cunning subtlety and arti-
flee of the Indian, they had all the
energy and resource of the pale face,
and it is not a wonder that the form.
er succumbed, and retreated step by
step toward the setting sun, until
the "'places that once knew them
shall know them no more forever =
Boonesborough was one Of those
forts, or stations, erected by the early
settlers of Kentucky, to protect
themselves and families from the in
cursions of their savage foes, and
was the scene Of many thrilling
and soul.stirring incident. It was
erected in April, ITS, by Daniel
Boone, and was located on the south.
ern bank ofthe Kentucky River. 1t
was the first fort built in that re-
gion, and it's erection excited the
fears of the Indians, who were high.
ly incensed at the rapid advancement
Of the whites into their beautiful
hunting grounds, which feeling was
still further increased by. the British
who had forts north Of the Ohio,
and offered them brides for every
scalp, or prisoner they took. Such
being the incentives, Boonesbor0ugh
was besieged on several occasions by
the Indians in large parties, some
times assisted by their white allies.
1t is an incident at one of these sieg.
es which our engraving is intended
to illustrate.
Twas the first irth.day Of indie
pendence, the fourth Of July, 1777.
The sun, which was just peering
above the eastern horizon, gave tok-
en- of a brilliant day. The birds
had laved themselves in the Nature
recognized the opening day, and
decked itself in its grandest hues to
meet it. +
The gate of the fort opened and
two young men issued therefrom,
who took their wy to the adjoining
fields to commence their daily toll.
They entertained no fear of immedi.
ate danger from the proximity of In.
dams, as it had been the practice to
send scouts up and down the river
every week to look for Indian sign.
But a few days before the scouts
had been out, securing the country
on both sides, and no trail or other
evidence of their presence had been
seen. Hence they took no precau-
ton against an attack, not even tax.
ing their guns with them. Fatal
mischance! that very moment a body
of redskins were creeping silently
and stealthily through the under
brush of the adjacent forest towards
the fort. Totally unconscious Of
their peril, the youths went on until
they were within about sixty yards
of the Indians covert, when, as they
were about commencing their labor,
they were fred upon BY at least a
dozen rifles. The whole scene pass.
ed under the eyes of a young man,
who had for afew preceding moments
been leaning upon his rifle, gazing
listlessly after the two youths from
the gate of the fort, where he was
awaiting the laggard steps Of two
companions who were to go out
with him that morning on a hunt
ing excursion. In an instant how
changed was his appearance. With
body erect, his nostrils d.lated like
u war horse in action, his hands
firmly grasping his aithfnl rife, and
with his eyes fixed on the spot where
the smoke was lazily rising in the
morning an, he stood, the very per-
sonification Of intense excitement.
The young men in the fields, who
had been uninjured BY the first fire
Of the Indians, were now running
for life toward the fort, while I'M.
mediately behind them followed a
dozen swarthy warrio rs, thirsting for
their blood and scalps. They had
nearly reached the wished for goal,
when shot from the leading Indi-
IN, who had paused q moment for
the purpose, brought down the hin.
dermost one within seventy yards Of
the gate. Dropping his rife, the
savage sprang forward with shout
OF triumph, and proceeded leisnrely
to scalp the yet warm corpse. He
had presumed too much however, on
the distance between himself and