Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-10-15
VAN BIBBER'S LEAP.

which thus designated il is one OF the
widest and most exciting to hc found
in the records of hackwoods adventure.
The rock iutS out about one hundred
feet over the soothing. dangerous Whirl-
pool III the foot of the falls. and nearly
hundred and fifty above the surface
of the water.
The surroundings IA the Immediate
neighborhood of the rock are wild and
picturesque III the extreme: hut the
opposite shore is comparatively level
and smiling, with charming intcrspel-
sion of pastures, meadows and timber,
Il gently shelving beach of sand Sloping
gradually ou into the boiling waters,
Which continue their disturbed and
riotouS character for many rods below.
Hiram Van Bibber. an outelprisiug
back-woodsman from the eastern bart
of Virginia, was the tirst To build cab
in upon this inviting bank Of the ka-
nawha, in the latterpart of the last cen
fury.
Having had much experience, anu
being i bold and independent charac-
ter, he lost no time in bringing his
young wife and two children to thenew
d home that he bad provided fer them.
Notwithstanding tint tho region
round ahou, SWarmcd With hostile or
SCmi-hostile Indians, he was unmulCSl-
cd for 4 year Or more, and the land was
40 fertile that it WAS not long before he
had a number of neigAlors, almost rs
hardy, Adventurous and Woodworking
\ as himself.
Indeed, regular little settlement
/ tos Il, ,.,l, u..th X
its head, presented quite village-hke
I appearance, ut the end Of the second
4 year, the settlers building their cabins
pretty close together as Il mutual pro-
lection against the savages..
~ Then, about this time. u small gov
h eminent supply station was established,
- few miles further down the stream,
Al which added greatly tothc general sense
! of security and repoSe.
But this state of affairs existed almost
exclusively upon the fertile, or low-ly-
ing side of the river while tile wild and
rocky region, including the opposite
bank, continued to hc occupied 10y rov-
q ing bands of red hunters, who, if not
actually hostile, often east regards OF
sullcn discomfort and jealousy upon that
iairer portion OF their ancient heritage.
4 which the industry and enterprise Of
the palc-faccd intruders were swiftly
causing To blossom like the rose
1t was us though civilization and cav
agcry directly confronted each other,
"a With the boiling river us the V"l;' ~"
ndl""i' sound between allu INC SrCa'
troWmng, ovcrhanglng rock looking far
away, rs Il black. standing menace on
the part Of the rude tribes, whose wig.
vans and hunting lodges still cling with
the tcnacity of despair, amid the gens
and thickets thereabouts.
Captain Van Bibber was the soul and
VS. heat Of the little settlement. His re.
II nown as a hunter and Indian fighter
" Was only equaled by his reputation fol
! fair dealing and worldly prudencc and
M from the first he was looked upon by
his nCighhors as their natural leader
NoaNc moro rapidly thinncd the for
X est ranks than his: no rifle was Snrcr
no canoe more dauntlessly breasted tho
perilous waters ofthc mountain Graded
gorge-nurscd, cataract-fretted stream.
Another child was born e. him III the
bosom Of the wilderness. His wife was
happy and contented, and his cabin
home was the abode offiugal thrift and
hard-earned rcpose The only Other
member Of his household besides hi,
wife and three children, was great pet
bear, called Brownie, which he had
a captured when cub, and tanned with
such wisdom and thoroughncss. that il
j was accustomed to follow him. unmuz
4 lied, among the cabins like dog, and
4 with no inclination to reioin its kind
among the neighhoring hills.
Indeed, the brute displayed an ex
ccptional affection FOR him and Vi,
family. The officers and soldiers ofthe
little fort often came TO witness its tricks
aud pranks; and Van Bibber and hi,
il bear was the expression most gencr
X ally used by outsiders, IN abiding &
Il our hero.
IN Trouble with the Indians arose
which at laSt, 50 far as one tribe wa,
81 concerned the Shawnecs broke int
a open war The authorities were con.
stantly oil the alert and ii became i
hazardous experiment for any settler
Y. "a proceed alone through the rocky and
# thieklv-timbered region on the IN.
friendly side Of the river.
This. however, did not prevent Cap.
M tain Van Bibber nom setting out upon
N 4 lonely hunting expedition amid il,
W. dangers upon certain April day Chat
U was destined 70 I've memorable IN the
%lnnals Of The settlement and al the
time to give Mi. name to the giant rock
which had heretofore been exclusive
.lSnown IN i'll Indian name, ltm-ftrt.
VS. .ooe-th, >icnifying the PARKWAY Look.
bout"
\ great froshlt had ~ flushed tbs
ais IL the kanawha that III aid not
y.nture IS cross the river ii the ponl
directly below Tie rapids. and just be-
twecn the settlement ami tho great
roek. lie passed down the stream fol
annie ST. more ~ lonely calm oecu-
pied ty hunter named Radcliffe
Whore he borrowed il canoe. effected d
crossing and fearlessly plunged into the
heart VI the enemy country.
lie Rad undertaken this expedition
against the advice Or Els friend and
eyen the eItreaties If lis wife.
The wiser id been 4 Hard enc
Ihere aa- ii ~harff44SS az -li1,.1i.s l.