The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-07-02
Black JOhn's Christsnas-An Adventure
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successful scouts of the early days of Ken
tucky. But for one fault he would have
been invaluable. He was liable to set up
the most inexplicable yells, at any time,
on the smallest provocation, or TO provo
cation. No party liked to have such a
noisy betrayer of ambush among them.
But one man, Col. Lynn, could keep John
quiet and thus it was that, in the winter
of 1879, he accompanied the Colonel and a
party up the Ohio.
On their return they found canoe at
the mouth of Harrod's creek. A canoe
there was an Indian sign, unmistakable.
1t was disagreeable to the scouts generally;
but not to Black John. About the Indians
he cared little. The canoe Suggested a
short, easy way to reach the delights of
Fort Nelson, and the glories of spree
during the approaching Christmas holi-
days. Even Colonel Lynn's remonstrances
We're of no avail against the superior az
fractions. and the solitary pioneer saw the
party leaving him with cool, Characteristic
indifference. He toiled awhile, after they
were out of sight, getting free OF the shore
ice, ard then struck freely down the river.
1t was now the 23d of December. He was
scarcely started when a party Of Indians
came TO the shore he had just left, and
fired some random shots about him. The
Indians whooped and yelled, but were SO
shamefully beaten at their own game by
the leather lunged scout that they quit in
disgust. Shouting was just in his line,
and, considerably lightened in heart. he
saw the Indians departing over the crest
with parting whoop, in which were COM
pounded whole gamut of contempt and
derision. b this time he was opposite
and near Six-miie-islaild. and he pushed
for its shore. About it, and extending
some twenty or thirty feet. was a margin
of ice. Black John pushed his canoe upon
this till it cracked, and then leaping on
the ice he proceeded to repeat frequent
experiment OF his own. This was to
search for fish under the ice, or near air
holes, and devise various expedients to
capture d mess. As Black John wanted
both hands free for this business, he left
his gun in the canoe and walked about OH
the ice in search of game. carrying an inn
mense stone, which he had selected for
his experiment. in both hands. He was
not rewarded, however. On glancipg
towards his canoe, he observed that its
weight and his own together had borne
down The edge of the ice till the water
overflowed it. and nearly set his boat adrift.
He fastened TO the spot, but his weight
had the effect of completing the mischief
The water rushed over the ice, caught the
boat, aud. as it touched free water, float
ing cake of ice struck and shot it out INTO
the stream. It was struck once or twice
more. and. before Black John could fully
comprehend his situation, it was twenty
yards ont in the stream.
The scout turned around and looked
about him. There he was, a moccasined.
hunting -shirted Robinson Crusoe. Johns
gun and ammunition 1ioated away i'm the
canoe, which was nearing the shore where
were bis old enemies. the Indians. It
would at once Eetray his whereabouts,
furnish means to reach him, aud his own
gun, powder, and ball to kill him with.
If he escaped them. and did not freeze to
death before he starved, or starve to death
before ne froZe, or before visits were made
between Fort Nelson, Louisville, and
Lynn's station, by which his absence from
all could be learned then there was very
poor chance of his escape. If he could do
no better, he thought, he might wade and
swim to the Kentucky shore. This, how
ever, in the state of the weather and water
was an alternative only to be resorted to
in despair, SO he set about finding some
other means of escaDe. His next idea was
the floating Ice. If he could reach a good
sized cake, with pole for r paddle, he
might float down as gallantly as Cleopatra
In her silver barge. Presently he noticed
one of sufficient size, and prepared for the
leap. Unfortunately. the thin ice at the |
edge refused his weight, and long jump
was necessary. He made it-reaclled the |
His feet slipped on the treacherous surface,
and he plunged headIong into the water. |
After struggle in the bitter, biting cur
rent, he succeeded in gaining the marginal |
ice of the island. This increased his
troubles ten-fold. If he had found cake
now he could not use it, for violent exer- |
else was necessary to warmth. Affairs be-
ing so situated. he set out in run for the |
leewarl side of the island. BY the time he |
reached it, darkness came upon him. Wet, |
cold, disheartened. he passed the long. |
bleak night, shivering and swearing |
prayer or two in his extremity. Before |
his hungered thoughts rose phantom pic |
lures of the fort fires. the stalwart forms
In hunting shirts. and the more attractive, |
plumper beauties In linsey. The great |
pot steamed over the logs. and fumes of
bear-meat and the hoe-cake mixed their |
Oders. BrImming cups of coffee, or the |
ever famous Kentucky ''rye:' and s'bour- I
bon,n tingled on his palate. Visions of
past bouts. at Christmas times, and the |
gorging feasts of the West where abundance
had been wasted, haunted him. He re-
membered his mother rebuking him for
throwing away piece of bread. years ago,
when he was child, and her saying he
would some day come to want it. He