The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-10-28
VAN BIBBER'S LEAP.


designated it is one of the widest and
most exciting to be found in the records
Of backwoods adventure
The rock juts out about one hundred
feet over the seething, dangerous wbirl-
pool at the foot of the falls, and nearly a
hundred and fifty above the surface of
the water.
The surroundings in the INN etliate
neighborBood Of the rock are wild and
picturesque in the extreme; but the op-
posite shore is comparatively level and
smiling, with charming interspersion
Of pastures, meadows and timber, gent
~ shelving beach Of sand sloping gradu-
ally out into the boiling waters, which
continue their disturbed and riotous
character for many rods below.
Hiram Van Bibber, an enterprizing
back woodsman from the eastern part of
Virginia, was tue first to build cabin
upon this inviting bank of the Kanawha,
in the latter part of the last century.
Having had much experience, aud
being bold and independent character,
he lost no time in bringing his young
wife and two children to the new home
that he had provided for them.
Notwithstanding that the region round
about swarmed with hostile or semi-hos-
tile Indians, he was unmolested for a
year or more, and the land was so fertile
that it was not long before he had a
number of neighbors, almost as hardy,
adventurous and hard working as him
self.
Indeed, q regular little settlement
sprang up, which, with Van Bibber at
its head, presented quite village like
appearance, at the end of the second
year, the s'ttlers building their cabins
pretty close together as a mutual protec-
ton against the savages.
Then, about this time, small govern
meut supply station was established, a
few miles further down the stream, which
added greatly to the general sense of
security aud repose.
Bat this state of affairs existed almost
exclusively upon the fertile, or low lying
side of the river, while the wild and rocky
region, including the opposite bank,
continued to be occupied by rowing
bands Of red hunters, who. if not actually
hostile, often east regards of sullen dis
content and jealousy upon that fairer
portion of their ancient heritage, which
the industry and enterprise of the pale
faced intruders were swiftly causing to
blossom like the rose.
1t was as though civilization and saw
agery directly confronted each other,
with the boiling river as the only debat-
able ground between, and the great
frowning, overhanging rock looking far
away, as a black, standing menace on the
part of the rude tribes. whose wigwams
and hunting lodges still cling with the
tenacity of despair, amid the glens and
thickets thereabouts.
Captain Van Bibber was the soul and
heart Of the little settlement. His re-
nown as hunter and Indian fighter was
only equaled by his reputation for fair
dealing and worldly prudence; and from
the first he was looked upon by his neigh
bors as their natural leader. No axe
more rapidly thinned the forest ranks
than his; no rifle was surer; no canoe
more dauntlessly breasted the perilous
waters of the mountain Graded, gorge,
uursed, cataract-fretted stream.
Another child was born to him in the
bosom of the wilderness. His wife was
happy and contented, and his cabin home
was the abode of frugal thrift and hard
earned repose. The only other member
of his household. besides his wife and
three childen, was great pet bear, call
ed Brownie, which be had captured when
q cub, aud tanned with such wisdom and
th9roughness that it was accustomed to
follow him, uumuzzled, among the cabins
like dog, and with no inclination to re-
join its kind among the neighboring hills.
Indeed, the brute displayed an excep.
tional affection for him and his family
/ the officers and soldiers of the little fort
/ often came to witness its tricks anG
| pranks: and evan Bibber and his bear
was the expression most generally used
/ by outsiders, in alluding to our hero.
Trouble with the Indians arose, which
at last, so far as QUE tribe was concerned
the Shawnees-broke into open war. -
I The authorities were constantly on the
4 alert, and it became hazardous expert
ment for any settler to. proceed alone
! through the rocky and thickly timbered
region on the unfriendly side of the river
This, however, did not prevent Capt
/ Van Bibber from setting out upon {
lonely hunting expedition amid its dan
gers, upon a certain April day, that wa:
( destined to be memorable in the annals
I OF the settlement, aud at the time TO give
his name to the giant rock, which hat
Heretofore been exclusive known by it
Indian name, lVuh kun, gee ten, signi
/ fying the "Far away Lookout.
4 great freshet had so flushed the
/ Falls of the Kanawha that he did rol
venture to cross the river at the poin,
/ directly below the rapids, and just be
/ tween the settlement and the great rock
Re passed down the stream tor mile ol
more to lonely cabin occupied by {
hunter named Radcliffe where he borrow
ed canoe, effected crossing and fear
lessly plunged into the heart of the enemy
country.
de had undertaken this expedition
against the advice of his friends and ever
the entreaties OF his wife.
The winter had been a hard one
There was shortness of supplies in bi,