Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-07-21
Select Story.
SIMON KENToN
LFrOm Howes ohio.l

TO him. About the first Of September
of the same year, l77S, we find HIM
preparing for another Indian eXpedi-
ton. Alexander Montgomery and
George Clark joined him, and they set
off from Boon's station, for the avowed
purpose of obtaining horses from the
Indians. They crossed the Ohio, and
proceeded to Chiilicothe. (now Old
town, Ross county, They arrived at
the town without meeting eny adycn-
ture. In the night they fell in with
drove of horses that we're feeding on
the rich prairies. They were prepared
with salt and halters. They had much
difficulty to catch the horses; however,
at length they succeeded, and as soon
as the horses were haltered, they
dashed off with seven-a pretty good
haul. They travelled with all the speed
they could to the Ohio. They came to
the Ohio near the mouth of Eagle
creek, now in Brown county. When
they came to the river the wind blew
almost hurricane. The waves ran so
high that the horses were frightened,
and could not be induced to take the
water. 1t was late in the evening.
They then rode back into the hills
some distance from the river, hobbled
and turned their horses loose to Craze;
while they turned back some distance,
and watched the trail they had come,
to discover whether or no they were
pursued. Here they remained till the
following day, when the wind subsid.
ed. As soon as the wind fell they
caught their horses, and went back
again to the river; but their horses
were so frightened with the waves the
day before, that all their efforts could
not induce them to take the water.
This was a sore disappointment to the
adventurers They were satisfied that
they were pursued by the enemy; they
therefore determined to lose no more
time in useless efforts to cross the Ohio;
they concluded to select three of the
best horses, and make their way to the
falls of the Ohio, where Gen. Clark had
left some men stationed. Each made
choice of horse, and the other horses
were turned loose to shift for them
selves. After the spare horses had
been loosened, and permitted to ramble
of, avarico whispered to them, and
why not take all the horses. The loose
horses had by this time scattered and
struggled out Of sight. Our party now
separated to hunt up the horses they
had turned loose. Kenton went to-
wards the river and had not gone far
before he heard whoop in the direc-
tion of where they had been trying to
force the horses into the water.
He got off his horse and tied him.,
and then crept with the stealthy tread
of cat, 70 make observations in the
direction he heard the whoop. Just as
he reached the high bank of the fiveg,
he met the Indians en- horsebacR
Being unperceived by them but So
nigh that it was impossible for him to
retreat without being discovered. he
concluded the boidest course to bo the
safest and very deliberately took aim
at the foremost Indian. His gun flashed
in the pan. He then retreated. The
Indians pursued on horseback. In his
retreat he passed through a piece of
land where the storm had tom up a |
greater part of the timber. The fallen
trees afforded him some advantage of |
the Indians in the race, as they were
on horse back and he on foot. The In
dian force divided; some rode on one
side of the fallen timber, and some on
the other. Just as he emerged from
the fallen timber, at the foot of the
hill, one of the Indians met him on
horseback, and boldly rode up to him.
jumped off his horse and rushed at
HIM with his tomahawk Kenton con-
Guiding a gun. barrel as good a defense
as tomahawk, drew back his gun to
strike the Indian, before him. At this
instant another Indian, who unper-
ceived by Kenton had slipped up be-
hind him, claspod him in his arms.
Being now overpowered by numbers,
further resistance was useless-he sur
rendered. While the Indians were
binding Kenton with tugs, Montgom-
ery came in view and fired at the Indi-
ans, but missed his mark Montgom-
cry fled on foot Some of the Indians
pursued, shot at, and missed him;
second fire was made and Montgomery
fell. The Indians soon returned to
Kenton, shaking at him Montgomery's,
bloody scalp. George Clark, Kenton's
other companion, made his escape,
crossed the Ohio, and arrived safe at
Logan's station.
The Indians encamped that night on
the bank of the Ohio The next morn
ing they prepared their horses for a
return to their towns, with the un-
fortunate and unhappy prisoner. Moth.
ing but death in its most appalling
form presented itself to his view.
When they were ready to set off, they
caught the widest horse in the com.
pany, and placed Kenton on its back.
The horse being very restive it took
several of them to hold him, while the
others lasEed the prisoner on his back.
They first took a tug, or rope, and
fastened his feet and legs together un.
der the horse They took another and