The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-08-23
KEsros,s Ipsaru WITH THE sUr.

Simon Kenton was one Of the most
noted Of the early heroes OF Kentucky,
man of much intelligence, wonderful
courage and almost matchless muscular
capacity. He died near Bellefontaine,
Ohio. in 1886, at the advanced age OF
ejghty.one wears. The annals Of the
borders abound in accounts Of his thrill
ing adventures; but one incident in his
life ! have never seen in print, and
therefore will repeat il as it ha, beer
told u me by old hunters and Indian.
fighters, who knew him personally and
heard it from his own lips. In my tell
ing. however, It will lack much Of Ken
ton , graphic way Of putting things
lie was q grea, smoker, the most ini-
portlnt supplies, next 70 his weapons.
being his pipe. pouch and tobacco.
Food and clothing he could capture
with his gun. bu. not 80 h's to-
haccD: and hence his zeal 10 lay in 4
stock Of his luxury before setting out
On auy expedition. But iirc 10 light A.,
prc wa not 20 readily ob'ainablc it
heng no lille trouble 70 !gnite tobacco
by f.ut and steel II vii. Dee rcmem-
bereI that friction matches were not
in common u,c until year, after Ken.
ton day.
- one time when a prisoner in the
hands o.! the British AZ Detroit, he vas
particularly admired Dy English officers
IN account ~; his great strength aud
courage. aud the many remarkable eJ-
p.yr, ll- which be wa famous; and
on .. these 1''icer.. Observing his fond
ne. for smoking and the difficulty n
light rg pipe. presented ken'On with
powerful pocket burning. g.a.. or lens,
b. which b. could easily focus the RAYS
o. IN. -UE N tine tobacco and set il On
IRE. Ihs thing worked charmingly.
ana for many year,. wherever he went,
held IT, place in the pouch with bis pipe
and tobacco.
II is an incident in which the sun. !
glass acted a significant part, which I
have resolved to relate.
i summer or twD after be became
posse,.Or Of the glass, he was again .
taken captive by party Of Indians, /
who. recognizing him al once resolved .
- torture MIN ~ death Immediately. 80
a. % rid thrm.e.,c. Of 80 formidable an
enemy before he should have time or
chance 10 escape. 4 stake was driven
into The ground and quantity Of dry
leaves and wood piled about il, and I.
then tie chief spoke, in broken Eng F.
l.sh.
White chief hungry; eat ire, he feel .
better
Kcuton replied by a-kjng the priv.
lege Of smoking his pipe before burning.
Now the Indian, Of certain tribes were
Away ,luguiar.y generous in response
90 such requests, especially as toward
pipe and tobacco they entertained sort
OF religion, Difference Oi these they
never robbed prisoner. nor dcspOilcd
the bodies Of the slain, aud among the
few sacred objects buried Nilh the dead,
pipes were always included. It was on
account Of this supcrstitious sanctity
that the pipe bore such an important
part in the ceremonies Of council. and
was always smoked as bond Of strength
between tribes entering into treaty to-
gcthcr. They never denied a captiyc3
request for a smoke, and therefore Ken
ton was Immediately gratihcd By
grunt Of assent.
After securing his feet more firmly
with lsa'hern thongs-for they knew
too well his daring and proves to give
him any advantage they unbound his
hands that he might fill and light his
pipe and enjoy hi last earthly smoke.
Deliberately h. proceeded 10 crumblc
up the tobacco and pack it into the pipe
bowl This done, he placed the long
wooden stem in his mouth, and seemed
ready for flint, steel and finder with
which TO light the luxury. With an
other grunl red man passed him the
customary implements; but, 10 hi. great
surprise, kcntOn refused them.
Then with dramatic gesture, lie
extended his right hand toward the sun
in md-hcavcn, it being about noon,
and holding il thus with the burning
gia,, cla.prd between the thumb and
iore-iingcr. hcdcXtrously brought it to
focus on tho contents Of his pipe, which
in this way was quickly ignitcd, and in
moment he was pulling clouds Of
smoke from his lips.
I Il1 NdN IVY pIi NH' wiz VI lIl'
savages, The lens being Of glass and
transparent, they had not observed it,
and evidently believed that he had
lighted his pipe by simply letting the
sunlight pass through the circle formed
by his thumb and finger, All uncon-
ccrncd lac pulled away, while they
gathered in an excited group few
yard, distant and discussed the wonder
in grunts and muttcrings
In few minutes he had exhausted
the contents Of the pipc-bowl and pro-
ccedcd to refill it, At this the red men
became silent, and watched him ~ If
he were supernatural being.
While crumbling the tobacco the
glass lay unseen at his side, and when
he was ready to light up again, with
another still more dramatic gesture, he
seized the lens and held il toward the
sun, and, with three or four cries OF
mysterious and startling import to the
Indians, began whiting the blush
smoke as coo.ly as before,
by this time the superstition OF the
savagcs was in full operation, and they
We're ripe for almost any display OF
Kcnton' supposed supernatural power,
Probably no people on the whole globe
were ever more sensitive TO such inlu-
ences than the native tribes of North
America. What they could not COM
prehcnd they dreaded with craven fear
especially ii II cmanated from the sun
or clouds. Seeing his advantage, Ken
ton stretched forth his hand again, hold.
ing the glass 50 as to kndle the leaves
near him. Then with strange, wild
cry, he swung his arms above his head,
adrOiily shifted the lens to his left hand,
and then quickly started smudge in
another place.
Next, struggling TO his feet, tied
though they were, he gave an almost
superhuman leap jumping being Ken
toms special forte--and brought him
self to the heap of iagots that had been