Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-01
Gales aud Skttfhes.
Boone's Captivity.

/ Daniel Boone omitted, IN the WrlIlen
record left of his forest adventures, some
of the most interesting events of his life,
and the ouly resource left TO CRAFTY curl
osity. is to gather traditions from the
descendants of his family, and from tamil
lies of the early pioneers. One particu-
larly interesting period of his forest career
was his captivity in Ohio.
In the spring of 1878 a party len
Boonesborough. KY, and went through
the dense forest nearly one hundred miles
north, to make salt at a saline spring.
The party had renamed at the works
about month. when one day Boone went
away alone, hunting for game. Late in
| the afternoon the woodman halted to rest
as he had wandered many miles, and as
he sat upon the root OF great oak, war
party of a hundred Shawnee braves, who
were on a marauding expedition, darted
suddenly upon the hunter and took him
captive.
| The redmen had dreaded the bold pio-
neer, and now that they had him in their
power, felt singular pride. The Shaw
nees admired the man, and retained him
more as an object of wonderment than
prisoner. and granted him many hber-
| ties and indulgencies that would not have
been allowed an ordinary captive. Boone
possessed just the right qualifications to be
great, according to the Indians standard
of manliness. He was quiet. unboastful,
and more than match for the best of the
tribe in the chase. and in physical endur-
ance.
Not long had Boone been at the Indian
village on the little Miami River, before
there there was desire expressed among
the savages to make him chief, but the
preliminaries of adoption into the tribe
were sufficient to satisfy all the ambition
the hunter had for becoming a sachem.
Blacklist, chief, made Boone his son.
The adoption was painful. In the first
place, all his hair was pulled out except
ing a tuft at the crown as a scalp lock.
The operation was too severe to be COM
pleted at once, so for severl days the
work went painfully on. but no cho6eka-
medicine-was applied, for it would not
be brave to vince at the operation, or
complain of its effects.
The second part of the metamorphose
was TO wash out the white blood. Boone
was taken to the river, covered with mud,
then scrubbed and washed until his skin
was sore from the securing; then he was
led forth and dressed in full Indian cos
tune, with face painted and scalp-lock
full of fancy feathers, and taken before
the chief, who made a speech, telling him
he was no longer ShenOnoSe-white man
but a true Indian. Boone took it all
with apparent gratitude, and really did
feel kindly toward the wildmen, who
were earnest in their mistaken views of
humanity.
Boone was allowed to retain his trusty
old rifle, and TO hunt with it, sometimes
unattended by any of the Shawnees. Tie
Indians were not, however, entirely free
from suspicion, for they felt that he would
like to see his family, and. therefore, re-
stricted his supply of powder to three
charges, and expected his game to CORE
spond. never supposing he would miss
the mark
The reason of this restriction was be-
cause the Indians feared that with good
supply of ammunition their captive might
attempt the long walk to Boonesborough,
situated on the Kentucky River. Without
ammunition food could not be supplied.
and without supply he would not be likely
to make an attempt to escape.
Boone. being fully determined to free
himself from captivity the first opportunity
afforded ,outwitted the Indians in the game
they were playing by using light charges
OF powder, cutting the balls in two parts
and never shooting at long range. In this
way he slowed away in few weeks quite
a surplus of powder and balls ready for
use when he should determine to make a
start for liberty.
After Boone had been among the Shaw
nees some months, it being then about the
first of June he was taken with band OF
Indians to the southeast, nearly 100 miles
to some salt springs. probably those in
Jackson county, o., to make salt. Here
the party remained some 10 days, keeping
Boone most of the time at the kettles,
The bold hunter feeling that he was near
er the Ohio river than ever before since
his captivity, and of course nearer the
place beyond where his wife and children
were garrisoned, felt an increased desire
to escape, and watched cautiously for ar
opportunity, but the Indians paid him
such close attention, with no severity OF
apparent suspicion. however, that it was
not deemed wise to make the attempt
| Had he known at this time what was 90
| ing on at the village on the Little Miami
nothing would have deferred his purpose
On returning to that point he was dumb
founded to learn that nearly 500 warriors
had been marshalled by the chief to at
tack Boonesborough, and were to move
Immediately.
Although Boone very well understood
the Shawnee language, he had pretended
while with them to know scarcely any,
thing of it, and this greatly aided HIM in
getting hold of the plan of the attack
He appeared to pay no attention to the af
fair. and when made to under >tand what
was to be done gave ready assent and
helped carry on the preparation. On the
morning of the 10th of June he started
for hunt, taking along what jerked veni
son he could secure without attracting at
tention, and going to fshured rock where
he had concealed CLAIMS shell full of pow.
der and balls, which he had saved up as
before mentioned, he found himself ready
to make the desperate effort for freedom
so long contemplated.
Two thoughts were in his mind: All he
had to live for was at Boonesborough
and he well knew that the garrison wa:
not sufficiently manned to stand the attack
of five hundred warriors, and especially il
taken by surprise. On the other hand, he
knew that as soon as it was discovered
that he had deserted the Shawnees, the
| tieetest Of the tribe would be sent afteI
him, and if recaptured his fate would be
/ sealed forever. NOthinU short NJ slo IN