The Russellville Democrat., 1888-08-02
SIMON KENYON.
An Interesting Adventure of This
 Brave Pioneer.
Ills Adroitness at Stealing Horses from the Indians-His Capture and the Tortures to Which He
 Was Subjected.

One of the most interesting advent ures in the life of Simon Kenton, the brave and stalwart borderer, who did more to wrest Kentucky from the saw age than any other man-Daniel Boone, perhaps, excepted-was his capture by Indians while on a raid into their country stealing horses This seems to have been a favorite pastime. or business, in the early period of the State, both with the pioneers and with the Indians. The latter would make an incursion across the Ohio. steal all the horses they could find, and recross back to the north side and make their way back to the towns with their booty. Then the whites would band together. and in small parties penetrate the Indian country, steal back their horses, and as many more as they could lay hands on. and return to the settlements Thus matters went on for several years, and in the practice of horse-stealing kenton was not only a success but leader. He would run greater risks, and more of them, to steal a horse from an Indian than for any thing else, except to defend the settlers against Indian attacks His raids. with few chosen followers, into the Indian country were numerous, and characterized by many hair escapes. But, as we shall see, the pitcher went once too often to the fountain.
 Kenton returned from Kaskaskia, Jll., in 1778, having accompanied Gen. eral George Rogers Clark in his ex- petition against that place, and found Daniel Boone forming a party to pro- ceed against an Indian town on Paint creek in the Ohio country, for the pur- pose of chastising the savages for some of their depredations on the Kentucky settlements This was an opportunity not to be lost by Kenton, and he hesi- tated not to join Boone and his ex- petition. Boone crossed the Ohio. but did not penetrate far before he learned that large war. party had set out to attack the fort in Kentucky. This de- termined Boone to immediately return, but Kenton could not think of leaving the Indian country without stealing horse. Accordingly, he remained be- hind with a companion named Alex ander Montgomery, and together they proceeded to the Indian village, where they finally stole horse apiece, and succeeded in making their way back to Kentucky. This so elated them that they determined to try second ad- venture. and in September with third ompanion-George Clark-they crossed the Ohio, and pushed boldly into the Indian country, nor paused until they reached old Chillicothe. They arrived in the vicinity of the town without their presence being dis covered, and waited for night to settle down and conceal their operations with her ma ntle of gloom. Aided by the friendly darkness, they explored the environs of the town and found number of fine horses graz ing on the prairies adioin- ing. They succeeded in securing seven animals, but in doing so made considerable noise, thereby arousing the savages. Kenton and his party mounted and laid whip with horde of yelling and enraged savages at their heels. Now commenced race for life. The whites made for the Ohio river, and though mounted, the Indians on foot, as they were, had an advantage over their foes in that they were thoroughly familiar with the country and could hold them an un- comfortably close race. All night long and the next day Kenton and his com panions kept up their flight, and late in the evening came to the Ohio in the present county of Brown, short dis tance below Limestone, now Maysville. They found the river lashed into fury by a wind that blew almost hurri- cane. The rolling waves, though pre- senting no terror to the intrepid whites, so frightened the horses that all efforts to force them into the river failed, and nothing remained but to secure them and wait for the gale to subside. This did not occur until the following day, when another attempt was made, but the horses had not re- cuperated from their fright and still obstinately refused to enter the water. Feeling an absolute certainty they were pursued by the savages, they abandoned the attempt to cross, and each selecting one of the finest horses in the collection, turned the others loose, mounted and started for the Falls of the Ohio, where there were then few men stationed. But no sooner had they loosed their horses and allowed them to stray away, than with the recklessness characteristic of their leader, they separated to hunt them up again that they might take them on their proposed route to the Falls, KentOn soon fell into large body of the Indians, and his gun flash ing in the pau.' he was captured. Montgomery, hearing the report of the sllirmish, came to his rescue, but was instantly killed and scalped, while Clarke succeeded in making his escape, and finally reached the Kentucky set- dement's,
 kenton was now subjected to sys- tenn of barharous treatment such as only the American savage can infiict. H. was tied. Mazeppa-like, upon one pi the widest of their horses, and pair Of moccasins fastened securely upon his hands, that he might not be able to shield his face from the brush, and the horse turned loose. The frightened sa-