Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-02-01
BOONE's LAST YEARS.
How the Famous Pioneer was Tor
tured by the Indians.

Influenced by the representations Of Dan
iel Boone, company OF emigrants was
speedily formed, including Boone's family.
IL was this company that founded the first
settlement in Southern Kentucky, at the
place since known as Boonsborough, the
name deriving from Captain Daniel Boone.
This brief authentic sketch OF the advent
ures of Daniel Boone, written for the De
trot Free Press, will correct the erroneous
common opinion, once very general, that nc
spent large portion of his life as hermit
in the caves of Kentucky. The writer's IA
Their was an old friend of the adventurous
settler.
Boone was subsequently taken prisoner
by the Indians, while with others he was
engaged in making salt at the Blue Licks,
about one hundred miles north OF Fort
Boone, as the place of the settlement was
then called and was with ten Others car
ried north TO Detroit. The others were
shortly ransomed by British officers and
sent home, but large sums were refused for
Boone, on account of his great strength and
bravery. From Detroit he was brought
back to an Indian town on the Little Miami,
where he was adopted into an Indian fami-
ly as a chief. The process was begun by
tuft on the summit, which was to be allowed
to grow to a great length, and TO be. orna-
mented by braiding it in with trinkets.
This he was told was a mark Of distinction
and honor, as we'll as also to enable his enc
mics, should he fall in battle, TO seize him
and with greater celebrity remove his scalp
with the knife, besides showing that he was
chief who had fallen.
During all this strange proceeding Boone
affected TO acquiesce cheerfully, and even
10 be pleased, while at the same time he
was thinking of his wife and children
he had left at Fort Boone, and imagining
possible methods OF escape and OF once more
getting back TO them. His success with
the rife surpassed the best marksmen
among them (the Indians now had fire
arms), and the confidence of his captors had
become such that he was trusted 10 go alone
on the hunt; but powder and balls were Is
sued TO him by day allowances. But he
was more than a match for the shrewdest
Indian in strategy, and had succeeded, by
cutting his bullets in two and using half
charges of powder, in securing consider
able magazine, which he stored in hallow
tree, Ia be used in his fight should he be so
fortunate as 10 get away.
On peasant June morning he was TO go
out hunting alone, and as he hal hitherto
proved entirely faithful, little watch over
his movements were kept. He knew that
his return to the village would not be ex-
pected before evening, and, proceeding at
once to his magazine he possessed himself
of his reserve and then set off with his ut
most speed in the direction of the Ohio riv-
er. His skill as "A woodsman enabled him 10
keep bee line in any direction he chose TO
go He dared not klnde fire or shoot on
his gun for fear of Detraying his where
abouts; and, besides, there was not mo-
ment Of time TO be lost, for should his flight
by any accident be discovered, he knew but
too well that he would be pursued with the
feetpess Of the deer But, should his flight
not be discovered that day. then he had day
and night at his command before the trail
could be taken. And thus he sped on his
course through the trackless forest without
food, other than the small allowance of
| dried meat given him for his days rations
and with not one moment of rest by day or
! by night until he was sure OF being beyond
possible danger of being ovcrtaken
He at length arrived safely on the bank Of
! the Ohio river it is believed near where
/ Ripley now is. He must cross over, for TO
! remain on the north side he knew full well
would be TO be recaptured, sooner or later,
! only to have the tomahawk buried in his
| brains or possibly to suffer the fearful or
deal OF being burned at the stake: and he
! knew that many hours could not elapSe be-
! fore his pursuers would be upon him But
] how TO cross the half mile or surging water
did not appear to his mind. He was an in
! different swimmer. and the river was bank
/ full, and carrying driftwood on its surface.
! Undecided, and in extreme trepidation he
was clambering along the thicket-covered
margin, when suddenly he came across a
canoe that had drifted under the bushes.
His heart bounded with JOY; but he soon
! discovered that there was dangerous hole
/ in the bow below the water. and that the
craft was partially filled with mud and
water. He, however, succeeded in bailing
! it and SO far stopping the breach as TO make
| it float, and taking his seat in ii, with his
trusty rife, he pushed out into the dangerous
| flood and succeeded in padding himself
across TO the Kentucky shore, where he
! could breathe more freely than he had done
during the six months of his captivity. At
I the close Of the fifth day after leaving the
| Indian town on the Miami he arrived at
! Fort Boone, only 10 learn that his wife
desparing of ever seeing him again had
taken her children and returned to North
Carolina Boone died at very advanced
age in Missouri and was finally inferred in
Kentucky. His reputation was that Of a
kind hearted and benevolent man.