The Opelousas courier., 1889-07-20
A BRAVE EXPLOIT.
How a Plucky Woman Saved the
Lives of Four Hunters.

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As early as 1884 afew hardy pioneers
ventured to build cabins upon the west.
ern banks of the Upper Mississippi,
and to move their families into them.
One of these bold men was William
Gleason, who, with a yoke of oxen, a
cart containing household effects and
a cow, moved with his young wife from
the lead mines at Mineral Point in the
spring of the EAar mentioned, and set
tied at the mouth of the Little Pinni-
con (little turkey.
He was attracted thither by the taled
of two young trappers whom he had
met at the old French town of Prairie
du Chen, the winter before. They
told him Of the black, rich land in the
valley of the Little Pinnicon, with
scarce a stick of timber in the way,
though the bluffs on either hand were
lined and covered with oak, butternut,
hickory and poplar. Their stories of
bear. beaver and mink stirred his
hunters heart.
These young men-Simpson Briggs
and John Ellery-had marked Out each
a squatter's claim, and, not intending
to spend their lives as mere trappers
and hunters, wished to have neigh
bors. In the end, Gleason agreed to
come, and accordingly set a time when,
with his wife and his goods, he would
be at Prairie du Chen, where the
young men agreed to meet him.
True to their word, Briggs and FL
lery were awaiting them in camp at
the Prairie when Gleason and his
wife arrived. The two trappers
guided the settlers on a three days
journey over prairies and among
wooded hills, and finally brought them,
with their effects, to the bank of the
great river at q point opposite the
mouth Of Little P%innicon.
Here a strong bateau, with mast and
sail in the bottom, lay hidden among
rocks. The enterprising trappers had,
provided themselves with this boat az
q means of freighting their packs Of
deerskins, buffalo hides and furs to
markets down the river. Its size and
strength enabled them in two trips to
set the Gleasons. with their household
goods and stock, upon ground which
serYIea mofCubbh their own.
There a surprise awaited the new
corners. As they mounted the bank of
the little creek at the moyth of which
they had landed, John Elary pointed
to Q little tree-grown kgSll some two
hundred yards distant.
sYonder's your cabin ready fer to
move I'M said he, IAN thar's good
water in a spring down thar not fifty
steps frum it,"
"Thar's Don enough fer four" said
Gleason, as, a few minutes later, the
party surveyed a comfortable log
structure, with strong .'shake' roof
and stone fireplace and chimney.
"Yes," said the young wife, CRATE
fully, and it shall be both yer homes
till ye bring wives Of yer own up the
river
Thus did the generous and brave
backwoodsmen aid each other in the
pioneer work which has laid the foun-
dation of p%opulous States.
That evening the party of four sat
round a rudely-constructed table upon
the puncheon floor of their new home,
and ate with great contentment a sup
per of warm biscuit. broiled duck and
coffee. The nevt day, by the aid of
the oxen and a stub of a pillow, a s'sin-
gle breaker" a truck patch was
plowed, and before the sun set was
planted with seeds which had been
carefully boarded. A week later more
than three acres had been thoroughly
stirred and planted to corn, squashes
and pumpkins.
A fine crop was raised that year,
bringing In autumn such abundant va
riety to their table that this little band
of pioneers felt themselves to be living
In the very slap Of luxury OF game
the house when the men were at
home was an arsenal of guns-they
had such abundance as three good
hunters. with ample opportunities,
could secure. Even Mrs. Gleason was
provided with a gun, a short. aint-lock
fowling5piece. which she knew how to
use, and upon which she put much re-
lance for protection when the men
We're all away from the cabin.
RFiggs and Ellery were often away
npoAstrapping and hunting excursions.
~ September they rode away upon
their ponies to the west to shoot buff
ialo, and walked back at the end Of
the hunt leading their ponies heavily
laden with hides. They had to go only
th~ree-days' journey from the river
70 strike the buffalo s.range,n now
dWindied from It's former vast propor-