New-York tribune., 1890-04-14
An OLD PIONEER.

II
3rvCIE DICK WOOTrON. the Pioneer Frontiersman
Of the Rocky Mountain Eesion y MoMu ,;"r tdI.ph r.
Conari. with an Introduction by M''or rc.;cacpp;
W T.. Dibbc d Co.
Richcns Lacy Wootton, as nc came to be caied
later Dick. and Uncle Dick Wootton. was born III
Virginia. and before he was twenty restless o'p'S
ton carried lin into the then little known resio" "
the Rocky Mountains. There he began life as iea"
ster subsequently became a tlTpper. hunter ana III
dian trader. and drfcd along. making money - No''
few pioneers have done experiencing all inc N'''
tudes Of frontier life. having his iair share "i Pc'
adventures and hairbrcadth escapes but throueho"'
accompanied by a steady GOOD luck which brought M"
scathlcsS ont Of The most pcrons situations n''
memoirs have apparently been dictated by himself Inc
editor gives assurance that they appear as the o" n'
narrated them. with merely Jew Moo"'o""'s' Va
perhaps too vigorous frontier expressions mere an"
there II is too frequently the that books of this
kind contain 50 much romancne aS 20 NlI'"'iN
DESTROY their value Whether this fault is attributable
10 the vanity of the pioneers themselves, or 10 sen
sationa tendency the part of their edor> can ohN
he conjcctuIcd: but the memoirs OF Uncle DICK
WoottOn are notably free from any such benllsh. III
fact. a more modest and straightforward story Is not
often encountered and there is Il manncSs ana sim
pcity about the old and trader which prove very
attractive lie never hesitacs to speak of his mis-
adventures. He docs not fail TO mention incidents
which go against himself He gives full credit to all
his comrades and friends for their share in every hunt
or Indian fight lie is inclined to be boaStful
save when he speaks of his nck, which certainly does
appear to have been wonderful.
rs an Indian scout tncc Dick made reputation
second 10 none. and he was often employed by the
Government 10 lead troops against the hostile redskins.
though, he FRANKLY states. it was bv no means
always that United states military commanders were
prepared to follow the advice of the scouts regarding
movements against Indians. Uncle Dick is himself
aS merciless Judge of the Indians most frontiers
men are. and vet his story proves by several
striking that the Is capable Of being
Influenced by Kindness. and that he remembers ana
repays dement's i'm a generous way, by no means com
mon among white men. For example, on one occasion
Dick Wooton. while out teaming. found an Nrapahoe
squaw who. after being kidnapped 10y the ttes. had
escaped from her captOrs, and was WANDERING hhli
starved and half frozen in the mountains. Uncle Dlck
took compassion upon her and restored her to her
people. who exhibited the strongest gratitude, and
thcnccforward bcfricndcd the hunter in every way
Every man in the tribe became his ally and defender
and aftcrward the Arrapahoes saved his life when he
narrowly escaped falling into the hands OF the Paw
nces. 1t is doubtful if any white community could
lie found capable of such general and common riclo
ship for a benefit conferred of their number
Int compelled 10 question Uncle Dicks Indian
judgments still more when find him boldly ap
proving and justfymg Civiustons Colorado romance
Tic excuse alleged is that the peaceful tribe attacked
and slaughtered by ChvingtOn's command was sus
pected of buyns and ammunition from the posi-
traders. and turning these supplies over TO the hos
tiles. No proof of the kind was ever adduced how
ever. and it Is enough to point ont that massacre
upon suspicion" is none the less massacre II
ChvinctOn had attacked the post traders. who notor
Onsly and knowingly sold and munitions TO the
hostile~ he would certainly Lave had more plausible
case. for that not ca,c Of mere suspicion
Dick WoottOn clearly much more -newd and In
telgent than the froncl,man. who lives only
1or the day. lie looked before and after calculated the
profits Of every venture carefully avoided undertakings
which did not promise substantial returns and seems
70 have been Singulary fortunate in nearly all ms
business II j. true that than once y" sue-
taincd heavy lossc from Indian raids upon his wagon
Trains and from storms ard GOODS when be ranch
ing. But compared with the vci>siVldcs Of business
in the great of commercial activity h> heaviest
losses light. and he made much money. ana 80
rapidly, when he in the vein. that he cond Afford
occasional rcverses. lie lad large views and went
boldly into considerable and costly enterprises HOY were
lis calculations often at fault. y thorough American
more Yankee than Southern in spite Of his birth, his
career illustrates what courage. hard work and inte
Iisence Will DO for the flOntier-or would DO
in his time. To the pioneer who was not AFRAID OF
hard and heavy work, constant danger, and large re
sponsi5litics. the fcistns business in PFC railroad
days offered great temptations for the profits were
high. Dut the captain or majordomo. a. he Wa
called Of wagon team. had 20 encounter not oHN tine
honry danger Indian attacks. but also the chance Of
nu,uv in hi, OWN camp. The team,tcrs AT that TINE
were mostly Mcxicans. and a hard lot. on one oc-
casion Uncle Dicks men did mutiny. and he passed
very bad five minutes while they shooting at HIM
and he was unable - reach his own weapons. lierc
again his wonderful lnch stood INN ln ,lcah' ana
though bullets whi-ed all around him. and some even
Gu, his clothes. he was not wounded
A more varied career has fallen 10 few men,
Freghtcr trapper hunter. scout iavern-Leepcr
rancher cattlesiser, road maker. merchant he seems
In have tried his hand at nearly every thing ana 10
all Ha 4ffL oil =
story easily and naturally and il is enlivcned by vein
NJ dry humor which adds much to its general at
tractivenc>s The portrait of the old pioneer which
ureaces the narrative shows strong frank thoroughly
.e,f-relant and evcn-tempeled man, upon whom tEe
wears sit lightly notwithstanding the tolls theN nave
brought; II is pleasant 10 know that 50 sterling a
;,i,., hos rrosnDred and that he can SIT under his
own vine and fgtce enjoy the evening OF me- ana
10 fight his battle, again among his children and
his friends.