The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-24

shone on the American flag, and her
representatives and senators took thei1
places among the national lawmakers.
These are the events soon to be cele-
brated by centennial observances at
Louisville, and there is such wealth Of
material on which to draw for sugges-
tons that even a partial failure of the
affair seems well nigh impossible. Ro-
nance, adventure, daring deeds and
lofty purpose throb through all the years
of Kentucky's existence as colony, a
county of Virginia and commonwealth.
Endowed with the highest gifts of nat
ure, Kain-tuck-kee, as the Indians called
it, was indeed, according to the signif-
cation Of the name, "dark and
bloody ground" long before the white
man succumbed to the fascination of its
mountain regions or the softer charm of
its bluegrass uplands. No tribe could
claim the realm for its own, but all
tribes hunted there-chased the deer,
tracked the bear and fought each other
when they met.
They battled in the primeval forests or
along the opener spaces of the undulating
barrens, the nations of the north gener-
ally being arrayed against the nations Of
the south-a tragedy of conflict to be
repeated in later times when civil war
again made Kentucky debatable
ground, and substituted for arrow and
tomahawk the hurting bullet and the
shrieking shell.
But revolution was soon to convulse
this coveted domain. The all conquering
white man stepped across its borders,
and, like the savage, he found it fair and
well worth the winning. There fol-
lowed what may be called the heroic age
of settlement-an age Illuminated by the
mighty exploits of such men as John
Finley, Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton and
James Harrod. 1t was an age of des-
perate struggles; of forays and of re-
prisals; Of midnight massacres and of
relentless vengeance; of brutality I'M
speakable and of magnanimity sublime.
1t was an age that bred and made ready
for the tremendous demands of the war
for independence that body of keen eyed,
self sacrificing and never daunted fight
ers known to history and song as the
hunters of Kentucky. AS colonists they
strove against the savages side by side
with British regulars, and from their
relocated comrades they got the military
training that stood them in good stead
when the cross of st. George was hauled
down and the banner of the new repub-
lie sought the welcoming breeze.
1t seems fitting that one who has been
at the time when the arrangements for
the centennial celebration are being per-
fected, for the first occupant of the exec
utive chair was also gallant warrior
as well as an able statesman. Although
man loving peace, quiet and the calm
routine of farm management, he wrote
history with his sword and shines in the
annals of his country as the hero of
Kings mountain and of the battle Of the
Thames.
Isaac Shelby-that is his honored
name-was born at North Mountain,
Nd, Dec. II, 1850, and died near SIAM
ford, KY, July IS, 1926. His father,
native of Wales, took part in the French
and Indian and Revolutionary wars,
rose to the rank of general, and lived to
see his son chief magistrate of Kentucky,
dying in 1894. Isaac first saw bloodshed
when fighting the Shawnees and Della
wares in 1874. Then came the struggle
for freedom, and young Shelby gained
fame and success. In one year-17SO-
he won three battles from the British,
and followed up these triumphs by plan
ming with John Sewer the campaign