The suburban citizen., 1902-09-20
A NOTED FRONTIERSMAN
HISTORY OF SIMON KENToN, MOST
FAMOUS PIONEER OF HIS DAY.


Escapes From the Indians Miracle OF
the Pipe and the Burning Glass-His
Last Days Were Pitiful in the Extreme
The greatest novelty to the Indians,
those connoisseurs in scalps, has al
ways been a red-haired man. Red.
haired Indians there are none, and a
sed-haired white man, when taken
prisoner, was always subject of GU
gious regard. They were often loath
10 dispatch such captive, preferring,
&c possible, to keep him as novelty,
Of which they would be envied the
possession by other tribes
The fact that Simon Kenton, the
most noted frontiersman of his day.
second only to Daniel Boone. had a
shock of red hair, had no little to do
with the saving of his scalp. Other
things are, of course, to be taken into
account, such as a cool head under
hie fiery locks and a pair of feet feet
under his cool head.
Kenton, in the prime Of life, was
six feet one inch high in his moccasins,
and straight as a ramrod. He walked
with his toes directly to the front like
an Indian. He had a soft tremulous
soice, slurring the letter 81" much as
the mountain men of West Virginia
and Kentucky do to-day. He had, say
those who knew him, laughing gray
eye. undimmed by reading fine print,
but admirably suited to fine sight along
h rifle barrel. He liked tiddling and
dancing, and was the hero and leader
ut log-rollings, but best Of all liked
hunting Indians through the thick for
ests of Kentucky and Ohio. Some.
times he found the red men; at other
times they found him. He was of fair
complexion, good humored but when
N anger ragged like a tornado. His Gre
1ulity was great and he was only
shrewd when his wits were engaged
against the red men.
He was the hero of more remarkable
escapes from the Indians than any man
Of his time or any other. lie was eight
lines exposed to running the gantlet,
and three times were the fagots piled
TO roast him. His escapes were at
Tibuted by the pioneers to "Kenton's
uck," but Kenton's vivid thinking and
his ready selecting of the least chance
Tor escape should also be taken into
The reckoning.
Once, when a captive and Leld at
Detroit, an English officer became in
terested in him as a fine specimen of
manhood and untuto ed son Of the
forest. He saw that Kentin was fond
Of smoking a pipe, the bowl of which
was probably made of a corncob, and
gave him burning-glass, showing him
now he could light tobacco bv focusing
The suns rays upon it.
KentOn was delighted with this
gift, which amused him as a toy
Amuses a child. When the sun shone,
le had no need of fint, steel and tinder
20 light his pipe
Two OF three years later henton was
again prisoner in the hands of the
red men. Bound hand and foot he
was about to be burned at the stake.
As a last request, he called for his
pipe. His hands were loosed, so that
ne might use the flint, steel and tinder
He waved away the savage who was
bringing them. Extending his hama
toward the sun, he made an incanta-
lion. The glass, unseen by the saw
ages, was circled by his thumb and
forednger The tobacco in the bowl
began to burn. Great clouds of smoke
we're soon rolling from Eenton's
mouth. The Indians were amazed.
Never had tley seen q pipe lighted
without fire.
Smoking out the pipe the willy NEGRO.
nancer again mysteriously lighted it.
One Of the Indians, bolder than the
others, approached for the purpose Of
making sure of the deer thongs that
lied the feet footed Kenton. As
pc bent over the captive to do this the
burning glass was focused upon his
head. There was a smell of burning
hair and flesh. The Indian jumped to
his feet, rubbing his head. Meanwhile.
again using the glass, Kenton set the
caves at his side on fire. He struggled
70 his feet and beckoned to an Indian
to unbind his ankles. The frightened
Iavage dared not refuse the request Of
This wonderful medicine man.
Kenton approached the heap of
!agots prepared for his roasting. The
indians quickly got out Of his way.
Fhey hid themselves, shuddering. be-
hind the trees to watch this worker of
magic.
Waving bis arms above his head, he
picked up powder horn that had been
dropped by one of the savages. He
rallied some Of the powder along the
ground. Again the burning glass. Fo-
:used on the powder, there came an
explosion and the horn was blown to
pieces.
This was too much for the red men.
Fearing that worse was coming, they
Taye wild shrek and fed Kenton
lid not tarry to see the course they
;ook. He ran through the bushes and
.ook his way unopposed to the white
settlements.
When the Indian wars were over,