Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-07-13
NED BUNTLINE
nNE seth KINMAN


The Outing magazine for June
contains an article on Some old
Scouts and their Deeds accompanied
by splendid portraits of the men The
article was read from Maine to Cali
foruia but nowhere should it have been
perus sed with greater interest than in
Danville where two of the most fam
ous men spent their early lives
Among the excellent portraits are
those of Seth Kinman, veteran OaN-
fornia hunter and trapper; i. . O..
Judson (Ned Buntline) Sam Houston,
Captain Jack Hayes, scout and writer,
Kit Carson, Buffalo Bill aud others
AS the article in Outing truthfully
observes the old scouts have followed
their last trail memories of them are
fast dying aud only where some rare
bundle of photographs is dug from
some forgotten corner are the weather
beaten faces recalled to a new genera
tion aud another era -
OF the above plainsmcn and Indian
fighters, two of them rs famous As any
spent their early life in this Immediate
vicinity, Seth Kinman. native Of
Rush township. Northumberland Coun-
ty, and E. Q. @. Judson lNed Buut-
line) who lived in Danville.
Seth Kinman. who is an uucle of
Sheriff j. r. Sharpless, of Northum
berland County, was a5out this section
until or probably after war times and
is still we'll remembered by our citi-
zens of middle life or Older. As he
appears in the portrait, armed with
his musket, dressed in a trappers garb,
unkempt, his face half concealed by
shaggy beard, so he is remembered by
those who saw him last. From hoy
hood he had craving for the woods
and the excitement and adventure of
hunters life. He dressed himself in
ring aim, and slept out Of doors in i'm
imitation of the hardy trOntiersm IN
He drifted to California and became
famous as a hunter and tTapper. Sub
sequently in life he returned to tins
section for a visit with relatives. He
returned to the West and died there.
exact value of his exploits, but certain
it is that he has earned place for his
portrait in gallery of famous men,
who helped to open up the west, TN
half of the continent to civilizatI N.
E. c. O. Judson (Ned Buntlinc) was
equally as we'll known in Dsnville as
Seth Kinman. Ills father. l.. @. Jud-
son, was principal OF the West Dan
willie Academy in the first half of the
last century in the years following
1916. There are still those here who
remember Ned Buntlrne' in ms
school days. According to all ac-
counts he kept things moving. Tie
scout and novelist had fondness for
the drama and during his school DAYS
organized a theatrical company IN
Danville, among the members of " hich
are some of those still living.
DInyllle was too tamo for the young
er Judson and he ran away from home
and joined the navy. He sonn proved
his mettle and commanded respect
among the seamen 10y fighting couple
of dues Years atterwaTd he revisit
ed Danville, making an anti slavery
address at the weigh scales. Judson
was already famous as a scout Not
knowing how ms address would be re
ceived or what lie would encounter on
the occasion it is recalled that before
beginning to speak he took ont his
trusty pistol and laid it on the scales
before him. He was not disturbed 8
Ned Buntline" was Judson ; nom
de plume. His novels, which were
mostly located ol the plains and relat
ed to Indian warfare, were among the
best of the kind ever written and
thirty years ago were very popular
Don Carlos Barret, another teacher
in the West Danville School. about the
time that Judson's father hal charge.
is indirectly connected with the sub
ject in hand. His name j. not includ
ed in the list OF scouts, but leaving
DanyIlle he went to Texas where he
became an eminent lawyer and was
associated with General Sam Hous- |
ton. Summing up the Outing IS ar
ticle states:
OF such stuff were rnade such men as |
Seth Kinman and Jack Haye-. whose /.
tell better than any Gu
logy could do in what heroic mould /
they were cast