The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-04-02
DoIan. the Old Irapper.
Written for The Republican Journal.


travelling down the Mississippi IN Oc-
tober, 1867, met an old trapper. His
name was Dolan; he was forty-niner,
and had come down in a boat alone
from Minnesota and was on his way to
Arkansas, where he intended spending
the winter trapping. The first night
after meeting him he came to their
camp and asked permission to warm
cup of tea. After placing the tea on
the fire he said: 81 see this is not the
first time you have built fire in the
woods"
The occasion of his remark was the
uearness of the campfire to two trees
growing about foot apart, between
which one of the hunters was breaking
some dry limbs. "Well," the old trap
per said, as he sat picking the meat
from the boiled head of a coon, cit was
many years ago that | built my hrst
one. but since then l have built them
over a vast extent of Uncle Sans
country, and some were built under
conditions which at the time made it
somewhat doubtful if | would ever
build another
This camp was occupied for several
DAYS. and during this time our hunters
not only became well acquainted with,
lint learned a part of the life history OF
the old trapper. He had gone IN early
DAVIS overland to California, and on
several occasions met and fought WIN
Indians on the plains, and when pass
ing over the Rocky Mountains. a
Grand old man was Dolan. He stood
some six feet in height, broad shoulders
and long curly hair, sprlnk!ed Win gray
and still retained much Of theVlgor OF MS
youth. He also possessed the power OF
relating with great precision the events
in which he had participated, and gave
his new acquaintance much pleasure
as they sat by the campfire working on
their tent and listening to his stores.
On completion the tent was set up ana
one of the hunters then craWled INSIDE
and shouted: Let her rainH' At this
both Dolan and the other hunter laugh
ed.
The next day we shot number OF
ducks. and when Joe Landers returned
from his traps he brought many rats
with him. When skinning the muskrats
he was watched by the Old trapper, who
remarked that be had been taught TO 40
it right.
The following morning when Joe re-
turned from visiting his traps he mad
had such good luck that it was decided
to remain another day, and when the
old trspper saw they were still IN their
camp he came over and asked II they
were to remain another night, and when
told that they were, said that he would
come over.
The October sun was identifying the
whole western sky as it babe adleu 10
the day, aud, as it were, welcoming
night with its golden hue, when Doian,
the trapper, Slipped into the glare OF the
fire dressed as an old-time hunter. AS
ne came in the light of the fire, his
powerful frame stood out in bold relief
With his fringed legg!ngs, buckskln
hunting shirt, open at the neck and
belted, at the waist, and with pistol
and knife in his belt, standing with
coonskin cap in hand as he made his
presence known, he looked every inch
The hunter, and no weak one either,
although he had passed the age of fifty.
They soon learned the object OF the Old
mans visit in this guise,
Soon after he had been welcomed to
the camp, and had seated himself on
log, he said "Boys, we will all have
smoke" After their pipes were filled
and lighted, Dolan said: 81 can't just
tell why it is, or what has caused 1t,
but tonight | have feeling come over
me that | have not had for many day.
Since sitting by your campfire last
night | have been living my life all
over again, as it were. In fact, 1t has
had such an effect, that the desire came
over me to again be clad in the clothes
that | used to wear when crossing the
plains, and these that / now stand IN
were first baptized in the blood OF a
noted Blackfoot chief, Silver Top SO
named Oh account of a white lock of
hair on the top of his head, which later
] lifted, and it was the first and only
scalp l ever did lift. 1t was just case
of prepare your man for the scalping
knife OF be scalped yourself"
AS Dolan said this, his language
showing the fire of his youth, he arose
and pulled from his belt an old revolver
of the pepperbox style, which he -four
ished in the air, and with the other
hand stroked the long, curly hair on
his head, which he still had in abund-
ance, and extending his right arm, he
said by this l retained my hair" and
discharged the revolver. He then re-
sumed his seat and told of the men OF
note he had known; men who by their
love of adventure and daring courage
had been the leaders in gaining the vast
country called Texas. Travis, Brown
ond Crockatt-thpSa three gave I'M their