Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-23
Sam Harding S
Trophy Duke By c-,'s'

Among the first who built their
| cabins on the shore OF the beautiful
Ossipee lake was a man by the name
of Sam Harding.
Alone with his wife and child he
had threaded the forest that lay be-
: tween the settlements at Dover-Point
and the lake. and. once arrived upon
its banks. he built his cabin. and set
about his work at once Of clearing up
homestead.
For many years there had been sus-
pended from a smoke-stained beam
above the broad fireplace trophy OF
the early days he had spent ON the
shore Of the lake.
II was an Indians scalp.
SO long had II hung there that 1t
was az dried and smoke-begrimed as
the beam itself.
Few there were OF his visitors who,
remarking It, failed to inquire why 1t
was thus preserved.
To these he did not fail to tell its
history, as we shall do now.
We will give 1t in his own words,
SO the reader may imagine that lie is
Siiillk III LUG VI 'hV OAN PAc
neer. with the strange trophy sus-
pended before him.
you ask me why it is that keep
that thing in the house? Well. will
tell you. -
When / first came up here to set
tie on the banks OF the Ossipee, 1t was
a bowling wilderness for miles and
miles on every side.
II hadn't but one white man for
neighbor. and he lived two miles away.
downs. the foot of the bay.
BIZ had plenty OF another kind.
There were wild beasts and savages
on all sides. and there were times
when they both gave me lots OF
trouble
with the beasts / could get along
pretty well.
when they got too neighborly. Il
would spend a few days in hunting.
and get them thinned out. so that for
a time could live in peace.
But with the redskins it was diff
ferent. II want no use to try and thin
them out, although there was times
when ] had to try my hand at it. My
plan was to keep on the right side of
them il | could. but / could not al
ways tell which side that was. They
were mighty uncertain. You never
could tell for certainty when they
were friendly 10 you or when they
were waiting for a good chance to
take your scalp.
"A big bear. enc which judged by
his track would weigh at least 500
pounds. had been into my corn, and
the way he had finished 1t was enough
to make anybody's temper rise. 1t
seemed as though the critter had
trampled down and destroyed a good
five bushels OF It.
There was not any trouble in fol-
lowing the trail he had left behind.
for his feet were as big round as
peck measure. and you could see
where he had planted 'em. half dozen
rods ahead.
e"The valley became narrower and
narrower as you went up. until at last
the rocks came so close together that
they shut out the sunshine, and kind
OF twilight filed the place.
Il had just made up my mind that
should find his bearship not far from
here when all at once heard deep
growl only little ways afore me.
''The next minute saw him-he s
had seen me and was sitting up on
end, to give me a hugging when /
come near enough. /
II was a good chance for a shot. and
bringing my rife to bear. l took good I
aim for the spot right between his
fore shoulders and fired. The next
moment he was kicking among the
dry leaves, giving up the glost-
Il knew that there would be no
need OF another shot, SO did not stop
to load my rife again. but rushed right :
Up to the spot
Il wasn't long in getting there. and
when / did. l found that there was
somebody before me.
- redskin. fellow had had some
trouble with before. was standing over ;
the bear, who was jest gasping his
last, and the varmint had sent an
arrow into II, and knew in moment +.
that he meant to claim the carcass
for his own. But I mad no intention
OF being cheated out Of my meat in
this way. 50 ] walked up to the bear.
and whipping out my knife. cot its
throat.
The redskin looked as Ugly as -p'izen,
and in broken Esglish wanted TO know I
what did that for; the bear was his.
and he was going TO have It. be said
Il showed him that IL was my bull |
let. not his arrow. that had killed H. p.
but that did not maxi the matter any
better.
white man let II alone. OF Injun (
have his scalp be cried, as he drew
his knife
You'll have to take Il first you I,