Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-05
DANIEL BOONE


When George Washington was about
years old there was born in rude
cabin in the outskirts of a Pennsyl-
yania forest little boy who was called
Daniel. His father and mother, Mr..
and Mrs. Boone, were very sensible
people, SO as their child grew up
he was not fed on sweets but given
plain food to make strong muscle.
When he was old enough Daniel was
sent to the small poorly kept school
house to learn reading and writing
from a cross old schoolmaster. Some
now learning came very hard to the
boy, for his thoughts were ever wan
dering to the forests the game and the
Indians. From babyhood~ his only
plaything had been his fathers old
Hlntlock musket and his chief COM
panions his fathers hunting dogs
very young he learned to shoot, for
good craftsmanship seemed to be
born In him. When his short school
life was ended Daniel spent his time
roaming through the woods. On bright
days the sun guided him, but on dark
days he found his way by the moss,
which he knew always grew on the
north side of the trees. He knew many
Indians and liked their wild life so
well that he often visited among them.
He learned their customs tricks and
characteristics. When Daniel Boone
grew to manhood he disliked farming
almost as much as he disliked school,
so hunting took most of his time.
This strong man could endure many
hardships, His broad, deep chest gave
his lungs so much. room that he could
run for long time without getting
out of breath No Indian was more
nimble nor could run faster than he.
With the Indian, he was forced to use
cunning; but In his disposition he was
true, kind, accommodating. very cour-
ageous and very brave. When Boone
realized that his little family in Penn
sylvania had not the wealth which
those around him had, his pride gave
him desire to go to a newer land
where all should be on the same level.
In 1863 he and five other hunters babe
their families goodby and journeyed
west of the mountains. Although they
knew they were going to a country
where there we're no stores or hotels,
they took no provisions with them. AS
they tramped away clothed in their
deerskln huating suits and moccasins,
and armed with rifles, bullets, powder
and tomahawks, they must have been
a wonder to their neighbors. The coun-
try through which they journeyed was
wild, for Indians were liable to attack
them at any time. After a months
hard travelling they reached the crest
of the hills which overlooked the plains
of central Kentucky. The buffaloes
and deer grazing there insued them
plenty of food.
Several times Daniel Boone was cap
tured by the Indians. but as he had
learned their ways when boy he al
ways managed to escape. Not long af-
ter the small party had reached the
strange land three of the hunters re-
turned home. leaving one man with
Boone. He died but Boones brother,
Squire. was then with the bold pioneer.
Later when Squire returned east for
more powder and bullets. Daniel was
left the only white man in a strange
land, without even a dog or a horse
to keep him company. The Indians
were very unfriendly, so Boone was
always on the lookout for them. Never
did he hear the call of wild turkey
but what he thought it might De the
noise of an Indian imitator. To elude
the redmen at night Boone would
make his campfire and then journey
two miles away to sleep in a hollow
tree. Every night ne slept in a diff
ferent place so that he might not be
found. For two years Daniel Boone led
this wild life and then returned to his
wife and family in Pennsylvania. In
another year many friends with their
families joined the Boone family in
making a settlement in Kentucky.
Great hardships were again endured,
but the free life made the settlers hap
py, except when they We're attacked
by the Indians.