Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-07-20
DANIEL BOONE.

DANIEL BOONE.
When George Washington was
about three years old there was born
in "a rude cabin in the outskirts of a
Pennsylvania forest q little boy who
was called Daniel. His father and
mother, Mr.. and Mrs. Boone, were
very sensible people, SO far 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 sc%hcolhouse to learn
reading and writing from 4 cross old
| schoolmaster. Somehow learning
came very hard to the boy, for his
thoughts were ever wandering to the
forests, the game and the Indians.
From babyhood his only plaEthins
had been his fathers old fintlock
musket and his chief companions his
fathers hunting dogs. Very young
he learned to shoot, for good marks
manship 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 blythe moss, which he
knew always grew on the north side
of the trees. He knew many Indians
and liked their wild life S well that
he often visited among them He
learned their customs, tricks and CHAR
acteristics. When Daniel Boone grew.
to manhood he disliked farming al.
most as much as he had disliked
school, so hunting took most of his
time.
This strong MAI could endure many
hardships. His broad, deep chest
gave his lungs so much room that ne
could run for a 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 dis
position he was true, kind, accommo-
dating, very courageous and very
brave. When Boone realized that his
little family in Pennsylvania had not
the wealth which those around him
had, his pride gave him a desire to go
to a newer land where all should be
on the same level. In 1863 he 4
five other tried hunters babe their
families goodbye and journeyed west
of the mountains. Although they
knew they were going to a country
where there were no stores or hotels.
they took no provisions with them.
AS they tramped away, clothed IN
their deerskin hunting suits and moe
casins, and armed with rifles, bullets,
powder and tomahawks, they must
have been a wonder to their neigh
bors. The country 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 cen
trail Kentucky. The buffalQes and
deer grazing there insured them plen-
ty Of food.
Several times Daniel Boone was
captured by the Indians, but as he
had learned their ways when a boy
he always managed to escape. Not
long after the small partyhad reached
the strange land three of the hunters
returned home, leaving one man with
Boone. He died, but Boone's broth
er, Squire, was then with the bold
| r%ioneer. Later when Squire returned
East for more powder and bullets,
Daniel was left the only white man in
q strange land, without even a dog or
n horse to keep him company. The
Indians were very unfriendly, So
Roone was always on the lookout for
them. Never did ne hear the call OF
a wild turkey but what he thought it
might be the noise Of an Indian imi-
tator. To elude the redmen at night
! Boone would make his campfire and
then journey about two miles away
to sleep in a hollow tree. Every night
he slept in a different 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 hard
ships were again endured, but the
| free life made the settlers happy, eA
cent when they were attacked by the
! Indians Star.