Evening star., 1927-12-04

Meanwhile, when Kentuckians de-
cided that some aggressive blow must
be struck, Mai. George Rogers Clark
of Harrodsburg. got authority and
backing from Gov. Patrick Henry and
the Legislature of Virginia and en-
barked upon a brilliant campaign
eliminating IN February, 1879. in the
capture of the British garrison. in
Guiding Gen. Hamilton himself, at
Vincennes. All with 200 men.
Boone, to his lasting regret, missed
sharing in this conquest OF the North
west, for even as the expedition form
ed he was captured by the Shawnees
while boiling salt at Blue Licks.
Wild was the excitement OF the saw
ages as they hurried him back 10
their Ohio villages, for not one Dut
knew Boone and feared him, and from
far and near the tribes gathered 10
decide upon a proper fate.
Knowing the Indians better than
they knew themselves, Boone cozened
the chiefs with his plausible speech.
and actually convinced them that 1t
they woLia out wait until Spring he
would lead them TO Boonesborough
and persuade the entire settlement
to surrender and consent to adoption.
ct is Winter" he argued, "and
they cannot escape. Nor can they
hope to resist and live, their NUM-
Der is so small"
Taken to Detroit for exhibition, the
world dfamous borderman was feted by
the garrison, and Hamilton offered
f100 as his ransom, but the In
dians put Boone far above money.
At first it was merely pride in the
possession of so great a man, but af-
fection soon followed, and Chief Black-l
fish chose him as a son.
Boone might well have cursed his
fatal charm, for the ceremony of
adoption was far from gentle.
AS a first step, all of his hair was
torn out by the roots except scalp
lock, after which he was swished back
and forth in the icy water to wash
out his white blood. AS a final test,
they made him run the gantlet, a
merry test of manhood. Leaping like
an antelope, butting like a goat, and
swining his iron fists like sledges,
Boone gave as good as he got, and
when, covered with blood, he reach
ed the end of the line, half Of the
young warriors were senselesS on the
ground.
Luling his captors into complete Sc.
curity. the first warm weather saw
Daniel slip away by a clever trick,
nor were their swiftest runners able
to overtake him. Four days he raced
through the wilderness without food
and almost without sleep, reaching
Boonesborough far enough in advance
of the pursuit to put the fort in
readiness for attack.
For nine terrible days King Molun-
tha beat against the stockades a siege
unprecedented in Indian warfare-con.
Tossing defeat only when the ground
was covered with the bodies of his
bravest. Thus was the West saved
to America.
An epic typically. American, and
with an ending no less typical. All of
Boone's vast land holdings were
taken from him by legal trick and
fraud until not one single. acre in
the whole of Kentucky remained his
own, and he was forced to start a
general store in Virginia.
In 1893 there was a resurgence of
his pioneer spirit. and we find him
sailing down the Ohio to Missouri
with every stop an ovation as people
Hooked to see and cheer the great
pathfinder. The Spanish authorities.
welcoming the famous newcomer with
open arms, gave him $40 acres in ST
Charles County. about As miles from
"a
magistrate.
His old age now seemed assured OF
comfort, but in 1904. when the Louis.
ana purchase was consummated, and
Missouri became part of the United
States, the inevitable Yankee lawyer
picked flaws in Boone's title, and
again his land was taken away from
him. Not until 1911 did Congress find
the decency to restore it.
Going back to his traps, the old
man spent long Winters on lonely
streams, dodging Indians even as i'm
his youth, and by 1910 had saved
money enough to clear his honor of
what he deemed a stain. Returning
to Kentucky. he paid the debts in
Cured during his various lawsuits.
Then, with so cents left, he again
turned his weather-beaten face TO the
Missouri wilderness. To the day of
his death "a tale of new lands ever
found him delighted listener" and
when the last sleep fell upon him.
In 1920. the white-haired youth of S6
was planning journey to California.
downright. 1921