The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-10-18
emerged Z new Daniel Boone who bears little
rosaua hla To tho Rome at The WITH MAJ era

emerged new Daniel Boone who bears little
resemblance to the Boone OF the myth-makers.
One OF the first Of these was the late Clarence
Walworth Alvord OF the University OF Illinois
and the University OF Minnesota, whose reputa-
ton, gained In his researches Into the early his
tory OF the Mississippi valley Is too secure for
him to be regarded as an idle "debunker" OF the
great. Writing In the American Mercury nearly
a decade ago, he declared:
1.-THE facts Of the life OF the man Boone, In
deed, have little in common with those Of the
superman 30 universally exalted !. He la
idollzed as the most heroic of western explor~
ers, the first to make known to settlers the
fertility Of the dark and bloody country Of Ken
lucky, and as the first to plant In the West
permanent settlement Of Americans.
But 1t requires only the most superficial re-
search to knock the story into cooked hat A
study OF the historical sources proves that thou
sands OF men explored Kentucky before Boone,
and the region was well known to multitudes
who needed superhuman herald either to
tell them OF the fertility OF the soil or to summon
them to action. Finally. In this whole complex
movement across the mountains Boone played
a subordinate part he was little more than an
employee OF an empire builder Richard Hen
derson. North Carolina Spectator and the
founder OF the Pennsylvania company. Daniel
Boone was one OF many pawns In the magnIf-
cent game OF chess being played on Kentucky
territory. OF the ssuperman there is no trace"
Another distinguished historian, who Is prob
ably the leading authority today on the history
OF the Old Southwest (Kentucky and Tennessee1
and who lis now writing = defntive biography
OF Boone, In an article which appeared in the
New York Times Magazine In 1927 corroborated
Alvord's statements In regard to the priority OF
other men as Kentucky pioneers" but dealt
somewhat more kindly with the superman myth.
He Is Or. Archibald Henderson who is, incl
dentally, great-great-gran OF Boone's en-
ployer. Writing of Boone's activities as agent
for the Pennsylvania company. he says:
while these are the revelations OF modern
historical investigation they do not detract from
the distinctive qualities of Boone's real fame
Boone was probably the most sklllful hunter of
big game who ever lived upon the American con-
tnent- He was 4 peerless explorer, a supreme
scout. Unsuccessful as leader--even the lead
ership In the defense Of Boonesborough seems tn
have fallen not to Boone but to Richard Gala
way-Boone was unsurpassed us an individual
Indian fighter who on countless OCCASIONS
proved himself more than match for the crafti-
est and subtlest Of his Indian opponents.
Seen through the clarifying halo OF 4 century
and three-Quarters OF time. Daniel Boone still
rises before romantic figure, poised and
resolute, simple, benign-as naive and shy An
some Wild thing OF the primeval forest-nye feet
eight inches In height. with broad chest and
shoulders dark locks genial blue eyes arched
with fair eyebrows. thin lips and wide mouth.
nose Of slightly Roman cast and fair rudy conn
tenance. In suit OF buckskin. Indian moccasinx
and coonskin cap. with rifle. knife and toma
hawk. alternating with the axe and the ruryev
or's compass. he ia the true Lentherstockipr OF
a Cooper romance"