New York Clipper (Mar 1857)

Vol. IV^Na 47. NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MARCH 14,1867. Foar Cents. THE CHAMPION WRESTLER. A LEQEiNO OF MAD RIVER. WBITIH lOB HI IIBW TelK OLirriB. BT T. UAWLTOM TiNAKDl. Lf 1795 »n engtne«rlng party waaaent out from CIn- olonati, Ohio, to ezploie the valley of the UamL The e6rpa was comprlud principally of Fennaylvanlaiu, who had been engaged, at that plaae, for lome months past, In gathering and preparing provisions for the Weetem atny, AmbDg the company waa a yonng man of stroDg, atbletlo fann, and a character notable for Its qnlet, eqnitable demeanor, and unflinching cooiage. He was the cbamploo of the party in athletio exerclaee, the use of fire armi, or feats of atrength, and yet his even temper kept him from broils with his fellows, and rendered him their pride and boast The party took their coarse along the ronto laid oat, tonohlngat Hamlltoo, Dlayton, Old Chlllcothe, and other promlahig cities, ontll they struck the month of the Little Miami, where their work was at an end. Bemalnlng In camp over Sanday, before starting on their return trip, Iiowiy, la company with a friend took their rifles In hand and started oat for a hant through the forest. ^Vending thebr way towards the north-west, they fonnd a plenllade of game, and were aboat to return, when Lowry proposed to ascend to the top of a hill near by, that they might take a farther glance at the interior. They ascended the hill, and arriving upon the top, each man started back wjib th> «Tn)a]natIon t "Beautlftill''~ It was the Had River TaileV lOiMLBttttshed like a gorgeous picture beforo them, extending fkr ^vrr.x.Jfi verdant prairies, and luariant forests, the dashing, foam Ing stream gliding like a swift courier between. Far In the distance the smoke rose gracefully up f^om the little Indian village of Fiquo, giving It the appearance of a olvUiced retreat, where the wanderer might find a home. Both the hunters were delighted with the prospect, and acknowlgcd it to bo the most bcautiftil spot they had yot seen. When they returned to the camp, Lowry was observed to be moody and thoughtful, and Donivan, his companlonj waf left to narrate to his comrades the adventures of the day. The party returned to Cincinnati, and the next spring the lands lying along the Little Miami and Mad River, were offered for sale, Lowry and Donivan bought shares, and settled on them. But the latter being an excellent engineer. Us engagements in that capacity engrossed the most of Us time, so that Lowry was left almost alone. Balldbg a little cabin, ho hewed away tho forest around him, plowed up the pralrlo, and in a abort time planted the flnt com, wheat, and barley, ever raised in the valley, by civilized hands. The tide of emigration was tamed In that direction, and the vlllago of Springfleld was soon laid oat. But I am not going to write the biography of Lowry, but sim- ply to narrate an Incident In his life. It is necessary, however. In drawing a detached sketch, to give some knowledge of the Individual connected thorewlth. Lowry waif looked upon as the pioneer, the patrlaroh of the •ettlen, and was everywhere called " The Hunter of Mad : Biver." Many were the stories told of htm, and as the old man is still living, though now old and InSrm, he reawins thC: center of a peculiar. Interest to all who have a thirst for the early hlstoiy of our oonntry. ' 1!he young hanter bod'his cabin lined with skins—the trophies of his valor—and a visitant to his retreat woold have formed, at flrat sight, the impression that he was but half olvillzed. He had mingled .much among the Indians, and studied well their character, and strolling tribes often pitched their tents around his cabin, and Joined with him in the hunL It Is somewhat elngolar, that among them all there was not one who could throw him In a wrestle. Ho heid been matched against thoir best braves, and In every contest, «ame off victorious. Tbis might have subjected him to their dangeroas, and viDdlctlve revenge, bnt his amiable temper seemed proof against their inpetaons passion, and he continued on amicable termis with them to the last One day, however, after one of these wandering tribes had been with him for .several days, a strange Indian, called Manoka, joUed the camp. Ho was a tall, brawny fellow, with heavy shoulders and close-knit masoles, and a coan'tchance Indicative of strong and ancurbed, passions. The first indication tiie banter had. of his presence, was -early In the morning; ifUle Undllng the flre In his cabin, tQ prepare his breakfhat, the etitIrA liand of Indians came tookbg in, headed by the' now domer.'. i<owry,roie to bis feet'and cOnlVonted theD,.demandlDg .th^ eanse .of their Intmslott. The flashing eye and mi^eftlo bcaitog of the ROOM FOR JkfJiT, "Thiu. Eaisi'ii.'0B8i lUDaorronSALi. IMPROVEUEJfT. Ha'LL 00 OR Impbotto' niKf. day too ikp nm— h« wiu«'i young banter eariied the Nustering air of the company, and after a moment's pause, liano^jndvanccd and said: " Manolca comes to wrestle wlth.WbiditHunter.t-. > , "I do not want to wrestle," said Lowiy, burning back toblswork. " Come," said the Indian, roughly, " Yoa throw, aiftpy braves—better maa—wrestle with me I" ''^ Lowry smilediilndly, but declined matchtngbis strength and art against the Indian. Meantime be was oloaaly, yet carelessly observing the bulld< and formation of bis challenger, who became enraged at Us eontbaed reHisal to gratify his desire. "White man coward—he wrestle with weak, little braves, but aftald to try Manoka—chief I" The color heightened on the pheck of tho yonng hunter, at the word-rooward, t)nt it passed away in a moment, and he motioned negatively with bis hand, as he tnrned away: " White Hunter shall wrestle I" cried Manoka, spring- ing forward with the bound of a panther, and seizing Lowry by the shoulders. The yonng hunter had detected Us motion in time to turn and grapple with bim. Ho felt there was now no avoiding the contest, and he quickly took his positloa. He did not liko to enrage the Indian, and, on second thought, he concluded it was Iietter to allow himself to be tlirown, only endeavoring to save himself IVom hurt After a short stmggle, he fell, but so clumsily, that tho Indian detected his. fuiiL. " White Hunter play—he no try to wrestle—lot him try his best—^Manoka throw him anyhow," orled the young olilef, proudly. " I see I'll h&ve to toko the conceit oat of him," said Lowry to himselfl And rolling np his sleeves, he stood ready for the combat Withoat a word, the holds were taken, and theslinggle commenced. It was strength and agility pitted against art and couoter strength. They were well matched In size and mneole, and the only hope of Lowry was in his art But he had determined to be conqueror. Flnt upon one side and then to the other the powerfbl strength of the Indian twisted him passively, but he stUlCllmg at his antagonist with if grip of steeL Again and again he waa lifted in the air, and dashed violently to the floor, bnt the hunter still retained his. feet He allowed the Indian to waste bis strength, by his repeated exertions, ero he. made any effort butio'dMnce, Then, after a ftw artflil trips, which disconcerted his opponent, ho dropped suddenly open one kdee, and hurled tdm over his hcadr- Lnto the Orel . :. ^ . >: The Indian scrambled fbrth from the flre, drcadfkiUy homed, and casting a look of vlndictlTO flenenoasopon the banter, ha walked angrily away, mnttsrloB Omtily'^ hlnuelf. The huntct smiled to himself over bis sqcoeaa, when the band had gone, but he knew the Indian oharaotor too well to suppose that, be wonlii'lte readily forgiven by Manoka.. He reiolved,therefore','tibwatcli his movements^.,^, *hlle he remained in. the oampt For tbe^„cswrtr W^ iTroneea. 'proceeded aboiit his breakfast, and iliet^er, he qoletly tooI^hl^seatJiriflS^oMfrorfils cabin. Manirt'fwas standing before hia tent about sixty y^tii was hutenlng to. I could not think I inflicted .pain for my own gratlBcatlon; and I dare say enjoyed myself ai much as any of those lady-tourisU who, like " pelted ohO- dren," have been carried by their f^Uow-mortali over sodi places In tham* a ferUm. The dear llttlethlng 11 ahoold like to go to tho Port de 'Vcnasque again, only tot the pleasure of renewing my acquaintance, with that Uaok pony. During an ascent of two hours. It never ilopped of III own accord to breathe but once; nor wm - I ever obUgiid to dismount Francoli sometimes held Its ta)t;,^t .^ was too fond of it to make uso of It as. • puHey to bring himielfupthe ascent, which vras at times sosteop uto render thai tall and tho creature's head nearly verlloaL We paascd out of Arragon ioto Catalonia by tha Port de Fommcrcau, ascending still from that of the Fieada{ and truly I never before believed that any horse's feet could pursue such a track—track, indeed, there was none, or traced only by the coarse of a mountain-torrent We either dceccodcd etolra of rock, or mode our way over brokco slate and sbloglo. It was curious to see tho way my little pony acted In the former case. When these rocky steps wore-to be passed, some of them at least three quarters of a yard In height, the creatnre would stand still for a moment, wlt^.. his head bowed, bla lntem|»»ViW».teriM» > >itll<< * l - .^de, aadllf M'i'ififtrjf erlngl'I uppos^ f^oih mental 'cxcrUih,'u lit^recondolter-' ed the spot and decided on bis plan of actlob. "Let bIm go I" tho gnida would ofll.out,|.and,tliep, drawing his fove-feet together, and pIa9li|g.ihm .iriib, .Mi air of deliberate resolution on tht spot belisd iel<«(ai4H; a reitlng-place, be would rest on'tbe itretcA M »MMBd' or two|uatll, 6ollcotlng bisp'oftcrs, with <iae Jerk be the bind feet up to the fore; and all ]1 jjiad; W (lo.T^ jfi', Ibearln mind tbat adhedveneas irastiinm^ittf ayQjf ^ij(||/(|7 I could njisiJiifi^cz^iiB.Jaattaf'i 'Bite in'iiht, :^lstait; Jo.oldng towards the cabld, as though watching fbrMs appearance. . The sight of Lowry seemed to enrage bIm, and, aft^r' a'gia'noo'of Intense hatred, he turned'and enter<edhiet4nt', ° A mffieat aftw, be mppbared, bearing In his band a rl^e. 'ffetitng jV'erebt, and Ksting bis arms on the muzzle,' he ga^cd sava^ly for several moinoiits at the hunter then Buddonly sclzbig It iip, he IbrelM It at his enemy with ^d^dly aim, ■ V- . . Lowry dtd'iM move—did not sHr', ^o have 'changed his poaitloii ^roitthlKv'e b«en certain death. The Indlaii was eilragcd—theidlatanco but sixty yards—the ilfle un- erring 1. It was a moment of life and d^th, and Lowry's heart—brave as he was—trembled, ay he grasped, with one thon(^|,.tho fhil extent of his danger I Dot his cheek' did not bl^ui, Bo^ bis eye quail,. Slowly ralslqg his left hand, ti gtntiy motioned aside the deadly weapon. Slowly the Indian lowered the rifle, and resuming his former poaltlon, again gazed angrliy at the hunter. For the second tim;,.tbe qenfory ^f his wr9iip'^iaed to i^o his amli'aitl if tj^irii miMo to bis dionl^tr, i^^'----^ dcterin(il*9,t6 wreak his revenge. Lowry again motioned his weapon aside, but the eyes of the Indian flashed flre, his face distorted by passion, and every muscle seemed nerved to the deed of death. LoWiy thbugbt his time had come. Suddehly a shadow CTossed the glittering beirel of the rifle; and aceiAed to atbact the Indian's attention. His glance wandered ftom the shadow to the sky, where he deserted a large hawk, tolling swiftly fay. The rlflo veered from the hunter to the bird, and the Indian flred. The hawk fell dead at bis feet 1 Then Bxlng bis eagle eye on the astonished Lowry, who had sprang to his feet In admiration of the shot, ho said, proudly,; " Dld Manoka flre (tt the white hunter, ho would tall dead befbre me, like yonder bird I But white hunter ^ve man—good wrestler-Manoka will not kill him I'* Lowry and Manoka were ever after awom friends. ; ^'1 ■ .1 r. 0 R 0 0 0 DIL &. S: H 0 0 TIN O i . Tpa first time a man fli'es at a etoeodlle, li ad'e^Mh lli' his life! Wo bad, only now urived In, the watl^jfifhi^^ thoj abound, for It Is a cordons fut that .nope Hen below Mla«ye)i^ thongh Herodotai q^fiki 9t ihem ai.tglit- Ing with the dolphins, at the menthi ef the NUc. A prist had been ollered for the first nan who deteeltd oroetf' dlle,aad the'crew hod now beed fbr two dty> on the'fMt' in search of then). Buoyed wltli .the oxpeofiaUiM of sucbgatne, W(i,lta4'latter)y,^aer^ed oat. flte.for.CIwm ejy olu^lvsly; and ihs.wUd: dock and iurtjf, q^y, erim ih^ vulture and the eagle bad swept pait« Cf soarai«lHTt inseonrilyn At length the eiy of "Tlmieaehttiafttwlkr' wa heard flron half » down elahntotg of'tht pio f fc e J i)rlBe,'and half a.doieb bltoK fingers wenre eagtrlyjpdlht^ ed 'to a spit of land, on which were itrtwn appirtntiy tome logs of treeai it wasa'oovsy oforooodllest ;9uU; ly.apd silently the boat ,ifas rqn In shore, ^ was ljl^ U I hod the enterprise to mystlfiand clambered np tibt atetp bank with a quicker pulse than when I flntlertil^i^rlite at a HlghUnd dter.i My intended TleUma might feari prided thenselrea on their taporiot'nonobaUnee ( alvlfin' deed, OS I appraiuhed them, then itemed to b« .k Hibd ittl ' their ^utly libntliil ailJl wlnlilng eyM." tSlpm\j ibif ttm, one after the other, and waddled to tho wator, all bot one, tho most gallant or most gorged of thfi pariy^. Qe lay sUll until I woawltbln a hundred yards. 9f bIm; then slowly rising on bli fln-Iiko legs, he lumbtred toward tha river, locking askaneo at me with aa«xpre«slon of ooni- tenance that to say," He i»a do me no barm; bdwercr,' I may as well have a swim." I took sIm at the ihiMt of this sapciclUons brdte, and, as soon as my hand tteadled, tho very pulsation of my finger pulled the trlg^, went the. gun; whizz I flow the bullet; and my excited ear could catch the Ihud with which it plunged Into tho scaly leather of his neck. Uls waddle became a plnnge, the wavti closed over bin, and the sun shone on the:(«lni water, as I reached the brink of the shore, tbat was itUl Indented by tho wavlog of his gigantic tall. But there b blood upon the wator, and he rises for a moment,to tho surface; "A bunilrcd piastres iot the tlnueaob," I it- claimed, and half a dozen Arabs plangcd Into the Bin*B< There I ho rises again, and the blackt dish a't liin al'lf ho hadn't a tcoth la his head. Mow be Is gone^ tho^'mttTa dote over bIm, and I never lawfaifflfinot^, notnth^ time wo saw hundreds of crocofUles ofldl flrtd THE PY REN IAN PONY Tn (reatnre I mounted was scarcely larger than one <of those fine mountain-goats, whoso size and curved boms emulate'those of the deer; It was coal-black, with such' ihots enough at then for a Spanish r*vololj(»; butwa little legs OS teemed Inoapablt of. inSppbrting my weight,' could never get, potit«Ion of. any,*7on if' we.hH.lhtm, mneh 1cm fbit of the great, heavy guide, from whom I which to this day rtnalna onotrtaln. to4k It, 'Ito movemtntt wn*'so llghtf'to bounding, tbat ttm the noment I left tht other eloiniy animal, I eoald feel nothing bnt a sense of exaltation as It leaped up tha rocky spiral ladder, u Ifr^olclng to show mt tha teens I tbtir plaoeti Mm are sometlmet tcoued of pride ntrtlfl thtlr aoooMia weoU be pmd theattlvta If tb^wirala