The Life and Times of Daniel Boone Part Four
Oh, The Arrogance of Mister Daniel Boone!
That last time we visited upon the Boone family they had moved into the Yadkin River Valley of North Carolina. Shortly after the family had settled there Daniel's sister, Elizabeth, married and established a household of her own with her husband.This left Daniel, a young man close to his twenties, the oldest child living with his parents. Now in his fifties, Squire depended upon his son more than ever to help with the cattle and the fields. Daniel loathed farm work. He would rather be hunting and exploring than tend to the needs of the farm. Boone once told his children that while he was working in the fields he often prayed to God that the rains would come so he could abandon the summer harvest to go hunting. In the fall and winter months Daniel had more time to hunt and explore. Daniel's first long hunt in 1750 had proven him to be a professional hunter. He soon discovered he could earn a living by hunting for furs to sell in the fur trade market. He often hunted bucks and sold the hide for a dollar. The term we use today "buck" to symbolize money had been already in use during Daniel's time. Daniel never missed a long hunt until he was too weak to leave his house in his old age.
Daniel Boone had earned the reputation as a master marksmen and hunter early in the 1750's. He was a frequent contestant at shooting competitions in Salisbury, North Carolina where his father was one of the first justices of the county. Daniel always scored high in every competition. Whenever he competed he would impress the onlookers around the courthouse by approaching the line in the grass, fire the winning shot with his prize winning rifle then brag about it. One of his descendants recalls a day when Boone had strut up to the other competitors and proudly declared, "pat them on the shoulders, and tell them they couldn't shoot up to Boone." Prizes from these competitions would include beef, whiskey or all the privilege of collecting all the lead that was in the target. The lead could then be smelted down to make more shots. As Daniel's reputation among the settlers and the Native American groups in the area grew so did his arrogance. In July of 1753, Daniel's arrogance would incite an altercation with a distinguished, Catawbas Native American by the name of Saucy Jack.
The Cata...who....?
Watch this to learn more about the Catawba Nation.
Daniel Boone and Saucy Jack
Saucy Jack was a Catawba warrior who was well known not only for his bragging but his shooting ability. One day he decided to enter into one of the shooting competitions Daniel was to participate in. Daniel Boon beat Saucy Jack. As usual Daniel had boasted with pride over his win to all the competitors. After the competition Daniel left to go on a hunting trip. One afternoon, Saucy Jack was nursing his hurt pride with run in one of the Salisbury taverns. The more drinks he consumed the louder he became with complaints about Daniel Boone. Finally he become so drunk he decides to take matters in own hands. There was only one way to eliminate the threat who had injured his pride, eliminate him. Squire had been in town doing business when word came to him that this Catawba warrior was set on killing his son. Squire quickly forgot his peaceful Quaker ways and shouted, "Well if it has come to this I'll kill first!" Daniel's father grabbed a hatchet and gave chase. Saucy Jack's friends warned Saucy Jack of Squire Boone's intentions. The Catawba decided it was best to leave the area than to face Daniel Boone's rifle or Squire Boone's rage. He remained absent from the area until Squire Boone's rage had subsided and the matter had been forgotten. Saucy Jack never again reacted with such hostility when beaten by Daniel Boone. Daniel Boone, although he had not been involved, never forgot this lesson in humility either. He once said to John Filson in 1784, about when he was held captive by the Shawnee, "I was careful not to exceed many of them in shooting, for no people are more envious than they when in this sport."
What is your favorite sport and why?
That last time we visited upon the Boone family they had moved into the Yadkin River Valley of North Carolina. Shortly after the family had settled there Daniel's sister, Elizabeth, married and established a household of her own with her husband.This left Daniel, a young man close to his twenties, the oldest child living with his parents. Now in his fifties, Squire depended upon his son more than ever to help with the cattle and the fields. Daniel loathed farm work. He would rather be hunting and exploring than tend to the needs of the farm. Boone once told his children that while he was working in the fields he often prayed to God that the rains would come so he could abandon the summer harvest to go hunting. In the fall and winter months Daniel had more time to hunt and explore. Daniel's first long hunt in 1750 had proven him to be a professional hunter. He soon discovered he could earn a living by hunting for furs to sell in the fur trade market. He often hunted bucks and sold the hide for a dollar. The term we use today "buck" to symbolize money had been already in use during Daniel's time. Daniel never missed a long hunt until he was too weak to leave his house in his old age.
Daniel Boone had earned the reputation as a master marksmen and hunter early in the 1750's. He was a frequent contestant at shooting competitions in Salisbury, North Carolina where his father was one of the first justices of the county. Daniel always scored high in every competition. Whenever he competed he would impress the onlookers around the courthouse by approaching the line in the grass, fire the winning shot with his prize winning rifle then brag about it. One of his descendants recalls a day when Boone had strut up to the other competitors and proudly declared, "pat them on the shoulders, and tell them they couldn't shoot up to Boone." Prizes from these competitions would include beef, whiskey or all the privilege of collecting all the lead that was in the target. The lead could then be smelted down to make more shots. As Daniel's reputation among the settlers and the Native American groups in the area grew so did his arrogance. In July of 1753, Daniel's arrogance would incite an altercation with a distinguished, Catawbas Native American by the name of Saucy Jack.The Cata...who....?
Watch this to learn more about the Catawba Nation.
Daniel Boone and Saucy Jack
Saucy Jack was a Catawba warrior who was well known not only for his bragging but his shooting ability. One day he decided to enter into one of the shooting competitions Daniel was to participate in. Daniel Boon beat Saucy Jack. As usual Daniel had boasted with pride over his win to all the competitors. After the competition Daniel left to go on a hunting trip. One afternoon, Saucy Jack was nursing his hurt pride with run in one of the Salisbury taverns. The more drinks he consumed the louder he became with complaints about Daniel Boone. Finally he become so drunk he decides to take matters in own hands. There was only one way to eliminate the threat who had injured his pride, eliminate him. Squire had been in town doing business when word came to him that this Catawba warrior was set on killing his son. Squire quickly forgot his peaceful Quaker ways and shouted, "Well if it has come to this I'll kill first!" Daniel's father grabbed a hatchet and gave chase. Saucy Jack's friends warned Saucy Jack of Squire Boone's intentions. The Catawba decided it was best to leave the area than to face Daniel Boone's rifle or Squire Boone's rage. He remained absent from the area until Squire Boone's rage had subsided and the matter had been forgotten. Saucy Jack never again reacted with such hostility when beaten by Daniel Boone. Daniel Boone, although he had not been involved, never forgot this lesson in humility either. He once said to John Filson in 1784, about when he was held captive by the Shawnee, "I was careful not to exceed many of them in shooting, for no people are more envious than they when in this sport."What is your favorite sport and why?
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