Sunday, February 16, 2020

JUST DOWN THE ROAD - HISTORY OF ELKMONT; PART 3


Summer turned to fall.  The Simms' sturdy but simple cabin had been finished. Hunting and trapping had been good.  Geese could be heard honking to each other as they flew south. The squirrels were starting to get fat, building nests in the trees and Levi knew winter would soon be upon them.  It was time to take the furs he and the boys had collected and travel to the tradin' post to lay in winter supplies. The trail he would take was used extensively for delivering supplies and mail to Fort Hampton. It was also used by thieves and no-goods that capitalized on the many travelers. Sometimes they would beg and other times they would rob. The latter was attempted on Levi. He was just east of Mooresville trail when from nowhere three crusty, looking fellows came from a heavily wooded area. They surrounded him and his mule. Using sharpened wooden spears, they demanded all of his furs and his ride or they would kill him. 
To Levi’s surprise, his mule, "Old Bully", flared his nostrils and begin to kick violently at anyone in range. Levi had to use all his strength and might to stay on "Old Bully’s" back. First, there was a strong thug who "Bully" kicked in the chest. One was down and two to go. The second wasn’t lucky either. He moved in with his wooden pole to gore the mule. Suddenly, "Old Bully" caught him in the head with his back hoof; down went number two. The third robber started running as fast as he could to escape, disappearing into the woods not to be seen again.

Levi had a mess on his hands as one robber was lying in the trail moaning and the other appeared to be dead. Levi dismounted "Old Bully" and examined both of them. The one groaning had some broken ribs and the other was in fact dead. His head was laid open by "Bully's" sharp hoof. Levi told the one still alive that he would need to take care of his comrade since he had started this mess. "I will be back thru here tomorrow and check on you”. The would be robber nodded; Levi rode away being shook up by the whole ordeal.

Gary Compton

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