LIFE OF WILSON. xci 



eight hundred miles to travel. When they come to a stream that is uufordable, 

 they coast it for a fallen tree : if that cannot be had, they enter with their 

 budget ou their head, and when they lose bottom, drop it on their shoulders, 

 and take to swimming. They have sometimes fourteen or fifteen of such 

 streams to pass in a day, and morasses of several miles in length, that I have 

 never seen equalled in any country. I lodged this night at one Dobbins's, 

 where ten or twelve of these men lay on the floor. As they scrambled up in 

 the morning, they very generally complained of being unwell, for which they 

 gave an odd reason, lying within duors, it being the first of fifteen nights they 

 had been so indulged. 



" Next morning (Sunday) I rode six miles to a man's, of the name of 

 Grinder, where our poor friend Lewis perished.* In the same room where 

 he expired, I took down from Mrs. Grinder the particulars of that melancholy 

 event, which affected me extremely. This house, or cabin, is seventy-two miles 

 from Nashville, and is the last white man's as you enter the Indian country. 

 Governor Lewis, she said, came hither about sunset, alone, and inquired if he 

 could stay for the night; and, alighting, brought his saddle into the house. 

 He was dressed in a loose gown, white, striped with blue. On being asked 

 if he came alone, he replied that there were two servants behind, who would 

 soon be up. He called for some spirits, and drank a very little. When the 

 servants arrived, one of whom was a negro, he inquired for his powder, saying 

 he was sure he had some powder in a cani.ster. The servant gave no distinct 

 reply, and Lewis, in the meanwhile, walked backwards and ' forwards before 

 the door, talking to himself Sometimes, she said, he would seem as if he 

 were walking up to her; and would suddenly wheel round, and walk back as 

 fast as he could. Supper being ready, he sat down, but had eaten only a few 

 mouthfuls when he started up, speaking to himself in a violent manner. At 

 these times, she says, she observed his face to flush as if it had come on him 

 in a fit. He lighted his pipe, and drawing a chair to the door sat down, saying 

 to Mrs- Grinder, in a kind tone of voice, ' Madam, this is a very pleasant even- 

 ing.' He smoked for some time, but quitted his seat and traversed the yard 

 as before. He again sat down to his pipe, seemed again composed, and casting 

 his eyes wistfully towards the west, observed what a sweet evening it was, 

 Mrs. Grinder was preparing a bed for him ; but he said he would sleep on the 

 floor, and desired the servant to bring the bear-skins and buffalo robe, 

 which were immediately spread out for him; and, it being now dusk, the 

 women went off to the kitchen, and the two men to the barn, which stands 

 about two hundred yards off. The kitchen is only a few paces from the room 

 where Lewis was, and the woman, being considerably alarmed by the behavior, 

 of her guest, could not sleep, but listened to him walking backwards and fur- 



* It is hardly necessary to state, that this was the brave and enterprising traveller, 

 whose journey across the iRocky Mountains, to the Pacific Ocean, has obtained for him 

 well-merited celebrity. The true cause of his committing the rash deed, so feelingly 

 detailed above, is not yet known to the public ; but his friends will not soon forget the 

 base imputations and cruel neglect, which the honorable mind of the gallant soldier knew 

 not how to brook. 



