LIFE OF WILSON. 
xci 
eiglit hundred miles to travel. Wlicn tliey come to a stream that is unfordable, 
they coast it for a fallen tree: if that cannot be liad, they enter with their 
budget on their head, and when they lose bottom, drop it on their shoulders, 
and take to swimming. They have sometimes fourteen or fiileen 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 doors, 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 lie 
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 beliind, whd 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 bufi'alo robe, 
which were immediately spread out for him; and, it being now dusk, the 
women went ofl' to the kitchen, and the two men to the barn, which stands 
about two hundred yards ofl". 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 for- 
* It is harrlly necessary to state, that this was the brave and enterprising traveller, 
whose journey across the Rocky 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. 
